Information Retrieval List Digest 321 (August 26, 1996) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/irld/irld-321 IRLIST Digest ISSN 1064-6965 August 26, 1996 Volume XIII, Number 34 Issue 321 ********************************************************** II. JOBS 1. U. Alaska, Fairbanks: Dir., Libraries & Information Technology 2. Family Health International: Document Management Coordinator III. NOTICES A. Publications 1. User Modeling and User-adapted Interaction: An International Journal B. Meetings 1. Open Source Solutions '96 2. Allerton '96 3. AAAI Spring Symposium 1997: Mixed Initiative Interaction ********************************************************** II. JOBS II.1. Fr: Lisa M Lehman Re: U. Alaska, Fairbanks: Director, Libraries & Information Technology DIRECTOR OF LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS invites applications for the position of Director of Libraries and Information Technology. The Elmer E. Rasmuson Division of Libraries and Division of Computing and Communications encompasses library services, academic and administrative computing, telecommunications, media services, extensive off-campus library services, and provides advisory support for UAF rural campus libraries and computing. Rasmuson plays a significant collaborative role in statewide planning and the development of information services. The director reports to the Provost, is the primary advocate for information technology, and is a member of the Provost's Council and other policy setting bodies. Established in 1917, the University of Alaska Fairbanks is a land-, sea-, and space grant institution and one of three main campuses in the University system. It is a Carnegie Doctoral II institution, and is the major research center for Alaska. UAF offers instructional programs covering a broad postsecondary spectrum. Rasmuson is Alaska's largest library with holdings of more than 1.75 million items. The University of Alaska statewide VTLS catalog provides access to over 5.5 million items, and is maintained by the Rasmuson Division of Computing and Communications. UAF operates in a distributed computing environment with a mix of operating systems and hardware platforms. We seek candidates with a graduate degree in library or information science from an ALA accredited, or equivalent foreign accredited program. An additional advanced degree is preferred. Candidates should have a demonstrated record of research and publication and professional activities appropriate to faculty rank. Candidates should have a substantive record of successful, progressively responsible administrative and fiscal experience in an academic/research library or computing services. Demonstrated experience as a librarian in an academic/research library, operational experience with integrated library systems, and networked information technologies is expected. Operational experience with computing including academic, administrative, and network services should be demonstrated. The director will be expected to possess excellent communication skills and an ability to act as an advocate and spokesperson. We seek candidates with an understanding of issues affecting libraries, computing and their relationships with higher education. The position, Director of Libraries and Information Technology, offers a highly competitive salary and benefits package. APPLICATION DEADLINE: First consideration will be given to applications received by Friday October 11, 1996. APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Applications should include a letter of interest, curriculum vita, and the names, phone numbers, addresses, and e-mail addresses of three professional references to: Dr. Robert White, Chair Search Committee for Director of Libraries and Information Technology c/o Rasmuson Library Business Office Attn: Irma Jean Zito University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-6800 Telephone: (907) 474-7648 Fax: (907) 474-6967 E-mail: ffrgw@aurora.alaska.edu A full position description is available upon request and at the UAF web site: http://www.uaf.alaska.edu/Library/announcements/ The University of Alaska Fairbanks is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer and educational institution. Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act. ********** II.2. Fr: Ingrid VanLoon Re: Family Health International: Document Management Coordinator LIBRARY DOCUMENTATION MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR The AIDS Control and Prevention (AIDSCAP) Division of Family Health International seeks a Documentation Management Coordinator to maintain the central filing system which includes paper and electronic files by: coordinating timely and consistent submission of documentation, managing documentation archival system, maintaining index to collection and providing reference assistance. Requires a Master's degree in Library Science or equivalent years of relevant experience; and a minimum of 2 years demonstrated experience with documentation or information management systems. Experience in allied or public health programs desirable. French or Spanish language fluency desirable. Send resume with cover letter stating salary requirements to: HUMAN RESOURCES (ASIS/DMC/8596) FAMILY HEALTH INTERNATIONAL 2101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 700 Arlington, VA 22201 NO PHONE CALLS ACCEPTED AA/EOE/M/F/V/D ********************************************************** III. NOTICES III.A.1. Fr: Judy Kay Re: User Modeling and User-adapted Interaction: An International Journal Call for Papers User Modeling and User-adapted Interaction an International Journal Special Issue on User Modelling and Information Filtering Deadline: 31 October 1996 Information Filtering and Information Retrieval aim to help users find useful objects. These sub-disciplines of Computer and Information Sciences have techniques for representing the objects, indexing them, searching them effectively, managing user profiles and evaluating the effectiveness of systems. User modeling has provided theories and techniques for representing and managing user attributes. These have been refined to deal with cases where the attributes cannot be known exactly either because of the nature of the information sources for user modeling or because user preferences are subject to change. At this point, we are seeing a dramatic growth in the number of digital objects that are readily accessible to many computer users. This has created a need for tools that can help users find the tiny set of objects that is interesting or useful to them. In particular, there is a growing importance for tools that can assess the relevance or interest of emerging documents for a user. This information filtering role is typically based upon various classes of individual or community models, often called profiles, as well as on document assessments and ratings that are tied to subsets of the user population. In view of the growing importance of this role for user modeling, a special issue of the Journal of User Modeling and User-Adapted Interaction will be devoted to information filtering. Contributions are particularly welcome in, but not limited to, the following areas: knowledge representation and reasoning for information filtering combining and managing multiple information sources modelling user preferences that reflect various classes of change: significant long term shifts in the user's interests, catering to differing moods and cyclical changes in user needs acquisition of filtering stereotypes and community models assessment of probability that user belongs to a stereotype class acquisition of individual user models for information filtering deployment of user models for information filtering empirical studies of construction and use of user models for information filtering theoretical studies of representations of user models for filtering comprehensive state-of-the-art analysis and evaluation of the application of user models to information filtering ABOUT USER MODELING AND USER-ADAPTED INTERACTION: The journal provides an interdisciplinary forum for the dissemination of new research results on interactive computer systems that adapt to their current users, and which may employ user models for supporting the adaptation. As is the case for high quality journal publications, theoretical proposals should generally be appropriately substantiated (e.g., by a discussion of the results of a computer implementation, by a formal analysis, or by empirical experiments). The normal means of submission is electronic and the review process is normally completed within two months. IMPORTANT DATES: 30 September 1996 (Optional) Submit a one page abstract to Guest Editor 31 October 1996 Deadline for submission of papers 15 December 1996 Notice of review results 31 January 1997 Manuscripts due in final form One page abstracts may be sent (but are not required) prior to September 30, 1996 if authors are concerned about relevance of the paper to the special issue. These abstracts will be reviewed by only the guest editor. Full paper submissions should be in the UMUAI format and will follow the standard refereeing process. Authors may obtain more details of submission requirements from the editors or at UMUAI's site http://umuai.informatik.uniessen.de. GUEST EDITORS: Judy Kay Department of Computer Science University of Sydney, Australia. judy@cs.su.oz.au http://www.cs.su.oz.au/~judy Nicholas Belkin School of Communication Information & Library Studies Rutgers University New Brunswick, USA. belkin@cs.rutgers.edu Carlo Tasso Universita di Udine Dipartimento di Matematica e Informatica Via delle Scienze, 206 Loc. Rizzi - I I-33100 Udine, Italy. tasso@dimi.uniud.it ********** III.B.1. Fr: Zhi Re: Open Source Solutions '96 OPEN SOURCE INTELLIGENCE (Decision-Support/Real-Time Research) is the focus on the internationally acclaimed OSS '96, now going into its fifth year. Titled "Global Security & Global Competitiveness: Open Source Solutions", the conference--now its its fifth year, started as a means of teaching spys how to use publicly available information. It has evolved into the world's only open forum and meeting ground which brings together spys, librarians, hackers, scholars, business intelligence and law enforcement intelligence analysts, and military intelligence analysts as well as information brokers and private investigators. Professional tracks focus on economic and financial intelligence; transnational and domestic law enforcement intelligence; and military and coalition intelligence. Technical tracks focus on sources of information including commercial imagery; advanced tools and techniques for information discovery, discrimination, distillation, and dissemination; and opportunities for private sector sales to international government, and government privatization of selected intelligence functions. For a complete schedule, send email to , visit Web site , fax (703) 242-1711, or call (703) 242-1700 with a complete mailing address. Zhi Hamby-Nye, President Real Trends, Inc. Have you registered for OSS '96? 16-18 September 1996 at the Sheraton Premiere, Tysons Corner. Visit the Web site at , or send email to . See you there! Have you registered for the NMIA InfoWar Conference to be held on 17 September 1996 at the Sheraton Premiere and hosted by OSS. Visit the Web site at or send email to . The OPS Group will also be holding a Conference on 16 September 1996 at the Sheraton Premiere and hosted by OSS. For information send email to . Managing information for: NMIA - http://www.oss.net/NMIA OSS - http://www.oss.net/oss OPS - http://www.oss.net/zhi NIP - http://www.oss.net/oss/nip GRIP and the 749th TBA ********** III.B.2. Fr: Ann Bishop Re: Allerton '96 ** Call for Participation ** Libraries, People, and Change: A Research Forum on Digital Libraries 38th Allerton Institute October 27-29, 1996 Allerton Park and Conference Center Monticello, IL Sponsored by: The Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and The National Science Foundation Co-Chairs: Ann Peterson Bishop, University of Illinois David M. Levy, Xerox PARC ALLERTON '96: GOALS AND AGENDA The purpose of Allerton '96 is to bring people together from various disciplines who have been involved in research and practice related to digital library (DL) use. Our intent is to provide an informal and convivial environment that will help nurture this emerging community. A particular focus is exploring the possible contributions to DL research of different theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches from the social sciences. Participation is by invitation only and will be limited to about 40 people. The registration fee for Allerton '96 will be approximately $130, which will cover room and board in addition to other typical conference expenses. Participants must also cover their own travel expenses, although we have some funding to help defray costs for students and others who might need assistance. Allerton '96 builds upon a similar event that was held last fall. For more information about our activities last year, visit the Institute's website (http://edfu.lis.uiuc.edu/allerton/95/). We are still working to firm up the agenda for Allerton '96. Current plans include several workshops on particular human-centered methods for studying DL needs, usability and use: o Andrew P. Dillon (Indiana University) will lead a workshop on studying reading and use of electronic texts; o Brenda L. Dervin (Ohio State University) will present sense-making approaches for investigating DL needs and use; o Gary Marchionini (University of Maryland) will lead a workshop devoted to comparative case studies of approaches to obtaining user feedback for DL interface design. Several meeting sessions will focus on exploring the transition of traditional library functions and activities to the digital realm: o David M. Levy (Xerox PARC) and Susan Leigh Star (University of Illinois) will lead a session addressing issues related to the organization of materials; o Michael B. Twidale (Lancaster University) will lead a session on the role of technology and human collaboration in supporting library users; o Robert J. Sandusky (University of Illinois) and Barbara P. Buttenfield (University of Colorado) will lead a session focusing on management issues. All sessions will involve interaction among all Allerton participants. In addition, there will be plenty of free time and small group breakout sessions, whose nature and content will be designed by participants. Thus, participants will have a chance to discuss current or planned work, tackle specific problems of interest to them, etc. Emphasis throughout will be on relating research approaches to important research questions and findings, and on the role of, and interactions among, people involved in creating and using DLs. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE: If you would like to apply for participation in Allerton '96, please submit the following: o Your name, title, address, telephone and fax numbers, email address, webpage URL; o A brief statement (several paragraphs) describing your background and interests related to DLs, along with what you hope to gain from and contribute to Allerton; o Any ideas you might have for organizing or presenting your work in a breakout session; o If you need financial support, a description of the nature and amount of support requested. Please submit your application (by email, if possible) to: David M. Levy Xerox PARC 3333 Coyote Hill Road Palo Alto, CA 94304 email: dlevy@parc.xerox.com fax: 415-812-4380 Applications are due on August 30, 1996. Notification of acceptance will be made by September 6, 1996. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact Ann Bishop (abishop@uiuc.edu) or David Levy (dlevy@parc.xerox.com). ********** III.B.3. Fr: Susan Haller Re: AAAI Spring Symposium 1997: Mixed Initiative Interaction AAAI - Spring Symposia Series, 1997 March 24-26th, 1997 Stanford University Computational Models for Mixed Initiative Interaction In a mixed initiative interaction, direction and control of the interaction shifts among the participants. Since the information and abilities needed to solve a problem are distributed among the participating agents, a system that is collaborating with other users to solve a problem must have the flexibility to take or relinquish initiative. However, the possiblity of shifting initiative requires that computer systems include mechanisms for recognizing when to lead or otherwise take control of an interaction and when to let others take the initiative. In addition, an interactive system must be able to take initiative into account in interpreting utterances and in selecting appropriate responses. Although issues of initiative and control are crucial to the design of effective interactive systems, there is as yet no established community within which one can discuss open questions or propose results. This symposium will bring together researchers who are interested in developing theoretical and applied models for mixed-initiative interaction. As a group, participants will discuss core issues such as the factors that characterize initiative, and the role that initiative should play in the design of computer systems. Individuals will also present position statements or research results that support claims about what knowledge representations or inference strategies comprise an appropriate model of mixed-initiative interaction and what computer algorithms might be used to implement them. Specifically, we will address the following issues: * What knowledge strategies or knowledge representation schemes (e.g. plans, logics, etc) are appropriate for modelling initiative, including but not limited to o How control or changes in initiative are manifested in the interaction. o How taking initiative affects how agents will interpret another agent's actions or how they choose an appropriate response; * What algorithms or computer systems can be developed for controlling mixed-initiative interaction, including but not limited to o How to decide when it is appropriate to take initiative and how to alert other participants to the shift. o How to decide when to relinquish initiative and how to alert other participants. o How to detect when another agent is attempting to alter the control or purpose of the conversation. This area of research is just reaching the point where the central issues can be discussed within a focussed community. Identifying and establishing this community is an appropriate and key function of the proposed AAAI symposium. SUBMISSIONS: Potential participants should submit: * Name, physical and electronic addresses, also fax number and WWW URL if available. If several people working together, e.g. collaborating authors, wish to attend, each should submit separately, but should also name the others in the group. * A brief statement describing why you wish to attend and how you believe that you can contribute to the symposium. List related work that you have done, papers you have written or programs you have developed. Can you contribute a demo, a video, a benchmark problem, a brainstorming exercise? * A paper for the working notes, no longer than 8 pages. This may be a research paper, a description of a working system or practical problem domain, or a position paper. Send electronic or hard copy versions of this material to Susan Haller Computer Science and Engineering Dept. University of Wisconsin - Parkside Kenosha, Wiconsin 53141-2000 U.S.A. haller@cs.uwp.edu This announcement is available as a web page: http://cs.uwp.edu/staff/haller/Activities/sss-97.html IMPORTANT DEADLINES: * Submissions: October 25, 1996 * Notification of acceptance: November 25, 1996 * Working notes material due: January 17, 1997 * Spring Symposium Series: March 24-26, 1997 ********************************************************** IRLIST Digest is distributed from the University of California, Division of Library Automation, 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, CA. 94612-3550. Send subscription requests and submissions to: NCGUR@UCCMVSA.UCOP.EDU Editorial Staff: Clifford Lynch calur@uccmvsa.ucop.edu Nancy Gusack ncgur@uccmvsa.ucop.edu The IRLIST Archives is set up for anonymous FTP. Using anonymous FTP via the host ftp.dla.ucop.edu, the files will be found in the directory /data/ftp/pub/irl, stored in subdirectories by year (e.g., data/ftp/pub/irl/1993). 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