A national literacy effort built on participatory principles will require study of existing learner-centered theory and practice, resource development, research and development, training and networking, and careful planning. Literacy educators and learners must support each other to create a constituency for the participatory alternative. (Editor)

Eight articles describe the development, content, and structure of databases outside of the United States. Features discussed include library involvement, authority control, shared cataloging services, union catalogs, thesauri, abstracts, and distribution methods. Countries and areas represented are Latin America, Australia, the United Kingdom,…

Describes networking from the perspective of rural women in the Pacific Islands. Distinguishes between a network and an organization. (JOW)

Argues that there are severe and insurmountable problems in attempting to maintain a systemic perspective in family therapy. Advocates decentering family therapy to a more peripheral space within social network perspective. (Author/NB)

Educators participating in the Collaboratives for Humanities and Arts Instruction (CHART) network have found large domains of inquiry in which traditional models had little predictive value and bore little resemblance to experience. Self-organizing systems are open and interactive, have global properties flowing from individuals' aggregate…

The new information marketplace is based on a network of wide, two-way highways comprised of private owners and developers, makers of information appliances (televisions, telephones, computers, and combinations of all three), information providers (local broadcasters, digital libraries, information service providers, and entrepreneurs), and…

Discussion of formative evaluation highlights alternative formative evaluation methods and tools and explains their advantages, disadvantages, and applicable contexts. Methods described include two-on-one evaluation; think-aloud protocols; computer interviewing; self-evaluation; panel reviews; evaluation meetings; computer journals and networks;…

Reviews the history of libraries in Lithuania from 1940 to 1992. Highlights include early book collections, and attitudes toward books and reading; changes after the Soviet invasion, including censorship, lack of timeliness, and information barriers; library networks; library education; research trends; library legislation; library literature; and…

Identifies gopher and World Wide Web sites containing resources business educators can use on the topic of workforce diversity. (SK)

Instruction in computer-based business communication is vital to prepare students for the current environment. Course design should include hands-on training using electronic messaging, a simulated environment in which to practice networking, and encouragement of teams and collaboration among students. (SK)

Describes several new Internet features for classroom use, including two documents answering frequently asked user and technical guidance questions, a Voice of America international news service, America Online's trial inclusion of Gopher and Wide Area Information Server (WAIS) databases, a help file for Windows users, and a USENET e-mail news…

Discusses Venezuela's information and communications technology infrastructure and usage patterns; examines future networking plans; and addresses political and economic considerations linked to the information and technology problems in Venezuela and in Latin America in general. (LRW)

Describes Usenet, an Internet service that provides access to computerized discussion groups, and examines how it can be used as a reference tool. Topics include subject groups, appropriate questions, exhausting local resources before posting, explaining Usenet to patrons, sending the question, and evaluating the answer. (AEF)

Staff development as a transferable package of bite-sized knowledge pieces is outdated. To implement reform plans, teachers must be able to discuss, think about, try out, and hone new practices. Teachers can learn by observing children, adopting new subject-matter approaches, using strategies for learning together, integrating assessment with…

Presents results of a study which observed one social network of Mexican immigrant families during several years. Considers how Spanish and English literacy are used in their lives. States that, although many of these adults have limited literacy skills resulting from lack of formal education, they still manage a variety of literacy practices that…