Discusses the pressure placed on research libraries to maintain a balanced collection of serials and monographs, and presents an allocation formula for serial versus monograph budgeting. The formula is based on the findings of over 50 studies that used citation analysis to determine the actual percentage of serials versus monographs used by…

Describes the use of computers and satellites for delivering educational materials to distance learners. Topics discussed include teletex; videotex; telecommunications; computer use in the design and production of instructional materials; administrative uses of computers; satellite programing; and future possibilities. Examples of distance…

Delineating the current costs and quality of service of pupil transportation provides a basis for evaluating alternatives. With this, districts can identify the opportunities to (1) provide the current service more efficiently; (2) modify the current service parameters; and (3) provide service under a more efficient operating system. (MLF)

Describes a study that examined the time lag between the receipt of depository publications and the availability of the Government Printing Office's cataloging records made available on Monthly Catalog tapes. Findings are reported for high cataloging priority titles, monographs versus monographic serials, paper versus microfiche publications, and…

Although economic analysis is complicated and has limitations, it is a workable method capable of producing a great deal of information about the value of early interventions. Procedures for conducting a cost analysis, cost-benefit analysis, or cost-effectiveness analysis are outlined, along with a review of the approach's advantages and…

The California State Mediation and Conciliation Service, a state agency, has conducted approximately 150 mediations per year in public schools. Describes the use of grievance mediation in resolving disputes between California public school systems and their unions. (MLF)

Describes the use of telecommunications for distance learning in elementary and secondary schools. Satellite services are described, educational television is discussed, online computer services are explained, other distance learning technologies such as audio conference calls are described, and costs are discussed. (LRW)

Describes the history of multitype library networks; examines the reasons why special libraries and other network participants have resisted the inclusion of special libraries in these networks; and discusses the benefits to both special libraries and to other libraries in the network that would result from special library participation. (17…

Argues that the quality of information provided to scholars by microform sets of manuscript collections, as compared to original manuscripts and critical editions, does not justify the expansion of research libraries' collection boundaries and fiscal responsibilities to include such materials. (CLB)

Reviews the results of studies that have measured manual and online reference performance in public libraries. Topics discussed include librarian interactions with patrons; characteristics of successful online searches; the recall and precision tradeoff; and the cost effectiveness of online searching. (two references) (CLB)

This economic analysis compares the costs of two training alternatives for inservice teacher training in rural areas: (1) actual training delivered via telecommunications, and (2) estimated costs of an equal amount of on-site training. A project at Utah State University using interactive television for early education staff teaching handicapped…

After school districts have purchased computer hardware and software, they still need to consider the costs of support and repair services, and the purchase of additional equipment. (MLF)

Purchase of a telephone system saved an Ohio school district $25,000 in the first year. To get the most for their telephone dollars districts should (1) determine needs; (2) write specifications; (3) ask for bids; (4) review the bids; (5) work with the company selected; and (6) inform the public. (MLF)

Enormous funding increases for U.S. public schools have not yielded improvements in student performance. Econometric research shows that neither smaller classes nor graduate teacher training affects performance. Since schools use resources inefficiently, incentives should be linked to performance. Magnet and charter schools and private school…

Describes the state of electronic medical records, their advantage over existing paper records, the problems impeding their implementation, and concerns over their security and confidentiality. Topics include challenges for the new health care era, including managed care systems, cost benefits, lack of standards, and future possibilities.…