This summary of library initiatives in Louisiana relating to information technology describes academic library initiatives; multitype library initiatives, including library networks that provide access to the Internet; the state library and public library initiatives, including interlibrary loan services; school library initiatives; and state…

Argues that society ought to provide all its school children with access to computers. The authors explain that the dearth of computers in inner-city schools is compounded by the students not having access to computers in their homes. A New York City project that evaluated how technology can improve learning among at-risk students is described.…

Universities worldwide are being confronted simultaneously with three forces of change: new student populations; new technologies; and new ideas regarding teaching, learning, and what it means to be educated. Technology can assist higher education in successfully dealing with the first two challenges. However, new approaches and attitudes toward…

Discussion of new educational information technology applications focuses on faculty use and the gap between expectations and available time and resources. Highlights include the library's role; academic support; and faculty training in using criteria for evaluating new instructional options and using them to meet educational goals that support…

Reports a study of Masters students in records management distance learning course. The 28 students shared a common experience of being a distance learner, though not a common experience of use of information technology (IT). Students benefited from the opportunity to combine employment with study. Drawbacks centered on distance from university…

Presents Part 2--teaching and information services department (ISD) staff perspectives--of a study in the use of information technology (IT) on Masters students in records management distance learning course. Findings showed students' experience had many parallels with that of the teaching and ISD staff when considering the potential of IT with…

Reports findings from a case study of men and women taking information technology courses in one university in the United Kingdom. Observations of the coaching styles of male and female tutors in computer laboratories indicated that there were significant gender differences in coaching styles and student responses to coaching styles. Peer…

The complexity of the information environment, and more uncontrolled distribution and access, lead to new issues for users. Reference services, with a stronger instructional role, must become more proactive in providing a fully developed repertoire of services responsive to the multifaceted queries facing librarians today. (Contains 31…

Reflects on the professional roles and responsibilities as well as opportunities and challenges facing academic reference librarians in light of new technology. Discusses services to undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty; empowering users; library instruction; information literacy; information technology; electronic information; building…

Shows how new terminology related to technological advances has affected communication among library professionals through a literature review and a selective survey of administrators of information technology, public services, and technical services in academic libraries belonging to the Association of Research Libraries. (Author/LRW)

Argues that today's technology supplements traditional means of scholarship and communication. Discusses University of Denver's policy of technology implementation, information technology, interdisciplinarity, changing library environment, information usage and control, and costs. Concludes that future libraries will be defined not by technology…

Suggests levels of uses of the World Wide Web representing a continuum from basic occasional use to advanced continual use common in schools, colleges, and corporate training: no Web use, information Web use, supplemental Web use, essential Web use, communal Web use, and immersive Web use. (AEF)

The University of California San Diego replaced its manual staff merit-increase-recommendation process with an online computer program to reduce workloads and improve the quality of the final recommendations. The highly successful system has been enthusiastically embraced by the campus community and recognized by the National Association of…

Topics of Poster Presentations include: electronic preprints; intranets; poster session abstracts; metadata; information retrieval; watermark images; video games; distributed information retrieval; subject domain knowledge; data mining; information theory; course development; historians' use of pictorial images; information retrieval software;…

Data loggers use sensors to collect environmental data that can be graphed instantly via computer software. A study used four groups of British elementary students to determine the educational benefits of data logging in field situations. Results indicate that data loggers excited the pupils and saved them time recording temperature readings. That…