Selecting a type of computer system for instructional purposes does not depend upon the kind of instruction to be provided but on the features of the maxi- and minicomputer systems themselves. The features of each system must be considered in the context in which it will be used. (Author/CMV)

Describes a workshop that introduces participants to the UNIX operating system. Provides an overview of how to access information on the Internet and gain familiarity with Web browsers, file transfer programs, telnet sessions, newsreaders, and Gopher services. (DDR)

Discusses the developers/development, maintainers, and users of the digital collection on peaceful uses of nuclear energy, produced by the International Nuclear Information System (INIS) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Sensitive to users in both developing and highly developed countries, this system provides closer linkage…

Investigates how an informal computerized environment, or workspace, can support information seeking. Outlines the design space for information-seeking environments and presents a prototype, SketchTrieve, a graphic editor. Discusses how this environment might support information-seeking in ways not available in other more overdetermined systems.…

In personal information retrieval, items are associated with events and can be accessed by their relationship to events as well as content. Describes two early projects and a prototype graphical event-based retrieval system comprising file changes, mail messages, active badge sightings, video snapshots, desk diary entries, notes, weather reports…

Discusses the correlation between corporate performance and the use of information technology. Tests a model that was based on management information systems literature. Examines system effectiveness, user information satisfaction, organizational conversion, top management commitment, and organizational climate. Discusses testing in Austrian and…

Stresses the need for having financial and staff data available at the school level and relates Minnesota's state department of education's experience with school-level data collection. Schools need to develop unit record data collection and integrated, relational databases. School-level data can provide answers to major questions concerning…

Common challenges faced by colleges and universities in fulfilling information system needs are explained and discussed, including frequent and bothersome database and application program upgrades, bugs in the application programs, business systems lacking the required business capability, upgrades to software tools used to build the business…

Presents preliminary results from a study of an information need identification system for interactive information retrieval for undergraduates researching a history topic. Concludes that the query taxonomy must include levels of topic specificity because while general topic-based queries are inappropriate as query terms, more specific topic-based…

Explores the academic environment of a total information system for school libraries based on the idea of a digital intranet. Discusses safety; customization; the core library collection; curriculum-specific collections; access to short-term resources; Internet access; personalized features; search engines; equity issues; and staffing. (LRW)

Discussion of using Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) to read electronic text focuses on a study that evaluated the use of PDAs for reading course materials in an Open University (United Kingdom) master's course. Considers activity theory and how the PDA changed reading, including portability, screen display, navigation difficulties, and…

Explores issues associated with developing Web sites for large organizations based on experiences at AECT (Association for Educational Communications and Technology). Topics include examining the audience, establishing guidelines, design issues, user expectations, Web site load time, legibility, navigation issues, and recommendations for future…

Discusses results of a usability study at the University of Illinois Chicago that investigated whether Internet search engines have influenced the way students search library Web sites. Results show students use the Web site's internal search engine rather than navigating through the pages; have difficulty interpreting library terminology; and…

The University of Kansas record management system using optical disk storage in a network environment and the selection process used to meet existing hardware and budgeting requirements are described. Viability of the technology, document legality, and difficulties encountered during implementation are discussed. (Author/MSE)

Describes the function of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Z39.50 protocol, which allows for construction of information "servers"--i.e., resources attached to a computer communications network that can be accessed by client machines to retrieve information. The relationship of Z39.5 to other OSI protocols is explained. (23…