IRLIST Digest ISSN 1064-6965 September 23, 1996 Volume XIII, Number 38 Issue 325 ********************************************************** I. QUERIES 1. Information Retrieval Textbooks II. JOBS 1. U.AK: Director of Libraries & Information Technology III. NOTICES A. Publications 1. FARNET's Washington Update B. Meetings 1. International COnference on Practical Aspects of Knowledge Management 2. Workshop on New Paradigms in Information Visualization 3. Make the Links Workshops: October Sessions Available C. Miscellaneous 1. Brief Report on CAUSE/CNI Regional Conference ********************************************************** I. QUERIES I.1. Fr: Venu Dasigi Re: Information Retrieval Textbooks I am planning to teach a course on Information Retrieval starting in January. I have looked at a number of textbook choices, and decided that the following combination suits my needs best: Salton's "Automatic Text Processing" by Addison-Wesley and Frakes and Baeza-Yates's "Information Retrieval: Data Structures ..." from Prentice-Hall However, I ran into the following snag: After six months of run around, I have just been told that Salton's book has been discontinued! And I love that book. Fortunately I have my own copy (one I bought a few years ago). Wonder what my options are on that one, in light of copyright laws. On the second book, too, I have gotten a run around for over six months, and I hope it is still available. I have seen it a few times, but don't have a copy of my own. Even when I tell the publisher and local rep (and a half a dozen other people) that I am ready to adopt it, they don't send me a copy. Considering that this is the first time for me to teach the course, wise people tell me it is a good idea for me to have a copy of the book I intend to teach from! My questions: 1. Any suggestions on what I can do? Any inside stories on either of these two books? Is my experience consistent with that of others? 2. Any suggestions on what other book choices are available? I have looked at a couple of other books: Soergel and another one, but didn't find them to be appropriate for my purposes. Are there any other books that approximately cover what the two books I mentioned above together cover? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you... Dr. Venu Dasigi Dept. of Computer Science, Sacred Heart University 5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield, CT 06432-1000 dasigi@shu.sacredheart.edu dasigiv@sacredheart.edu ********************************************************** II. JOBS II.1. Fr: Lisa M Lehman Re: U.AK: Director of Libraries and Information Technology DIRECTOR OF LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS invites applications for the position of Director of Libraries and Information Technology. The Elmer E. Rasmuson Division of Libraries and Division of Computing and Communications encompasses library services, academic and administrative computing, telecommunications, media services, extensive off-campus library services, and provides advisory support for UAF rural campus libraries and computing. Rasmuson plays a significant collaborative role in statewide planning and the development of information services. The director reports to the Provost, is the primary advocate for information technology, and is a member of the Provost's Council and other policy setting bodies. Established in 1917, the University of Alaska Fairbanks is a land-, sea-, and space grant institution and one of three main campuses in the University system. It is a Carnegie Doctoral II institution, and is the major research center for Alaska. UAF offers instructional programs covering a broad postsecondary spectrum. Rasmuson is Alaska's largest library with holdings of more than 1.75 million items. The University of Alaska statewide VTLS catalog provides access to over 5.5 million items, and is maintained by the Rasmuson Division of Computing and Communications. UAF operates in a distributed computing environment with a mix of operating systems and hardware platforms. We seek candidates with a graduate degree in library or information science from an ALA accredited, or equivalent foreign accredited program. An additional advanced degree is preferred. Candidates should have a demonstrated record of research and publication and professional activities appropriate to faculty rank. Candidates should have a substantive record of successful, progressively responsible administrative and fiscal experience in an academic/research library or computing services. Demonstrated experience as a librarian in an academic/research library, operational experience with integrated librarysystems, and networked information technologies is expected. Operational experience with computing including academic, administrative, and network services should be demonstrated. The director will be expected to possess excellent communication skills and an ability to act as an advocate and spokesperson. We seek candidates with an understanding of issues affecting libraries, computing and their relationships with higher education. The position, Director of Libraries and Information Technology, offers a highly competitive salary and benefits package. Application Deadline: First consideration will be given to applications received by Friday October 11, 1996. Application Procedure: Applications should include a letter of interest, curriculum vita, and the names, phone numbers, addresses, and e-mail addresses of three professional references to: Dr. Robert White, Chair Search Committee for Director of Libraries and Information Technology c/o Rasmuson Library Business Office Attn: Irma Jean Zito University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-6800 To Contact Dr. White: Telephone: (907) 474-7648 Fax: (907) 474-6967 E-mail: ffrgw@aurora.alaska.edu A full position description is available upon request and at the UAF web site: http://www.uaf.alaska.edu/Library/announcements/ The University of Alaska Fairbanks is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer and educational institution. Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act. ********************************************************** III. NOTICES III.A.1. Fr: Heather Boyles Re: FARNET's Washington Update FARNET's Washington Update --- September 20, 1996 IN THIS ISSUE: o TIIAP 1996 awards announced - update on 1997 appropriations >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Written from FARNET's Washington office, "FARNET's Washington Update" is a service to FARNET members and other interested subscribers. We gratefully acknowledge EDUCOM's NTTF and the Coalition for Networked Information for additional support. If you would like more information about the Update or would like to offer comments or suggestions, please contact Heather Boyles at heather@farnet.org ********** III.B.1. Fr: Ulrich Reimer Re: Int. Conf. on Practical Aspects of Knowledge Management The First International Conference on Practical Aspects of Knowledge Management October 30th - 31st, 1996 Basel, Switzerland Actively managing knowledge - the key asset of your company - enables you to: - make optimal use of valuable resources - cycle experience throughout the whole corporation - dramatically reduce cycle times - dramatically reduce time to market - provide better value to your customers - successfully reengineer your business - increase R & D efficiency and effectiveness The conference covers the following topics: - Knowledge Development - Knowledge Sharing and Reuse - The Learning Organisation - Data Mining - extraction of hidden knowledge from databases - Intelligent Workflow - Information filtering and distribution - Adaptive Information Presentation - WWW and Internet for effective knowledge distribution - Total Quality Management - Measuring and controlling the financial benefits of systematic Knowledge Management The following workshops will be held: - Adaptive Workflow - Data Mining in Real World Databases - Practical Applications of Information Filtering - The Lessons Learned Cycle: Implementing a Knowledge Pump in your Organisation - Product Knowledge Sharing for Integrated Enterprises - Knowledge Media for Improving Organisational Expertise More detailed information can be found at the following URL: http://expasy.hcuge.ch/sgaico/html/pakm.html For further details or to receive a copy of the conference brochure contact : Rene Bach SGAICO c/o NDIT/FPIT Phone: 998 41 81 Morgenstr. 129 (Technopark) Fax: 41 31 999 46 18 3018 Bern - Switzerland Email: rene@acm.org ********** III.B.2. Fr: Dr. Charles Nicholas Re: Workshop on New Paradigms in Information Visualization Call for Papers Workshop on New Paradigms in Information Visualization and Manipulation November 11, 1996 Rockville, Maryland In Conjunction with the ACM Conference on Information and Knowledge Management (CIKM'96) The CIKM'96 Workshop on New Paradigms in Information Visualization and Manipulation will be a forum for presentation and discussion of new ideas and techniques for accessing, visualizing and manipulating information. Topics of interest include, but are not restricted to: applications of virtual reality, including VRML; shared virtual environments and simulations; dynamic data visualization; visualization of multidimensional information spaces; visualization of large, dynamic information collections; applications of Internet tools such as MUDs, MOOs, and IRCs; document and corpus metrics; multi-modal information displays; software and hardware architectures to support information visualization; and social interaction in multi-user information visualization systems. We are particularly interested in reports of work in progress, implementation techniques, and practical experience with visualization of information collections of all sizes. A significant portion of the workshop agenda will be devoted to discussion of pending research questions, and directions for future work in this area. Prospective participants are invited (but not required) to submit position papers. The suggested maximum length is four pages. The position papers will be reviewed by the organizing committee, and accepted papers will appear in the workshop proceedings. Some of the accepted papers will be selected for informal presentation at the workshop. Accepted papers that were submitted electronically will be available via WWW by early November. There are plans to publish the Proceedings in book form after the workshop. Watch this space for further information about preparation of camera-ready copy for accepted papers. Mail papers in either ASCII or HTML to ebert@cs.umbc.edu by September 15, 1996. We prefer e-mail submissions, but authors who lack e-mail access may send papers to Dr. David Ebert Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering University of Maryland Baltimore County Baltimore, MD 21228-5398 USA. Submissions should include the title, author(s), author's affiliation, e-mail address, fax number and postal address. In case of multiple authors, please indicate which author is responsible for correspondence. For more information on the CIKM'96 conference, please see the CIKM'96 Web page: http://www.cs.umanitoba.ca/~dbgroup/cikm96/ IMPORTANT DATES: Position paper submission deadline September 15, 1996 Notification of acceptance October 1, 1996 Workshop date November 16, 1996 ********** III.B.3. Fr: Thomas P. Copley Re: Fall Links Workshop Sessions Still Open The Make the Link Workshop has been receiving a very enthusiastic response. There are still openings left in the three workshops scheduled to begin in October. The September 16 session is now closed. Make the Link Workshop is an inexpensive, eight-week training course on the World Wide Web (WWW) and the HyperText Markup Language (HTML). It is conducted entirely by e-mail, making it extremely easy to receive and use. The workshop is available to the general public. The cost of the workshop is $20 US. For more information, please send an otherwise blank message to: info@arlington.com To sign up for the Make the Link Workshop, please send a message to the e-mail address: majordomo@arlington.com with (type exactly): subscribe links15 to sign up for Session XV starting October 1, or subscribe links16 to sign up for Session XVI starting October 14, or subscribe links17 to sign up for Session XVII starting October 28. (and nothing else) in the body of the message. Leave the subject line blank. If you have any difficulty with this procedure, or fail to receive a response, please send e-mail to tcopley@arlington.com. TO AMERICA ONLINE USERS ONLY: Please place a "." (period) in all blank fields. Each session is exactly the same, so please sign up for the one with the most convenient timing for you. THOMAS P. COPLEY tcopley@arlington.com Make the Link Workshop http://www.crl.com/~gorgon/ ********** III.C.1. Fr: Paul Evan Peters Re: Brief Report on CAUSE/CNI Regional Conference in Roanoke CAUSE and CNI Host "Teaching and Learning in Cyberspace" conference in Roanoke, VA on September 12 and 13 Declaring he was addicted to cybersurfing and just could not quit, Virginia Tech graduate student Cem Unsal intrigued and amused attendees at the CAUSE/CNI Southeast Regional Conference held September 12-13, 1996 in Roanoke, Virginia. Participants attended a range of plenary sessions and seminars that examined the theme of the conference, new modes of "Teaching and Learning in Cyberspace." Barbara J. Ford, Executive Director, University Libraries at the Virginia Commonwealth University, and incoming president of the American Library Association, affirmed the value of the experience: "The conference addressed important topics that are key to dealing with the intellectual and values issues associated with using technology in an academic setting." Ford also gave a presentation at a session entitled "Strategies for Access to Digital Information." Ford and her co-presenter Joan Cheverie, Visiting Program Officer for the Coalition for Networked Information, described opportunities for increased access to networked information. Touted as the cheerleader of education technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Professor Burks Oakley II, set the tone for the conference with his keynote address entitled "The Virtual Classroom: Silicon and Fiber Replacing Bricks and Mortar." Oakley, who is also the Associate Director of the Sloan Center for Asynchronous Learning Environments (SCALE), described his university's use of networked computers to implement innovative teaching and learning experiences. Specific students' opinions of technology in instruction were the subject of the session entitled "The Student View of Technology in Instruction." Four Virginia Tech students opined about the use of technology in their courses. The students majors ranged from technical to non technical concentrations and accordingly, their cyberspace experiences varied. Attendees found this session one of the most useful, according to Wendall A. Barbour, Vice President for Information Resources at Cal State University in Bakersfield, "It was extremely helpful to hear the students and find out what their interests were." Mitchell E. Counts, Director of the Law Library at Baylor University, concurred: "We seldom get to discover what the students think and it is great to know that they are so successful in this environment." William Graves, Associate Provost for Information Technology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, addressed the key issue of the costs involved in modern technology in the university environment. Graves explained the idea of a new national learning infrastructure designed to increase access to education, to contribute to the quality of learning, and to contain overall instructional costs. According to conference survey results, attendees left the conference inspired and armed with notes and ideas to continue, and in some cases begin, building their respective university's teaching and learning environments in cyberspace. The conference was chaired by A. Wayne Donald, Team Leader, Project ENABLE, and Eileen Hitchingham, Dean of University Libraries, both of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The chairs recognized the $5,000 grant from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Division of Continuing Education that aided in supporting the regional meeting. A more complete report is available on CNI's web page at www.cni.org. For further information on attendees, program, etc., see cause-www.colorado.edu. Louise A. Fisch Coordinator of Communcications Coalition for Networked Information louise@cni.org ********************************************************** IRLIST Digest is distributed from the University of California, Division of Library Automation, 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, CA. 94612-3550. Send subscription requests and submissions to: NCGUR@UCCMVSA.UCOP.EDU Editorial Staff: Clifford Lynch calur@uccmvsa.ucop.edu Nancy Gusack ncgur@uccmvsa.ucop.edu The IRLIST Archives is set up for anonymous FTP. Using anonymous FTP via the host ftp.dla.ucop.edu, the files will be found in the directory /data/ftp/pub/irl, stored in subdirectories by year (e.g., data/ftp/pub/irl/1993). Search or browse archived IR-L Digest issues on the Web at: http://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/idom/irlist/ These files are not to be sold or used for commercial purposes. Contact Nancy Gusack for more information on IRLIST. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN IRLIST DO NOT REPRESENT THOSE OF THE EDITORS OR THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 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