This directory contains profiles of 89 adult education documentation and information services worldwide that are interested in international cooperation and networking. The foreword and executive summary are in English, French, Spanish, and German. These are followed by a discussion of the survey that collected information contained in the…

This guide describes ERIC as an information system sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education that gathers, selects, abstracts, and indexes documents and articles on a wide range of education topics. The guide provides information on the following: (1) how to get started using ERIC; (2) how to use a computer to access the ERIC database; (3) how…

This guide contains hundreds of annotated listings of books and databases that can: tell the writer where to find the facts for fiction and non-fiction; eliminate trial and error searches; and speed an information hunt so that there will be more time to write. Each entry in the guide reveals how current the material is and what the content and…

This paper evaluates four tools for creating World Wide Web pages that interface with Microsoft Access databases: DB Gateway, Internet Database Assistant (IDBA), Microsoft Internet Database Connector (IDC), and Cold Fusion. The system requirements and features of each tool are discussed. A sample application, "The Virtual Help Desk"…

Many reference librarians still rely on manual searches to access vertical files, ready reference files, and other information stored in card files, drawers, and notebooks scattered around the reference department. Automated access to these materials via microcomputers using database management software may speed up the process. This study focuses…

This book is geared for beginners in the use of personal computers for everyday academic purposes. The information is generic, and is not directed exclusively to IBM users, Macintosh users or NeXT users. The chapters focus on the following topics: (1) introduction to the purpose of the book; (2) personal computer systems such as hardware and…

REDUC is a cooperative network of some 23 associated centers in 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries. The REDUC coordinating center is located in Santiago, Chile. REDUC produces a bibliographic database containing analytical summaries (approximately 800 items annually) of the most important research studies and project descriptions in the…

This paper begins with an overview of ERIC that provides background on the system's decentralized structure, the bibliographic database, document availability, and ERIC publications. The historical development of ERIC from the early 1960s is described and illustrated with a chronology of selected major ERIC events from 1965 to 1991 and a table…

This paper compares strengths and weaknesses of the Lexis and Westlaw computer assisted legal research systems. Their powerful full text document delivery capabilities are contrasted with their inherent limitations as information retrieval systems. The objective here is to alert users to the complexities of online legal searching and the necessity…

Currently available spreadsheet programs for microcomputers provide many features that can be very useful for evaluators and researchers. Some of the basic concepts involved in spreadsheet use are introduced, and information is provided on the use of spreadsheets in maintaining and analyzing evaluation data. The spreadsheet used in the discussion…

These two evaluation updates cover segments of the third phase of the Apprenticeship Training Materials Clearinghouse project, which is being conducted at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon. The first update evaluates activities related to the following project objectives: conduct a field test on clearinghouse services; revise the model…

Due to legislative mandate, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) was required to develop a system (the Education Management Information System) that would increase the amount of information available to state-level policy makers and the public. Some recommendations for improving the function of EMIS are offered in this report. The text provides…

This digest discusses advantages and disadvantages of CD-ROM use in libraries and information centers and lists features of three CD-ROM versions of the ERIC database--Dialog OnDisc ERIC, OCLC Search CD450, and SilverPlatter ERIC. Brief descriptions of these products focus on the differences among them, including equipment requirements, search…

This resource directory provides a selective listing of electronic networks, online databases, and bulletin boards that highlight technology-related services and products. For each resource, the following information is provided: name, address, and telephone number; description; target audience; hardware/software needs to access the system;…

This paper summarizes information about using computer hardware and software to aid in making purchase decisions that are based on user needs. The two major options in hardware are IBM-compatible machines and the Apple Macintosh line. The three basic software applications include word processing, database management, and spreadsheet applications.…