Financing reduction of information poverty in Nigerian University Libraries: A study of the IMF and world bank credit facility

This article is a critical appraisal of the recent financing of 20 Federal University Libraries in Nigeria by the World Bank at the negotiated sum of US$120 million (N= 2·64 billion). The World Bank project provides for acquisition of books, journals and equipment based on conditionalities to be met by the Universities. With background consideration of the socioeconomic effects prevalent with such financing, the paper assesses the impact of implementation of the loan on aspects of library professionalism concerning selection, acquisition and staff development functions. The problem of bureaucracy posed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as arbiter of the loan is also highlighted. For the analysis, statistical data on the schedule of University draw downs based on first, second, third generation of universities; the expenditure on books; funds committed for journals; and foreign beneficiaries of payments made for journals, show that all the universities have benefited from the book fund for the first tranche, while payment has been committed, though not expended, for 1993 journals. The inability of the universities in fully meeting up with set conditionalities and policy implications of the credit facility form the basis of discussion on the aborted future of the World Bank Project.     

现代远程教育发展的现实基础分析

数字化资源和课程的不断丰富,为人们终身学习提供了多种选择性;远程教育专业化队伍的发展壮大,在数量上已经适应规模的需要;远程教育制度建设已经开始;信息基础设施建设为远程教育创造了基本条件;社会对现代远程教育的认识正在改变。这些都说明现代远程教育已经具备了进一步发展的现实基础。巩固和发展现代远程教育应以微观上加强教与学过程的研究和技术支持为重点,从立法着手,确立其定位及其制度建设以寻求现代远程教育的新的突破。     

新课程对教师专业能力结构的新要求

从教育学角度分析,教师专业能力结构应包括师德、教育专业素养、学科专业水准、博雅素养、身体素质和心理素质六项基本指标,其中,教育专业素养和学科专业水准是核心指标。我国新课程的实施,对这两项指标提出了新要求,从而形成我国新课程教师专业能力结构。结构中的新要求是我国新时期教师专业发展的突破口和新走向。     

Foreign Communication

CSIS, two recent papers from

ELECTRONIC MEDIA AND POLITICS IN WESTERN EUROPE: EUROMEDIA RESEARCH GROUP HANDBOOK OF NATIONAL SYSTEMS edited by Hans J. Kleinsteuber, et al (Frankfurt and New York: Campus Verlag, 1986—price not given, paper)

THE POLITICS OF THE COMMUNICATION REVOLUTION IN WESTERN EUROPE edited by Kenneth Dyson and Peter Humphreys (London and Totowa, NJ: Frank Cass & Co., 1986—$29.50)

EMERGING CORPORATE INFORMATION NETWORKS: REGULATORY AND INDUSTRIAL POLICY IN JAPAN by Takashi Yokokura (Program on Information Resources Polic y, 200 Aiken, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138—price not given, paper)

WORLD BROADCASTING SYSTEMS: Update Notes, December 1987 by Sydney W. Head (available from Martha Sanchez, Kinko's Copies, 1212 South Dixie Highway, Coral Gables, FL 33146—$7.00 spiral bound)     

Achieving community borrower compliance with an urban university library's circulation policies: One university's solution

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Library has taken steps to provide the community with access to its collections while safeguarding its resources. It requires external borrowers to register a major credit card and agree to have the Library charge replacement costs and fees to their accounts.     

Personality and the learning of mathematics

The link between personality variables and performance in mathematics has not been systematically and extensively covered even though it would be reasonable to assume that personality factors play a crucial role, particularly with issues such as motivation, attitudes and cognitive style. In surveying the literature the author concludes that a fuller understanding can only come through the use of formal models of personality development in childhood and adolescence.