Comparison of adolescent sex information sources for Black and White males and females in a northeast Texas community was made from 1964 and 1974 questionnaire data. While parents remained the preferred source of sex information, a general change was noted from parents to friends as the stated source. (Author/SJL)

Although many colleges and institutions find the new legislation resulting from the consumer movement to be a threat to institutional autonomy, the author views these initiatives as encouragement to establish greater understanding in the public mind about the processes and results of postsecondary education. Ordered public disclosure may be a…

Examines how information technology can be used in student services to acquire information, understand assessment and evaluation information, communicate the results of assessment and evaluation, and move others to action. Provides an example of an evaluation project. Highlights World Wide Web technology, longitudinal tracking, data visualization,…

Examines three main topics related to graduate preparation programs and technology: (1) technology's role in enhancing teaching, advising, and research activities; (2) the knowledge, skills, and competencies related to information technology that graduate students should acquire; and (3) the implications of introducing a systematic integration of…

Describes a Web-based information service, Northern Light, which demonstrates a new paradigm for serving large populations of users and delivering high-quality content on topics both general and narrow. Discusses performance of the search engine, search syntax, Northern Light's special collection, and pricing. (AEF)

Describes how information professionals at the 1997 SCOUG (Southern California Online User Group) conference created a Virtual Library Corporation of librarians to serve a worldwide, digital clientele. Mission statements were developed which included promoting/developing synergistic structures and systems for universal access, promoting…

Presents seven guidelines for launching a company intranet: (1) don't promise what can't be delivered; (2) be clear about who owns what; (3) be demand-led; (4) invest time in practical demonstrations; (5) avoid jargon; (6) have adequate resources to support colleagues; and (7) make intranet benefits relevant to colleagues. (AEF)

Describes a demonstration given by two university librarians to faculty and researchers at the City University of New York on the use of the World Wide Web as a research tool. The demonstration, using the library's newly created home page, focused on virtual libraries that give access primarily to on-line research resources. (MSE)

Presents preliminary findings of a project intended to develop a user-validated measurement instrument based on users' relevance criteria. Two validation tests revealed conceptual and methodological challenges involving the semantic ambiguity of terms and verified the importance of situational context to scale development and use. (Author/AEF)

Presents a case study of the use of legal research digital libraries (LRDLs) in the California Civil and Criminal Courts. Results suggest that points of access to LRDLs influence usage, that there is a strong interplay between home computer use and LRDL use at work, and that legal professionals prefer one-on-one assistance rather than group…

This literature review examines nine studies within a seven-year time period (1990-1996) concentrating on the use and users of government-produced information. Parallels are drawn in current status of knowledge, but limitations are pointed out in what is becoming an abandoned form of research in government documents librarianship. (Author/AEF)

World Wide Web "meta sites," or collections of subject-specific hyperlinks, can expedite Internet searching. One can find meta sites by consulting: search engines that offer site ratings or selective retrieval; library-constructed Web sites; Internet-related journals; and subject experts. A compilation of meta sites, with descriptions…

This article reviews the background of the 1995 report of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) on the status and needs of dental education in the United States, notes the report's value as a database and information resource, urges its use by dental schools as a stimulus for considering options, and stresses the need for funding to stimulate…

A collaboration between composition instructor and librarian is a logical means for students to see the direct connection between writing and research and to learn critical thinking. A list of 10 questions for evaluating research sources is provided, and a model for integrating critical thinking and library skills in a single, 1-hour session is…

For the first time, the American Bar Association has published a law school guide that includes statistics on the percentage of students passing the bar examination on the first try. For schools with low passage rates, the figures are embarrassing; for those with high rates, the guide is a publicity windfall. (MSE)