A Waste of Time? (Private Rates of Return to Higher Education in the 1990s)

Since 1990, there has been considerable debate concerning the benefits of the expansion of higher education and the appropriate way to fund such an expansion. This paper demonstrates that three factors are decisive to the individual contemplating higher education: national economic growth; the relative earnings of graduates and non-graduates; the difference between the average and the marginal student. The results, of analysis based on rates of return, reaffirm the view that a proportion of the costs involved in higher education can be transferred to the graduates themselves in the form of loans. However, there appear to be limits to the costs that can be transferred if all students are to judge that undergraduate study is a worthwhile proposition. Notwithstanding this, most students could be lent more income to study than is now the case and indeed an average student would be advised to take any loans despite the greater debt. Marginal students, however, are making a risky private investment and, therefore, any decisions to further expand may result in students not taking up the places.     

Exporting the American (information) revolution: the international impact of the National Library of Medicine

The National Library of Medicine has had an enormous impact on health information services all over the world. Although NLM is primarily a national institution, it has become an important international resource by responding to requests from the international community. NLM has been influential in three major ways. First, NLM has provided a model for other national and regional health information services. Second, it has been a catalyst, in that MEDLARS and other services it provides formed the nucleus of many regional networks. NLM helped such networks get started by giving advice on how to set up services and build collections and by "training the trainers" on the MEDLARS system. Third, NLM has supported national and regional operations by providing the additional training and materials needed for day-to-day service.     

Trends in nursing education and the school of nursing librarian

The history of nursing education in America is briefly told, with the growth of education in institutions of higher learning emphasized. Two trends in nursing education are paralleled by similar developments in nursing literature. The growth of scholarship in nursing is also noted. It is pointed out that nursing is a discipline in its own right, and that training for leadership is required. Continuing education programs are mentioned, together with the increase in nursing literature. Integrated libraries for the health sciences are recommended.     

Into the Future:The Challenge and Promise of Technology for Digital Libraries

我们长期将数字图书馆作为一个独立的世界来构建,这个独立的世界中包括数字对象的创建、管理、发现、传递以及利用等。这种相对封闭的模式与高度发达的开放网络世界背道而驰。在网络世界中,用户可以通过大型的检索系统,如Google和Amazon来发现信息,还可以在管理这些信息资源的系统之外对其进行利用。当用户都涌向网络世界时,数字图书馆就面临着打破其固有封闭状态的挑战,以便适应开放的网络世界,否则将失去其实用性。当前,许多条件都给数字图书馆提供了改变现状、提高实用性的机遇。本文将讨论数字图书馆现存的典型模式以及该模式带来的后果,讨论数字图书馆工作改革的方式,并简要探讨数字图书馆建设中的成功技术实例。