Discusses the growth of library consortia that has been largely driven by the rise in cost and quantity of electronic journals and products. Highlights include activities in addition to purchasing agreements, including staff development, distance learning, and minority recruitment; national consortia; database pricing; vendor opinions;…

The proceedings of the American Association of Dental Schools, which report on activities for 1997-98, are presented in their entirety. Included are the president's annual report, keynote addresses, proceedings of the 1998 house of delegates, statements of accreditation principles and new dentist competencies, and related information about…

Reports on the book-buying trends and predilections of libraries at two-year colleges, four-year colleges, universities, and large research institutions. Four tables and figures show findings for purchasing power of academic libraries; areas academic librarians believe need more titles; most-bought book categories; and sources used to make…

A study investigated the impact of the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) on special education by collected data on all 176 school districts for 1989-90 through 1993-94. Findings indicate that KERA had a significant impact on the provision of, and allocation of resources to, special education five years after implementation. (Contains two…

Performs empirical tests of the Mexican federal government's state-level education expenditures and examines changes in allocation patterns by comparing 1980 and 1990 cross-sections. Unlike other Latin American countries, where formulated grants are made to subnational jurisdictions, the Mexican allocation pattern seems neither rational nor…

Discusses changes in distance education and considers the resulting need for new types of library services. Topics include new Web-based contact center software; how to conduct virtual reference interviews; online reference service; the role of the physical library; staffing changes; and future possibilities, including impacts on costs of library…

A nationwide study of 205 K-12 unit schools found above-average test scores, postsecondary attendance, and high school completion rates. Both satellite and Internet systems were used in two-fifths of these schools. Single-school districts spent more per pupil on unit schools, employed more cooperative strategies, and were more fiscally…

Most discussions about narrowing the achievement gap focus on ways to provide disadvantaged children with schooling comparable to that received by middle-class kids. Addressing deficiencies in children's social environment, health, housing, and family income would be more effective and would probably reduce special-education spending. (MLH)

Considers the role of academic librarians in shaping the future of scholarly communication. Highlights include rising costs of serials; the role of faculty, specifically in scientific fields; projects involving digital access to scholarly journals; and the library as publisher, based on experiences at the University of Arizona. (LRW)

In 1997 private giving to colleges and universities climbed at the fastest rate in a decade; this was the second year of double-digit growth. However, total giving to two-year colleges and specialized institutions fell considerably. Master's degree institutions, public and private, gained most. Deferred giving showed a particularly strong…

This article presents a report from the Education Trust stating the growing gap in school funding between wealthy and poor districts in most states. In the report, the Washington-based Education Trust blames cash-strapped states for the disparities, which average just more than $1,300 per student across the country. The Education Trust makes…

The future of Greece's well-being will depend on improving educational performance to boost productivity and improve social outcomes. In the current economic context, with the need to get best value for spending, Greece must and can address inefficiencies in its education system. The challenges are significant. For example, Greece lags behind many…

The Annual Condition of Education Report provides a wide range of state-level data, including shifts in student populations and demographics, teacher salaries and characteristics, student achievement results, and school financial information. A few examples of the categories presented in this 22nd edition report include: (1) Enrollment; (2) Early…

Parents of students with disabilities face a number of difficult choices in determining how to get the best education for their children. Too often, the special education system in public schools fails its students. Parents must become both experts and advocates for their children in order to navigate a burdensome maze of regulations to fight for…

This paper presents education finance trends for Bangladesh since 2000. It shows that while government spending on education as a proportion of national income has stagnated, it has increased in real terms. Real increases in education spending have resulted in substantial increases in per student spending in basic education. At primary, enrolment…