Characteristics of community activities and social support networks of 27 adults with mental retardation living in semi-independent apartments were compared to those of 27 similar adults without mental retardation. Among findings was that retarded adults did not perceive themselves as socially isolated though their actual social integration was…

Described are the formation, goals, and activities of a network of teachers and students designed to help raise consciousness about conservation topics. A two-week minicourse on tropical diversity, ecology, and society is outlined. (CW)

Collected self-report data on 6 different types of social support and 3 distress symptoms from 37 pretest clients who participated in 6 counseling center therapy groups (26 completed posttests). Significant improvement in symptoms was noted during the 8-week interventions, and was related to the availability of social support, largely from sources…

Explores the impact of rapidly changing information technology on the future of the scholarly journal. A discussion focuses on how such digital electronic media as word processors, fax machines, and electronic libraries could change journal format, printing medium, quality of information, centralization of journals, and costs. (CB)

Describes an automated interlibrary loan request routing and referral system made available to U.S. biomedical libraries by the National Library of Medicine. The description covers the databases used and the systems modules that support various functions. The current status of the system and possible future developments are discussed. (six…

Identifies the questions librarians should ask before adopting local online, and compares the advantages and disadvantages of CD-ROM and site database systems. User reactions to local online are discussed and the impact of such systems on reference services and the reference librarian's job content are examined. (CLB)

The campus library is no longer a self-sufficient repository of publications and information. Only well-organized library networks will be able to manage the expanding amounts of information that modern technological systems are already generating. However, collaborative collection development has been slow because it challenges the traditional…

Discusses the use of systematic networks as a basis for the construction of a questionnaire on teachers' views of the philosophy of science. Describes issues of the scientific method, criteria of demarcation, patterns of scientific change, and the status of scientific knowledge from four philosophical positions. (Author/YP)

Introduces an effort by the Alliance for Environmental Education to establish a network of environmental education centers. Describes the components of a model of the network. Explains the evolution of the network strategy. (CW)

Describes the development and current status of a campus-wide computer network at Brown University. Topics discussed include the principles that guided network development; services available through the network; current structure of the network; and university support for the network. (CLB)

Describes the process of building electronic communities using the AT&T Long Distance Learning Network that enables groups of teachers and learners to work collaboratively in a global context on topics that are part of their curriculum. (MG)

The National Diffusion Network was established by the United States Department of Education to disseminate information about effective educational practices and programs. Nine Network-approved programs for gifted education are described, such as "Public and Private School Collaboration,""Critical Analysis and Thinking Skills,"…

Reviews research on family processes that affect the socioemotional functioning of children in poor families and families in economic decline. (PCB)

Discusses the current status of 4 developments that will determine the emergence of generally available multimedia information services: high-bandwidth networks; inexpensive user appliances capable of handling multimedia; adoption of standards for representation, compression, packaging, and transmission; and development of a corpus of multimedia…

Surveys four possible types of multimedia computer systems: hypermedia, multimedia database, multimedia message, and virtual reality systems. The potential use of multimedia computer systems as public access systems in libraries is discussed, including fiscal, legal, organizational, standardization, and technological challenges that would have to…