NOTES FROM RAMSEY LIBRARY; 2007-5

TEXTBOOKS IN THE UNC SYSTEM

In an article titled “Who Controls Textbook Choices?” in the March 16 edition of INSIDE HIGHER ED (http://insidehighered.com/) reports that the “U. of North Carolina may adopt system wide rules limiting faculty options (with respect to textbooks)…” and that it “…is considering adopting a plan that would require all its campuses to create a guaranteed rental or buyback program for large, lower-division courses.” Read more athttp://insidehighered.com/news/2007/03/16/unc.

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INFORMATION LITERACY

An article in the 9 March CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION describes the academe’s growing emphasis on the importance of information literacy and reflects much of UNCA’s current philosophy and practice. You will find an important discussion of current developments in assessing to what extent institutions successfully equip their students for a life of continuing and independent discovery enabled by information literacy – a topic UNCA will need to confront.

“Information Navigation 101”

http://chronicle.com/weekly/v53/i27/27a03801.htm

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OUR CHANGING INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT

Two essays in THE CHRONICLE REVIEW of 9 March grapple with issues of our current information age. In “The Intellectual in the Infosphere,” Peter J. M. Nicholson. president and chief executive officer of the Council of Canadian Academies, asks if “In the rapidly growing infosphere, has the wisdom of crowds left no room for the sagacity of experts?” In the following article, Edward Tenner argues that “Books, newspapers, and other printed media have enduring advantages, even in the digital age . . .” – especially because they’re more difficult to produce.

“The Intellectual in the Infosphere”

http://chronicle.com/weekly/v53/i27/27b00601.htm
“The Prestigious Inconvenience of Print”

http://chronicle.com/weekly/v53/i27/27b00701.htm

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