A small, private, liberal arts college whose library had been found unsatisfactory during accreditation transformed the library by placing it in the same reporting structure as academic and administrative computing and telecommunications. Application of strategic planning and organizational theory smoothed the transition by modifying central…

Reviews studies of humanists' use of information and discusses three characteristics of the behavior of humanists in relation to trends in the application of new information technologies to the humanities: (1) reluctance to ask questions of reference librarians; (2) regard for influential peers; and (3) concentration on research specializations.…

Discusses rapid changes in use of computers and related technologies in colleges and universities; the impact of current inequities in precollege access and use of computers experienced by African-American, Hispanic, and American Indian students; and strategies and recommendations to enhance the computer competence of minority students in colleges…

Explores the changing role of the library and the importance of developing a strategic technology policy. An approach to technology that includes a review of the technology base, continuing education, improved hiring practices, innovative organizational design, and greater involvement of libraries in research and development is recommended. (six…

Presents 101 variables for use in developing a microcomputing profile and determining the type of microcomputing management appropriate for a library. Variables are presented in 16 categories, including the larger institutional, library, and financial profiles; administration's stance on microcomputing; user profiles; training and support for…

This overview of the 1991 EDUCOM meeting in San Diego, California, reviews and summarizes the general sessions; panel discussions on integrated library systems and computer networks; and sessions on information management, women in computing, information technology planning, intellectual property, telecommunications issues, information use,…

Development of Arizona State University's computing architecture, designed to ensure that all new distributed computing pieces will work together, is described. Aspects discussed include the business rationale, the general architectural approach, characteristics and objectives of the architecture, specific services, and impact on the university…

Addresses the identity politics of modern communication and information technologies. These technologies embody social relations of domination and dependence, especially in their construction of specific forms of human subjectivity. The political implications of these construction systems are explored. Six recommendations for political work in…

The University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School introduced a "distributed" organization for managing computing support services. The hybrid structure combined elements of centralized computing and departmental computing by placing computing personnel in the departments, under central management. The program covers a wide range of support…

It is argued that, with the emergence of new technologies, the traditional missions and "domains" of academic libraries and campus computing services need to be adjusted to support collaboration. Specific collaborative projects linked to strategic plans are recommended over forced mergers or overly ambitious multigoal projects. (MSE)

Describes the implementation of the Integrated Information Center at the University of Minnesota that was developed to evaluate a model for integrating information delivery in a networked campus environment. Organizational factors that shaped its development are discussed, including the lack of a campuswide information policy and a lack of…

Analyzes information technology used in networks and cooperative systems to access primary documents and its impact on the information industry. The concordance between old and new technologies in traditional and virtual libraries is considered. Discussion includes the resulting paradoxes, such as more people accessing relatively smaller…

Reviews the use of spatial data and information technology by environmental managers and emergency responders. Discussion includes environmental legislation, the Toxic Chemical Release Inventory (TRI) database, public access to environmental information, information standardization problems, emergency response software development and a case study…

Tom Corddry, Microsoft Corporation's Creative Director for the Consumer Division, is interviewed about the Microsoft Home line of products and the development of related CD-ROM and multimedia products. Reasons for Microsoft's entry into the content market and its challenges, the market's future, and the company's interest in developing online…

Examines recent developments in health informatics from a historical and global perspective relating to information management through the interdisciplinary application of information science and technology for the benefits of patients, staff, scientists, managers, and caregivers. Highlights include competition; the World Health Organization;…