Technology at Washington University School of Medicine Library: BACS, PHILSOM, and OCTANET

A brief overview of the Bibliographic Access and Control System developed by the Washington University School of Medicine Library is presented. Because the system has been described in two previous reports, this paper focuses on its relationship to other automated programs (i.e., PHILSOM and OCTANET), education of users, evaluation of the system, and outreach to the medical center. In operation for more than two years, BACS represents the computerization of much of the managerial and operational functions of the library, and marks the completion of stage 1 of the three stages of library evolution described in the AAMC report Academic Information in the Academic Health Sciences Center: Roles for the Library in Information Management.     

The National Advisory Body Planning Exercise 1987–88: A Shot in the Foot

The National Advisory Body was established to advise the Secretary of State for Education and Science on the allocation of money to support advanced work in polytechnics and colleges. The committee system of NAB was representative of local authority and college interests and there was always a tension between NAB and the Department of Education and Science. The paper charts the decisions that were taken by NAB in progressing the 1987–88 planning exercise. The policy context of these decisions is analysed and the political consequences are discussed. The paper argues that the 1987–88 exercise was the wrong approach to the planning problems and that the resulting conflict with the Government destroyed the credibility of NAB.     

The Role of Central Government in Higher Education

This paper addresses three questions: (i) How has the role of central government in higher education evolved? (ii) What have been the main concerns of government? (iii) How should government canny out its role? The first two questions are examined by looking at the historical record in Australia. Australia's experience does not differ greatly from that of Britain.     

L'image des enseignants dans les moyens de communication de masse

An analysis of the image of teachers found in the mass media reveals two conflicting stereotypes. One represents an idealised view of teaching, emphasising teachers’ interaction with individual pupils, the other singles out only the problems faced by the profession, such as personal conflicts, inadequate resources, or the atmosphere of tension and violence in the schools. These two images appear to follow successively in the self‐image teachers hold of their profession. During the course of their careers, they move further away from the idealistic view and adopt a more troubled outlook as they face up to the widening gap between their ideals and the realities of their employment.