Discusses the relationship between prior computer experiences and the linear or nonlinear steps students choose when working with hypermedia environments and time spent on task (based on a study of graduate students). Experience with content-area software, word processing, databases, spreadsheets, programming, hypermedia, and authoring are…

Describes online information sources for Japanese business, scientific, and technical developments. Highlights include English language materials versus the need for translation from Japanese; government research; scientific and technical information; patent information; corporate financial information; business information from newswires and…

Describes the Electronic Text Center at the University of Virginia that contains an online collection of full-text databases delivered through a single search program. Highlights include user support services; use of Standard Generalized Markup Language; users; and providing a model for other universities. (LRW)

Discussion of relevancy in information retrieval systems focuses on an analysis of the efficiency of various cluster-based retrieval (CBR) strategies. A method for combining CBR and inverted index search is proposed that is cost effective in terms of time efficiency; and results of experiments are reported. (Contains 32 references.) (LRW)

Provides guidelines for producing CD-ROMs. Issues include target platform; disc architecture and formats; data integrity and performance; CD-ROM recording systems; publishing service bureaus; insurance concerns; a step-by-step production strategy; cost comparisons; and spreadsheets for decision support. (AEF)

Describes a student affairs database developed especially for urban institutions of higher education. Such a database enables urban institutions to refer to comparison groups with similar characteristics. Specific examples of data use by chief student affairs officers and others are provided. (SLD)

Develops analytical techniques to determine "borrowability," the ease with which a lexical item or category of lexical items can be borrowed by one language from another. These techniques are then applied to Spanish borrowings in Bolivian Quechua on the basis of a set of bilingual texts. (29 references) (MDM)

Maintains that both traditional and computerized scholars face problems when they attempt empirical research on women writers and women readers using currently available computational tools. Discusses factors that have inhibited empirical research and uses examples from research on 18th century English poetry. (CFR)

Presents and analyzes data from the 1992 AIDSLINE database on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and compares it with data from the 1989 AIDSLINE database regarding the shift in productivity of various journals and the changing frequencies with which Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms were used to provide subject access and control.…

Discusses the publication of short stories and problems of electronic access to them through online databases. Magazines that publish short stories and are indexed in databases are discussed, electronic access to university publications is described, online citations and abstracts are explained, and the future of fiction is considered. (four…

Discussion of CD-ROM as an alternative to online searching for academic libraries focuses on a comparison between online and CD-ROM costs at the University of Natal (South Africa) library. Other factors examined include funding methods; user fees; staff involvement; user training; user access, including search intermediaries and networking; and…

Describes a spreadsheet system that enables students, teachers, and curriculum developers to use Microsoft EXCEL's database and graphics capabilities in the science classroom. System design goals are explained, examples of system applications are given, and possible future developments are discussed. (15 references) (LRW)

Describes the Cleveland Free-Net, an information networking project of Case Western Reserve University and the Community Telecomputing Laboratory that provides electronic access to resources such as library catalog and reference services, government information, and health information to Cleveland's citizens. (EA)

Describes an inservice teacher training program developed to teach secondary school teachers how to search CD-ROMs, laser disks, and automated catalogs. Training sessions held during faculty meetings are described, computer activities are explained, a sample worksheet for searching an electronic encyclopedia is included, and sources for CD-ROMs…

Discusses an experiment with the "Thesaurus of ERIC Descriptors" which aimed to adapt established criteria for the evaluation of information retrieval systems to the assessment of searcher performance in online bibliographic searching. The concept of relevance is discussed, and the Cranfield paradigm for the evaluation of information…