Details the rationale, evaluation and implementation of use scenarios-structured narrative descriptions of envisioned system use-in the development of the Alexandria Digital Earth Prototype (ADEPT). Discusses the strengths of the scenario approach, obstacles to their use, and lessons learned in the overall development process. (Author/AEF)

Describes the digitization projects being undertaken by publishers to provide long runs of back issues of newspapers and journal articles, and the necessary indexing tools, to meet the need for older materials. Discusses search capabilities, links, the addition of metadata, and usage statistics. (LRW)

Examines sustained use and non-use of online services within organizations using an open-systems view that overcomes limitations of traditional approaches that led to over-estimates of use. Focuses on the informational environments of firms in three industries: law, real estate, and biotech/pharmaceuticals; and discusses insights from an intranets…

Correlations were determined between use of the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit (LLTC) and a variety of demographic variables. Found that most LLTC users live in households from higher income brackets, and that adults with undergraduate degrees most often claim the LLTC. Minorities appear to be underrepresented. (EV)

Illustrates how server usage statistics, email reference queries, and usability heuristics can be applied to create a more user-centered ready reference Web site, one that balances design, content, and functionality. Describes how the University of Washington redesigned their reference tools Web page to better meet user needs. (Author/LRW)

Reports findings of a nationwide survey of public relations professionals to investigate the full extent of recent public relations research activities. Finds a growing recognition that research is an integral part of public relations planning, program development, and evaluation process. Reveals that most public relations research is currently…

Describes a citation analysis of journal articles dealing with online catalogs to determine patterns in subject content, date, publication format, authorship affiliation, type of authorship, and how the cited publication was used in the article. It is concluded that this literature has many characteristics of a scholarly literature and indicates…

Offers a framework for conceptualizing the events that follow adoption of innovation. Surveys of home users of microcomputers are described that examined three outcomes of adoption: (1) degree of usage; (2) satisfaction; and (3) attitude toward the technology. Variations in the outcomes are examined, and further research needs are suggested. (46…

Describes the use of "snapshot inventories" to assess the availability of a library collection by measuring the presence/absence of a representative sample of library materials at a given moment. Explains the methods and results of an inventory conducted at Monterey Peninsula College in California. (DMM)

Reviews four recent studies which found that general knowledge and acceptance of the formal service system were better predictors of service use by community-based elderly than were demographic and functional capacity variables usually studied. Suggests new research approaches to understanding why many older persons are reluctant to use existing…

Explores the dilemma of teenagers, who often have nowhere to go except outdoor public places, where they often come into conflict with other groups. Describes how teenagers use public spaces in their local environments to create meaning and context in their existence. Indicates which places they use, what characterizes these places, and how…

Reports results of searching four social science databases to determine if "information society" has reached paradigmatic status. Results found a decline in the use of the term and concluded that it is not yet possible to say that "information society" is a paradigm. An appendix lists journals carrying articles on the…

Describes the use of CoSy, a computer conferencing system, by academic librarians at McMaster University in Ontario. Computer-mediated communications systems (CMCS) are discussed, the use of the system for electronic mail and computer conferencing is described, the perceived usefulness of CMCS is examined, and a sidebar explains details of the…

Reviews research and writing on reference services in archives. Topics discussed include user studies of archives; the accuracy and efficiency of archival reference; the impact of technology on research in archives; interaction between researchers and reference archivists; and research needs in archival reference. (48 references) (LRW)

Data were gathered from 419 science and technology libraries and 281 business libraries on their general characteristics, resource-sharing network membership and frequency of use, current and desired network services, problems with networks, and reasons for nonmembership. Results indicated that more science-technology librarians use…