Provides several examples of drawbacks encountered when technological improvements are applied to the public access of library databases. Suggests that technological advances all carry some trade-off and that they should be employed cautiously. (NRP)

Discussion of the use of full-text CD-ROMs in libraries focuses on a study of graduate students at Penn State University's Great Valley campus who used Business Periodicals Ondisc. Highlights include a user satisfaction survey, user profile, impact on interlibrary loan requests, cost effectiveness, and impact on subscriptions. (LRW)

An important part of reference services is the quality of print and electronic resources; information needs and behaviors of humanists must be considered as tools are designed for the humanities. Reviews studies of the research habits of humanists; discusses work habits, library use, design of access and indexing systems, and electronic resources.…

Discusses the restructuring of the Mankato, Minnesota school media program, accomplished by merging library and technology programs. Addresses time frame; necessary equipment and resources; computer networking; scheduled in-service training; and involvement of parents, teachers, and the school board. A sidebar lists five elements vital to a…

Discusses new technology for research and pedagogy in the electronic age and gives examples of usage. The role of librarians as knowledge managers and the development of automated instructional systems for higher education are also considered; and a selected bibliography of 25 titles by the author is included. (10 references) (EA)

Explores the dynamics of information system use to understand the requirements of intelligent information systems. Highlights include the novice/expert distinction and the development of skills from novice to expert; methods for understanding dynamics; and a study of elementary school children's use of an online public access catalog in grades…

Reports results of 1990 study that examined user satisfaction with OPACs (online public access catalogs) at 5 Ontario universities through interviews with 2,916 students and faculty members. Data on OPAC and computer experience, learning methods, and the effects of several variables on satisfaction are analyzed for the entire sample and for each…

This annotated bibliography for school library media specialists and teachers lists 34 recent books that encourage reading by Spanish-speaking students or others who wish to learn Spanish. Grade levels are indicated for each title, and a list of U.S. dealers for books in Spanish for children and adolescents is included. (LRW)

Includes seven articles that discuss how to motivate middle school, junior high, and senior high school students to read. Highlights include problems in encouraging recreational reading; magazines; activities to promote books and reading; an annotated bibliography of books on Columbus and other explorers; women's history activities; and gender…

Fundamental changes in the economic structure of library and information services are forcing a reexamination of values and policies. Technological advances are shifting the debate from "fee or free" services to broader issues; and changes in the way information is created, valued, and distributed are changing public- and private-sector…

Examines the last 20 years of developments in the information profession, pinpoints the realities and possibilities new technologies represent, and discusses what technology offers the user. Cultural issues raised by the information age are discussed. Limits to free circulation of information are described, and the steps needed to remove obstacles…

Provides background on distance education via television and computer, and lists resources to develop information services for teachers and students. The resource list includes background and history, journals and periodicals, cable and satellite resources, centers and support services, and related resources on distance education, e-mail…

Describes a study that examined the perceptions and attitudes of international students toward library and information science programs in the United States. Questionnaires from international doctoral students were used to answer questions about their academic concerns, relevance of programs to their own countries and needs, and faculty attitudes…

Describes how the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) and several other databases were added to the online public access catalog at Indiana State University, and explores impacts of enhancing access in this manner at several academic libraries. Telecommunications and software design consideration are also discussed, together with…

Discusses difficulties parents encounter when they play with their disabled child and the inappropriateness of some commercial toys for disabled children. Also describes the development of adapted toys and of toy lending libraries for young disabled children. (BB)