Jack Belzer

Curricula in information science: Four year progress report†

This is our second study of curricula in information science. It provides a basis for comparison of the 1968 curricula with those of 1972, observing trends in the educational system in information science. Since this study solicited information on all three educational levels, the statistics describing all programs are given; comparisons are made at the MS level only, using the 1968 data. These indicate a curriculum shift from traditional librarianship to an emphasis on computerization and automation. This trend appears to encompass theory as well as technology. The most frequently offered course “Introduction to Information Science,” exposes students to a new way of looking at library and information problems. Programming, theories of information content identification, library automation and some basic mathematics has increased. If the trend continues, libraries may be turning into Community Information Centers utilizing telecommunication for their information needs. Deans, faculty, professional society and industry representatives reviewed the questionnaire analysis results in Workshop III and made recommendations for educational goals and curricula on three levels, i.e., the bacculaureate, masters and doctorate.

Information theory as a measure of information content

In efficient coding, Information‐Communication‐Coding Theory based on probabilities of occurrence assigns short codes to events with little information content and long codes to events with high information content. This provides a direct relationship of code size to amount of information content. Entropies of surrogates such as citations, abstracts, first paragraphs, last paragraphs, and first and last paragraphs are measures of how well each class of surrogates predicts the relevancy of documents. They are measures of meaningful information in the text of surrogates. Such measures of information are important to information system designers.

Theoretical considerations in information retrieval systems

A method for automatic loading of library subroutines, which can be adapted to operate in conjunction with any conventional two-pass assembler is described. The method is specifically designed to cope with a nested library structure.

Concise survey of computer methods. Peter Naur. New York: Petrocelli Books, 397 p. (1975)

In his preface to Introduction to Computer Science, Katzan states that “recent advances in computer technology have created the need for a modern up-to-date introduction to computer science that reflects the field as it exists today and is expected to exist in the predictable future.” His book provides us with such an introduction and bridges the gap between highly technical studies and the general introductory primers. This book takes the role of both the ideal overall text for any student of the computer science and a satisfactory introduction to EDP in the social sciences and humanities. It not only deals with the generalities that everyone is familiar with in most introductory texts, but it delves deeply into contemporary topics which are becoming the mainstream of developments within computer science. In structure, the book varies its discussions from the elementary concept through the systems architecture and software technology, and finally reaches spiritually into the realm of “computer and society.” Along the way, it deals with modern topics such as virtual storage methods, structured programming in high level languages (FORTAN, PL/I, and COBOL), and the controversial notion known as “metalanguage” and its implication towards the standard programming language development. Also, it discusses the theory and methodology of HIP0 (Hierarchy, Input, Process, Output) package utilization. One would expect a superficial handling of conventional topics in light of the above, yet everything from hypothetical assemblers to operating systems technology is put not only into the proper perspective but the book provides beginners and veterans alike with information on the interweaving of them all. The book itself could stand a few criticisms. For instance, the “selected bibliographies” could use more topical organization. Additionally, it seems unfair that most of the application examples refer to IBM installations and only the theoretical nature areas, supported in a practical way by other less prominent manufacturers, are illustrated. The book would also have been enhanced if it had a chapter with selected answers to the exercises. In summary, this book can benefit educators as well as students, in that its scope is as broad as it is accurate. The basic foundation provided by Katzan in Zntroduction to Computer Science could also be invaluable for students in social sciences who are interested in computer applications.

Professional Aspects in Education

Under a grant from the Bureau of Libraries and Learning Resources of the U.S. Office of Education, the Center for the Study of Information and Education established three task forces to explore the relationship of information systems and educational systems. The study reported here, includes partial analysis of the questionnaire data obtained in the Development and Evaluation of Curricula in Information Science under a grant from N.S.F. GZ-2525 and is based on the work of one of the three task forces: the task force on Curriculum Reform of Library and Information Science. (The task force consisted of C. Walter Stone — MARC, Inc., Pacific Grove, California, James Brown — San Jose University, and Jack Beizer -University of Pittsburgh.) One of the other two task forces worked on Information and Information Needs, and the other on Alternative Information Systems for Emerging Institutions. All of the task forces were established by the Center for the purpose of exploring the relationship of information systems and educational systems and to consider alternative uses of information.