This paper compares the usefulness of documentary (written materials) versus face to face delivery of information in helping to bring about urban school improvement. The paper is based on the experiences of the Documentation and Technical Assistance Project (DTA) of the Center for New Schools (Chicago, Illinois), a program that aims to increase the problem solving capacities of schools by enabling these schools to use information from other schools, with DTA technical assistance teams working to facilitate the process. Distinguishing between documentary and face to face information, and between three types of information (fact, theory, and lore), the paper examines the relative effectiveness of each kind of information source in communicating the different types of information. Then, criteria that practitioners and DTA technical assistance teams use to evaluate the usefulness of information are discussed. Finally, types and sources of information used within DTA are described. It is emphasized that while both documentary and face to face delivery of information are present in the DTA setting, the latter is considered more useful because it is more responsive to the fluid needs of the DTA teams and school staff. (Author/MJL)