Reviews the events and the literature of 1986-90 concerned with the pricing of research and professional materials for libraries. Serials are discussed, including pricing studies and price indexes, publisher's views, and the need for a new paradigm of scholarly publishing; monographs are considered; and electronic publishing is addressed,…

Twelve U.S. experts on energy policies individually offer perspectives about which priorities should be enlisted with respect to the current energy policy of the United States. In their analyses, these experts unanimously agree that the biggest U.S. problem is an increasing dependence upon imported oil. (JJK)

Addresses the inadequacies of traditional methods of library financing and proposes a strategy to be implemented in an environment supported by automation and networks. Publisher pricing of data rather than publications, options for charging library users with debit cards, and the role of regional library networks are discussed. (EAM)

Showcases international juvenile titles that present international perspectives for educators, librarians, and parents seeking materials with alternative cultural content and context. The 21 books listed are renditions of folktales and traditional stories. A directory of publishers and distributors is included. (SLD)

Updates knowledge about the representation of occupations on prime-time network dramatic television using data on 14,902 television characters, and explores how these representations may be related to perceptions of over 3,000 high school students about their future work. Television may be doing young people a disservice in its portrayals. (SLD)

Describes an annual forum of academic and public librarians from the United States and Mexico that discusses common interests such as resource sharing, collection development, and literacy programs and considers longer-range programs. Sidebar articles cover Spanish language publishing in the United States and an annual book fair held in Mexico for…

Discussion of electronic information access in libraries focuses on five areas that impact quality and cost: (1) hardware, including networking, graphics, and full-text capabilities; (2) software; (3) access and utilization, including Internet and instruction and training; (4) licensing, including suggestions for publishers as well as librarians;…

Analysis of the term "communicative" as used by scholars and realized in textbooks suggests a gap between theory and practice and substantial differences between the perspectives held by scholars and those held by instructors, publishers, and others. Differences are reviewed and their sources traced to attempts to adapt the term itself to existing…

Labor quality is a chief concern of both rural and urban manufacturing employers. New skills required by advanced technology explain part of the problem, but dissatisfaction with work attitude is common to high- and low-tech employers. Lack of a high school diploma is linked to problems with worker skills and attitude. Employers are increasing…

Examines the connection between higher education and economic development in Massachusetts. It appears the elite model of the world-class research university sparking numerous industry spin-offs has been joined by newer, diffusion-oriented models of academic outreach that extend from the community colleges into the workplace, even into elementary…

Maintains that a proper understanding of the Augustin Cournot model of imperfect competition and strategic interactions among firms in various contexts is essential for economics education. Although most models rely on complicated algebra, this one requires nothing more than high school level geometry. Includes a graphical analysis. (MJP)

Of three reinvention avenues (market forces, limited competition, and systemic change), the last offers most hope for public schoolchildren. The new economy's most precious resource is people, not technology. Like the Broad Foundation, schools should enlist talented people, redefine roles, build leadership capacity, provide incentives for results,…

Debate grows over the validity and reliability of college and university rankings, which judge rather than describe institutions, as the public's willingness to accept them increases. While many institutional characteristics can be measured, measurement methods need improvement. One solution is to publish the peer studies that the institutions…

Describes six information technology projects in California libraries, including Internet access in public libraries; digital library developments at the University of California, Berkeley; the World Wide Web home page for the state library; Pacific Bell's role in statewide connectivity; state government initiatives; and services of the state…

Describes the Fund for Appalachian Industrial Retraining (FAIR) program, which has trained over 14,000 multiskilled workers in Appalachian manufacturing in the last four years. FAIR works with firms in 18 Appalachian Ohio counties, arranging onsite and offsite programs and providing matching funds for customized training. (SAS)