Discusses a conference centering around the added value of technologies in language learning. Topics include the necessity of networks, added value analysis for "a priori" specification and "a posteriori" assessment, funding, textbooks, user expectation, assessment methods, integration into other learning systems, and an action plan. (CK)

Discusses the networking of image-based libraries of scientific and technical documents and the role of information professionals in the future of libraries and information access. Topics include commercial databanks, projects involving cooperation between technical publishers and universities, and the Internet and World Wide Web. (LRW)

Discusses the concept of electronic workstations and describes four different types: (1) the academic workstation; (2) the reference workstation (i.e., for end users); (3) the information specialist workstation; and (4) the workstation for management information. The creation of a new integrated information center (ICC) is also described. (11…

Summarizes a study that identified and described federal information inventory/locator systems and resulted in the Federal Locator Database--an electronic database describing 250 federal databases. Recommends that the U.S. Office of Management and Budget develop policy frameworks for the design of a governmentwide locator system accessible over…

Reviews online and CD-ROM environmental information sources that focus on business, governmental regulations, and environmental issues. Business databases, environmental databases, environmental audit software packages, and electronic bulletin boards are included. (22 references) (LAE)

Reports a study that analyzed natural language search statements constructed by 22 Getty Visiting Scholars as they researched humanities topics on DIALOG. Results show a greater use of names, geographical areas, chronological periods, and discipline terms than scientists use, with implications for the design of humanities online systems and…

Describes the design of a prototype adaptive online catalog that was implemented as a transparent workstation-based front end system to MELVYL, the online catalog for the University of California libraries. Problems with searching bibliographic retrieval systems are reviewed, including irrelevant retrievals and the inexperience of most users.…

Issues that arose in attempting to survey people with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are described. Questions of confidentiality, nonimplementation, and slow accrual of information are considered for an initial sample of 2,731 cases. Comparison with a database concerning 1,313 clinic clients indicates overrepresentation of compliant…

Describes a study of faculty members at Texas A&M University that was conducted to determine whether they were searching online databases from their own offices and labs rather than from the library. Cost-effective methods of providing access to online databases by libraries are discussed, and future studies are described. (five references)…

Discusses influences that electronic technologies are having on academic libraries. Highlights include the combination of computer technology and telecommunications; the impact of integrated systems; adding value to information through the use of workstations and online databases; teaching and learning roles of librarians; library user fees; and…

Discusses the influences of mass media and other communication technologies on small linguistic communities using examples from the Catalan and Occitan/Aranes communities of Spain. Highlights include hardware, linguistic software, national character sets and sorting, spelling checkers, automatic translation, multilingual software, networking, and…

The three articles in this special section on document image files discuss intelligent character recognition, including comparison with optical character recognition; selection of displays for document image processing, focusing on paperlike displays; and imaging hardware, software, and vendors, including guidelines for system selection. (MES)

Reports results of an electronic survey of users of CD-ROM databases at a university library. Data are presented on experience level, database selection, how users learned of the service, use of multiple databases, favorite features, user satisfaction, preferred source of help, research strategies, and use of printed versions. A copy of the…

The evolution of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC); and changes in its mission and operating policies at its creation, the redesign of 1987, and during the present planning for a second quarter century are discussed. Eight program improvement initiatives are discussed. (SLD)

This overview of the research process for the novice information retrieval (IR) researcher provides guidance on selecting a research question, choosing the type of test, defining variables, developing or using databases, finding and processing queries, assigning treatments to experimental units, collecting and analyzing the data, and presenting…