Reports on a project which developed a measure of levels of difficulty of reference questions handled by the California Interlibrary Reference Referral Network, and identified indicative measures that would reliably stand for the concept of difficulty. Correlations of predictive difficulty and actual difficulty are discussed. (nine references)…

Discusses the use of online networks for distance education based on a workshop sponsored by the Australian Open Learning Information Network. Topics addressed include Pegasus, an Australian electronic network; the perspectives of teachers and students who were involved with online distance education courses; and services provided by ILANET…

Discussion of the use of electronic networking systems by women focuses on a study of their use of the Public Electronic Network (PEN) in Santa Monica (California). Characteristics of PEN that contributed to female adoption are described; gender, political participation, and motivation are examined; and future research is suggested. (46…

Describes several theoretical models developed to measure the effectiveness of an electronic mail (e-mail) system for scholastic and professional communications. Results of a test of the models with the e-mail system of the Chinese-American Librarians Association's Midwest Chapter are discussed. (17 references) (LRW)

Examines groups of business writing students containing high- and low-apprehensive writers, communicating about writing in both a face-to-face setting and through electronic mail. Concludes that, for both types of writers, collaboratively planning documents on e-mail enhanced the collaborative process. (MM)

The friendship choices of 335 elementary school students were examined 6 times during a school year. Race, sex, and popularity status (both as individual characteristics and structural factors of triads) were found to affect transition from stable transitive friendship triplets to unstable intransitive ones. Contains 18 references. (SV)

Discusses the scope of the Information Revolution, considers initiatives for harnessing information technology, and proposes a research agenda. Seven appendices detail specific initiatives relating to a global communication network, a Council for North American Information, the news media, a pan-European security information agency, multinational…

Compares the language of business writing students communicating face to face and on a real-time computer network. Finds that during network meetings, participation was more equal, responses more substantive and text specific, and students more willing to offer direction than during face-to-face meetings. Notes more positive evaluations by…

Both a classification of the relatively new standards-setting consortia and a theoretical basis for their emergence are developed. It is noted that the theory is based on the confluence of political theory and the theory of markets, and the implications of these consortia for the standards-setting process are considered from theoretical and…

Report of the 1992 Medical Library Association (MLA) conference summarizes debates on librarians as chief information officers, electronic access versus ownership, electronic publishing and journal prices, and Total Quality Management. The role of the National Library of Medicine is discussed, and MLA honors and awards are listed. (MES)

Practical time management and task management advice is offered to small college communications office personnel. Workers must know how to establish priorities and stick to them, what their limits are and how to leverage time, how to promote themselves and their work, when to tap outside resources, and how to network. (MSE)

Computers dedicated to supporting beginning teachers are like first aid kits. Both are inexpensive, simple to use, and intended to address minor problems and prevent the development of more serious complications. Both rely on self-analysis and are nonevaluative. Electronic networks offer the assurance of easily accessible, nonjudgmental resources…

Explores the relationship between collection development and the system of scholarly communication in academic libraries. Ownership of versus access to information is discussed; use-based criteria are considered; and strategies for collection development in a networked electronic system are presented. (Contains 17 references.) (LRW)

Documentation of computer network use at five colleges and universities is being used to promote more widespread adoption of the technology. The reports cite improved communication among students, faculty, and administrators, and credit international networks with enhancing higher education around the world. (MSE)

Collaboration between professions or disciplines or across distances is discussed. A definition of collaboration is offered, processes and factors making collaboration difficult are identified, and two features of networked communication (access equalization and social equalization) that are important to collaboration are examined. (Author/MSE)