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This study investigates current practice in digitizing library materials in the USA. Building a good digital collection has been a common task, pervasive in all types of libraries. Digitization becomes more and more crucial, affecting libraries while they work towards becoming digital. Researchers and practitioners would like to know what practices have been developed to deal with the challenges that pose the most significant problems or concerns for libraries in digitization. Through probing some widespread issues on what materials to digitize, and the associated standards and technologies in digitization in US libraries, this survey of current literature reveals a number of prominent library digitization practices, methods and challenges, and highlights the best practices, trends and interests in library digitization pertaining to both policy and technology marketplace issues.

This study investigates the state of education for digital libraries. For this study, a Web survey was conducted of syllabi of courses on the subject of digital libraries (DL). Similarities and differences on such subjects as teaching emphases, course outlines, textbooks and assignments were compared. The majority of classes now contain a “hands-on” element, a practical component of the course that requires that the students interact with digital libraries. Not all of the course contents are up-to-date in the field of library and information technology. While the quality of DL education seems to have advanced at those schools and institutions that offer classes with “hands-on” requirements, the educational approach at many of the “hands-off” universities seems somewhat technophobic and overly dependent on outdated pedagogical methods. Those students who have received practical experience with digital libraries, like those provided in the “hands-on” courses, appear to be best served for future practice in the field of librarianship. © 2004, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

We report sol-gel process of Pb5Ge3O11 (PGO) as well as the microstructure and physical properties of ferroelectric PGO films for memory applications. The PGO sol was prepared from lead acetate hydrate, germanium isopropoxide, and di(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether. The reactions taking place during the sol-gel process were examined in detail, Diethanolamine (DEA) was added to help maintain the desired species ratio and prevent germanium oxide precipitation. The preferred orientation of the PGO thin films was well controlled by the heating and reflux procedures in the sol-gel preparation process. Additionally, to examine the impact of post-deposition processing, selected samples were oxygen annealed at temperatures ranging from 450-650°C. The samples were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), non-contact (planview) atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM). The resulting data indicate that the microstructure and physical properties of PGO films depend strongly on the precursor preparation as well as the post deposition annealing temperature.

This study investigates the state of school education for digital libraries. For this study, a web survey was conducted of syllabi of courses on the subject of digital libraries. Similarities and differences on such subjects as teaching emphases, course outlines, textbooks and assignments were compared. The majority of classes now contain a "hands-on" element, a practical component of the course that requires that the students interact with digital libraries. Those students who have received practical experience with digital libraries, like those provided in the "hands-on" courses, are best served for future practice in the field of librarianship. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003.

Librarians have been involved in collecting and disseminating statistics for many years. Utilising statistics to describe and assess the operation of library activities as a part of library tradition has received growing attention from researchers, policymakers, library managers, and professionals. However, few studies have investigated how statistics are used in libraries. This report compares directors’ uses of statistics provided by national agencies in the USA and China to highlight the differences and similarities between the ways in which the two groups of directors make use of statistics, and the statistical information that directors find particularly useful. The results are intended to provide library administrators with an insight of how library statistics are used in the managerial process, and may also help the national statistical providers to obtain an understanding of the characteristics and pattern of use of their products. © 2001, MCB UP Limited

The primary purpose of this paper is to investigate what factors crucially affect scholar's acceptance of e-journals. Before reviewing various aspects of e-journals, it is necessary to fully understand the traditional journal system, because the developments, roles, and deficiencies of the paper journal system will illustrate some basic requirements for successful e-journals. This article also examines the developments of e-journals and presents a comprehensive examination of the economic, technological and cognitive, and sociological aspects of e-journals based upon an extensive literature review. With regard to the economic and technological and cognitive aspects, the benefits of scholarly e-journal publishing appear to be, by and large, favorable to the transition from paper to electronic journals. However, the major stumbling block is the credibility of scholarly e-journals. Whether or not scholars can obtain the same recognition or rewards through e-journal publication as they obtain through paper journal publication must be one of the key factors that affect scholar's acceptance of e-journals.

Librarians have been involved in collecting and disseminating statistics for many years. Utilizing statistics to describe and assess the operation of library activities as a part of library tradition has received growing attention from researchers, policymakers, library managers, and professionals. However, few studies have investigated how statistics are used in libraries. This report compares directors’ uses of statistics provided by national agencies in the USA and China to highlight differences and similarities of the uses the two countries’ directors make of statistics and the statistical information that directors find particular useful. The results are intended to provide library administrators with an insight of how library statistics are used in the managerial process and may also help the national statistical providers to obtain an understanding of the characteristics and pattern of use of their products. © 2001, MCB UP Limited

Historians have generally agreed that the United States has always been an extremely violent nation; however, since the 1950s they have been myopic in their treatment of violence in America and have not provided the American people with essential information about their society and culture. Those historians who focused on violence in America, until the 1990s, have focused on only one form of violence—collective social violence. Largely overlooked, and equally significant, are interpersonal violence (including criminal and domestic violence) and the effect of war. This deficiency helps explain why Americans seem genuinely at a loss to understand the nature, character, and frequency of violence in America's past and present, especially when a high-profile violent incident occurs. This article surveys the historiography of violence in America through the 1990s and examines the contributions of historians and legal scholars who have focused on interpersonal and criminal violence. © 2003, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.

This article traces the origins of the familiar quotation, 'there is always something new coming out of Africa'. It demonstrates that the phrase was a proverb that originated in Greece no later than the fourth century BC. It charts the transmission of the phrase from Aristotle to the twentieth century, noting that Erasmus is the most important link in the Renaissance and that he may be responsible for the current form in which the phrase is used. The article also shows that the meaning of the phrase was very different in ancient times from what it is today. Whereas 'something new' to Aristotle meant strange hybrid animals, current writers use the phrase with a sense of admiration.

A focus group study of women exposed to diethylstiibestrol (DES) in utero (DES daughters) was conducted to gain understanding about exposure to this drug from a patient perspective. Focus group participants reported that learning about their DES exposure was devastating; they experienced strains in their family relationships, emotional shock, a feeling that their health concerns were not appreciated by others and, to some degree, a sense of social isolation. Although many were aware of the need for special gynecological exams and high-risk prenatal care, they were frustrated by what they felt was a lack of reliable and clear information about the effects of DES exposure. Most expressed questions and anxiety about their health. Many found their communication with physicians about their DES exposure unsatisfying. They felt that physicians lacked information about the long-term health effects of DES exposure and as a result did not give them accurate information. Furthermore, they felt that physicians were dismissive of their concerns and often gave what they felt to be false reassurances. Consequently, the women developed an enduring distrust of the medical profession. The results of the study suggest implications for the delivery of health care to DES daughters. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The planning of community health education interventions aimed at multiple levels is complex and challenging. This challenge is increased when a primary audience is difficult to reach. Individuals who were exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) decades ago represent a difficult-to-reach audience because they are not always aware of their exposure or the health risks of their exposure. However, DES-exposed individuals need specific screening and health care. An intervention was developed to increase awareness about DES in Nassau County, New York to address this concern. The Precede-Proceed Model was used to develop distinct intervention strategies to reach the general public, which includes individuals who may not be aware that they were exposed; those who are aware of their exposure but may not be following recommended health care practices; and community physicians. Behavioral targets, determining factors, and intervention goals were identified for each group. Specific intervention strategies were planned and implemented for each target audience. Addressing three target audiences simultaneously may produce a synergistic effect, enhancing program impact. © 2000, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.

In the Western world, the Kyrgyz Republic has been depicted as a democratic success story. Indeed, unlike other Central Asia nation states, the Kyrgyz media appears on the surface relatively free. This paper examines the Kyrgyz press in the context of journalistic ideologies, and suggests that the republic's media is going through an important transitional phase, the central stage of a journalistic rite of passage. Part of that transitional process is an ongoing ideological tug-of-war that awaits resolution. It is suggested that such resolution may occur only when the press becomes economically self-sustaining. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Experiments were conducted to determine the ability of citrate to enhance the plant uptake of weathered 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)1,1-dichloroethylene (p, p′-DDE) from soil. Plots containing three rows of clover, mustard, hairy vetch, or rye grass were constructed in soils containing p, p′-DDE. On 11 occasions, the rows of each crop received water or sodium citrate (0.005 or 0.05 M). For each crop, there were significant reductions in p, p′-DDE concentration in the soil fractions (near root and rhizosphere) closely associated with the plant versus bulk soil. The roots of each crop accumulated 2 to 5 times more of the weathered contaminant (dry wt) than present in the bulk soil. Citrate (0.05 M) increased the concentration of p, p′-DDE in the roots of clover, mustard, and hairy vetch by 39% compared with vegetation that received water. In batch desorption studies, the release of weathered p, p′-DDE was significantly greater in the presence of 0.05 M citrate than in water. Citrate increased the extracted aqueous concentrations of five metal ions (Al, Fe, Ca, K, Mn) from soil by five- to 23-fold over distilled water. We hypothesize that citrate physically disrupts the soil through chelation of structural metal ions and release of bound humic material, facilitating p, p′-DDE availability and uptake by plants.

A study was conducted as a part of continuing investigation of the effect of soil moisture on the sequestration of organic compounds aged in the soil. Here, experiments focused on the effects of moisture changes within the soil before, during, and after contaminant addition. The extractability of aged (68 d) phenanthrene was greater from soil that had been subjected to wetting and drying cycles prior to solute addition as compared to soil initially maintained at constant moisture. The recovery of phenanthrene added to moist soil was increased relative to extractability from soil that was air-dried at the time of the contaminant addition. Repeated wetting and drying of soil after the addition of atrazine or phenanthrene resulted in decreased extractability of the compounds as compared to samples maintained at constant moisture. A method for rapidly sequestering contaminants is proposed and may be useful in limiting the time required for laboratory studies involving "aged" contaminants. These data build upon the findings of earlier work from our laboratory and indicate that changes in the moisture conditions of soil can affect the availability of sequestered contaminants possibly through alterations in the structure of the natural solid. © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Foxwoods, which started as a Binge gaming facility, has become the largest casino in the western world. It is one of the most competitive tourist destinations in the world and can teach a few lessons about managing competitiveness. The visionary entrepreneurial activity, strategic management decisions of its owners and the Mashantucket Pequots are the reasons for its existence and its success, not some circumstantial fluke. The Pequots understood the destination's potential initial advantage. They then sought to avoid that Foxwoods casino and resort slip into McGambling or wither in the face of increasing competition for the entertainment/leisure dollar in the eastern United States by modifying its market positioning. They are now nudging it toward a broadly diversified base of entertainment. All along they empowered their employees to support their clear mission for the resort. Part of their strategy is to transform southeastern Connecticut into a synergistic tourist destination for their and the region's benefit. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.