Presents a history of information science and examines research problems that confront information science historians. Concludes that information science researchers need to draw on a range of related historical studies such as the history of science and technology, printing and publishing, and information institutions such as libraries, archives,…

Describes a study that investigated the place and role of citation analysis in information science literature and in other social science disciplines. Discipline-specific observations are discussed and show that two application areas predominate: the validity of citation as an evaluation tool, and impact or performance studies of authors,…

Discusses communication theory and practice for public library administrators. The purposes and necessity of information are examined, the attitudes and awareness of administrators and staff are discussed, obstacles to internal communication are described, and how to conduct a communications audit to appraise an existing communication system is…

Presents a model of four factors differentiating significant from routine research--behavioral patterns of problem formulation, economic analyses of information seeking, psychological schemes of optimal effort, and basic dilemmas of the theory-practice gap. Within this context, four myths dominating the research process in library and information…

Reports results of a survey conducted by the British Library to identify distance education packages relating to library and information science (LIS) education in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Resistance to distance education in LIS is discussed and attitudes toward distance education are…

Presents arguments for the importance of a historical approach in the library and information science curriculum. Highlights include learning from past mistakes; understanding the reason for successful ventures; censorship and intellectual freedom; professional identity; and integrating historical background into each course. (Contains five…

Provides an overview to this issue which focuses on information resources and democracy. Topics discussed include theories of democracy and the shifting information environment from an informing environment to one that is involving; the nature of information systems; censorship and economics; the content of information resources; and political…

Describes Portugal's role in the development of a European information market. Highlights include the role of the European Economic Community, particularly the Commission of the European Communities; information management education at the University of Sheffield in Portugal; and future possibilities. (eight references) (LRW)

Discusses a bibliometric analysis of the first 12 volumes of the International Journal of Behavioral Development (IJBD) that used data from PSYCINFO and Social Scisearch. The IJBD is compared to other journals in the field. Changes in IJBD's focus, and the internationality of its authorship and reception, are discussed. (GH)

Describes how an interactive text retrieval system with natural language queries is used in information studies education. The benefits of programing methods involving encapsulation and inheritance are explained in terms of reusability and extendibility, and future plans to produce a library of reusable objects for information retrieval are…

Discussion of the 1991 White House Conference on Library and Information Services focuses on scientific productivity and access to scientific information. The role of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) is described, the 1979 conference is discussed, and the need for a national information policy is emphasized. (15…

Argues that vitae of library and information science (LIS) faculty reveal interest in themes pertinent to information policy and skills essential to participation in political arenas, but that research activity supporting expert advisory roles is currently weak. It is suggested that LIS faculty should participate in policy formation when their…

Reports results of a qualitative study of Australian library educators regarding the broadening of library education to include other information professions. Respondents are categorized as conservers (showing little enthusiasm for expanding the boundaries of library education) and expansionists (seeing expansion as desirable). Major themes…

Presents a statistical survey of international students' enrollment in American library and information science schools from the late 1880s to 1988. Data are presented regarding home countries of foreign students, and trends are identified, including the increase in the number of Asian students and a decrease in the number of European students.…

Combines ideas from mythology, folklore, and library and information science to conclude that information overload is a myth of modern culture. Reports results of a pilot project intended to describe information overload experienced by a particular folk group composed of future library and information professionals. (Author/LRW)