Describes how the Prep Editor can be used to support online collaborative editing. Discusses and illustrates how the Prep Editor interface allows student teams to extract the claimed and unclaimed work of each member and how this information can support a team's further decision making. (RS)

Describes Web versions of online systems and considers advantages and trade-offs for information professionals and other searchers. Web versions highlighted include Dow Jones Interactive; Dialog; LEXIS-NEXIS; and STN. (LRW)

Proposes a general stopword list and a simple stemming procedure that can be used to adapt search mechanisms for French-language databases. Describes document-retrieval experiments with French test collections aimed at improving retrieval effectiveness. (LRW)

Student interviews by potential co-op employers at Mississippi State are enhanced by computer applications. Students can access employers' criteria to select employers to interview with; customized software is used to schedule interviews and complete follow-up. Approximately 2,200 interviews with 182 employers were handled in one term. (SK)

Discusses digital reference services that provide subject expertise and information referral over the Internet to their users. Describes the history of digital reference, how digital reference services work, and explains a six-step process for building and maintaining digital reference services, including training, planning, and evaluating. (LRW)

Describes the process of setting up on-line support groups using The Palace, an Internet software that establishes a graphical room for the group. Describes the process of installing the software and illustrates operating it during the group. Discusses considerations for group planning including selection of leader, selection and orientation of…

Investigates the need for mechanisms for charging by digital libraries and other providers of online content, in particular for micropayments, i.e., charging for small amounts. The SSL (Secure Socket Layer) and SET (Secure Electronic Transactions) protocols for charge card payments and the MiniPay micropayment mechanism for charging small amounts…

Reports findings on user avoidance of the help menu. Identifies five characteristics that may make any help-access method attractive to users. Examines dialog-box help, pop-up help for tools, and several other help-access methods. (PA)

Discusses e-procurement in higher education, an integrated system of services and Web technologies providing electronic bridges between buyers and sellers. Addresses its benefits, potential obstacles, early implementation lessons, and getting started. Includes a sidebar of definitions relevant to e-procurement. (EV)

Developments in information technology and distance learning have combined with economic forces to fuel a global market for postsecondary education. Is online learning the answer? Visionaries and marketers gloss over major complexities. For many countries, promises of modern learning can only be realized after massive investments in communications…

Examines the Government Printing Office's (GPO's) progress on its transition to a more electronic Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). Encourages GPO to expand its services and training beyond the FDLP, and to review and consolidate online bibliographic tools to be more intuitive and functional. (Author/LRW)

The electronic leadership development program created for Xerox has the following goals: improving leadership skills, morale, and retention; maximizing efficiency of resources; and teaching leaders how to function in an online environment. (Author/JOW)

Discussion of knowledge management systems highlights an integrated tool architecture that focuses on content rather than technical issues and supports authoring Web pages and Web-based training, collaborating with subject matter experts, item tracking, and gathering feedback from end-users. Describes the updating of an existing knowledge base…

Discusses comments made in a previous column relating to reference librarians and online reference services. Topics include the inaccuracy of traditional reference services; the alleged decline in library reference activity; misunderstanding reference librarians; and perceiving Ask Jeeves as a useful alternative model to reference services. (LRW)

Reports results of a 14-student questionnaire survey on the effectiveness of web-based instruction in a rural high school in Indiana. A select number of parents and students were also interviewed. Concludes that despite challenges, there are positive instructional benefits from incorporating web-based instruction in a traditional classroom.…