Discusses the future of information policies, focusing on information requirements and constraints; problems of a rapidly changing society for policy formation; European and global political concerns; and cultural, economic, and research environments. (Author/AEF)

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…

Analyzes British information policy using a matrix identifying industrial, organizational, and social levels of policy, and cross-cutting themes: information technology, information markets, human resources, and legislation and regulation. Argues that though Britain's various initiatives add up to a national strategy, it lacks coordination and…

Discusses the inadequacy of laws protecting the privacy of library patrons and the necessity of improving confidentiality statutes. Addresses the form the statute should take, what should be covered, libraries the statute should apply to, when exceptions are justified, and how the statute should be enforced. (AEF)

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…

Examines two multilateral approaches that aim to raise the level of intellectual property protection for databases. Discusses how both proposals, the European Union (EU) new Database Directive and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaty fail to provide ample copyright exemption provisions, necessary for offsetting the expanded…

Examines what the term "information society" really means and investigates how it is related to national computer plans (NCPs). Analysis of several NCPs indicates that nations are more concerned with a general need to bolster and improve their national economies than in encouraging social transformation. (JKP)

Discusses how open computer network architecture, along with the browsing capabilities of the World Wide Web, facilitates the dissemination of public information. Competitive markets will be created as those from the private sector package electronic information with value added. Copyright law and information pricing policies are outlined, 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.…

Following a brief consideration of the role of rhetoric in law, science, and policy, explores how rhetorical accounts of new technologies influence the course of legislative, judicial, and regulatory decisions. Proposes that such themes have the powerful capacity to determine outcomes and to shape modern concepts of both individual and societal…

Plots trends in the growth of Internet use. Discusses pornography on the Web, using filters, and the ALA response. Reports results of a survey of Internet availability within Pennsylvania public libraries. Findings indicate more than 90% of respondents offer access to the Internet, nearly 80% do not use filters, and 50% attempt to control access…

Explores organizational influence in the policy network that formed around the issue of determining essential services on the Canadian information highway. Qualitative content analysis found the essential services issue had two main aspects: ensuring universal access to telecommunications networks and determining the criteria for defining…

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…

A semantic analysis of the "Weekly Subject Index Stop Word List" of "Current Contents" of the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) and the full-stop word and semi-stop word lists of the Permuterm Subject Index of "Science Citation Index" was conducted. Emphasizes the necessity of an improved, semantically-oriented policy in preparing lists…