Challenges faced by institutions of higher education when performing institutional research on different continents are examined. The discussion is based on the experiences of two universities with undergraduate programs in foreign countries. Three levels of organizational activity (strategic, managerial, operational) and several information…

Discusses school librarians' use of telecommunications to provide access to electronic resources and information databases outside the school library. Examples are given of services provided through the Internet, including electronic mail, file transfer protocol, Gopher, Wide Area Information Server, and World Wide Web. (five references) (LRW)

The St. Petersburg Community College District (Florida) has embarked on a $9 million project to create a computer network among its seven campuses, putting a computer on the desk of each teacher and administrator. Three computer companies formed a partnership to support the venture, contributing about $3 million worth of equipment. (MSE)

Highlights a rural Montana family's experience with limited availability of special-education personnel and services for their severely disabled son. Suggests ways to improve rural special education services, including a flexible planning process, partnerships with university programs, use of information technology, and support networks. (KS)

Discusses information retrieval standards as tools for interoperability among systems and traces the development of de jure and de facto standards in the U.S. and international telecommunications environment. Implementation of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) and Z39.50 standards is described. (EA)

Recommends ways in which the National Science Foundation can promote educational reform through the development of a national telecommunications system accessible to all schools and through support for project-enhanced science learning. Describes existing networks, factors in making a national network useful and accessible to teachers, and…

Officials from higher education, government, and industry are examining ways to create and maintain a nationwide computerized information network. Issues include the choice of technology, locus of responsibility, financial support, copyrights, and making the system useful for the majority of individuals. (MSE)

Provides an overview of the American Library Association (ALA) 1992 annual conference. Highlights include the keynote speech by former President Jimmy Carter; technological issues, including the Z39.50 standard, networking, and legal and ethical concerns; career growth possibilities; ALA council issues, including Israeli censorship and library…

Focuses on the economic, social, and legal aspects of copyright issues that need to be addressed by rightsholders and users in a computer networked environment. The Electronic Copyright Management System, a project that demonstrates procedures for handling copyright works, is described. Key sections of the copyright law are reviewed. (Contains six…

Discusses the importance of developing a national communications and information infrastructure to meet short-term needs. The Electronic Frontier Foundation's Open Platform Proposal, based on ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is described, and recommendations for public policy criteria for evaluating infrastructure proposals are included.…

Discussion of electronic mail and computer-mediated communication focuses on local bulletin board systems (BBSs) that run on microcomputers. Uses in education and businesses are described, computer requirements and costs are outlined, bulletin board software is discussed, and echo networking is explained. (Four references) (LRW)

Several scientific organizations are ready to distribute refereed science periodicals aimed at wide audiences over computer networks. If the experiments succeed, they may stimulate a major shift in the nature of scholarly communication. Some are concerned about the quality of the journals, their reputation, apparent transience of computerized…

Traces the development of national computer networks and discusses the need for the National Research and Education Network (NREN). Topics discussed include ARAPNET, Internet, BITNET, NSFNET, the role of the government, legislative status, the Coalition for Networked Information, policy issues, technological requirements, and libraries and NREN.…

Considers possible influences of technology on children and children's literature. Topics discussed include the Internet; multimedia picture books; storytelling; and the personal relationship involved when children and adults are reading together that may not be replicated with technology. (LRW)

Discusses the commonly accepted human right to information, access to information in highly computerized societies, and protection of the interests of users of information. Considers the potential for morally doubtful or illegal activities that is created by easy access to computer networks and information services. Technical,…