Offers criteria for the critical evaluation of CD-ROM encyclopedias. Differences between CD-ROM and print encyclopedias are discussed; search strategies are explained; evaluation criteria are suggested, including help messages, screen format, indexing method, and graphics and print options; future considerations are suggested, including…

Suggests that special librarians have dual identity because they work in libraries that support the goals of another profession or organization, and that they sometimes find their professional values to be in conflict with those of the institution. Discussion covers performing at the highest level of service, conflict of interest, confidentiality,…

Describes the development of Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) conformance testing sites, conformance testing tools, and conformance testing services. Discusses related topics such as interoperability testing, arbitration testing, and international harmonization of conformance testing. A glossary is included. (24 references) (SD)

Describes how students can exploit the power and flexibility of computers to find, organize, and store information gathered while conducting research. Describes how students can use computers to compose, revise, and edit their research papers. (RS)

Predicts that, over the next several decades, technological advancements in large scale database construction and maintenance, high speed digital transmission networks, and highly precise intelligent searchware will result in a worldwide information system. A projected model illustrates pricing and retrieval rate changes that may be expected over…

Reviews recent technological advances and developments relating to input devices, storage devices, output/display devices, and multimedia systems. Actual and possible applications of these technologies in the library, publishing, and information environments are discussed. (24 references) (CLB)

Examines the role of nonprofessional staff in information science and the need for education and training of such personnel. The discussion covers available types and methods of education and training and the roles of various agencies and organizations. Subjects outside of the information field which nonprofessional staff may need to study are…

Reviews the literature of librarianship and related behavioral research to identify evaluation methods that have been successfully applied to the analysis of library space planning. The discussion covers the appropriate conditions for the use of various evaluation techniques, including questionnaires, interviews, behavior mapping, time budgets,…

Describes four major types of learning theories (behavioral, cognitive, cybernetic, and andragogical); examines pertinent literature for each; and traces links between the literature of learning theory and that of the design of online public access catalog instructional systems. (32 references) (Author/CLB)

Reviews a general study guide to materials on Iroquois diplomacy collected during a three-year project by the D'Arcy McNickle Center (Newberry Library). Summarizes five interpretative essays included in the guide which place Iroquois treaties in their historical and cultural contexts. (SV)

The first of two articles discusses the advantages of online subject searching, the recall and precision tradeoff, and possible future developments in electronic searching. The second reviews the experiences of academic libraries that offer online searching of bibliographic, full text, and statistical databases in addition to online catalogs. (CLB)

Discusses the use of commercial time sharing systems (BRS, DIALOG, and Dow Jones) by business administration students at the Wharton School, and describes a survey of alumni that examined their use of these systems after graduation. Possible reasons for the low correlation found between use of an online system in school and after graduation are…

Describes the use of fixed point analysis procedures at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals to determine as narrow a range as possible of interlibrary loan turnaround times in science and engineering subjects. The findings are discussed in terms of the complexity of interlibrary loan factors and items determined as relevant for further…

Describes some of the available software and hardware tools that can be used to develop a decision support system implemented on microcomputers. Activities that should be supported by software are discussed, including data entry, data coding, finding and combining data, and data compatibility. Hardware considerations include speed, storage…

Argues that it is vital that librarians understand the issues and stakes involved in the electronic dissemination of government information. Areas discussed include the background of electronic dissemination of federal government information, issues and initiatives that have emerged in 1989, and actions that might be taken by concerned librarians…