Discusses the need for proposing and implementing an information technology standards policy for the federal government. Topics addressed include the National Information Infrastructure (NII); voluntary standards among federal agencies; private sector organizations; coordinating the use of standards; enforcing compliance; policy goals; a framework…

Demonstrates the use of a descriptive assessment of an information policy initiative using the Government Information Locator Service (GILS) as an example. Techniques discussed include historical perspective, review of the key policy instrument, descriptive modeling, side-by-side analysis, review of related policy instruments, literature review,…

Describes and critiques emerging issues about Internet access in schools and school libraries. Discusses software products for filtering and rating expressive content on the Internet, reader-response-theory implications for filtering and rating Internet content, ambiguities, and the role of school librarians and acceptable-use policies. (AEF)

Describes one public school library's struggles and solutions to problems associated with managing its new Windows desktop. To implement goals for organizing the desktop, the library selected the FoolProof desktop security system, utilized networks administration to enforce the school's Acceptable Use Policy, and used Windows 95 System Policies.…

The University of North Texas (Denton) and the African American Museum (Dallas, Texas) are partners in a program designed to produce expert managers of digital images and information. The class was divided into five teams assigned to five tasks relating to equipment, Web, database, image, and policy. The project design is described, and…

The challenge in protecting the collections of the Library of Congress is to sustain and preserve these collections while making them maximally available to Congress and the American people. This article discusses types of materials in the collection; how the collections are made accessible; protection controls; and the framework of the Library of…

Discusses government directives linking availability and dissemination of information resources and improved public access with results (strategic planning, goals/objectives, performance indicators, customer service, standards/plans) and other issues (funding and performance-based budgets, government and deficit reduction, and government…

In this article, the author talks about a provision that President Bush put the near end of his "No Child Left Behind" Act, forcing school districts to share with military recruiters the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all high school juniors and seniors. Here, the author features the National Network Opposing the…

Discusses the Media Awareness Network, a Web site established by the National Film Board of Canada and designed to provide the latest media-related news; information about media education workshops and other media Web sites; subject specific teaching units; and updates on government policy related to violence, pornography, copyright, and hate…

Analyzes Singapore's information technology master plan in relation to its earlier national computer policy plans. Topics include global activities, economic development, implementation and use of information technology and services, and partnerships with industry and the public sector. (Author/LRW)

Presents an overview of statutory and non-statutory data-protection provisions currently governing the processing of personal data in Canada's private sector, including federal and provincial legislation and efforts at self-regulation through voluntary codes of practice. Considers a more comprehensive system of regulation, contemporary policy…

The global dimension of the Internet requires new approaches to formulating policy infrastructures. Commerce must invest in the development of policy infrastructures and governments must support these new approaches; an effective balance between commercial needs and social requirements is necessary in order to achieve universal access. The…

Describes one public library's development of a computer-security plan, along with helpful products used. Discussion includes Internet policy, physical protection of hardware, basic protection of the operating system and software on the network, browser dilemmas and maintenance, creating clear intuitive interface, and administering fair use and…

Analyzes the nature of computer misuse. Addresses issues that deal with managing and controlling computer misuse that will help in developing ethical practices to minimize computer misuse. Argues that by addressing ethical issues at both formal and informal levels, the risks associated with information technology usage can be minimized.…

Examines the changes that are affecting academic library collection development. Highlights include computer technology; digital information; networking; virtual reality; hypertext; fair use and copyrights; technological infrastructure; digital libraries; information policy; academic and scholarly publishing; and experiences at the Johns Hopkins…