While mission statements for various libraries and information centers necessarily vary, all librarians face "two very pressing charges: make voluminous numbers of electronic resources as visible as possible in a landscape of multiple access points and simultaneously manage all the technology, tasks, and data necessary to facilitate such…

This article is about how information is gathered in organizations to make decisions. There is actually a long history in economics on this topic, called the "economics of information," but this is a bare beginning on the topic for libraries, suggesting only a few patterns from observation and a few literatures that might help with the challenge.…

This report (1) describes the development of libraries in China; (2) examines Chinese library, documentation, and scholarly publications from a historical perspective; and (3) outlines the present state of the art as reflected by the situation before and after the Cultural Revolution. The history of public libraries, university and school…

Outlines several approaches to the establishment of prices for information products and services by the administrators of libraries and information centers, including optimization, pricing to achieve organizational objectives, pricing for market structures, and types of market structure pricing systems. A reference list is included. (JL)

Describes the role of the Office of Libraries and Learning Technologies (OLLT) and lists 12 programs funded by OLLT to provide assistance to libraries, information centers, and educational technology projects. (CHC)

This paper highlights the value of newspaper information and the methods adopted in organizing, preserving and disseminating it. The paper dwells on the traditional ways of managing newspaper resources and the need to device a new medium of accessing the information contents of the resource. It enumerates the steps taken in conserving newspaper…

This first of two articles discusses major advantages to libraries and information centers of using microcomputer communications; describes items microcomputers require to communicate--communications interface, modems, and communications software--and procedures for using microcomputers to communicate; and provides a directory of popular modems…

Defines knowledge management, particularly as it applies to government agencies, information centers, libraries, and non-governmental organizations. Topics include the dynamic nature of knowledge transfer; personal knowledge and organizational knowledge; identifying communities of practice; collaboration tools; and continuous organizational…

Although cataloging, document delivery, inventory, barcoding, and other technical jobs might more effectively be done by outside contractors, managing a library and serving patrons demands the attention of information professionals. Discusses the shortcomings of outsourcing, focusing on companies and associations that outsource the entire…

Discussion of computer-mediated communication (CMC) focuses on the use of electronic mail (E-mail) in the information field. Topics discussed include human aspects of CMC; examples of E-mail use in libraries and information centers, including the Danish Science Park Network (DSPN); and the use of E-mail for personal information systems. (48…

Discusses and describes a model of an automated "catalog" of community service agencies that was created for a library information center. Topics covered include standards, bibliographic data processing systems, cataloging considerations, UWASIS (United Way of America's subject access system), and reference tools. Examples from the…

Microcomputer programing languages BASIC, Pascal, and PL/1 are characterized and contrasted in terms of suitability for library and textual processing needs. Issues pertaining to choice of programing languages for library microcomputing are discussed. Fifty-one references and tables rating languages on basis of number of string functions and…

The Design of Information Systems in the Social Sciences project (DISISS) of the University of Bath, England, has recently completed evaluations of three programs: (1) a library staff digest intended to inform personnel of the inner workings of the library; (2) an information system designed to assist professionals and private individuals working…

This paper examines "appropriate information" and criteria for determining which information technologies are appropriate for developing and developed countries. Discussion covers history of development theory, developments in information technology, need for appropriate information, introduction of information technology, international…

Discusses proceedings of the 1996 ASIS (American Society for Information Science) annual meeting in Baltimore (Maryland), including chaos theory; electronic universities; distance education; intellectual property, including information privacy on the Internet; the need for leadership in libraries and information centers; information warfare and…