Examines issues that librarians must address when purchasing databases on CD-ROM for networking. Highlights include network licenses; costs; restrictions on network rights; ownership of CD-ROMs; hardware requirements; fees for upgrading software; CD-ROM servers; pricing options; training materials; and disk drives. (LRW)

Reports on the third national conference of the American Library Association's Library and Information Technology Association, which was held September 13-16, 1992, in Denver, Colorado. Program highlights are summarized, including virtual communities, virtual reality, the electronic library, artificial intelligence and expert-systems, navigating…

Describes the technical, experiential, and systemic challenges encountered in computer-assisted writing classes. Discusses the gap between the theoretical benefits and the reality of computer-assisted writing instruction. Offers recommendations for teachers planning syllabi, assignments, and lesson plans for computer-assisted classes. (MM)

Summarizes OCLC's linking strategy for national networks, i.e., the Internet and the National Research and Education Network (NREN). The telecommunications environment for libraries is discussed and aspects of network links are considered, including governance, performance/support, economics, and future developments. Planning strategies for…

Describes research networks available in Canada and planning for a high-speed network called CANARIE (Canadian Network for the Advancement of Research, Industry, and Education). Potential library applications of research networks are discussed, including information retrieval, interlibrary loan, document delivery, shared cataloging, and…

Summarizes issues raised at the 1991 spring conference of the Association of College and Research Libraries/New England Chapter (ACRL/NEC) concerning computer networks and libraries. Highlights include national information policy; library resources and services; developments at the National Agricultural Library (NAL); ILLINET; resource sharing in…

This article describes the development at Case Western Reserve University of an all-fiber optic communications network linking 7,300 outlets (faculty offices, student residences, classrooms, libraries, and laboratories) with computer data, television, audio, facsimile, and image information services. (Author/DB)

Reports on a conference sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that addressed issues surrounding public access to government information, particularly in electronic format. Case studies of successful public access programs are described, and the National Research and Education Network (NREN) and other networks are discussed. (two…

Observes two writing teachers, enthusiastic about computers, teaching for the first time in networked computer classrooms. Finds resistance to change attributable to unfamiliarity with hardware and software, the need to cope with print text and electronic text, and conflict between models of writing instruction brought to the facility and that…

Discussion of the development of a knowledge navigation system to assist users in searching a large database in a local/wide-area network environment considers the construction of navigation maps, the use of DOS and Windows, connection with electronic mail, and parallel operation with other systems such as BITNET. (28 references) (MES)

Describes the Consortium for Lexical Research (CLR), a cooperative archive of electronic materials (e.g., software programs, research reports) for lexical research available through the Internet. Discussion covers CLR membership, archive administration, using the facility, types of materials stored, and documentation on materials. Samples of CLR…

Describes the Wide Area Information Servers (WAIS) system, an integrated information retrieval system for corporate end users. Discussion covers general characteristics of the system, search techniques, protocol development, user interfaces, servers, selective dissemination of information, nontextual data, access to other servers, and description…

Follow-up on the 1991 White House Conference on Library and Information Services (WHCLIS) presents President Bush's message to the U.S. Congress on the conference, together with a discussion of WHCLIS resolutions relevant to the concerns of the American Society for Information Science (ASIS). Major concerns are identified as networking,…

Continues a description of the Usenet computer network that began in the previous issue. The effective use of Usenet is discussed, including how to screen out unwanted information, the most helpful newsgroups to access, and setting up news reader software. Ideas for library outreach services via Usenet are also suggested. (LRW)

Defines information infrastructures; discusses their development; and identifies their characteristics, including the technological base and the social context, benefits, costs, governance issues, and needs for future research. Information management literature is reviewed, and the National Research and Education Network is discussed. (Contains 67…