bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Green information for a white continent — environmental information for Antarctica
Authors: Walton D.W.H. , Phillips Christine M.
Published: February 2008

Antarctica, the highest, coldest and windiest of all continents is also the least known. Although initial discovery and exploration began with Captain Cook in the 18th century, substantial investigation began only in the 20th century. 1956 — the start of the International Geophysical Year — marks the major turning point for interest in Antarctica and the beginning of a continuing growth in Antarctic information. Increasing international interest in Antarctic resources, conservation, politics and science is providing a much wider demand for environmental information of all types.
Keynote paper: the politics of information
Authors: Ivens Michael
Published: February 2008

I am going to talk about ‘the politics of information’, which is not the same thing as ‘information of politics’, but they are often related. This paper is seen from the perspective of a campaigning organisation — Aims of Industry — which is concerned with industry and business and its political issues.
Information‐intensive management and the expanding market for information professionals
Authors: Moore Nick
Published: February 2008

We live in a consumer society. Most of us make significant, expensive purchases of consumer durables, with, I suspect, increasing frequency. It is interesting to consider the ways in which we go about making these purchases. Generally, there appear to be three different approaches. Some people simply go into town on a Saturday, drift around the shops and buy whatever appears most closely to meet their needs. Or more probably, buy the item which is recommended by the sales person they trust most. Others check through Which? and select the item which best meets their needs for the price they are prepared to pay. The third category, and I must confess to being part of this group, buy something on impulse and then, as they write out the cheque, feel a twinge of guilt because they had not checked in Which?.
Statistics available from the Department of Transport
Authors: Akinbolu Judy
Published: February 2008

This paper looks briefly at the types of publication produced by the Department of Transport, and says something about the availability of unpublished information. To illustrate, I shall look at one or two areas in detail, outlining how data are collected, and how the information feeds into our system. However, I should like to start by saying a little about source guides.
Special libraries in Ghana: an appraisal
Authors: Alemna A.A.
Published: February 2008

This paper describes the state‐of‐the art of special libraries in Ghana. Based on observations and original research, the paper discusses a variety of issues such as facilities, staff, materials and services that are provided in these libraries. It has been found that one of their major problems is funding. Recommendations are made towards the improvement of the libraries, which include the need for more library co‐operation, especially at the international level, and the establishment of a National Documentation Centre in the country.
Desktop publishing: what is it and what it can do for you
Authors: Tuck Bill
Published: February 2008

Desktop publishing has emerged in the last few years as perhaps the most exciting new application of the microcomputer. Prior to this development, the only way of producing high quality printed output from computer generated text was to use elaborate embedded formatting codes for driving a typesetter (as in the Unix troff system) or else to use very expensive purpose built equipment (such as that developed for the newspaper printing industry). Thanks to desktop publishing the situation has changed dramatically. With the aid of software packages such as Ventura Publisher or Pagemaker, low cost microcomputers and laser printers can be used to produce high quality camera ready output in a great variety of formats and with sophisticated typographic control. With such cost savings, the quality of presentation material can be greatly improved. It becomes affordable for even small organisations to produce, in‐house, properly printed brochures, newsletters, factsheets, and other forms of documentation. This move towards a higher quality of published information helps immeasurably to improve the public image and credibility of the organisation. With greater control over the printing process it also becomes easier to provide more frequent updates of material. Thus information can be more timely and accurate, as well as better presented. In addition, it may no longer be necessary to print off large numbers of any particular document at any one time: short runs and ‘publication on demand’ become feasible with DTP. Even online storage and document delivery over communications networks become possible, particularly with the adoption of a standard page description language (such as PostScript). In summary, desktop publishing makes communication easier, both by making the printed product more readable and by enabling a whole range of additional services to be added; such as frequent updating, demand publishing and electronic archiving. New methods of document distribution, using electronic mail or other digital networks, also become possible. In this sense, it may represent just the first step towards a radical change in the way we communicate.
Towards a general theory of information II: information and entropy
Authors: Stonier Tom
Published: February 2008

Future developments of computer systems will be handicapped not by the limitations of hardware, but by our lack of understanding of the human reasoning processes. The development of three‐dimensional chips, cryogenic superconducting, or optical systems — and in due course, biological computers — presages the emergence of generations of super information processors whose power will dwarf the present generation of devices as they, in turn, have dwarfed the capacity of the computers of the pre‐transistor age. The effective application of such powerful future computers will be limited by the lack of an adequate theoretical basis for the processing of information. Gordon Scarrott has championed the need for a ‘science of information’ which should investigate the ‘natural properties of information such as function, structure, dynamic behaviour and statistical features…’ Such an effort should ‘… lead to a conceptual framework to guide systems design.’
A folklore view of information
Authors: Hannabuss Stuart
Published: February 2008

Comparisons are often drawn between the way we think and how computers work. The information‐processing model of cognition, and developments in artificial intelligence encourage such comparisons. Resistance to this view emphasises the unique flexibility of the human mind and suggests that machines do not think and cannot be creative. Theodore Roszak'sThe cult of informationforms the catalyst for a discussion of the ways in which information has acquired folkloristic status as the major way in which people look at the world and their own process of thought.
Managing bibliographies with Pro‐Cite
Authors: Hanson T.A. , Hanson A.C.
Published: February 2008

Pro‐Cite is a software package for managing personal bibliographic databases from which printed bibliographies are frequently required. The article first considers the kinds of project for which Pro‐Cite is intended, and those for which it is not intended. In the latter category is included the management of large permanent databases to which powerful online access is frequently required. Its strength lies in its specialisation: it provides pre‐defined data structures for various kinds of printed and audio/visual materials and pre‐defined output formats corresponding to a range of standard styles. The package is discussed in detail with sections on Editing, Searching, Printing and Browsing, Indexing, and Sorting. The article also discusses the use of Biblio‐Links. These are reformatting devices which are used to convert downloaded online search results to Pro‐Cite format.
The Data Protection Act 1984
Authors: Moulton Simon
Published: February 2008

The Data Protection Act 1984 Introduction. Purpose of the Act. The Act gives new rights to individuals about whom information is recorded on computer; individuals may find out information about themselves, challenge it if appropriate and claim compensation in certain circumstances.
Use of IT by senior managers in UK academic libraries
Authors: Hayter M. , Heery M.
Published: February 2008

In commerce and industry, senior managers are starting to make extensive personal use of microcomputers. Such tasks as diary maintenance, word processing, electronic messaging, spreadsheet applications and even expert systems are becoming commonplace. Are these developments reflected in the way senior library managers in the UK are using IT? A six‐month British Library funded project, based at Bristol Polytechnic Library, has surveyed the UK academic sector and has examined case studies of particularly interesting applications. This paper presents a summary of the project's findings and discusses what needs to be done to encourage more widespread use of microcomputers by senior library managers.
Distance education and the information scientist
Authors: Haythornthwaite Jo
Published: February 2008

Distance education (DE) is discussed in the light of the following questions:
Bibliographic records for users: from disordered superabundance to cost‐effective satisfaction
Authors: Line Maurice B.
Published: February 2008

At present bibliographic records are being produced for many of the same books by publishers, commercial companies and libraries, in spite of the cost of producing them, and their inadequacy for subject access. Analysis of needs of different categories of users suggests that if adequate records can be produced at the first (publisher) stage, they can be used all through. There are several ways of achieving decent subject access without too much extra expense, e.g. by putting the effort saved by reducing bibliographic description into subject access; by instituting an all‐through system and so avoiding duplication; by providing keyword access to titles and contents pages; and by developing a profitable market for subject access to books. To achieve an all‐through system, a basic file of adequate records from publishers and a commercial subject file would be needed, as well as a National Bibliographic Agency to oversee the system.
Economics of record provision
Authors: Preston David
Published: February 2008

The original initiative for looking at this area came from the BNB Research Fund which sponsored a paper on this topic for their 1987 seminar at Newbury. Initially, the intention had been to look at the issue in a cold analytical way by comparing the benefits which end‐users received from records with the cost of generating those records in the first place. To commence this analysis, it was decided to carry out a number of unstructured telephone and face‐to‐face interviews with record producers and record users. Amongst the record producing community, a range of feelings was expressed, but there was a great reluctance to talk about the operational costs of record creation. Users consulted presented a diverse range of views but generally expressed their dismay and frustration with the existing systems of record creation. The purpose of this paper is more to discuss the costly inefficiencies in record creation and to suggest some possibilities for more efficient record creation and provision in the future. A specific suggestion is that good, current, timely, bibliographic records are a marketing tool in their own right which enables publishers to sell their books in an increasingly competitive international market place. There is, therefore, a direct relationship between investment in good bibliography, and the development of greater sales of books in the international market.
National and international imperatives of a UK national information policy
Authors: Malley Ian
Published: February 2008

No comprehensive national information policy exists in the UK. Although there are many practical reasons for its absence, the lack of political will by government is probably decisive. This paper attempts to examine the political pressures (both domestic and international) for and against a UK national information policy: initially by looking at the major factors which militate against the formulation of a policy (most of these are a result of government philosophy and domestic politics), and then by looking at developments which might bring a policy into existence (most of these relate to political and economic developments in Europe). The number of government departments involved in information matters, their individual and disparate policies, the success of the market‐led information economy, and the difficulty in controlling the multi‐national element of this economy, all stand in the way of the establishment of a national policy. Yet the single European market, European regulations, the need to formulate a European information policy, the historic parallels with other sectors of European policy, each of which have profound economic implication, suggest that the present vacuum might have to be filled.
Concept Indexing: the world beyond the windows
Authors: Wyllie Jan
Published: February 2008

This paper argues that the realisation of the electronic hypermedia of the future depends on integrating the technology of free text retrieval with the classification‐based discipline of content analysis
Searching for the future
Authors: Gillman P.L.
Published: February 2008

In a paper which he gave to the Institute of Information Scientists Annual Conference in Harrogate in 1989, Phil Holmes spoke of his concern that the searching systems now used are little more than tidied‐up and sophisticated versions of what was available 25 years ago. What, he wondered, were the new approaches to interrogating bodies of data, and who was investigating them? As a result of this paper, Phil was asked to expand on these ideas at one of the regular IIS Southern Branch meetings.
The need for book indexes, indexers, types of indexes and some search techniques
Authors: Raper Richard
Published: February 2008

This paper begins with a discussion on the need for book indexes and highlights their benefits. Indexes to symposia and reports are considered. Reasons for indexless books are offered and suggestions and guidelines given for deciding whether or not a publication should have an index. Indexes for educational books are discussed. In the corporate environment indexes are recommended for brochures, training and product manuals. An evaluation is made of the benefits and qualities of competent book indexes. Types of indexes and published literature are reviewed together with the role and contribution of the Society of Indexers for training and supply of indexers to the information and publishing industries. The paper concludes with suggestions on search techniques for making best use of indexes.
Introduction to the use of workstations for library and information management
Authors: Brophy Peter
Published: February 2008

The term workstation is not easily defined, but experience from fields other than librarianship demonstrates the development of the concept and the convergence of its different implementations. New workstations will be multifunctional, and will enable several tasks to be run concurrently. Library managers' use of workstations is surveyed, and the need for investment in development and applications identified.
Workstations for academic applications
Authors: McKnight Cliff
Published: February 2008

The progress that might lead to the development of an academic workstation is considered. The design of such a workstation must begin with a consideration of the tasks which the academic performs, and must aim to suport all such tasks, across the range of teaching, research and administration. Examples of currently available support are discussed, and it is concluded that not only are certain aspects of the technology insufficient, but also various psychological aspects need to be addressed.
Current records — records management as a service
Authors: Morddel Anne
Published: February 2008

Traditionally, records management has been defined as the systematic organisation of all recorded information — whether it be on paper, tape, disc, film, or any other medium — from its creation, through its use, to its storage and final disposition, either in permanent archival storage or in its legal destruction. What this means is that the recorded information of an organisation must be managed throughout its life cycle, from the moment it is created, throughout all the years that it might be kept, to the day it is destroyed. The life cycle concept of records management, divides the life of a record into three stages: active or current, when it is in regular use; semi‐active or semi‐current, when it is still of use to the creator or recipient, but only occasionally, and so may be stored remotely; and inactive, when it is no longer of use to the creator or recipient, and may be destroyed or sent to archival storage. Customarily, records managers have dealt with records during their current and their semi‐current stages, when in a commercial environment; while archivists have dealt with records during their inactive and their semi‐current stages, when governmental environment. Inevitably, the two fields overlapped and recognised their common concerns.
Bringing Peripheral Regions into the Information Market: the European Commission's STAR Programme
Authors: Blackshaw Roger
Published: February 2008

Some people are probably already familiar with the STAR programme that has been operating in Portugal since 1987, but I think it is appropriate to give a brief summary of the origins of the programme as in doing so it will give some insight into what the programme is all about and what it is intended to achieve. In summary, STAR is a community programme designed to give improved access to advanced telecommunications in less favoured regions of the European Community. However, STAR is first and foremost a tool for regional development and stems from the regional problem.
STAR in the West: the Search for Value Added Services in Ireland
Authors: Martin Bill
Published: February 2008

Ireland, North and South, is benefitting from the STAR Programme. In the North, some 25 million ECU has been provided, with about 39 million ECU for the South. This paper reports on prospects for the growth of value added services in the North and examines evidence from two projects recently completed in the South.
Costing and Pricing Information: the Bottom Line
Authors: Akeroyd John
Published: February 2008

Over the past decade there has been a substantial increase in both the number and variety of information products available and whilst some of these have been small scale, operating on a regional basis or within a narrowly defined subject discipline, others have been global and comprehensive. Delivery mechanisms have also varied from highly personalised services, to online computers and newer technologies like CD‐ROM. But one issue that has emerged over this period which has been of common concern to both providers and consumers alike, is that of costing and pricing and, in particular the development of effective pricing policies. To some extent the reasons why this is so are complex and derive from the complex nature of information itself, and I hope to return to these later in the paper. But others relate more to issues of policy and strategy and these do need to be established before pricing issues can be effectively addressed.
Methodologies and Models for Information Management
Authors: Sutherland Ewan
Published: February 2008

This article describes in outline the different approaches used to support the management of information, information systems and information technology. It has a bias towards systems and technology, rather than information, if only because this is where most management effort is focused. Management information per se is neither frequently attempted nor easy.
Setting up Romney House Library
Authors: Goodier John
Published: February 2008

Romney House Library (RHL) is a special library dedicated to serving Department of the Environment staff responsible for policy formulation and inspection in the area of environmental protection. It started in September 1988. For about ten years previously there had been a Chemical Information Service (CIS) which served staff concerned with toxic chemicals, this had been staffed by a Librarian and half an Administrative Officer. For about eight years the staff involved with radioactive waste had maintained a collection of reports. This occupied an AO for about 15% of his time. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution had recently been transferred to DoE from the Health and Safety Executive and combined with the Inspection functions already undertaken by DoE to make up a reformed HMIP. The librarian of CIS had left in 1987 and the services of CIS were continued by the head of the Library Research branch. The opportunity was taken, after a survey of the needs of the recently reformed HMIP, to relaunch CIS as RHL to serve the wider range of customers. OS's customer base as about 20 technical staff: RHL's customer base is over 200.
European Community social information databases
Authors: Hanson Terry
Published: February 2008

Currently the European Community (EC) produces and/or distributes about 35 public databases with many more used for internal purposes only. In this short article we will look at those which contain information on social affairs. Most are available online via the official EC hosts, Eurobases and ECHO, but some are produced and/or distributed, under licence, by private companies either online or on CD‐ROM.
Information sources on economic development
Authors: Jackson Ced
Published: February 2008

Economic development is at the heart of the completion of the Single European Market, and the information sources on this topic are wide and varied.
Trade‐up your downloads
Authors: Jackson A.E
Published: February 2008

As an end‐user of online search results, have you ever been disappointed with the presentation and format of the references delivered to you? Have you ever struggled to load the data into your personal information retrieval system? As an information provider, have you ever wished for simple, flexible and efficient ways of trading‐up the downloaded data files resulting from online searches? Do you regularly waste precious resources re‐keying downloaded bibliographic data into corporate retrieval systems or simply neglect this option because of its expense? Whether the answer to any or all of these questions is ‘yes’ or ‘no’, this article puts some of the problems in context, highlights opportunities and outlines a general solution.
Expanding the information horizon: alternative careers for information professionals
Authors: Bowes Roger
Published: February 2008

On some occasions some people are wont to say, “There is no alternative!” I don't agree. There is almost always an alternative. For example, I believe that there is an alternative to information science. I don't mean librarianship or management information or information technology; I have in mind what I'd like to call for the purpose of this paper, “Alternative Information Science”.
Are you managing ok?
Authors: Barker Sharon
Published: February 2008

If one were to select a concept that could be used as representative of the end of the decade of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s, then that concept could well be management. Although as a discipline, theories of management first emerged at the end of the 1890s, it has undergone periodic phases of rediscovery as each new generation of managers isolated some hitherto unknown factor which could contribute to their overall efficiency as managers. Each decade has produced influential thinkers with, for instance, the 1920s seeing output from Henri Fayol, Mary Parker Follett, H.L. Gantt, F. & L. Gilbreth and F.W. Taylor; the 1930s that of E. Mayo, L.F. Urwick, and C.I. Barnard; the 1950s Drucker, Herzberg, Leavitt, and Chris Argyris; the 1960s Maslow, Likert, Blake and Mouton, Bennis, Kotler, McGregor and Revans. Its current phase in the United Kingdom could be said to have gained impetus with the publication of the two reports into aspects of management education, Charles Handy's The making of managers and John Constable's The making of British managers. The research reported by both documents indicated an urgent need for change if managers in the United Kingdom were to be produced in the quantity and quality required to ensure continued and successful participation in international competition. Yet the problems identified were not really new ones: similar concerns after the Second World War had led to the setting up of a body to improve the quality of management thinking and practice, the British Institute of Management (BIM), established in 1947. It is a sad truism that the lessons of history are very rarely learned, and in this, management is no exception. Nonetheless, the findings of these major surveys of the 1980s have once again brought management to the forefront of attention.
Provision and use of information in SSDs — the impact on practice
Authors: Millar Dugald
Published: February 2008

A current advertisement on the radio says that in the last recession some companies decided they couldn't afford to advertise. They went bankrupt. The ones who are around today decided they couldn't afford not to advertise. There is a parallel in the use of information in Social Services. In the lean years of the 1980s many Social Services Departments (SSDs) cut back on Research and Development, and delayed investment in Information Systems and New Technology. With the new Community Care legislation this is no longer becoming an option. Service planning and Quality Assurance are becoming central issues for all Departments.
Libraries and published information
Authors: Elliott Seonaid
Published: February 2008

I think it would be true to say that it can be difficult to see how the traditional library techniques of information gathering and retrieval fit into the high tech and frenetic world that is Social Services today.
The role of information in Poland's industrial reforms
Authors: Zawislak Andrzej
Published: February 2008

Ladies and Gentlemen. The announced subject is extremely broad and there is a risk of uttering commonplaces, because I could just say that information is important and then try to prove it in various ways. I would like to go beyond the scope of this subject, however, and touch upon issues which we, in our department, consider to be important.
The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development as a factor of European Integration
Authors: Wojtowicz Grzegorz
Published: February 2008

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I have come to the conclusion that all great events result in other great events. However, the rule is that first there will be great political events and then either more political events or economic ones. And so in 1944 at the end of the Second World War a few clever people started to think about establishing an international monetary order. In this way in 1944 the idea was outlined to create the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which is now called the World Bank.
Managing corporate records
Authors: Day Ian
Published: February 2008

I should like to start by thanking the organizers of this conference for the chance to give what I suspect may be one of the first papers concerned with this particular branch of information management ever given to a Polish audience.
Machine translation and the documentation process
Authors: Cynkin Christopher
Published: February 2008

During the course of recent years I have conducted my own independent study of the current activity concerning machine translation and computer‐aided translation. My goal has been not only to collect information, but to make a recommendation as to what position my own company — Interverbum — should take vis‐a‐vis the developments in the field, i.e. is machine translation, or can it be, a useful tool within my company's operations?
Pewex‐Karen — a case study
Authors: Gorski Andrzej , Puck Chuck
Published: February 2008

My name is Andrzej Gorski and I am one of the directors of the Pewex company. I don't have to explain to Polish people what the company is, but for the benefit of people who are in Poland for the first time, I'll explain something of the company.
The difficulties and problems encountered in establishing a computer network in Poland CRT — POLKOM
Authors: Duch Jacek
Published: February 2008

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Although my name appears in the conference programme I dared to ask a few of our colleagues and associates to present what we are going to talk about. I, like you, will be a listener. This is because first of all, we are an international corporation, and secondly, because the project we want to present to you was carried out thanks to international co‐operation.
Information science in the international arena: an educator's perspective
Authors: Cronin Blaise
Published: February 2008

Over the last decade or so I have had first‐hand experience of sixty LIS (library and information science) schools or programmes in twenty countries, from Botswana to Brazil; from Morocco to Malaysia. This paper describes my impressions of recent and current developments in the teaching of information studies/science internationally. It is not, however, based on the results of any kind of field survey or systematic comparison of curricula and courses, and my remarks should therefore be treated with caution. These impressions have been garnered through on‐site visits, whether for the purpose of teaching, acting as external examiner, conducting research or undertaking consultancy assignments.
The supply of and demand for EC business information in the United Kingdom
Authors: Hopkins Michael
Published: February 2008

My intention this morning is to start the day's proceedings with a general overview of supply and demand as it relates to the business use of European Communities (EC) information in the United Kingdom. I will divide my paper into three main parts. I will look first at the nature of business demand for EC information, then at the sources from which demand is satisfied, and finally conclude with some observations on the match between supply and demand. In the time available I can do little more than sketch the principal characteristics of information provision, but by so doing I hope to provide something of a background and context against which to consider the more specialist papers which follow during the remainder of the day. I should also say that I use the phrase ‘EC information’ rather loosely as a convenient short‐hand expression to describe any kind of information by or about the EC which members of the business community might reasonably require in the conduct of their business activities.
BIOSIS: its agricultural coverage and products
Authors: Robinson Nigel
Published: February 2008

BIOSIS is the world's largest abstracting and indexing service for biological and biomedical research. An independent not‐for‐profit organization, BIOSIS was founded in 1926 and aims to make life science information available to the scientific community through its bibliographic databases and related services. In fulfilling this aim during the last 65 years, BIOSIS has grown and now supports over 100 products and services, being best known for its printed publications, Biological Abstracts (BA) and Biological Abstracts/RRM (Reports, Reviews & Meetings) (BA/RRM). Following an agreement in 1980, BIOSIS and the Zoological Society of London now jointly publish Zoological Record, the oldest continuing index to zoological literature, which was the first published in 1865. BIOSIS UK is concerned primarily with the production of this database, although staff are also involved in the education of users and promotion of all BIOSIS products in the UK.
Information UK 2000: Education and training
Authors: Webb Sylvia P
Published: February 2008

As a participant in the original research for the British Library's IUK 2000 project, my general brief at that time was to look at the influences on, and developments in the management and organization of UK special libraries in the year 2000. The Task Force of which I was part had as an overall title “Archives, libraries and information services”. I started by taking as a model Peter Drucker's view of corporate economics in the 1990s and the far‐reaching changes which he saw as being brought about in the social and economic environment. The main trends as seen by Drucker relate to increased international co‐operation and integration; radical business restructuring; and a challenge to the doctrine of self‐perpetuating management, raising questions of accountability.
Technology assessment in Parliament
Authors: Deshmukh VGI , Norton MG
Published: February 2008

The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) was set up in 1989 to provide members of both Houses of Parliament with objective information on scientific and technological issues. In this paper, the concept of ‘technology assessment’ is explained, together with details of POST's formation and mode of working. Finally, two recent papers from POST on The Relationships between Defence and Civil Science and Technology, and on High‐performance Computing, will be briefly discussed.
Dialogue modelling for information access
Authors: Nelson Andrew L , Stenton SP
Published: February 2008

This paper describes a dialogue modelling approach to information access. We apply this approach to the design of software used by management professionals for whom technology should be seen and not learnt. From dialogue data we identify context and mutual coverage as key dialogue features for this class of interface. We compare the handling of these features by existing systems, describe a novel query mechanism called Query By Format and conclude with the results of an evaluation study noting its strengths and weaknesses.
The foreign language barrier in information transfer at the University of Tasmania
Authors: Riley Christopher
Published: February 2008

A survey of indexing and abstracting tools held at the University of Tasmania's library was conducted to determine the amount of foreign language materials available to researchers working at the University. The research workers themselves were also surveyed in order to ascertain the effects of the foreign language barrier on their ability to access information relevant to their fields of study. The data suggests that there is a considerable barrier which adversely affects information dissemination and that there exists a need for the development of library services especially designed to confront this barrier.
Towards a virtual reality library
Authors: Poulter Alan
Published: February 2008

It is argued that the current generation of online catalogues do not meet basic user expectations about how to search for information. After a brief examination of virtual reality audits associated technology, a new form of online catalogue, the virtual reality library is proposed. Users browse an information space, a computer‐controlled set of shelf orderings for items. Its form, workings and design are investigated in detail. The concept of the virtual reality library is then applied to information resources which either have no physical repository or have one which is not accessible to users.
Authoring a hypertext database — Experiences with HyperPAD
Authors: Baoming Zhang
Published: February 2008

In a hypertext database, the information is presented as a network of nodes connected by links. Such nodes may be text, graphics, audio, video, and even other software. Although hypertext provides a new approach to information management, it also leaves a whole new set of problems for the designers of the hypertext database to solve. As the volume of information grows, the task of authoring a hypertext database becomes much more complex. In this article, the author presents the experiences during the development of a hypertext version of the user's guide for information services on JANET, in the UK, by using HyperPAD, a hypertext shell for the IBM PC. It may be the first step to explore the proper way to solve those problems which come together with the increasing application of hypertext.
An introduction to Quality Assurance and a guide to the implementation of BS 5750
Authors: Wedlake Linda J
Published: February 2008

This paper introduces the philosophy of Quality Assurance and traces the development of the British Standard for Quality Systems — BS 5750. The key components of the Quality System are covered and there is a discussion on how to choose a Quality System which is most appropriate to the needs of the particular organization. A comprehensive guide (including flowcharts) is also given which addresses the nature and scope of tasks which must be undertaken in implementing a Quality System commensurate with the requirements of a recognized international standard such as BS 5750.
Scientific current awareness in an international pharmaceutical R&D environment
Authors: McIntosh Peter
Published: February 2008

A system to provide scientific current awareness for R&D staff at SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals is described. The system is based on an innovative combination of personal bibliographic software (Pro‐Cite +)—for capturing and reformatting data from different sources — and the use of a large central database run under BASIS + text management software for duplicate removal and bulletin production. This combination has proven an effective and robust platform for the provision of the service on a multi‐site, international basis.
The need for business information refineries
Authors: Wyllie Jan
Published: February 2008

This paper will argue that current attempts at making systems user‐friendly for businessmen and the public at large are doomed to failure because they do not deal with the key issues of document organization, selection, classification, summarization, and interpretation.
Virtual documents — the past, the present and some standards for the future
Authors: Johnson Simon
Published: February 2008

Virtual documents have become a reality with the widespread use of the technology available. This paper considers the impact of the concepts involved in virtual documents in the commercial arena. By reference to practical examples where companies have implemented virtual document systems in order to achieve profit and/or corporate advantage the paper considers the significance of standards and the direction they will need to take.
Sticking to the text: a corpus linguist's view of language
Authors: Renouf Antoinette
Published: February 2008

Corpus Linguistics is the study of large, computer‐held bodies of text, or ‘corpora’. In the last five years, this approach to language study has become increasingly popular among linguists, and developments in computing technology and software and in storage mechanisms like CD are making it possible even for the individual PC user. The aim of the linguist is to describe the language, and corpus linguistics reflects the shift in academic focus from the brain to the text as the appropriate source of information. A description derived by introspection will tend to be idiosyncratic and partial, since no individual has total awareness of how they or others use language. A description based on the observation of appropriate corpus data, on the other hand, can provide a broader view of language use, including statements about the relative typicality of individual features based on their frequency of occurrence in the corpus.
Status of librarians in Ghanian universities
Authors: Antwi IK
Published: February 2008

The paper gives brief background information on the evolution of university education in Ghana since 1948. It then attempts to explain the concept of status and the parameters of academic librarianship. The main objective of this paper was to find out the current status of librarians in Ghanian universities. To achieve this, data were gathered from the three older university libraries in the country through a questionnaire. It was found out that there was no consensus on the status of universities in Ghana. It then gives several suggestions to improve on the academic status of librarians in Ghana.
China's intellectual property rights and scientific and technical information services
Authors: Oppenheim Charles
Published: February 2008

In this talk, I propose to cover two areas of intellectual property. These are copyright and patents. I will examine both of these topics in regard to the provision of scientific and technical information and the development of a dynamic and growing electronic information industry. For I believe that any country that plans to have a healthy information industry requires strong and rigorously enforced patent laws, and strong and rigorously enforced copyright laws.
Tools for the analysis of business information need
Authors: Wilson T.D.
Published: February 2008

China is moving towards a new form of economic structure — one based upon a market economy with all of the problems associated with that mode of organization. The stresses associated with major economic change are being felt already and it is questionable whether the society can derive the full benefits of a market economy mode without further social and political change. It is to be hoped, at least, that the market is not allowed to negate totally the concept of the general good, and that some effective control over the harmful effects of a crude concept of ‘market forces’ can be maintained.
Considerations on the development of China's information industry
Authors: Zhaodong Liu
Published: February 2008

The definition of the ‘information industry’ is given. The state of the art of China's information industry is described. The problems and the opportunities for its development are analysed. And finally, considerations on its development are put out.
Developments in MT research in the US
Authors: Wilks Yorick
Published: February 2008

The paper argues that the IBM statistical approach to machine translation has done rather better after a few years than many sceptics believed it could. However, it is neither as novel as its proponents suggest nor is it making claims as clear and simple as they would have us believe. The performance of the purely statistical system (and we discuss what that phrase could mean) has not equalled the performance of SYSTRAN. More importantly, the system is now being shifted to a hybrid that incorporates much of the linguistic information that it was initially claimed by IBM would not be needed for MT. Hence, one might infer that its own proponents do not believe ‘pure’ statistics sufficient for MT of a usable quality. In addition to real limits on the statistical method, there are also strong economic limits imposed by their methodology of data gathering. However, the paper concludes that the IBM group have done the field a great service in pushing these methods far further than before, and by reminding everyone of the virtues of empiricism in the field and the need for large scale gathering of data.
Development of a management package for translators in translation management
Authors: Barber Peter
Published: February 2008

This paper examines some of the problems of day‐to‐day management and control of work passing through a busy translation office, aspects which are common to both translation companies and internal translation departments, such as maintenance of ‘client’ and ‘supplier’ databases, production of printed papers, statistics and control of ‘work in progress’. It then passes on to consider some of the solutions available. One specific solution, which developed over a number of years in close collaboration with Bruce Carroll, a computer consultant, is the Electronic Translations Manager (ETM). ETM is a standalone or network computer program written by specialists for specialists, with the aim of minimising the repetition and routine drudgery of job and data handling. In addition to ‘job’ management, ETM manages the ‘client’ and ‘supplier’ databases, and merges data from all areas to provide instant information on the current and historical status of work These data, when suitably merged, also provide a wealth of statistical reports.
Controlled English with and without machine translation
Authors: Lee Arthur
Published: February 2008

What is Controlled English? Its use and application. The rules of Controlled English and their meaning. Max — a Controlled English tool. The Controlled English dictionaries. Implementation of Controlled English within Bull. Guidelines for implementing a Controlled Language system with or without Machine Translation.
Foreign languages in WordPerfect
Authors: Kahrel Peter
Published: February 2008

WordPerfect offers several facilities to handle foreign languages and multi‐lingual documents. This paper discusses two aspects of language handling in WP: the language code, which is a WP formatting code that gives access to language modules and the keyboard editor, which facilitates entering foreign characters. The paper discusses the possibilities offered in the 5.1 version of the program. The last section discusses improvements in WP 6.0.
Marketing information systems
Authors: Rowley Jennifer
Published: February 2008

This article has examined the changing role of MKIS. The types of questions to which MKIS need to respond have been identified, and the range of types of MKIS systems are introduced. It is proposed that the marketing mix is extended to include 5 ‘P’s, the conventional four: product, price, place and promotion, plus data Processing. MKIS face a number of challenges over the next few years in response to changes in the marketing and information systems environment. In particular, they will need to develop to handle ever more complex market analysis and to accommodate the challenges posed by new methods of marketing and selling such as teleshopping and direct marketing.
Quality in learning support services
Authors: Harrison Colin
Published: February 2008

One of the recommendations of Follett that looks very likely to be taken up quickly is that relating to including the Library Services in the Quality Audits. This may well spread to include all the central learning support services so it is an issue that will affect not only libraries but other similar services. The assessment of FE colleges already incorporates such an inspection and so regional colleges are undergoing this process presently.
Internet: strategic issues for libraries and librarians — a commercial perspective
Authors: Buckle David
Published: February 2008

It is twenty‐five years ago that the primary network, from which Internet has evolved, was created by the US Department of Defence, when it laid down the Advanced Research Project Agency Network: ARPANet.
The use of the World‐Wide Web in UK academic libraries
Authors: Furner‐Hines Jonathan , Willett Peter
Published: February 2008

We have recently completed a survey of the use of hypertext systems in academic, public and special libraries within the United Kingdom. A questionnaire and both telephone and face‐to‐face interviews revealed that the largest application of such systems in academic libraries is the use of the World‐Wide Web for networked document retrieval. This paper discusses the current usage of the World‐Wide Web by academic library services, illustrating the range of facilities that libraries are starting to make available to their users.
Test suites for natural language processing
Authors: Balkan Lorna , Arnold Doug , Meijer Siety
Published: February 2008

This paper introduces the topic of evaluation of natural language processing systems, and discusses the role of test suites in the linguistic evaluation of a system. The work on test suites that is being carried out within the framework of the TSNLP project is described in detail and the relevance of the project to the evaluation of machine translation systems considered.