T HE NE W S L E T T E R OF THE N ATION AL LI B R A RY OF EDUC ATION
U. S. D EPARTMENT O F E D U CAT I O N – OF F I C E O F E D U CAT I O NA L R E S E A R C H A N D I M P ROV E M E N T
Volume 2, Number 2 Fall 1997
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BECOMING A REALITY
O
ur recently completed • We are in the planning stages for a U.S.
report, Access for All, Education Information Network, with an
describes the National organizational meeting scheduled this fall.
Library of Education as • We have begun plans for a research
a new kind of library program in collaboration with the
that is positioned to meet the challenges of National Research Institute for Post-
the future. We have received many positive secondary Education, Libraries, and
comments regarding our report and our Lifelong Learning.
proposed efforts. Thanks to all who have • We have continued to upgrade our tech-
voiced their opinion. nology with the implementation of a new
We are striving to create a library that telephone system and customer service
is virtual and collaborative, proactive and support software in addition to general
r e s p o n s i v e, a n d c r e a t i v e a n d visionary computer enhancements.
BLANE K. DESSY
while maintaining the highest standards • We are continuing our efforts to manage
of customer service. the Department of Education’s Web site.
all of our collections will become publicly
Since the report’s release, we have been • We are initiating new projects to handle
accessible, and our online catalog should
working toward making that document distribution of all departmental publica-
be available on the Internet.
a reality. tions and to create a new National
Other articles in this issue of Open
Clearinghouse on Educational Facilities.
Window describe some of these activities in
• We are expanding our publications to
more detail. I encourage you to read about
include the series Advances in Education
our efforts and how our services may be of
Research, as well as a new series on
benefit to you.
meta-analyses of education issues.
We are striving to make our Library a
• We a r e d e v e l o p i n g a collaborative
preeminent education information ser-
project with several higher education
vice. With your support, I know that we
Knowledge Is Infinite
professional associations to create an
can succeed.
IN THIS ISSUE information service for international
students and educators. Sincerely,
From The Executive Director – page 1 • We are preparing to move the Library into
Becoming A Reality the Department’s main building early in
1998. For the first time, the National Blane K. Dessy
Research & Development – page 1, 2 Library of Education will be housed in the Executive Director
Department’s headquarters. At that time,
WWW / Internet – page 3
Cross-Site Indexing Initiative U. S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvement National Library of Education
Richard W. Riley, Secretary Ricky Takai,Acting Assistant Secretary Blane K.Dessy, Executive Director
Staff Profile – page 4, 5 This newsletter is published by the National Library of Education,Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S.
Department of Education,555 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington,DC 20208–5721. The contents are in the public domain.
Keith Stubbs The Web Guru Authorization to reproduce the newsletter in whole or in part for educational purposes is granted.
Judy Craig, Editor
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
N
LE continues to build knowledge as additional research endeavors emerge. New
projects include a research synthesis series, an impressive collection of research lit-
erature on a set of CD-ROMs, and a periodic compilation of quality research through
Advances in Education Research.
RESEARCH S YN THES ES ON CR ITI CA L Advances in
IS SUES I N A M E R I CAN EDUCAT I O N Education Research,
by Dr. David Boesel SPRING 1997
by Judy Craig
T
he National Library of The NLE Research Synthesis Series
Education (NLE) is initi- is designed to address the lack of
I
n its role as the nation’s collec-
ating a series of research balanced and objective information
tor and creator of education
syntheses on critical needed to guide the actions and
issues in American edu- decisions of researchers, policy makers, research inf ormation , t h e
cation.Dr. David Boesel, in collaboration teachers, administrators, students, and National Library of Education
with other researchers at the Office parents. Often it is hard to tell what produ ces pu blications such as
of Educational Research and conclusions can be drawn from
Advances in Education Research to
Improvement (OERI), will prepare education research. The Synthesis
promote recent research findings and
the syntheses. project will address this need by
collecting the empirical literature on disseminate the latest education infor-
critical issues in education, perusing mation. The spring 1997 issue presents
research methods and results, and seven articles that cover two themes:
The NLE Research Synthesis producing studies that are compre-
reading comprehension and subject-
hensive and unbiased.
Series is designed to address area learning. The articles unify these
The first synthesis in the series is a
the lack of balanced and study of the General Equivalency two themes under a central focus: the
objective information needed Diploma (GED) test. The study, processes through which students
authored by Dr. David Boesel, Dr. understand, interpret, and use infor-
to guide the actions and
Nabeel Alsalam, and Dr.Thomas Smith,
decisions of researchers, mation. To investigate these processes,
examines a large body of empirical
the researchers employ a variety of
policy makers, teachers, research on the outcomes of GED certi-
fication in postsecondary institutions, approaches,including direct observation,
administrators, students,
the labor market, and the military. The case study analysis, experimental
and parents. performance of people with GEDs is intervention, and research synthesis.
compared with that of other dropouts
Copies of Advances in Education
and high school graduates. The study is
Research may be obtained by contact-
expected to be published by early fall.
For more information, contact ing the National Library of Education
Dr. David Boesel at 202-219-1598. at 1-800-424-1616.
2 I O NA L
NAT L I B R A RY O F E D U CAT I O N 2
N AT I O NA L L I B R A RY O F E D U CAT I O N
WWW/INTERNET
DIGITIZED RESEARCH
L I T E R AT U R E P R O J E C T
by Judy Craig and Bob Thomas
A
s a new service, the National Library of
Education is offering a set of 31 disks CROSS-SITE INDEXING
containing approximately 8,300 ERIC
I N I T I AT I V E
resumes of Research and Development
by Donna Timms
Centers and over 5,000 full-text docu-
ments found in the ERIC database of
T
all National Educational Research and Development Centers he National Library of Education is
from 1966 to 1997. These materials, previously available only in planning to launch a Cross-Site
microfiche or as paper copies, give educators and researchers Indexing Initiative to enhance cus-
access to the latest education tomer service by providing a search capability
information. A search engine across the 140+ public access Web sites on
will provide quick access to dig-
The National Library the Internet that are funded by the U.S.
ital images of curriculum and of Education is offer- Department of Education (ED).A single point
instructional materials. of entry to information available on all ED-
ing a set of 31 disks
The Focus Search Scope sponsored Web sites will be offered.
offers users a variety of search
containing approxi- This one-stop shopping approach makes
f e a t u r e s. A user may search mately 8,300 ERIC the searching process more efficient and effec-
choosing either one or all of tive. The potential benefits are (1) greater
resumes of Research
the following: document num- access to key documents and resources of inter-
ber, clearinghouse number, title
and Development est without having to know where they reside,
of publication, publication type, Centers. (2) reduction of the time expended locating
author, descriptors, identifiers, desired documents, and (3) an increased
issue, abstract, and institution. probability of obtaining pertinent data.
Users will have an option of either a 16-bit or a 32-bit platform. When implementation is complete, each
Disk one will be utilized to reflect future additional information. ED-funded site will include a query that will
For convenience, users can minimize the screen, backtrack, and give the customer an opportunity to conduct a
view another disk. search across multiple sites, view the results,
For more information, contact Bob Thomas at 202-219-1925. and retrieve appropriate resources.
N AT I O NA L L I B R A RY O F E D U CAT I O N 3
E R I C U P D AT E S
T
he Educational Resource Information Center (ERIC) system has been characterized
as the foundation of the National Library of Education. While this vision is still
being developed, several projects at the ERIC Clearinghouse on Information &
Technology and the ERIC Document Reproduction Service (EDRS) are providing
components to this foundation. The latest projects include the GEM project, the Virtual
Reference Desk, and the release of Electronic ERIC Documents online.
The Virtual Reference Desk: T H E G EM P R O J E C T : T H E G AT E WAY TO
E X P L O R I N G D I G I TA L E D U C AT I O NA L M AT E R I A L S
R E F E R E N C E S E RV I C E S by Judy Craig and David Lankes
by Judy Craig
T T
he Virtual Reference Desk is an he National Library of to provide a new set of tools to get
effort of the National Library Education (NLE) is respond- information into the hands of educators
of Education (NLE) and the ing to President Clinton’s quickly and easily so that children can
ERIC Clearinghouse on Information & mandate to ensure that all learn.” This effort will create a standard way
Technology to explore and support the Americans have the best education in the of describing educational materials and
emerging field of digital reference services. world. In addition, the NLE Advisory Task
The MAD Scientist Network, Ask Dr. Math, Force identified lesson plans and teacher’s
and the NLE’s own AskERIC service, all guides as a top-priority area in which NLE “This project’s goal is to pro-
digital reference services, answer thousands should apply library and information science
vide a new set of tools to get
of questions each week from the education expertise. Armed with both of these charges,
community.The Virtual Reference Desk will the NLE is spearheading a consortium effort
information into the hands of
create a common set of resources used to called Gateway to Educational Materials educators quickly and easily
support these services, including training (GEM), which will provide the nation’s
so that children can learn.”
materials, case studies of exemplary digital teachers with one-stop, any-stop access to
reference services, and a cross-subject Internet lesson plans.
question - answer knowledge base that will There are thousands of lesson plans and gathering these descriptions into a single cat-
capture the information generated by these other curriculum units in Web and Gopher alog. This catalog will create easy access to
services. The project is helping to build the sites across the Internet. For most teachers, teaching and learning materials on the
Virtual Reference Desk for the emerging these valuable resources are difficult to find net...no matter where they reside.
“virtual” National Library of Education. in an efficient, effective manner. The goal of The first phase ends October 1997.
For more information, contact David the GEM project is to solve this resource For more information, contact Nancy
Lankes, Associate Director, ERIC/IT, at access problem. M o r g a n , GEM Coordinator, E R I C / I T,
1-800-464-4100 or by e-mail at rdlankes@ According to Michael B. Eisenberg, at 1-800-464-4100 or by e-mail at
ericir.syr.edu. Director of ERIC/IT, “This project’s goal is n m o r g a n @ e r i c i r. s y r. e d u .
4 NAT I O NA L L I B R A RY O F E D U C AT I O N
CUSTO MER S ERVICE
N L E ’ s O N E - S TO P In developing these upgrades, NLE closely examined call center
operations at other federal libraries and agencies, as well as the mis-
R E F E R E N C E S E RV I C E G E T S
sions and functions of the various main 800 numbers within the
A T E C H N O L O G I CA L B O O S T Department. The 800 number system of the ERIC program was also
by E. Stephen Hunt examined and will become part of the new NLE menu of call options.
Staff Training
Toll-Free Number National Library of Education (NLE) staff are now being
The National Library of Education’s (NLE’s) one-stop
trained to operate the systems. Several refinements are already being
reference service for education information includes a toll-free
planned, including an improved TTY service for hearing-impaired
telephone number, 1-800-424-1616. The NLE toll-free number is
customers, more Teloquent telephone sets for other NLE staff, more
one of the busiest library call centers in the federal government,
sophisticated caller options, and links to other information providers.
handling an average of 200-300 calls per day. Several recent
For more information, contact E. Stephen Hunt at 202-219-1882.
improvements to the 800 number service will make it a more
efficient and customer-friendly operation.
NLE has now installed the first phase of a complete upgrade
ONE PUBS PROJECT
for its 800 number service, including a state-of-the-art Teloquent
by Judy Craig
automated call center system and a customized Lotus Notes software
package for customer service data processing. The new systems
T
he National Library of Education (NLE), in collaboration
can handle most foreseeable reference call needs, with a capacity
with the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of
to route over 200 calls simultaneously through approximately 80
Educational (ED) Research and Improvement (OERI), is
separate operators.
developing a one-stop information products service called One Pubs.
Teloquent Phone System This service center will be responsible for distributing ED’s
The Teloquent ISDN phone system is supported by two powerful
publications and other products such as brochures, CD-ROMs, video-
dedicated servers that perform automatic call distribution (ACD)
tapes, and posters from the entire Department.The purpose of this new
and voice system modulation (VSM). ACD intercepts an incoming
center is to support principal offices within ED by providing a full
call if all lines are busy and automatically queues it in the order
range of mail management, storage, order fulfillment, and distribution
received. The caller is informed of how long he or she can expect be
services. The Department’s and our customers’ needs will be served
“on queue” and of a menu of options. Selecting any of the options
more efficiently by streamlining the Department’s distribution process.
results in an instantaneous call switch to a preset location without the
Key features of the One Pubs project will be a toll-free number
caller having to redial or wait for an operator. VSM controls the tone
from which customers can request ED publications or products, a
modulation of the phone line to ensure a clear connection and permit
searchable database containing ED’s informational products, a state-
call monitoring. Data on call volume, call origin, and how the call is
of-the-art inventory system, publications storage, referral capabilities,
processed are recorded automatically and continuously. National
enhanced mailing list capacity, electronic ordering, and bulk distribu-
Library of Education staff are able to log on to the system from their
tion. The emphasis will be placed on one-stop shopping, where most
desks for the period they are scheduled to be on call; when they log
requests would be answered through one telephone call, within a
off, the phone set operates like a regular ISDN telephone.
specified period of time, for maximum customer service. The
Lotus Notes performance-based contract requires that the contractor provide ED
NLE’s Lotus Notes, is installed on the desktop computers of
with clear, concise monthly reports summarizing product volume by
reference services staff and permits them to record customer data
each principal office.
and how each customer was served while they are on the telephone
The focus of One Pubs is clearly on customer service, overall
with a caller. Staff also have a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
efficiency, and cost savings. A cross-agency team is working with the
feature that allows them to enter and share answers they have
NLE on transitional issues. The new project is expected to be
given to customer inquiries. The FAQ feature can potentially
operational by January 1998.
save a great deal of time and frustration in responding to
Fo r mo re inf or mat io n, c on ta ct J im C lem me ns, N L E ,
special requests.
at 202-219-2068
NAT I O NA L L I B R A RY O F E D U C AT I O N 5
S TA F F P R O F I L E
KEITH STUBBS interface techniques. He also launched a pro-
ject to use electronic networking to promote
T H E “ W E B ” G U RU information sharing among education
by Judy Craig research and development centers, regional
labs, and ERIC Clearinghouses. He decided
to base the system on an obscure research
T
he Department’s Online network called the Internet.
Library consistently wins World-Wide Presence
KEITH STUBBS
Keith established the Department’s first
awards as one of the best public presence on the Internet beginning one of the first Internet Customer Surveys
education resources on the Internet with the ERIC Digest database in 1992 and (October 1996-January 1997) approved by
continuing with the Gopher in October 1993. the Office of Management and Budget.
and as one of the finest federal agency
His pace of hard work continued with the Over 1,500 responses indicated a high degree
Web sites. The site’s reputation is the Department’s presence on the World Wide of satisfaction with ED Internet services.
result of Keith Stubbs’ direct work Web in March 1994. For most of our readers, Keith continues to represent ED on the
the rest is history. In 1995, with the creation Federal Web Consortium, a group of 16
and supervision.
of the National Library of Education, he federal agencies recognized by Vice
In the Beginning became Director of the Resource Sharing President Gore, formed to inform, advance,
Keith Stubbs joined the Department of and Cooperation Division. In September of and coordinate federal use of Web
Education (ED) in 1976 as a trainee that year, he led the award-winning redesign technologies. He also serves as Co-Chair of
computer programmer. He then served 10 of the ED Web site. His redesigned site has the Department’s Internet Working Group
years as a computer specialist developing consistently been rated as one of the top and directs several cross-site indexing, cata-
administrative support and management federal and educational sites. The site cur- loging, and searching projects to help people
information systems. During this time, he rently includes all Department offices, and find the information they seek among the
designed and developed a correspondence the online library has expanded to over exploding volume of educational materials
control system that was adopted by eight 20,000 files. These files are accessed each scattered across thousands of Internet sites.
other federal agencies. Keith was consistent- month by more than 300,000 computers from In his spare time, (when???), Keith is a
ly an early adopter of new technologies, all states and sectors of the United States and frequent presenter and panelist at numerous
including database management systems, over 100 countries. technology conferences. He lives in Great
minicomputers, and PCs. And the Beat Goes On Falls with his wife, Molly, and three horses, a
The Move to OERI In 1996, Keith wrote the U. S. pony, four cats, and a dwarf rabbit. Keith
In 1986, he moved to the Office of Department of Education World Wide quickly tells you that all of the animals
Educational Research and Improvement Web Server Standards and Guidelines. belong to Molly. When asked about his hob-
(OERI) to work on electronic dissemination This document was one of the first bies, it’s no surprise that his reply includes,
projects. There he was Senior Systems federal policy documents on Web use. The “catching up on e-mail; camping [where
Analyst for 3 years and Branch Chief and document rapidly formed the basis for there’s no e-mail]; and listening to a wide
Division Director for 7 years. In 1990, Keith Federal Web Consortium Guidelines. It range of music, from Bartok to zydeco.”
received a Special Act Award for designing was adopted/adapted by numerous web Born in Washington, DC, educated in
and developing Edsearch: Education sites, including federal, state, university, District public schools and at Brown
Statistics on Disk, innovative software that library, international, and digital library University, it’s an understatement to say that
provides convenient access to thousands of project sites. It has also been used as a Keith Stubbs has given this area and the
statistical tables and charts from flagship text for technology courses. world an enormous amount of his time and
NCES publications, employing advanced Keith’s dedication to excellence has effort. The National Library of Education
information retrieval, compression, and user continued as the designer and manager of is grateful.
6
NAT I O NA L L I B R A RY O F E D U CAT I O N 6
NAT I O NA L L I B R A RY O F E D U C AT I O N
ADDITIONAL HAPPENINGS
NEW CLEARINGHOUSE
by Judy Craig
A
nyone needing infor- The primary effort of this contract facilities issues. The database will also
mation regarding the is to provide information and technical include the latest information on school
costs of constructing assistance on education facilities to construction activity across the nation.
and maintaining elementary and secondary schools, practi- Each state’s school infrastructure financing
education f a c i l i t i e s tioners, decision makers, governing boards, mechanism will be included in the data-
c a n , f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e, f i n d n a t i o na l state and local education agencies, and b a s e. Th e rol e of pl an ni ng f or an d
assistance through a new National other interested parties. The Clearinghouse implementing building improvements that
Clearinghouse for Education Facilities. will employ a variety of resources and increase schools’ safety and technology is
The new Clearinghouse will provide existing programs to gather and dissem- critical to the success of this project. The
information and technical assistance, inate information on innovative and contractor will perform other duties and over-
including the removal of environmental efficient construction technologies and see additional activities that will enhance
hazards; improvements in air quality; techniques, indoor environmental quality the productivity of the clearinghouse.
plumbing, lighting, heating, and air condi- practices, durability, maintenance costs,
tioning, electrical systems; construction and energy use, as well as information on For more information, contact Jack
activities needed to meet the requirements how to use energy cost savings to improve Lyons, NLE, at 1-800-424-1616.
of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of facility maintenance.
1973; and construction that facilitates the A contractor will establish a database
use of modern technologies. and Web site of information on educational
A N E W G L O BA L
E D U C AT I O N M A R K E T P L AC E the General Counsel (OGC), and the Office
of Interagency and Intergovernmental
by E.Steven Hunt
Affairs (OIIA).
T
he U.S. Network for Educational Current reference partners in the net- USNEI will coordinate the advisory
Information (USNEI) is a new work include the U.S. Department of and reference work of all of its partner
partnership between federal State, the U.S. Information Agency, the organizations. A home page on the World
agencies and private-sector organizations American Council on Education (ACE), Wide Web will provide accurate and timely
dedicated to improving information ser- the American Association of Com- information, in user-friendly formats, on
vices for Americans interested in studies munity Colleges (AACC), the American American and foreign educational systems,
and exchanges abroad and for overseas Association of Collegiate Registrars and degrees and credentials, and studying or
students, parents, and educators interested Admissions Officers (AACRAO), the teaching abroad, as well as other resources
in American education. College Board (CEEB), the Council of for further information. Links to foreign
USNEI functions as a distributed Graduate Schools (CGS), the Institute and domestic information sources will be
information reference network managed of International Education (IIE), and provided, as well as to individual institutions.
by the National Library of Education, U.S. NAFSA-Association of International USNEI is designed deliberately to
Department of Education. A major role of Educators. Participating offices within the reflect the diversity and autonomy of the
USNEI is to serve as the United States’ U.S. Department of Education include U.S. postsecondary education system and
official national education information the Office of Postsecondary Education to put the information customer in touch
center (NEIC/ENIC) in cooperation with (OPE), the Office of Educational Research with the correct information provider or
other such centers overseas. and Improvement (OERI), the Office of decision maker as efficiently as possible.
N AT I O NA L L I B R A RY O F E D U CAT I O N 7
N L E P U B L I C AT I O N S TELEPHONE NUMBERS
The National Library of Education produces a number of free publica- Library Administration Legislative Reference Service
tions available by mail, phone, fax, or e-mail.Among them are the NLE poster, Phone:(202) 219–2289 Phone:(202) 401–1045
bookmark, and rolodex card. Fact Sheets are available on ERIC, the U.S. Fax:(202) 219–1970 Fax:(202) 401–9023
Department of Education Online Library, the Technology Resources Center,
Reference/Research/Statistics Technology Resources Center
the Legislative Reference Service, the Current Literature Awareness Service
Phone:(202) 219–1692 (202) 219–1699
(CLAS), Special Collections, and Circulation/Interlibrary Loans. We also have
Outside Washington Area
a limited number of copies of U.S. Department of Education World Wide Web
ACCESS ERIC
1–800-424–1616
Server Standards and Guidelines.
1–800–LET–ERIC
Fax:(202) 219–1696
To order, write:
Hours of Operation
Internet HomePage
National Library of Education
Open 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
http://www.ed.gov/NLE
U.S. Department of Education
Monday-Friday
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
Circulation/Interlibrary loan (except federal holidays)
555 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Phone:(202) 219–2238
Washington,DC 20208–5721
Phone:(202) 219–1692
Outside Washington Area call 1–800–424–1616
Fax:(202) 219–1696
E-mail:library@inet.ed.gov
Printed on recycled paper. NLE 97–2001
U N I T E D S T A T E S D E PA RT M E N T
Postage and Fees Paid
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W A S H I N G TO N , D C 2 0 2 0 8 – 5 7 2 1
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