Reviews the literature on local area network (LAN) installation and describes the installation of a CD-ROM LAN at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Saudi Arabia). Server evaluation and installation, access menu, user training, LAN licensing, campus-wide networking, the impact of networking, and future projects planned are…

With teaching, shelving books, and ordering and processing materials, one media specialist found it increasingly hard to meet the hardware and software needs of staff and students. Describes how she implemented a program for employing students in grades 4-6 to provide simple maintenance for educational technology. Discusses task determination,…

Examined the job satisfaction levels of American and international college and university media specialists. Discusses findings in terms of the work itself, human relations and related policies, and the physical-economic environment. An average level of "general satisfaction" was found, and the greatest differences in job satisfaction…

Describes the design of a Common Molecules collection that provides interactive tools for 3-D visualization of molecules. The organizational design provides not only structural information, but also historical and/or key information on the properties of the molecules in the collection. Describes student use of the collection and the role of…

Documents the reasons for embargoes of academic journals in full text databases (i.e., publisher-imposed delays on the availability of full text content) and provides insight regarding common misconceptions. Tables present data on selected journals covering a cross-section of subjects and publishers and comparing two full text business databases.…

Explains the use of Web-based software for communication between classroom teachers and school library media specialists. Discusses threaded discussion forums; experiences using that forum by the AASL (American Association of School Librarians) at the American Library Association (ALA) preconference; and forum software. (LRW)

Discusses strategies that teachers and school librarians can use for building student understanding of content and the research process. Topics include the interdependence of information skills; being aware of students' prior knowledge and experience; comparing data; and building the research process with information processing skills. (LRW)

Discusses electronic journals available on the World Wide Web, particularly in the field of education. Highlights include hypermedia journals; journals, the Internet, and education and learning theory; journal formats; the role of the librarian; and concerns, including archiving, copyright, updating, and subscriptions. (LRW)

Describes the Young Critics Club at Perrot Memorial Library in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, a forum for readers in grades 5-8. Lists rules for members, provides examples of critical responses, and describes two other youth book review boards. Also includes an annotated bibliography of guides for book discussion groups and top choice and honor books…

As the World Wide Web grows, it becomes harder to find specific information. Argues that the Web needs to be cataloged and that librarians are best qualified to do it. Discusses the differing philosophies of computer scientists and librarians and problems in keyword searching, archiving, user needs, universal access, and fair use. (PEN)

At the Technical University of Budapest (Hungary), abstracting is taught in "Professional Documentation," a class designed to make Hungarian students of English translation familiar with written genres that are not translation but which a translator might be required to write: calls for papers, scientific articles, research proposals and…

Discusses the use of electronic portfolios by school library media specialists for professional development as a resume, an evaluation instrument, or other types of credential documentation. Includes guidelines for building a successful portfolio, including appropriate software selection; audience considerations; and technology skill…

Focuses on the impact of a family reading project on parents and library staff in an English borough and the partnerships it fostered between organizations involved in the initiative. Considers the project's impact on parents, public libraries and schools. Notes that one of the most important benefits of the partnership courses was pleasure…

Presents eight current projects involving faculty in the University of Washington's Department of Technical Communication that illustrate the broadening of the field. Notes these projects address: the cognitive processing of visual material; Web-based education; strategic management of information; communicating science and technology in the…

This study develops and tests an instrument useful for evaluating the quality of academic library Web sites. Discusses criteria for print materials and human-computer interfaces; user-based perspectives; the use of factor analysis; a survey of library experts; testing reliability through analysis of variance; and regression models. (Contains 53…