Presents results of survey of 64 Illinois academic institutions which was conducted to determine library use of nonprofessionals at the reference/information desk. Characteristics of nonprofessionals, use patterns and desk hours staffed by nonprofessionals, referral and training, and trends for desk staffing are discussed. (Eight references are…

A survey of 430 users of online catalog at Ohio State University Libraries found that most users are undergraduate students (68 percent) and that majority (95 percent) choose online catalog as first source of information. Fewer performed known-item searches and success rates were generally higher than reported in earlier studies. (8 references)…

Circulation statistics for 198 books randomly selected from nonjuvenile collection at Allerton Public Library were ascertained. Comparison of experimental group (all related catalog entries withdrawn from card catalog) and control group (all catalog entries left intact) showed no statistically significant influence of removal of cards on…

Compared Blacks and Whites for the effect of media on various indicators of their political attitudes and behavior. Found that there is a differential effect of the media on Blacks and that specific media (television, newspapers) operate differently for Blacks than for Whites. (PD)

The concept of EPSS (electronic performance support systems) originated in business settings. Recently, there have been many attempts to apply the concept to schools: educational EPSSs (E-EPSSs) have become available on the Web. However, there is little evaluation research and few evaluation frameworks for these emergent E-EPSSs. The primary…

A national survey identified the extent of computer technology use in adult literacy programs and explored the attitudes, beliefs, and experiences of adult literacy providers in implementing technology. It also conducted a systematic inventory of the types of computer technology currently in use in adult literacy programs. In recent years, a…

This study examined similarities and differences among children who regularly use computers at home, including difference in their families and communities. The following characteristics were identified as key factors that might be associated with differences: gender, age, parental computing experiences, number of computers in the home,…

As the Web is expanding, the Web traffic is changing, and so are the users. To get an adequate understanding of the Web as a medium, it is of paramount importance to know the users and the dominant usage patterns. The purpose of this paper is to map important aspects of Web usage patterns, Web traffic and Web search behavior. Issues dealt with…

This report presents details of a study which gathered information about all kinds of media behaviors from a nationally representative sample of American youth--the study asked: In this modern media environment, how much time do American children devote to each of the different media? According to the report. The data for the study came from two…

This report analyzes the "digital divide" between those who have access to online information and opportunities and those who do not. The research included discussion groups with more than 100 low-income Internet users, interviews with nearly 100 community technology leaders and other experts, analysis of 1,000 Web sites, and a review of the…

A study examined the use of e-mail between the students in an introductory public relations class and their instructor. E-mail use was parallel to the use of face-to-face communication, with students reporting that they used office time and e-mail primarily to ask questions about quizzes, tests, and assignments. Older students and students further…

The Communication Technology and Policy section of the proceedings contains the following 6 selected papers: "Interactivity as a Cognitive Process" (Mark Tremayne and Sharon Dunwoody); "Breaking Up News--An Investment in the Future? Correlations among Hypertext Comfort, User Satisfaction and Perceived Credibility" (Stephanie…

This report presents the results of a survey of Digital Library Federation members that examined the kinds of assessments they were conducting, what they did with the results, and what worked well or not so well. The first section of the report is an introduction that describes the report structure and summarizes challenges in assessment. The…

This study examines the perceptions of middle school teachers at the Miami Shores/Barry University Charter School (Florida) toward using computers in a classroom environment for teaching. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the school and the teachers involved in the study. A constructivist approach was used to understand the…

This paper reports on a study that investigated the relationships between technology-use and teaching ability in the practice of elementary teachers. Case study data from exemplary technology integrators, representing various levels of teaching and technology-use ability, led to the formulation of five assertions about ways these teachers taught…