Considers the changes that new digital technology will bring to the cable television industry. Topics addressed include the media industry, including telephone companies, television networks, and cable companies; federal regulation; increased channel capacity; costs of mass media; monopolies; education on cable; electronic delivery of newspapers…

Although the 1976 copyright law provides teachers with specific rights and defenses concerning classroom use of copyrighted materials, litigation by publishers has affected college policies. Teachers should be educated concerning assertion of their rights, which will be lost if they are not used. Also, greater protection should be assured by…

Evaluation of industrial research and development (R&D) must be simple and low cost, and it must contribute to corporate goals without distracting researchers from their research. These points are illustrated with reference to General Electric's Research and Development Center, which is the company's corporate laboratory. (SLD)

The Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing Systems at Marshall University (Huntington, West Virginia) is part of a nationwide network of teaching factories where manufacturers can learn new, more competitive production technologies. The institute has helped several local manufacturing companies develop computer programs to…

Current Population Survey data indicate that value-added industries, which tend to use raw lumber and agricultural products as inputs, employed one-third of all rural manufacturing workers in 1996. Compared to other rural manufacturing workers, value-added workers generally had lower occupational status, less education, and lower incomes, and were…

Reports on the use of book reviews as selection tools to establish the reputations of publishers. Examines the quality of books of several presses, and compares each publisher against a control sample, finding discernible variations in how reviewers express themselves about books. Discusses the relationship between price and qualit,y and…

Describes the benefits of using visits to industries to help future teachers appreciate the potential of industry links for developing children's understanding in science and issues related to industrial development such as environmental and ethical concerns. (Author/WRM)

Addresses the need to alert undergraduates in engineering to the idea that excellence in the classroom is only half the equation in preparing to be an effective professional. Recommends that students learn in the workplace as well. (DDR)

Using 1940-90 Censuses, a study of changes in male wage inequality and skill premiums shows that relative demand for most skilled workers rose steadily over the years. The pace of industrial change, especially in blue-collar manufacturing, was inversely related to the overall growth in wage inequality. (SK)

Discussion of Web sites that are related to books and reading and would be of interest to library patrons focuses on 10 sites, including publisher's sites, book reviews, mysteries, children's literature, the Library of Congress's Center for the Book, and relevant e-mail newsletters. (LRW)

Vision 2008, a gathering of technology and library experts, was an unprecedented industry think-tank developed by 3M Library Systems as a means by which the future of libraries could be projected. Participants worked together to map out a best scenario for libraries of the future. Creative thinking and cooperative working were two ideas that the…

Proposes that Appalachia pursue an economic development strategy based on exporting knowledge and training. Partnerships between governments, private utilities, and institutions of higher learning could improve the telecommunications infrastructure, establish new learning products companies, instruct adults at their home and work places, expand…

Analyzes the "Journal of the American Society for Information Science's (JASIS's)" and its immediate predecessor, "American Documentation's," position in library and information science journal rankings published during the last half-century. Concludes that journal rankings represent a frequently overlooked tool of value to…

Examines whether the time has come for electronic books to have a leading role in book publishing. Highlights the trends and issues, including hardware and software appliances, formatting standards, and legal issues and rights. Gives profiles of the major e-publishing companies and products to watch. (AEF)

Describes a survey of academic political science librarians that assessed the overall quality of political science books published by 62 publishers, both academic and commercial. Results are reported, analyzed, and compared to a similar survey of members of the American Political Science Association. (Contains 9 references.) (Author/LRW)