Presents alphabetical lists of products for educational facilities and their manufacturers for 2000. Also included is a suppliers' directory complete with addresses and contact information, an info mart section that highlights specific products that manufacturers will supply free literature on, and a product showcase section that details a few…

Presents product information and a suppliers' directory for school purchasing managers for the year 2000, including a detailed product showcase and case histories and a section on descriptions of free brochures, pamphlets, and guides from key suppliers. An advertiser index concludes the issue. (GR)

When expanding educational technology resources, schools are challenged to purchase equipment with a limited, multiyear lifespan while finding the annual operating funds to maintain and operate the equipment. The revolving fund offers one sensible alternative. Public budgeting's rigidities allow no easy way to budget for ongoing technology costs.…

Outlines the advantages and disadvantages of Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and advises potential users to consider: (1) service availability; (2) service levels offered; (3) service level needed; (4) installation fees; (5) tariff structure; (6) equipment needed; and (7) installation and configuration requirements. A sidebar relates…

Discusses important factors schools and universities should consider when selecting an energy service provider (ESP). A checklist of questions and criteria for navigating the ESP selection process is included. (GR)

Schools should beware questionable practices of many dot.com companies offering attractive rebates for purchases made online. High rebate rates are often designed to drive traffic to a particular site, but fine print can change overnight. Companies' connections to schools are tenuous and are driven by profit. (MLH)

Offers suggestions on the selection of office equipment and support systems for schools, including multifunctional products that incorporate equipment and applications to better coordinate office technology and control costs. (EV)

Responses from 547 of 2,000 consumers indicated consumer support for socially responsible purchasing. For 16%, "No-Sweat" labels indicating the working conditions of apparel makers were a strong purchasing influence. Women, especially unmarried females with lower educational attainment, were most likely to purchase clothing with No-Sweat…

The best way to purchase food-service equipment for a new or renovated school is to assemble a team, assess the school's needs, see what is available, follow state and federal procurement guidelines, install the equipment, and train employees to use it safely. A sidebar outlines procurement tips. (MLH)

E-commerce is coming slowly to education, but some curious school purchasing officials are clicking on vendors' web sites. Pioneering districts include the Chicago, Detroit, and El Dorado (California) public schools. Vendors include Boise Cascade and Office Depot. Some vendors are joining institutional exchanges like Commerce One or marketing…

Provides four suggestions to follow when purchasing from web-based companies: Put in place a strong RFP process; conduct due diligence of the finalists; use contractual terms to mitigate risk; and clearly set project expectations and timeliness. (PKP)

MicroFACT 2.0, an item factor analysis computer program, was reviewed. Program features were described in detail, as well as the program output. The performance of MicroFACT was evaluated on a Windows 2000, Pentium III platform. MicroFACT was found to be fairly easy to use, and one problem encountered was reported. Program requirements and…

The present study investigated the effects of training parents of young adults with disabilities to use constant time delay to teach their children purchasing skills in the community. The parent intervention involved target skill selection and instructional planning (e.g., identifying prompts and reinforcers), parent training on constant time…

How Do You Manage, is a column in Library Journal where librarians send in stories based upon actual events happening in libraries across the United States. This story recounts a public relations situation where a reporter from a local paper interviews by phone, a librarian in charge of audio and video services in a small town library. The…

Imagine not knowing who Muggles are or how the Dewey decimal system works? Well, it is akin to being left in the dark about kids' technology needs. That is why the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) is in the process of gathering student opinion as it prepares for the upcoming release of its national educational technology plan. The hope is that…