Describes common mistakes to be avoided by child care directors in early childhood catalog purchasing. Notes roadblocks to successful purchases, including failing to check out seller's reliability, comparing prices without including shipping costs or considering product quality, failing to anticipate needs, ordering from outdated catalogs, failing…

Discusses five areas of custodial maintenance caretaking in which facility managers need continual education: first aid and safety, hazardous materials, products and supplies, chemicals and their intended use, and cleaning procedures. Includes an annotated list of resources related to these areas. (EV)

Roof maintenance and repair should be part of an ongoing preservation program. Describes New York's Capital Assets Preservation (CAP) program and includes a CAP checklist and criteria for evaluating a roofing system. Describes roof testing methods. (MLF)

Discusses the importance of sand and water play for young children. Provides a partial list of materials and equipment used to provide sensory experiences at sand and water tables. Offers a buying guide listing manufacturers of sand and water tables, product descriptions, and ordering information. (DR)

Offers suggestions for librarians with minimal knowledge of library system applications faced with the task of writing technical specifications for various phases of online catalog procurement and implementation. The discussion covers the preparation of technical specifications and the formulation of requirements to be included in a library's…

Some studies of school technology demonstrate that cost-effective analysis allows similar programs to be compared. Cites a report "Power On! New Tools for Teaching and Learning," available from the Government Printing Office. (MLF)

Reviews development of competency-based standards for National Vocational Qualifications in purchasing as well as criticisms of the competency-based concept related to higher order skills, subjectivity, atomism, and imprecision. Argues that validity of qualifications lies in practitioner involvement in development; their value is in personnel…

Describes a program developed by the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority to teach government buyers how to buy recycled materials. The program consists of a hands-on training seminar and a manual that offers step-by-step instructions for setting up a buy-recycled purchasing program. (LZ)

Colleges and universities are saving their recyclables for collection, but paying less attention to developing markets for recycled materials. Institutions can help by purchasing recycled paper. Costs can be reduced through contract and consortium buying and user conservation measures. (MSE)

Over 37 firms have listed more than 90 software applications that can be used by schools. Each listing includes the name of the software and a general description of its utility. Tables provide detailed listings of the software's functions, the type of support the company provides, and the hardware on which the software can be run. (MLF)

Argues that developing a long-range educational technology plan requires a network that can support all future technology purchases a school might make. Suggests identifying a consultant to develop a systems blueprint, and presents specific recommendations, including building a wiring closet, checking conduit size, and utilizing a team approach to…

Explains how universities and colleges, both private and public, are including fitness centers as ways of increasing their student enrollment levels. Comments are provided on school experiences in fitness-center design, equipment purchasing, and maintenance and operating-costs issues. (GR)

Discusses some alternatives in acquiring computers that can help schools provide every student with some computer functionality at less cost. Several companies and their product offerings are highlighted. (GR)

The school, community, and university partnership called the Anaheim (California) City School District Technology Literacy Challenge grant has helped teachers develop a deep understanding of technology. Teachers receive salary advances for purchasing technology for home use and attend workshops and seminars to learn how to use it. (MLH)

Food selection is a key factor in the nutritional management of diabetes. Criteria that influence point-of-purchase decision making in women with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were identified. Four types of shoppers were distinguished from interviews; cluster analysis was used to confirm the analysis. Usefulness in patient education is…