Examines the role of virtual environments as conceptual learning tools in science at the United Kingdom Open University and the notion of presence, or reality. Interviews with competent computer users about their feelings of presence when using virtual environments indicate that audio feedback and ease of navigation are important. (Author/LRW)

Members of the Information Industry Association (n=108) identified important content areas for information systems curricula: telecommunications, operating systems, systems analysis, local area/wide area networks, and business communications. (SK)

Reports ongoing developmental research at the Department of Agriculture to build a high-performance knowledge base for four agencies within the Department. Describes data gathering for the information system; planning to support knowledge management practices; theory elaboration through qualitative case analysis; and use of an activity theory…

Discussion of data repositories available in global information systems focuses on facilitating access by providing semantic views. Highlights include the mapping relation; syntax and semantics of the mapping; query formulation and processing; terminological systems for semantic views; and relational algebraic expressions. (LRW)

This historical study explores a definition of information management that centers on the ordering and channeling of non-publicly available information within organizations. Highlights three types of organizations: the business corporation; the library; and the state agency, specifically British military intelligence. (Contains 44…

Examines how universities and colleges can economically and efficiently implement an enterprise resource planning project when designing their administrative information system. Administrative steps discussed include conducting a needs assessment, deciding on the right system that matches the assessment, developing the correct contracting…

Describes how course management software systems that ease professors' administrative workload are becoming easier to use, as well as more expensive. (EV)

A case study of a knowledge-intensive company demonstrated that most knowledge management problems occur in the first three stages of the process (acquiring, codifying, disseminating) rather than in developing and applying. Identifying missing core knowledge, maintaining adequate information systems, and improving dissemination through communities…

Recent studies indicate that family and consumer sciences faculty are often not provided with staff development about integrating instructional technology. Lack of training, institutional support, and promotion and tenure rewards remain significant barriers to implementation of educational technology. (Contains 32 references.) (SK)

Many librarians have been concerned with the unintended consequences of new technologies, but Kristin Eschenfelder--librarian, scholar, and social scientist--gathers the data to enable rational policy decisions about technology's ramifications. As assistant professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at University of…

This article, the second installment of CIL's (Computers in Libraries) 2005 Helping You Buy series, provides an in-depth look at library selfcheck systems from 10 vendors. The product comparison chart will help you to quickly and easily compare products from competing vendors. All of the information on the product comparison chart came directly…

Purpose: To share the experiences in data migration of the KFUPM Library with libraries planning to move from legacy systems such as DOBIS/LIBIS to third-generation systems. Design/methodology/approach: A detailed analysis of DOBIS/LIBIS data structure, data extraction, including data mining, and data conversion of bibliographic, non-bibliographic…

This paper addresses several misunderstandings about the nature of the FBI's Central Records System. Although depicted in popular culture and much of FBI historiography as a tool for the Cold War suppression of American radicals, the FBI's records system grew out of Department of Justice systems already in place before J. Edgar Hoover became…

This study explores whether disconfirmation theory can explain satisfaction formation processes in library users. Both library users' needs and expectations are investigated as disconfirmation standards. Overall library user satisfaction is predicted to be a function of two independent sources--satisfaction with the information product received…

In this electronic age, where information is digital and service is virtual, the registrar profession is changing rapidly to keep up with increasing standards and expectations. EDI and now XML standards enable system-to-system exchanges of academic records information. While many of the registrar's profession display student academic records under…