Considers whether the corporate sector is aware of information literacy as a new economy skills set and a solution to information overload. Discusses terminology used in the business sector to describe aspects of information literacy and explains the definition of information literacy used by Australian academic libraries. (Author/LRW)

Suggests that the library has morphed into a new "place," one that has been enhanced by technology in a manner transcending just new databases and actually informing new educational practice. (EV)

Revisions to Internet standards, the Next Generation Internet Protocol (IPng), will be tested with initiatives such as Internet II, a high-speed Internet being developed by a consortium of universities, and the vBNS, a National Science Foundation and MCI project. Argues that librarians should be aware of these changes if they want to participate…

Considers the use of the phrase "customer service" with reference to libraries and their users' needs, expectations, and satisfaction. Librarians' perceptions of those being served, and the public's view of library workers, are discussed, and a sidebar examines the history of fee-based subscription libraries. (LRW)

Describes how to explain the organization of a library to elementary school students by making an analogy of a library being like a state: each state is made up of towns and neighborhoods as libraries are made up of areas for fiction and nonfiction. Includes a worksheet. (LRW)

Proposes that a cost model specific to preserving authentic electronic records be developed. Topics include financial challenges of processes involved in preserving electronic records; financial management tools to support the decision-making processes that archives and libraries use; digital resources and data types; and baseline requirements…

Explains the Bookends program, which combats a community's lack of books for its children. Describes how this grassroots nonprofit organization collects books for schools and youth organizations that either do not have operating libraries or have libraries that are so depleted that they cannot adequately provide all of their children with books to…

Describes the ways in which cultural factors shape interaction and perceptions in distance education and suggests implications for librarians and other information professionals. Reports an informal analysis of discourse in four university classes that examined text in journal assignments and email communications and considers community and…

Focuses on the Metadata Object Description Schema (MODS) developed by the Library of Congress' Network Development and MARC Standards Office. Discuses reasons for MODS development; advantages of MODS; features of MODS; prospective uses for MODS; relationship with MARC and MARCXML; comparison with Dublin Core element set; and experimentation with…

Includes 14 articles that explore school library programs based on quantifiable data and serious investigation. Topics include libraries and student success; accountability; political issues; principals' attitudes; gender; and motivation. (LRW)

Describes the political process behind the Uniform Computer Information Transaction Act (UCITA), a new article of the Uniform Commercial Code, and implications for academic libraries and higher education. Uses group theory as a conceptual framework and draws conclusions regarding the higher education community's responses to future public policy…

Discusses results of a survey designed to investigate the role of technology in research, both from the instructor and student standpoints. Results indicate a wide discrepancy between instructor and student expectations and methods, as well as an increasing demand on the part of students for full-text sources. (Author/LRW)

Discusses commercially available electronic books (e-books) and implications for librarians. Highlights include factors that influence its dissemination and use, including type of library, access methods, and the vendor; copyright; digital rights management; e-book hardware, including PDAs (personal digital assistances); comparing content vendors;…

Discusses picture books that are suitable for teens, particularly middle school readers, and provides detailed reviews for five titles that have appealing story themes and illustrations including: Tony Millionaires' Sock Monkey: A Children's Book; Mick Foley's Christmas Chaos; Mick Foley's Halloween Hijinx; The Book of Jack; and Moby Dick. (LRW)

This introduction presents a framework for discussing hypertext, previews individual articles, and discusses some relations of hypertext to library science. Historical notes are also provided, as well as biographical information on the authors of individual articles in this special section. (16 references) (CLB)