The obsolescence of evaluation research is a consequence of both its failure to recognize the enterprise of evaluation as an ill-structured problem and its acceptance of implicit decision rules which maximize its own irrelevance. Systemic dialectical evaluation is proposed as an approach for enhancing evaluation's relevance. (Author/GK)

Presented is a pilot study focusing attention on problems of deteriorating physical plants and inadequate/obsolete equipment contributing to the current crisis in engineering education. Data are reported from a survey instrument (included in an appendix) from 26 colleges/universities, representing 168 programs out of a national total of 1212…

A format considering factors to be studied in a proposed obsolescence formula. Items listed under the physical characteristics category are intended to be subjected to a technical evaluation under which the condition and adequacy of the building and building system may be subsequently measured as a yardstick of the building's present and future…

Volume 1 of the study reports a work effort to define and give guidelines for the acquisition of cost-effective alternative continuing education (CE) systems to prevent the technological obsolescence of Air Force military scientific and engineering officer personnel. A detailed background survey of the problem was conducted using questionnaires,…

Examines the relationship between the process of obsolescence and different career patterns. (Author)

Discusses information storage techniques and problems that libraries face with deteriorating paper materials as well as previous storage techniques, such as microfilm. Considers the loss of information when original paper sources are destroyed and newer techniques become obsolete and suggests approaches to minimize the loss of critical…

Discusses the measurement of the growth and obsolescence of literature and shows that growth and obsolescence can be studied by the same mathematical techniques. A combined growth-obsolescence theory is presented that can be measured with continuous rates, and three earlier papers are reconsidered and results are reproven. (Contains 18…

A recently proposed stochastic model to describe the citation process in the presence of obsolescence is used to answer the question: If a paper has not been cited by a certain time after its publication, what is the probability that it will ever be cited? A proof of the theorem is appended. (Author/LRW)

Just because we were brought up that way" is no valid reason for perpetuating, either in our crania or catalogs, the humanity-degrading intellect-constricting rubbish that litters the Library of Congress Subject Headings." (Author)

Studies on the topic of obsolescence in literature are reviewed and it is concluded thatthe concept is not of practical use for librarians. An extensive list of studies in the field is appended. (PF)

Suggests an objective approach to weeding library materials and discusses ways of measuring obsolescence and of controlling variables to provide a true picture of aging. Weeding is shown to improve space utilization and the quality of a collection. (5 references) (MES)

Presents a method based on a constrained optimization technique that determines the time of removal of scientific periodicals from the shelf of a library. A geometrical interpretation of the theoretical result is given, and a numerical example illustrates how the technique is applicable to real bibliographic data. (FM)

Addresses some traditional assumptions librarians have made about the use of monographic collections. Topics include the myth that monographic literature becomes obsolete and of less utility to users over time; limitations to obsolescence studies, including evaluating monograph utility through measuring its circulation rate; and the Columbia…

In their general policy, school boards should include a periodic review of all pertinent facts regarding obsolescence, renovation, and rehabilitation of school buildings. Should the estimated cost of rehabilitation equal about 60 to 70 percent of the estimated cost of the replacement, in the long term assessment, it might be more satisfactory to…