Describes how experts create and use "bundles"--organized, highly selective collections of information--to help solve problems and maintain situation awareness. Based on fieldwork in an intensive care unit, five examples of bundles are described that illustrate the variety of bundles in use. A summary of bundle properties is given. (AEF)

Interviews with 45 family physicians indicated that 54% consulted readily available, accessible peers for advice, 24% asked peers considered experts, and 22% searched literature first. Those who asked accessible peers sought advice more frequently, rarely consulted innovators, and were least critical of advice received. (Contains 19 references.)…

Presents the research findings of an empirical study conducted in Finnish governmental organizations on task complexity and information-seeking activities in real-life work tasks. Focuses on the relationship between information types and source use, and the effects of task complexity on that relationship. (Author/LRW)

Provides a brief background of the Biological Abstracts' title index, "Biological Abstracts' Subject in Context" (BASIC) "Stop List," or compilation of nonsignificant words that were going to be automatically stopped from printing. Notes that the Stop List provided an improvement over the raw computer output of titles while…

Includes the following ready reference information: "Publishers' Toll-Free Telephone Numbers"; "How to Obtain an ISBN (International Standard Book Number)"; "How to Obtain an ISSN (International Standard Serial Number)"; and "How to Obtain an SAN (Standard Address Number)". (AEF)

An Iowa extension survey of 869 farming clients who received one-on-one consultations showed that nearly half made operational changes and/or saved money using on consultants' recommendations. Only 2% were not satisfied with the information received. Although extension largely uses group methods, the substantial effectiveness of individual…

Discusses asserting and assessing authenticity of digital information sources and why authenticity is an issue now. Describes three types of technical and social strategies (public, secret, and functionally dependent) for asserting authenticity. Cites examples of requirements for authenticity from the various stages in the research process. (AEF)

Explores the receptivity of career practitioners toward career development resources on the Internet. Results demonstrate that career practitioners are generally receptive toward Internet resources; they reacted somewhat positively toward the Internet; and are beginning to utilize it. However, there remain a number of concerns, most of which can…

Agricultural producers in Nevada who enrolled in a tax management program (n=33) rated their knowledge of 6 business management tools higher than 36 nonparticipants. Although nonparticipants reported lower financial management knowledge, they were not interested in attending Extension classes nor in home study or the Internet. (SK)

In this paper, the author argues that the quantity, superabundance of information, easy availability, and quick access to information in cyberspace may engender critical thinking and the optimization of reasonableness. This point is different from, but presupposes, the commonplace view that critical thinking abilities, criteria, processes, and…

Colleagues, legislative staff, interest groups, administrative agencies, universities and think tanks, the media, and constituents are some of the more commonly recognized sources of information for state legislators. Results of a survey of 507 legislators in 12 U.S. states reveal that ethnic associations, grassroots organizations, the Internet,…

Data limitations severe enough to undermine the validity of findings discomfort evaluators whenever they occur. Unfortunately, such occurrences are not infrequent, faced not only by a "freshly minted graduate of a respected doctoral program in evaluation" but also by seasoned professionals (Bamberger, Rugh, & Mabry, forthcoming). Data may be…

The present study has three purposes: (a) to determine who disseminates information on cochlear implants on the Web; (b) to describe a representative sample of Web sites that disseminate information on cochlear implants, with a focus on the content topics and their relevance to parents of deaf children; and (c) to discuss the practical issues of…

The Information Center (IC) evolved to take control of technology, to integrate the library's growing collection of networked resources with its service mission, to build a team of personnel committed to the success of the IC, and to integrate assessment into the cycle of change at the Mansfield Library.

Many instruction librarians teach students that the URL extension .gov is one sign of a reliable, authoritative Internet source. This is true in many cases, but there are other very important reasons that government information deserves a larger place in information literacy sessions. It offers a clear example of several concepts students must…