Provides an overview of U.S. nonprofit fee-based information services with emphasis on Purdue University's Technical Information Service. Discusses how these services can benefit profit-making brokers by supplying them documents on a nonprofit basis and by referring clients to brokers for specialized information projects. (Author/AEF)

Examines a new professional practice in higher education that supports learning through computer-mediated communication; offers a preliminary model for its development. The model involves users' participation in collaborative networked learning for exploring and developing resource knowledge and support strategies. (AEF)

Reviews technological advances of computer and noncomputer services for the deaf community, describes World Wide Web sites and library services that provide information paths for the deaf, and reviews the progress of institutions devoted to deaf education. An appendix lists World Wide Web addresses discussed in the article. (JMV)

Discusses computer software and system design in the information industry and provides an annotated bibliography of 31 resources that address the issue of design. Highlights include competition, color use, hardware and presentation design, content and packaging, screen design, graphics, and interactive multimedia. A sidebar reviews and rates seven…

Describes CHMINF-L (Chemical Information Sources Discussion List), including the history of its development on the Internet, its place in today's chemical information environment, and its possible future developments. Typical postings are described, subscription information is included, and listserv features and the future of listserv and similar…

Presents an overview of the 1990 census and its many components, including sources of census data, format availability such as CD-ROM and databases, and ways in which census data are used. The effect of new technology, especially CD-ROM, on users and reference librarians is considered. (Author/LRW)

Describes travel guidebooks as the backbone of library travel collections. Guidebooks for students and others on restricted budgets are discussed; the benefits of visiting and understanding other cultures are considered; selection guidelines are suggested; travel information in electronic formats is described; and sidebars list guidebook series…

Identified and discussed are little known Illinois collections of ethnic and religious records valuable for genealogical research. Holdings and sources are described as well as problems in researching specific ethnic or religious groups. European, African, and religious immigrants' records are highlighted. (EA)

Increasing influence of government information in electronic format poses acute problems for smaller depositories facing financial and personnel shortages. Increased dependence on regional depository libraries to provide access to such materials may cause smaller libraries to reassess their depository status. It may be necessary to revise current…

Provides current awareness sources, both paper-based and on the Internet, that are useful for keeping up on recent developments in federal information policy legislation. Coverage includes columns regularly appearing in the professional literature, trade publications, listservs, newsgroups and bulletin boards, lobbyists, and sources for tracking…

Describes competitive intelligence (CI) literature in terms of its location, quantity, authorship, length, and problems of bibliographic access. Highlights include subject access; competitive intelligence research; espionage and security; monographs; and journals. (21 references) (LRW)

Surveyed by mail the preference patterns of 326 Florida small farm operators for obtaining information through extension programs. Confirmatory factor analysis verified the presence of a lower cost preference pattern (mass media) and two higher cost patterns, one focused on individual consultation and the other on group educational activities.…

Describes the use and applications of the communications program Telenet for remote log-in, a basic interactive resource sharing service that enables users to connect to any machine on the Internet and conduct a session. The Virtual Terminal--the central component of Telenet--is also described, as well as problems with terminals, services…

Discusses environmental science and environmental education in Canada and describes sources of environmental information currently available. Highlights include environmental databases; environmental information online, including indexing and abstracting services as well as full-text coverage; and the growing amount of environmental information on…

Examines whether knowledge gaps decrease when motivation to acquire information is similar among more and less educated groups. Compares two groups with differing motivations to acquire cancer and diet information in a community that received a year-long health campaign. Finds evidence of education-based differences in knowledge even among members…