Interaction of libraries and publishers

Libraries and publishers have evolved together. Publishers rely on libraries as a minimum market for their scholarly products. Inflationary pressures have caused publishers to increase prices that, in turn, strain library budgets that have not increased as fast, and which, in turn, undermine the minimal demand publishers can count on, adding to inflationary pressure.A simple mathematical model for the dynamics of the interaction between libraries and publishers is analyzed. It derives a function for the supply curve of scholarly publications, and is used to estimate when an institution will have to spend as much per person on library support as on his or her salary if present trends continue. This is used to argue that present trends are unlikely to continue, but that a discontinuous shift in the production of scholarly output is likely to occur within a decade or two. Likely new forms of communication among scholars in “communicating classes” involving nearly simultaneous communication and a new kind of organized cumulative record are discussed. The implication for institutional changes not only in libraries and publishers and their interrelation but of new kinds of institutions are sketched.     

Identification of the materials used in an Eastern Jin Chinese ink stick

Chinese ink stick has a long history and a special importance in the Chinese culture. For the first time, Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) was used to identify the materials in an ancient Chinese ink stick. Four types of constituents could be detected in the archaeological ink stick of the Eastern Jin period (317–420 AD): (1) borneol (Chinese name bing piàn); (2) compounds related to essential oil or tar of conifer wood: cedrene, aromadendrane, cedrane, cuparene, cedrol, retene, methyl dehydroabietate and 9-methyl retene; (3) marker compounds from animal glue; (4) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from soot. The information obtained through this study provides conclusive evidence for use of additives of borneol and cedar oil, binding media of animal glue and pine wood soot in the ancient ink stick.     

Christian Brünner zum 65. Geburtstag

Ordentlicher Universitätsprofessor Dr. iur. Christian Brünner begeht dieser Tage seinen fünfundsechzigsten Geburtstag. Anlass genug, um in der nachstehenden Aufblende seinem vielschichtigen und maßgeblichen Wirken auf nationaler und internationaler Ebene, insbesondere für die Wissenschaft und den Bildungssektor, die gebührende Anerkennung zu zollen.     

Amerikanische „Elitehochschulen“

The system of higher education in the USA comprises the undergraduate programs of the colleges and the graduate programs in research universities. This distinction has no equivalent in Germany. The idea of elite education is connected exclusively with the colleges. Its meaning and functions are demonstrated with an analysis of the criteria which are used for the ranking of higher education institutions. The ranking of the colleges is addressed to the students and is based on indicators, which give expression above all to the educational priorities of the students and the alumni. The ranking of the graduate programs focuses on specific academic programs and is addressed to the members of the various academic fields and to their prospective students. A few rankings cover whole educational institutions and serve to inform the higher educational management. We use these data to identity the specifics of outstanding research universities and their role in American higher education.     

Faculty – Personalstrukturen an US-amerikanischen Universit?ten Ein Vergleich zwischen dem ?sterreichischen und dem US-amerikanischen System

US-amerikanische Universit?ten sind in Zeiten, in denen sich auch das Wissenschaftssystem in europ?ischen L?ndern in einem starken Wandel befindet, aus unterschiedlichen Gründen einen Vergleich wert, gelten sie doch gemeinhin als besonders leistungsf?hige Institutionen im Rahmen einer globalen Wissensgesellschaft. Jedes Bildungswesen ist ein komplexes System, und in Anbetracht seiner Systemhaftigkeit liegt es auf der Hand, dass einzelne Systemelemente aus anderen L?ndern nicht ohne weiteres übertragen oder in ein anders geartetes Ambiente eingefügt werden k?nnen. Im Folgenden werden die Personalstrukturen des US-amerikanischen und des ?sterreichischen Hochschulsystems miteinander verglichen, sie werden in ihren Vorzügen und Schw?chen analysiert und in das jeweilige institutionelle Gefüge eingebettet.     

Genuine Religious Tolerance: Is It a Thing of the Past in Public Schools?

The so-called Culture Wars have made the issue of religious tolerance in schools more confusing than ever. Where once free speech trumped nearly every concern in these wars in the public schools, there is now great concern about whether messages put out are politically correct. The preoccupation teachers now have with avoiding speech or themes likely to get them into trouble has led to a new form of censorship. The authors explain that free speech in the educational forum requires respect for every earnest attempt to get at a legitimate truth claim. In matters religious, this epistemic openness is no longer respected. The argument below does not encourage teachers to engage in debate among students in matters religious, or even to encourage it. Nor are the arguments below aimed at introducing religious discourse as a means of developing skills of critical thinking as the feminist, moral philosopher Nel Noddings has previously recommended. The argument simply concludes with the modest recommendation that teachers be more conscientious about indirectly censoring or trivializing student religious speculations.     

Beware of Stereotypes: Are Classmates’ Stereotypes Associated With Students’ Reading Outcomes?

This study examined the associations between classmates’ reading-related gender stereotypes and students’ reading self-efficacy, self-concept, motivation, and achievement. Our sample consisted of 1,508 fifth-grade students (49% girls; age: 10.89 years); data were collected at two time points. Multilevel analyses yielded two main results: First, there was a relation between students’ individual reading-related gender stereotypes and their reading self-concept, self-efficacy, and motivation with boys experiencing negative and girls experiencing positive effects. Second, a contextual effect was found: after controlling for students’ individual reading-related gender stereotypes, classmates’ gender stereotypes were negatively related to all of the boys’ reading outcomes. The results provide evidence for the assumption that classmates are important communicators of gender stereotypes and that they reinforce conforming behaviors.     

Programmes and policies for foreign students and study abroad: the search for effective approaches in a new global setting

This paper provides an overview of the issues raised during a 1990 seminar on the effects of programmes and policies for foreign students and study abroad. The seminar was organised by the Hochschul-Informations-System in co-operation with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In particular, this paper addresses those concerns related to national policy and institutional responses in the light of changing patterns of foreign student flows and against the background of the new global economic and political setting.The views expressed are those of the authors and do not commit the organisations or governments concerned.