Describes the formation and role of a consortium for cooperative purchasing formed by the Council of Chief Librarians for the California Community Colleges in fall 1998 called the Electronic Access and Resources Committee. Its charge is to evaluate electronic, proprietary databases and negotiate prices for the community colleges as a group. (VWC)

The pressures facing community colleges--budgetary constraints, competition, mission confusion, student diversity, and changing faculty needs--can be turned into growth opportunities related to four areas: leadership, database management, diversified instruction and student services, and formalized faculty development. (SK)

Developed in accordance with a legislative mandate, this master plan for Connecticut's regional community colleges provides baseline data on the current status of data processing; identifies issues, trends, and constraints; and sets forth specific plans for computing activities and services within the community college system. Introductory…