Data for the raw frequency of use of 138 physics journals in the science library at MIT are re-examined and converted to densities of use-per-metre of shelf. There is no evidence for synchronous obsolescence in the 1955 to 1968 volumes, and some evidence of greater density of use with greater age. (Author/LS)

Survey data obtained from industries and universities are summarized and analyzed from the standpoint of the Air Force's requirement for updating its military scientists and engineers.It is concluded that the wide range of innovative methods of continuing education (CE), in use or in development within selected industries and universities, can be…

Presents guidelines for remodeling a school shop combining major considerations of funds, program changes, class management, and flexibility, with the needs of wiring, painting, and placement of equipment. (Author)

As the use of robots and microprocessors in industry grows, the authors see little need to worry about loss of employment through job obsolescence. Rather, they expect a trend towards higher standards of living and the emergence of new goods and services. (CT)

Describes a study that examined the median citation ages of 9,850 references from 37 journals in music education, music theory, and musicology. Synchronous and diachronous obsolescence are explained, median citation age and half life are discussed, and results are compared with those of an earlier study. (29 references) (LRW)

In 2000, any automated system that processes dates may stop working completely or produce unexpected or unwanted results. School administrators should obtain a complete listing of all currently used systems, prioritize them, contact hardware and software providers to verify Y2K compliance, develop resolution plans with vendors, develop assessment…

If citations are concentrated on a relatively small number of articles within individual journals as well as between different journals, selections of key articles can be published that should satisfy a high percentage of library demand for back runs at low purchase cost. To test this hypothesis, a test was carried out on self-citations in three…

It is argued that no discarding policy is likely to be generally applicable: every special library must be regarded as a special case. Rather than suggest new measurements, therefore, the paper offers simple graphical techniques that are applicable to any special case. (Author/MF)

Develops the theory for a stochastic model for the citation process in the presence of obsolescence to predict the future citation pattern of individual papers in a collection. Shows that the expected number of future citations is a linear function of the current number, interpreted as an example of a success-breeds-success phenomenon. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the shape of the obsolescence function based on the age data for cited journals. An analysis of the aging function is discussed; and statistical fits and mathematical explanations are illustrated, including the model of Avramescu, the Negative Binomial Distribution, the Weibull distribution, the lognormal distribution, and the utility…

Presents definitions of convolutions, mathematical operations between sequences or between functions, and gives examples of their use in information science. In particular they can be used to explain the decline in the use of older literature (obsolescence) or the influence of publication delays on the aging of scientific literature. (Author/LRW)

Usiskin takes another look at fractions, years after writing the article "The Future of Fractions" for "Arithmetic Teacher".

A discussion of disappearing and no longer used languages in anthropomorphic metaphors "language death" and "language suicide." Three stages in the disappearance of several specific languages are described. Ultimately, the direct cause of "language suicide" is not disappearance of rules but disappearance of speakers;…