Presents a global perspective on libraries and access to information. Topics include information policies, including intellectual property rights and censorship issues; the education and training of librarians; demographics and cultural changes; government and non-government activities; and the role of IFLA (International Federation of Library…

Addresses issues relating to the Internet and personal privacy. Defines privacy and discusses it in the context of property boundaries, contracts or special relationships, and gossip. Explores clashes between ideals of personal privacy, free speech, and economic freedom in the context of the Internet. (DSK)

Reports on a options and issues discussion at a December 1997 Orlando (Florida) meeting of CAUSE97 on providing access to campus technology resources. Options discussed included departmentally and/or university-owned modems, third-party provider contracts, and using wireless access. Issues included providing authentication, assuring network…

School nurses are caretakers of a vast amount of sensitive student and family health information. In schools, older computer hardware that previously stored education records is recycled for less demanding student and employee functions. Sensitive data must be adequately erased before electronic storage devices are reassigned or are discarded.…

"Sony Music v. Easyinternetcafe" has introduced a new facet to the debate concerning the copyright legality of peer-to-peer file transfer. The judgment and subsequent settlement has highlighted that companies offering services that are used to infringe copyright may be held to account in the UK courts. Liability may extend from the…

This book uses a cross-disciplinary approach to profile developments through November 1995 concerning important U.S. government information policy issues. Information policy analyses benefit from a historical perspective while seeking to identify current areas of agreement and disagreement, especially at a time when the United States is moving…

This document defines the specific standards and general guidelines which the U.S. Department of Education (ED) will use to make information available on the World Wide Web (WWW). The purpose of providing such guidance is to ensure high quality and consistent content, organization, and presentation of information on ED WWW servers, in order to…

In 1962, Harvard sociologist Daniel Bell began distributing and discussing a draft paper in which he introduced the concept of the "post-industrial" or "information" society. This idea has been the subject of intense and often insightful analysis by proponents and critics from a vast range of disciplinary sites. Until now, the…

The United States Bureau of the Census is making the Internet and other electronic systems the primary sources for its statistics and is actively seeking user feedback on its systems design activities. Discusses the design principles of the Data Access and Dissemination System (DADS) and policy issues of pricing/cost recovery, partnerships, and…

Describes results of a survey of North Carolina selective depository libraries. Focuses on equipment, CD-ROM resources, Internet resources, and library policies. Results indicate that these depository libraries are making great strides in providing access to material in electronic format. Six tables show results. The questionnaire is included.…

To protect their copyrights, electronic publishers and document delivery providers track usage and personal information which threatens library users' privacy and rights to intellectual freedom and access to information. Suggests using data encryption software as a solution. Recommends librarians advocate a competitive marketplace by working for…

Resource limitations and increases in the number of requests demand a rethinking of the review process of government documents for public access. State and federal trends may soon require a disclosure of database reports in electronic form. Issues central to the establishment of an adequate policy for electronic freedom of information are…

Concern about children and the Internet is the latest in a ritual cycle of moral panics surrounding new technologies. Such panics often focus on children and are related to adult anxieties surrounding the transgression of boundaries including those between adult/child, private/public, and work/leisure. They are also founded on technological…

In the wake of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, discussions have raged both online and in the press about free speech, online pornography, and the protection of children. This paper discusses the legal and social science issues surrounding content regulation of the World Wide Web and the Internet as a whole, with an emphasis on the…

Academic computing directors must focus on what actions and policies make a well-coordinated academic computing help desk function effectively. Keeping in mind the needs of both the client and the support team, the key components of a well-managed help desk include: accessing help easily; sorting support team jobs effectively; distributing support…