Presents American Library Association guidelines for medical, legal, and business responses at general reference desks covering the role of the librarian, including interpretation, advice, confidentiality, and tact; sources, including currency and referrals; telephone or mail reference; and ethics. (MES)

An analysis of the state of medical informatics, the application of computer and information technology to biomedicine, looks at trends and concerns, including integration of traditionally distinct enterprises (clinical information systems, financial information, scholarly support activities, infrastructures); informatics career choice and…

Discussion of the information needs of agricultural researchers in Africa focuses on the potential usefulness of unpublished reports. Reasons for the underutilization of unpublished reports are addressed, including a lack of access resulting from poor bibliographic control, lack of an information policy in most countries, and inadequate and poorly…

A number of important resources on current and historical issues in intercollegiate athletics are identified including independent, government, and association publications and source addresses. A 24-item annotated bibliography of articles on the student-athlete is presented. (MSE)

To assure public access to government information, it is necessary to define just who "the public" is. Survey of formal and informal information gatekeepers in California indicates the need for further research to fully understand the use and users of government publications by individuals and information intermediaries. (18 references)…

Discusses issues connected with developing information systems for competitive intelligence support; defines the elements of an effective competitive information system; and summarizes issues affecting system design and implementation. Highlights include intelligence information; information needs; information sources; decision making; and…

Presents a model for establishing a community college student outcomes assessment program, listing types of student outcomes that should be assessed, and sources of information and measures typically used to assess the outcomes. Reviews steps in program development and in tailoring the program to the college. (DMM)

This issue on preventive health care and health promotion for older adults includes 14 articles on history and definition, development of guidelines, responsibility, implementation of programs for the elderly and how it differs from that for other populations, programs for minorities, access to health care information, and a description of a…

Surveyed 244 Michigan agencies providing geriatric information and referral (I&R) to determine service availability, families' needs, and problems providing I&R for persons with dementia and their families. Home-delivered meals, nursing, and social work assessments were considered most available. Medical assessment was considered "very available"…

Describes the importance of the Internet as an information resource for science and engineering librarians and outlines a strategy for introducing these resources to library school students enrolled in sci/tech literature and reference classes. Inclusion of Internet-based information can be accomplished by establishing student prerequisites,…

Presents results from a collective professional searcher evaluation of the effectiveness of Web search engines versus two traditional online services, DIALOG and Dow Jones Interactive. The conclusion outlines: searching assumptions; subjects and types of searches where DIALOG and Dow Jones Interactive showed superiority; advantages of using the…

Explains ways to find government information on the Internet and from other sources such as online catalogs and CD-ROMs. Highlights include determining the appropriate agency involved, sources of information, finding statistics, researching legislation, the relationship between laws and regulations, and ambiguous citations. (LRW)

This study investigated how well 273 teachers in Georgia understood the needs of hard-of-hearing children who were mainstreamed in their classrooms. The survey found deficiencies in teachers' level of awareness and knowledge regarding their students' hearing, loss across all grade levels. The study identified limitations in using the audiology…

Discusses implications to the management of the U.S. federal government information resources from recent legislation. Examines relevant policy instruments in light of the federal government's high-level commitment to the development of a National Information Infrastructure (NII) which promotes accessible and high-quality services to its citizens.…

Investigates changes in perceptions of the information search process of an early career information professional as he becomes more experienced and proficient at his work. Building on earlier research, comparisons of user's perceptions of uncertainty, complexity, construction, and sources in information tasks were made over a five-year period.…