Focusing on economic issues related to the NREN (National Research and Education Network), this paper examines the implications for the academic community of a shift to fee-based network services. Costs currently borne by institutions and the feasibility of charging end users are considered. Commercial use of the NREN is also addressed. (two…

Discusses electronic bulletin boards that have been created by U.S. government agencies and suggests a method to make the information they contain more accessible to libraries and the public. Costs and technological issues are considered, and an appendix describes networks and computer programs that would facilitate access to government…

This paper surveys the various teleconferencing trials in the Open University, and attempts to analyze why they have been relatively unsuccessful compared to other new media initiatives such as audio cassettes and computer assisted learning. The situation is placed in the context of British and European educational use of telecommunications in…

Discussion of appropriate technology for libraries in South Africa focuses on the use of electronic bulletin boards. Topics addressed include information technology in South African libraries; local library networking; components of an electronic bulletin board; bulletin boards, telephones, and electronic mail; possible uses for a bulletin board;…

Describes how the Commerce Department's Economic Bulletin Board has been linked to the Internet to further the dissemination of government information. Topics discussed include network services; operational constraints; technical issues; costs; identifying potential customers and their information needs; and future plans. (Contains six…

Discusses the need for improving science education, and suggests that electronic mail is an effective, motivating instructional strategy for improving science teaching. Highlights include how electronic mail is currently being used in elementary and secondary education, especially in Nevada; and why it is not used more. (LRW)

Describes GovDoc-L, a computer-based electronic mail information resource available to librarians and others interested in government information issues. Electronic mail network communication is discussed; the management software package called LISTSERV, which is used to maintain GovDoc-L, is explained; costs are considered; and subscribers are…

Describes a trial use of electronic mail to interview academic teachers on how they plan subject courses. Advantages of electronic interviewing, such as cost and convenience, and issues, including complying with network etiquette, are discussed. A copy of part of the electronic interview used in the trial is appended. (Contains two references.)…

Reviews issues associated with the distribution of CD-ROMs by the Government Printing Office (GPO) as identified by documents librarians in an E-mail discussion, Govdoc-L. Titles being distributed on CD-ROM are identified, access and cost issues are discussed, software limitations are described, and level of patron service is considered. (three…

This paper begins by arguing that access to education for those who do not attend classes on campus can be a question of their access to technology, i.e., the higher (or more exotic) the technology, the fewer the students who have means to use it. Almost universal access via the postal service is discussed in terms of speed, as compared with…

This discussion of Alanet, a comprehensive information system for professional librarians, covers its development; program features; advantages; uniqueness as a complete and integrated electronic information system for library professionals; system applications; benefits; costs; future developments; and user education. (MBR)

This document presents an Internet discussion that took place on a number of electronic forums about scientific and scholarly journals and their future. Six principle discussants and about two dozen others advance both radical and traditional views. Topics include housing a comprehensive scientific electronic publishing system, responsibility for…

Reviews database management software options for academic applications of pedagogy and research offering practical suggestions on choosing software. Software reviewed includes dBase III, Reflex, FYI 3000, Notebook II, AskSAM, Electra-Find, and Practicase. Program advantages, disadvantages, features, flexibility, and costs are discussed. A…

Identifies and analyzes federal government electronic bulletin boards; assesses the types of information available to users, including costs and technological access issues; discusses federal information policy; and considers the role of federal bulletin boards in accessing and managing electronic government information. (Contains 29 references.)…

Describes the implementation and first year's operation of the online end-user bibliographic data service created for United Kingdom academic libraries, the Bath Information Data System (BIDS ISI), which was created in cooperation with the Institute for Scientific Information. Assesses its impact on the activities of computer centers, libraries,…