Information Retrieval List Digest 429 (November 2, 1998) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/irld/irld-429.txt IRLIST Digest ISSN 1064-6965 November 2, 1998 Volume XV, Number 43 Issue 429 ****************************************************************** I. QUERIES 1. Fuzzy Logic and IR [response to Issue 428, I.1.] 2. eBook-List Discussion List II. JOBS 1. Kent Ridge Digital Labs, Singapore: NLP/IR Research 2. Kent State U.: 2 Assistant Professors: LIS 3. U. MN, Twin Cities: Six Librarian Positions III. NOTICES B. Meetings 1. ECCS'99 2. CIA-99 Cooperative Information Agents 3. IEEE ADL '99 CFP 4. AI-ED99 news # 1 October 98 5. ISCO4 C. Miscellaneous 1. Ergo Talks with Microsoft Agents (Free Software) IV. PROJECTS C. Awards, Fellowships, Grants, & Scholarships 1. Graduate Study in Digital Libraries 2. LACASIS Contributions to Information Science Award Dinner 3. UOK: SLIS: Fellowship Opportunity in MLIS ****************************************************************** I. QUERIES I.1. Fr: "Bo Yuan Re: Fuzzy Logic and IR [response to Issue 428, I.1.] Here is some information regarding fuzzy logic and information retrieval. 1. Bezdek, J. C.; Biswas, G., and Huang, L. Transitive closures of fuzzy thesauri for information-retrieval systems. Intern. J. of Man-Machine Studies. 1986; 25(3):343-356. 2. Boy, G. A. and Kuss, P. M. A fuzzy method for the modeling of human-computer interaction in information retrieval tasks. In: Karwowski, W. and Mital, A., eds. Applications of Fuzzy Set Theory in Human Factors. New York: Elsevier; 1986; pp. 117-133. 3. Cross, V. Fuzzy information retrieval. J. of Intelligent Information Systems. 1994; 3(1):29-56. 4. Kohout, L. J.; Keravnou, E., and Bandler, W. Automatic documentory information retrieval by means of fuzzy relational products. In: Zimmermann, H. J.; Zadeh, L. A., and Gaines, B. R., eds. Fuzzy Sets and Decision Analysis. New York: North-Holland; 1984; pp. 383-404. 5. Larsen, H. L. and Yager, R. R. An approach to customized end-user view= s in multi-user information retrieval systems. In: Kacprzyk, J. and Fedrizz= i, M., eds. Multiperson Decision Making Models Using Fuzzy Sets and Possibility Theory. Boston: Kluwer; 1990; pp. 128-139. 6. ---. The use of fuzzy relational thesauri for classificatory problem solving in information retrieval and expert systems. IEEE Trans. on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics. 1993; 23(1):31-41. 7. Miyamoto, S. Fuzzy Sets in Information Retrieval and Cluster Analysis. Boston: Kluwer; 1990. 8. ---. Two approaches for information retrieval through fuzzy associations. IEEE Trans. on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics. 1989; 19(1):123-130. 9. Miyamoto, S.; Miyake, T., and Nakayama, K. Generation of a pseudothesaurus for information retrieval based on cooccurrences and fuzz= y set operations. IEEE Trans. on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics. 1983; 13(1):62-70. 10. Miyamoto, S. and Nakayama, K. Fuzzy information retrieval based on a fuzzy pseudothesarus. IEEE Trans. on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics. 1986; 16(2):278-282. 11. Nakamura, K. and Iwai, S. Topological fuzzy sets as a quantitative description of analogical inference and its application to question-answering systems for information retrieval. IEEE Trans. On Systems, Man, and Cybernetics. 1982; 12(2):193-203. 12. Negoita, C. V. On the application of the fuzzy sets separation theore= m for automatic classification in information retrieval systems. Informatio= n Sciences. 1973; 5(1):279-286. 13. Radecki, T. Outline of a fuzzy logic approach to information retrieva= l. Intern. J. of Man-Machine Studies. 1981; 14(2):169-178. 14. ---. A theoretical background for applying fuzzy set theory in information retrieval. Fuzzy Sets and Systems. 1983; 10(2):169-183. 15. Tong, R. M. The representation of uncertainty in an expert system for information retrieval. In: Prade, H. and Negoita, C. V., eds. Fuzzy Logic in Knowledge Engineering. K=F6ln: Verlag T=DCV Rheinland; 1986; pp. 58-72. 16. Umano, M. Retrieval from fuzzy database by fuzzy relational algebra. In: Sanchez, S., ed. Fuzzy Information Knowledge Representation and Decis= ion 17. Wong, S. K. M.; Bollmann, P., and Yao, Y. Y. Information retrieval based on axiomatic decision theory. Intern. J. of General Systems. 1991; 19(2):107-117. 18. Zenner, R. B. R. C.; DeCaluwe, R. M. M., and Kerre, E. E. A new approach to information retrieval systems using fuzzy expressions. Fuzzy Sets and Systems. 1985; 17(1):9-22. Bo Yuan, Ph.D. Staff Scientist Manning & Napier Information Services 1100 Chase Square Rochester, NY 14604 Ph: (716)325-6880 ext. 696 (Office) Fax: (716)325-1036 E-mail: byuan@mnis.net http://www.mnis.net ********** I.2. Fr: Gerry Mckiernan Re: eBook-List Discussion List _eBook-List Discussion List_ In reponse to my recent posting regarding the identification, acquisition and management of WebBooks, it was suggested that perhaps a separate discussion list be established to address these and related issues for libraries. In investigating if a current list existed, I (re)discovered t= he _eBook-List_ mailing list. As stated in its Welcome message, _eBooks-List_ "is open to all individuals and organizations interested i= n developing, researching, producing, authoring, publishing, distributing, reading, and even dreaming about electronic books. That should include ju= st about everybody!" [snip] "The primary long-term goal of EBook-List is to create a unified communi= ty of individuals and organizations (both commercial and non-profit) which will promote the continued research, development and marketing of electronic books, composing and viewing software for computers, and portable electronic book readers." "A sample list of topics to discuss on EBook-List include, among *many* others: 1) The electronic publishing formats currently available that could be used for producing electronic book titles. What are their comparative advantages and disadvantages? Does there now exist the "ideal" format? 2) Should a "standardized" electronic book format be developed for the long-term future? Is it even possible? 3) The advantages and disadvantages of electronic books over their paper cousins -- present and future. What are the social ramifications when (o= r "if", for the skeptics out there) electronic books become dominant in our society? 4) What will the electronic book reader of the future look like? What technology development is required to make such readers attractive t= o the point that electronic books will become dominant over paper books? H= ow many years from now will this happen? Do we have the technology today to make a marketable portable electronic book reader, or do we have to wait for substantially cheaper and much higher resolution flat screens to be developed? 5) Network vs. local access of electronic books. Do consumers prefer to actually possess their own copy to store on their own computer/reader rather than pay to access it elsewhere over a network? 6) Publishing issues: Will electronic book publishing allow authors to ga= in more control over their works? Will it allow authors to bypass publisher= s and self-publish? How will electronic book titles of the future be marketed -- over the Internet or via portable media like CD-ROM and its successors? How will the electronic book consumer be able to sort throug= h the expected huge number of electronic book titles produced outside of th= e "big" publishers? 7) Copyright/security/encryption issues: Is it possible to develop electronic books and readers that provide copyright security to authors a= nd publishers, such as the use of machine-specific passwords (e.g., SoftLock), data encryption, etc.?" To subscribe, send e-mail to ebook-list@mabooks.com. In the Subject: line add the word "subscribe" (but without the quotes). Leave the message blan= k. In the average day, there are probably a dozen or so postings, typically list. [This week's top topic is the recently announced Rocket e-Book from NuvoMedia][BTW: There was a review of the Rocket e-Book in the "Circuits" section of the _New York Times_ on Thursday, October 29, 1998] It response to my posting about WebBooks on the list earlier this week I received a response that acknowledged and recognized the potential role that libraries and librarians should play in the evolution of the E-Book/WebBook and which encouraged wider cooperation among developers, publishers, and librarians. Joy! Gerry McKiernan Theoretical Librarian Iowa State University Ames IA 50011 gerrymck@iastate.edu ****************************************************************** II. JOBS II.1. Fr: Leong Mun Kew Re: Kent Ridge Digital Labs, Singapore: NLP/IR Research KENT RIDGE DIGITAL LABS (KRDL), SINGAPORE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING / INFORMATION RETRIEVAL The Kent Ridge Digital Labs, Singapore (http://www.krdl.org.sg), is a leading computer research laboratory in the Asia-Pacific region with over 400 research staff. Our objectives are international and regional leadership in next generation technology creation with industry application. We are looking for dynamic, enthusiastic and innovative scientists to join us in furthering their research careers. INFORMATION RETRIEVAL RESEARCHER The researcher will work as part of a team developing state-of-the-art cross-language information retrieval systems, focusing on Chinese and other Asian languages. Responsibilities include original research into cross-language retrieval techniques, evidence fusion, and statistical approaches, as well as project management, system design, and prototyping. Qualifications: - Fluency in English, with working knowledge of Mandarin - Relevant research experience in IR, preferably in cross-language issues - Interest and knowledge of NLP techniques as applied to Asian-language I= R - Strong communication and interpersonal skills - Software development experience in C or/and C++ desirable - Doctoral qualifications preferred SENIOR INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER The engineer will lead a team building a platform for advanced cross-language information retrieval and question-answering systems. Responsibilities include system design, project management, application development, and system integration. Qualifications: - Fluency in English and Mandarin - Strong communication and interpersonal skills - Proven track record in handling responsibility and leading a developmen= t team - Software development experience in C or/and C++ - BSEE or BSCS or equivalent experience NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING RESEARCHER The researcher will work as part of a team developing state-of-the-art cross-language information retrieval systems, focusing on Chinese and oth= er Asian languages. Responsibilities include research into the applications = of NLP for English-Chinese cross-language information retrieval, cross-language term normalisation, and multilingual entity identification and tracking, as well as project management, system design, and prototypi= ng. Qualifications: - Fluency in English and Mandarin - Relevant research experience in Chinese NLP, preferbly with an IR inter= est - Strong communication and interpersonal skills - Software development experience in C or/and C++ desirable - Doctoral qualifications preferred If you have questions about the type of research involved in the position= s above, you may also contact the Cross-Language Information Retrieval grou= p at KRDL through the project leader, Mun-Kew Leong (mkleong@krdl.org.sg). We offer attractive remuneration and fringe benefits as well as a stimulating work environment equipped with advanced computing facilities. If you are interested, and suit our requirements above, please contact us as follows: The Recruitment Officer (Ref:KLab/XLIR) Kent Ridge Digital Labs 21 Heng Mui Keng Terrace Singapore 119597 Fax: +65 776-8109 Email: zarina@krdl.org.sg Online: http://www.krdl.org.sg/ ********** II.2. Fr: Thomas J. Froehlich Re: Kent State U.: 2 Assistant Professors: LIS Kent State University School of Library and Information Science Assistant Professors The Kent State University School of Library and Information Science is seeking applicants for two tenure-track positions at the rank of Assistan= t Professor. The School supports one of the largest professional library an= d information science programs in North America and offers the only America= n Library Association-accredited master's degree program in Ohio. The master's degree is offered at the School's two campuses in Kent and Columbus, with additional courses offered in Cleveland and Bowling Green. The School will introduce a statewide electronic distance education netwo= rk during 1999. While committed to its strong library tradition, the School is involved i= n several exciting areas of program expansion, including undergraduate and graduate programs in New Media, a central role in the newly created Ohio Institute for Information Research and Management, and the developme= nt of a proposed master's degree program in Information Resources Management. Teaching competence and research interests are sought in the following ar= eas: access to information, including information needs and uses, reference services, and reference resources; information science, information technology, information storage and retrieval, information resources management; administration, organization, and services of school library media center= s; resources, services and technology for children and young adults; organization of information, data modeling, metadata, digital libraries; business and corporate information, competitive intelligence. Qualifications include a master's degree in library and information scien= ce or a related field and a completed doctorate or substantial progress towa= rd completion of a doctorate in library and information science or a related field. Experience and/or interest in synchronous and asynchronous digital distance learning is highly desirable. Salary is competitive; benefits a= re excellent. Both positions are available for the spring or fall of 1999. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled; review of applicants will begin November 16, 1998. Kent State University has made major investments in state-of-the-art information and networked technologies, such as the Moulton Hall Technologies and Learning Center, a center for Kent's innovations in teaching, research, corporate training and networked information resource= s. It is Carnegie Research II university and a member of the Internet2 consortium, one of 36 institutions nationwide and one of 2 in Ohio. Kent is located in the northeast hub of the state of Ohio, easily accessible to the rich cultural and research resources of Cleveland and Akron. The Columbus campus has three full-time faculty in residence with office and classroom space on the campus of Ohio State University. It is readily accessible to the headquarters of Ohio's information networks, su= ch as OhioLink and OPLIN, and to information companies such as OCLC, Chemica= l Abstracts, Battelle Memorial Institute, and Lexis-Nexis. Applicants should submit a letter of application, resume, copies of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (official transcripts will be required in the event of employment), and names of at least three references to: Professor Thomas J. Froehlich Chair, Search Committee School of Library and Information Science Kent State University P. O. Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242-0001 email: tfroehli@kent.edu fax: 330/672-7965 voice: 330/672-2782 http://www.slis.kent.edu/ Kent State University supports equal opportunity, affirmative action and diversity in education and employment. Applications from minority group members and women are encouraged. ********** II.3. Fr: Juanita Meza Re: U. MN, Twin Cities: Six Librarian Positions UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, TWIN CITIES CAMPUS http://www.lib.umn.edu SIX POSITIONS AVAILABLE: The University of Minnesota Libraries invites applications and nominations for six positions. We seek candidates who ar= e leaders, are creative, take initiative, and work successfully in a collaborative environment. The Libraries particularly encourages the candidacy of people with experience in multicultural and multiracial settings. The Libraries offer a competitive salary, commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits and substantial moving allowance. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS/ARCHIVES TECHNICAL SERVICES LIBRARIAN Job Number UL84 DESCRIPTION: =B7 Lead technical processing efforts in special collections and archival= areas. =B7 Acquire and catalog materials for special collections and archival un= its. =B7 Develop and manage special projects, especially uncataloged materials initiatives. =B7 Develop and deliver training in archival description/processing. =B7 Coordinate technical services attributes of digital projects initiati= ves. =B7 Serve as a specialist in acquisition and control of digital resources= , including metadata. QUALIFICATIONS: Required: ALA accredited M.L.S. or foreign equivalent; archival and rare book cataloging experience in an on-line environment; demonstrated knowledge of AACR2, US MARC and relevant subject thesauri; project leadership and management experience; strong oral and written communications skills; familiarity with developing standards for digital resources and archival materials such as Dublin Core and markup schemes such as XML, HTML, SGML and EAD; ability to work independently and as par= t of a group in a collegial setting with staff from other areas of the libr= ary. Preferred: Experience in training staff and writing documentation; experience processing electronic resources; In-depth knowledge of developing standards for digital resources and archival materials; experience processing in an integrated on-line system; working knowledge = of at least one European language, other than English. SALARY AND BENEFITS: This is a full time, 12-month academic, continuous appointment track, probationary appointment at either Assistant or Associate Librarian. Rank will depend on qualifications and experience. Minimum salary is $35,000. USER EDUCATION COORDINATOR Job Number UL85 DESCRIPTION: =B7 Lead and coordinate the development, implementation and evaluation of creative and effective library instructional programs serving on-campus a= nd distance learners; =B7 Participate in the development of technology enhanced learning tools; evaluate library instruction outcomes; coordinate continuing education of staff in pedagogy; =B7 Develop effective outreach and publicity for instructional programs; =B7 Collaborate with University and regional partners in curriculum devel= opment. QUALIFICATIONS: Required: ALA-accredited M.L.S. or foreign equivalent; a minimum of two years academic library professional experience planning and implementing instruction programs; experience applying current library instructional theory and practice; experience applying new technologies to library instruction; leadership skills, creativity, initiative and self-direction= ; excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. Preferred: Advanced degree in education, instructional technology, or a related field; team based project management experience; knowledge of and experience with user assessment tools and methodologies. SALARY AND BENEFITS: This is a full time, 12-month, continuous academic, appointment track, probationary appointment at either Assistant or Associate Librarian. Rank will depend on qualifications and experience. Minimum salary is $42,000. WEB APPLICATIONS DEVELOPER Job Number UL87 DESCRIPTION: =B7 Maintains and customizes commercially developed applications software that resides on the Libraries Web servers, such as OCLC's WebZ and its distributed ILL system, ODRSS, and DRA's Web2. =B7 Enhances locally developed applications and develops new applications= as needed, particularly databases that are the basis of Web services offered by the Libraries. =B7 Works with the Libraries Web Coordinator, Electronic Services Team, a= nd Web Team and provides technical support for the implementation of their decisions concerning the Libraries Web pages for external and internal Libraries users. =B7 Provides technical support to Libraries staff who develop Web pages a= nd databases. =B7 Maintains the software images that are served to Libraries users' workstations within the Libraries. QUALIFICATIONS: Required: B.A. or B.S., preferably in computer science or a related fiel= d; significant experience with large scale development of Web pages and related services, including use of http, PERL, and CGI scripts; familiari= ty with UNIX and NT operating systems. Preferred: M.A. or M.S. in computer science, library science, or a relate= d field. Experience in using JAVA, Java Script, C++, and relational databases, especially Oracle, for development of Web-based applications. Experience in working in a collaborative environment; troubleshooting, ti= me management, communication, documentation, and planning skills; experience working in libraries. SALARY AND BENEFITS: This is a full time, 12 month, academic/administrative position in the Information Technology Professional class with an annual renewable contract. Minimum salary is $40,000. SOCIAL SCIENCES LIBRARIANS (two positions) Job Number UL82 DESCRIPTION: =B7 Serve as subject specialist for subject areas assigned in the followi= ng disciplines: North American History, Political Science, International Relations, Women's Studies, Anthropology, General History/Historiography, and Sociology. =B7 Maintain responsibility for all aspects of development and management= of resources in digital and print formats. =B7 Provide reference service in assigned subject areas, including servic= es in the library's digital resource centers. =B7 Provide relevant instruction to faculty, students, and library staff. . Serve as faculty liaison to appropriate academic departments. QUALIFICATIONS: Required: ALA-accredited M.L.S. or foreign equivalent; demonstrated knowledge of collection development and management functions in assigned = or related subject areas; in-depth knowledge of electronic resources and the= ir applications in the social sciences; demonstrated strong commitment to public service in a research library; strong oral and written communicati= on skills; strong interpersonal skills, and ability to work effectively with= a diverse clientele. Preferred: Advanced degree in a relevant field; experience in using electronic text and/or statistical data files in a research environment; demonstrated proficiency in social sciences statistical data files. SALARY AND BENEFITS: These are full-time, 12-month academic, continuous appointment track, probationary appointments at the Assistant or Associat= e Librarian rank. Rank will depend on qualifications and experience. Minim= um salary is $32,000. WESTERN EUROPEAN STUDIES LIBRARIAN Job Number UL83 DESCRIPTION: =B7 Resource Development: Serve as subject specialist for Western Europea= n Studies in the social sciences; geographical area includes all of Western Europe, excluding Spain, Portugal, and the Scandinavian countries. . Maintains responsibility for all aspects of development and management = of resources in digital and print formats. =B7 Reference Service and Instruction: Provide reference service during scheduled hours and by appointment in the above subject areas, including services in the Library's digital resource centers. Provide relevant instruction to faculty and students, and appropriate training for library staff. =B7 Faculty Liaison: Serve as faculty liaison to appropriate academic departments. QUALIFICATIONS: Required: ALA accredited M.L.S. or foreign equivalent; reading knowledge = of German and at least one other major Western European language, excluding English; demonstrated knowledge of collection development and management functions in assigned or related subject areas; in-depth knowledge of electronic resources and their applications in the social sciences; demonstrated strong commitment to library public service; strong oral and written communication skills; strong interpersonal skills, and ability to work effectively with a diverse clientele. Preferred: Additional advance= d degree in a relevant field; working knowledge of additional modern Europe= an languages; extensive experience in collection development and management functions; experience in using electronic text and/or statistical data files in a research environment. SALARY AND BENEFITS: This is a full-time, 12-month academic, continuous appointment track, probationary appointment at the Assistant or Associate Librarian rank. Rank will depend on qualifications and experience. Minimu= m salary is $32,000. RECRUITING SCHEDULE: Positions available immediately. Review of applications will begin November 16, 1998. Applicants are encouraged to apply by the review date to receive full consideration. Full position descriptions are available at http://www.umn.edu/ohr/employ.html, listed with Academic positions by Job Numbers. APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Send letter of application, resume, and the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three current professional references to: Linda DeBeau-Melting, Univerity Libraries Hum= an Resources Office, 499 Wilson Library, University of Minnesota, 309 19th Avenue So., Mpls., MN 55455. Please identify the application with the Jo= b Number. The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment witho= ut regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marita= l status, disability, public assistance status, veteran, status or sexual orientation. ****************************************************************** III. NOTICES III.B.1. Fr: M.Mariani Re: ECCS'99 First Announcement ECCS'99 The European Conference on Cognitive Science - ECCS'99 will be held in Siena (Tuscany, Italy) October 27-30, in the beautiful Pontignano: a XV century Certosa in the Chianti valley. The Conference scope will range from theoretical works to applications, a= nd from experimental methods to computer simulation and field research. A preliminary Call for Papers will be sent next week, including the selected topics of this year, the Advisory Board and Program Committee, instructions and deadlines for submission. The Conference Chair Prof. Sebastiano Bagnara University of Sienna ********** III.B.2. Fr: Matthias Klusch Re: CIA-99 Cooperative Information Agents FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS International Workshop CIA-99 on COOPERATIVE INFORMATION AGENTS July 31 - August 2, 1999 Uppsala/Stockholm (Sweden) CIA-99 Homepage: http://www.informatik.tu-chemnitz.de/~klusch/cia99.html The CIA-99 workshop is co-sponsored by - Deutsche Telekom AG, Germany. - Daimler-Benz AG, Germany. - George Mason University, USA. - Active On-line Systems Ltd., UK. and supported by the Special Interest Groups on - Intelligent Information Agent of the ESPRIT Network of Excellence on Agent-Based Computing (AgentLink). - Distributed Artificial Intelligence of the German Computer Society (GI). CIA-99 Topics & Deadlines: Modern information environments mainly consist of large, distributed and heterogenous resources that are connected in th= e Internet or corporate Intranets. These environments are open and can dynamically change over time. To cope with such information environments means, in particular, to deal with uncertain, incomplete and vague information. In general, the effective handling of uncertainty is critica= l in designing, understanding, and evaluating autonomous, computational systems tasked with making intelligent decisions. It is also crucial to t= he ultimate success and broad application of intelligent information agents = on the Internet as well as in any industrial context. Moreover, any advanced human-agent interaction in such environments, e.g., via synthetic characters, believable avatars or 3-D multimedia-based representation of the so-called virtual information space available for individual users in the Internet, remains to be a challenging research topic. In addition, up to now there are not many systems of (collaborating) mobile information agents available. Thus, the CIA-99 workshop mainly focus on the following three special the= mes: (1) Information agents in UNCERTAIN information environments. (2) Systems and applications of MOBILE information agents. (3) Advanced Human-Agent INTERACTION, in particular maintenance and visualization of dynamically changing VIRTUAL INFORMATION SPACES. We encourage especially submission of papers that report on research and development concerning these themes. Besides that, like in the previous CIA workshops, all topics in the research area of intelligent and collaborating information agents are covered by the CIA-99 workshop. TOPICS o Advanced Database and Knowledge-Base Technology Application of Techniques for Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery in open= , distributed and dynamically changing environments. Management of uncertain and incomplete knowledge for information gatherin= g in the Internet or large corporate Intranets. o Human-Agent Interaction Synthetic Agents, believable avatars, and 3-D multimedia-based representation of individual user information spaces in the Internet. Advanced interfaces for conversations and dialogues among information agents and users. o Adaptive Information Agents Performance and measurement of adaptation of single agent or multiagent systems in uncertain information environments. Computation and Action under uncertainty and limited resources. Methods for automated uncertain reasoning for collaborating information agents. o Mobility and Issues of Security in the Internet Architectures, environments and languages for mobile and secure informati= on agents and servers. Collaborative information agents on wearable computers, hand-held and/or satellite-based control devices. o Rational Information Agents and Electronic Commerce Agent-based marketplaces in the Internet. Electronic Commerce with incomplete and uncertain information. Economic models of cooperative problem solving among rational information agents in open information environments. Standards for privacy of communication, security, and jurisdiction for agent-mediated commerce. o Systems and Applications Implemented systems and applications of multiple collaborating informatio= n agents on the Internet. IMPORTANT DATES Deadline for Paper Submission: March 5, 1999 Notification of Acceptance/Rejection: April 18, 1999 Deadline for camera-ready version: May 10, 1999 Submission: The length of submitted paper must be no more than 12 pages including all figures, tables, and bibliography. All papers must be writt= en in English. Submissions will be reviewed for quality, correctness, originality and relevance. Papers accepted or under review by other conferences, workshops or journals are not acceptable. Papers not conforming to the above requirements may be rejected without review. Each submission includes the full paper (title, authors, abstract, text), and in addition a separate title page with the title, a 300-400 word abstract, a list of keywords, authors (names, addresses, email addresses, telephone and fax numbers). For publication in the Springer LNCS (LNAI) series, please prepare a camera-ready version of your contribution together with the corresponding Springer style files ''llncs'' (for LaTeX) to be obtained by ftp trick.ntp.springer.de (/pub/tex/latex/llncs). For those not using the Springer LNCS style files: The paper must be formatted using 10 point Times. (If Times is not available, please use on= e of the similar typefaces widely used in phototypesetting.) Printing area should be 12.2 x 19.3 cm, and the interline distance should be arranged i= n such a way that some 42 to 45 lines occur on a full-text page. You can submit your contribution by ** MAIL or ELECTRONIC MAIL **. It is strongly recommended to submit your paper by electronic mail! If receipt of your submission is not confirmed within one week, you are kindly asked to resend it. Submission: - by MAIL to Onn Shehory Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute 5000 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890, USA Fax: +1-412-268-5569 Phone: +1-412-268-3740 Please send three single-sided hard-copies of your paper. OR - by EMAIL to onn@cs.cmu.edu Please send the postscript file of your contribution, and check if this file is printable on any ordinary postscript printer! In case of a long file, please use compression (zip, gzip, or compress) before sending it b= y email, and give information on the type of used compression. CIA-99 Proceedings: The proceedings will be published as a volume in the series Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence (LNAI) from Springer Publisher. The proceedings of the CIA-97, CIA-98 workshops appeared as LN= AI Vol. 1202 and Vol. 1435, respectively. Registration & Accomodation: Information on the exact location, registration fee, and accomodation in Uppsala (Sweden) will be provided a= s soon as available in a forthcoming call. Please also check out the CIA-99 Web site often for up-to-date infos. CIA-99 Organization General Chair: Matthias Klusch (Technical University of Chemnitz, Germany) Co-Chairs: Onn Shehory (Carnegie Mellon University, USA) Gerhard Weiss (Technical University of Munich, Germany) For more information please contact: Matthias Klusch Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute 5000 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh PA 15213-3890, USA. Phone: +1-412-2685287, Fax: +1-412-2685569 Email: klusch@cs.cmu.edu http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~klusch/ ********** III.B.3. Fr: Alexa McCray Re: IEEE ADL '99 CFP Call for Papers IEEE ADL'99 Advances in Digital Libraries Conference May 19-21, 1999 Baltimore Hilton and Towers Baltimore, MD, USA Sponsored by IEEE Computer Society, Library of Congress, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, CESDIS, Rutgers University CIMIC, National Library of Medicine Digital Libraries are a critical component of the emerging "distributed knowledge environments" that will provide people with universal access to virtually all areas of human knowledge, with the concomitant hope of improving standards of health, education, and economic well-being as well as the quality of life. As such, the field of digital library research an= d technology encompasses information creation, acquisition, access, distribution, evaluation and processing. Major applications of digital library research and technology include education, science, commerce, medicine, and the arts. The goal of this conference is to share and disseminate information about important current issues concerning digital library research and technology. This goal will be achieved by means of research papers, invit= ed talks, workshops, and panels involving leading experts, as well as throug= h demonstrations of innovative and prototype technologies. The conference h= as the additional goal of indicating the importance of applications of digit= al library technologies in the public and private sectors of the economy. Papers are solicited describing technical advances in ALL areas of digita= l library technology, including, but not limited to the areas of: Agent Technology Authoring and Scripting Collaborative Research Data mining Digital Library Testbed Systems Document Models Economic Issues and Billing Mechanisms Human-Computer Interaction Intellectual Property Knowledge Integration Knowledge Representation Meta-information Publishing Resource Discovery and Management Searching and Browsing Semantic and Systems Interoperability Standards and Protocols Telecommunications and Networking Transition from Traditional Libraries User Workspaces In particular, ADL '99 will focus on novel applications and associated issues in the areas of: Digital Art Digital Earth Digital Law Digital Music Digital Sky Geospatial Information Health Applications Integrating Digital Technology into Traditional Libraries Social and Natural Sciences Applications Socio-Economic Impact Information for authors: Authors are invited to submit manuscripts, not t= o exceed 6000 words or proposals for panels or workshops, not to exceed 150= 0 words, by December 15, 1998 to either of the Program Co-Chairs. Notification of acceptance will be made by Feb. 15, 1999. The program wil= l be published by March 15, 1999. The proceedings will be published by IEEE Computer Society Press. A selected number of papers will be considered fo= r publication in the International Journal of Digital Libraries. Authors ar= e encouraged to submit papers electronically and, in particular, in postscript format. GENERAL CHAIRS Nabil R. Adam, Rutgers University http://cimic.rutgers.edu Yelena Yesha, UMBC/ NASA CESDIS ********** III.B.4. Fr: "ai-ed99 Local Organising Commitee" Re: AI-ED99 news # 1 October 98 AI-ED '99 NEWS #1 October, 1998 Nine months from now and the conference starts. We look forward to welcome you in Le Mans next july... We expect you are writing papers, preparing workshops and tutorials propo= sals Be careful: fewer than two months to reach the deadline PROGRAMME COMMITTEE Invited speakers The programme committee have now determined the invited speakers. - John SELF (UK) - Ulrich HOPPE (Germany) - Sandra MARSHALL (USA) - Jacobijn SANDBERG (NL) - Tom MURRAY (USA) Congratulations to these five well known researchers. This is a first ste= p toward the high quality conference we would have in France. We are waiting for titles and abstracts of their presentation. They will = be available on the server as soon as we have them... Papers, tutorials, workshops, panels, young researchers track. We are looking forward to receiving the papers you are writing and the contributions you are preparing. Remember the deadlines for submissions i= s December 12th 1998. This is coming very fast! AI-ED '99 Programme committee Dr. Susanne P. Lajoie Dept. of Educational and Counselling Psychology McGill University 3700 McTavish St. Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A1Y2 fax : 514 398 6968 E-mail : Tutorial Chair Professor Monique Grandbastien LORIA, BP 239 54500 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy cedex FRANCE Email : Monique.Grandbastien@loria.fr Fax : 33 (0)3 83 41 30 79 Workshops Chair Professor Nicolas Balacheff Laboratoire LEIBNIZ - Institut IMAG 46 Avenue F=C8lix Viallet 38031 GRENOBLE Cedex, FRANCE Email : Nicolas.Balacheff@imag.fr Fax : +33 (0)4 76 57 50 57 Young Researchers Track Chair Cyrille Desmoulins AI-ED =EB99 Chair =EC Young Researchers Track =EE LORIA, BP 239 54500 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy cedex - FRANCE e-mail : Cyrille.Desmoulins@loria.fr Specific deadlines here: Short paper submission : march 15th Workshops under preparation Several workshops are under preparation.... The community seems very active. We heard about nice proposals, good premises for an interesting conference... We look forward for the deadline to see if they will be presented. More information in January! LOCAL ORGANISATION NEWS Dissemination of call for papers and posters - More than 1000 posters have been disseminated since july by direct distribution during conferences and via surface mail using post office services. If your lab did not receive it yet, please ask us. - Don't hesitate to ask the organisers for a printed call for papers and additional posters to help in dissemination during conferences you are to attend soon. Additional information is available at the URL : http ://ai-ed99.univ-lemans.fr ********** III.B.5. Fr: Alex Verrijn-Stuart Re: ISCO4 IFIP WG8.1 International Working Conference ISCO-4 INFORMATION SYSTEM CONCEPTS: An Integrated Discipline Emerging Lorentz Center, Leiden University Netherlands 20-22 September 1999 This is the first Call for Papers for the 4th conference in the ISCO seri= es (Namur/1989, Alexandria/1992, Marburg/1995). Full information is availabl= e via our URL: http://www.wi.leidenuniv.nl/~verrynst/ISCO4-f.html ISCO4 is intended (1) to review the FRISCO Report, and (2) to debate possibilities and approaches to further advance our field. The FRISCO Report is now available as a compressed Word file, by downloading from our FTP server: ftp://ftp.leidenuniv.nl/pub/rul/fri-full.zip We apologise if you receive this announcement more than once, which is likely because of all our contacts in the past, but we do hope that these will be renewed and continued! Submit papers and proposals by 31 January 1999 !!! Alex Verrijn-Stuart ISCO4 Organization Committee Chair ********** III.C.1. Fr: Philip A. Bralich Re: Ergo Talks with Microsoft Agents (Free Software) Microsoft has recently made some of its agent technology available on the web at http://www.microsoft.com/agents. Most well-known is a 3 D Parrot called "Peedy." Ergo Linguistics has just modified their patented "ChatterBox" technology to make it possible to speak with "Peedy" and the other agents. For those who are interested in viewing this talking desktop agent, we can provide the necessary files for a user that will set everything up and put the "Peedy" icon on the desktop. The "ChatterBox.exe" file will set up ChatterBox which will automatically allow you to speak to Peedy. Once you set up ChatterBox and the "Peedy" in this setup file Just type in sentences like the following and you can ask the correspondi= ng questions. John gave mary a book because it was her birtbday did John give mary a book what did john give mary who gave mary a book who did john give a book why did john give mary a book the tall dark stranger is carrying a bloody knife what is the stranger doing what is the stranger carrying was the stranger carrying a knife you saw the tall dark stranger in the park where did you seen the stanger what did you see what did you see in the park thomas jefferson is the third president of the United States who is the third president of the United States The Yankees won the 1998 World series WHAT won the 1998 World Series *currently the program does not know that the "Yankees" are people so it is necessary to use "What" for this question. and so on. Of course you could build a variety of story or educational files to talk to Peedy about, but for this early version it is just fun to put in a few sentences and chat with him. This is also available with the Virtual Friend technology at http://www.haptek.com. Our web site is http://www.ergo-ling.com if you have any further interest in our NLP technology. Or... if you have a WIN95 animation of your own w= e would be happy to show you how to connect ChatterBox to it. I will be showing this in Boston at the SBIR National Conference November 3-5th. I will also be giving a lecture and demonstration of this technology at Northeastern University (Thursday at noon room 415 in the Classroom Building) while I am there. If you have anyone in town at that time or at that conference, ask them to stop by and I will give them a mo= re thorough introduction to the ChatterBox technology and our other NLP tool= s. Because my company is an SBIR grantee we will have display space in the SBIR section near the main entrance. Phil Bralich Philip A. Bralich, Ph.D. President and CEO Ergo Linguistic Technologies 2800 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 175 Honolulu, HI 96822 Tel: (808)539-3920 Fax: (808)539-3924 bralich@hawaii.edu http://www.ergo-ling.com ****************************************************************** IV. PROJECTS IV.C.1. Fr: Nicholas J. Belkin Re: Graduate Study in Digital Libraries GRADUATE AWARDS FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDY IN DIGITAL LIBRARIES The Rutgers University Distributed Laboratory for Digital Libraries (RDLD= L) is pleased to announce the availability of competitive graduate awards fo= r interdisciplinary doctoral studies in digital libraries, including contributing technologies and relevant basic research. Digital libraries is an exciting new domain for research, and for society at large, and the RDLDL is taking a leading role in establishing an explicitly interdisciplinary approach to the variety of problems in this burgeoning area. Current faculty members of the RDLDL come from the disciplines of cognitive science, computer science, library and informati= on science and psychology, and students in the program are expected to participate in research and to take courses in two or more of the disciplines represented in the RDLDL. Successful candidates will participate in digital library-oriented resear= ch projects with several faculty members of the RDLDL, as well as being enrolled in a Ph.D. program in one of the disciplines associated with the RDLDL. They will also take part in an interdisciplinary seminar involving the faculty and all of the other graduate students associated with the RD= LDL. The RDLDL Awards offer tuition remission and an annual stipend of $13,000= , and the opportunity to achieve an interdisciplinary education for researc= h in the interdisciplinary field of digital libraries. These awards are tenable for one year in the first instance, beginning in either January o= r September 1999, and are renewable. For further information, including the specific interests of the RDLDL faculty, and application materials, please see the RDLDL WWW site, http://diglib.rutgers.edu/RDLDL or contact any one of the members of the RDLDL Steering Committee, listed below. Steering Committee of the Rutgers Distributed Laboratory for Digital Libr= aries Nicholas J. Belkin, Department of Library and Information Science, New Brunswick Campus nick@belkin.rutgers.edu Benjamin M. Bly, Department of Psychology, Newark Campus ben@psychology.rutgers.edu Sven Dickinson, Department of Computer Science, New Brunswick Campus sven@ruccs.rutgers.edu Stephen Hanson, Department of Psychology, Newark Campus jose@tractatus.rutgers.edu Haym Hirsh, Department of Computer Science, New Brunswick Campus hirsh@cs.rutgers.edu Paul Kantor, Department of Library and Information Science, New Brunswick Campus kantor@scils.rutgers.edu Zenon Pylyshyn, Rutgers Center for Cognitive Science, New Brunswick Campus zenon@ruccs.rutgers.edu To contact us by mail, please write to: Rutgers Distributed Laboratory for Digital Libraries c/o School of Communication, Information and Library Studies Rutgers University 4 Huntington Street New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1071, USA ********** IV.C.2. Fr: Amy Buse Re: LACASIS Contributions to Information Science Award Dinner LACASIS Contributions to Information Science Award Dinner LACASIS presents the 1998 Contributions to Information Science Award to Seymour Lubetzky, professor emeritus of UCLA. Professor Lubetzky is most renowned for his prolific contributions to cataloging theory and his influence in the development of the "Paris Principles", and the 1967 Anglo-American Cataloging Rules. As we struggle to bring order to the cha= os of the World Wide Web, Professor Lubetzky's systematic approach to information is as relevant today as it was when he wrote his many books a= nd articles. Mr. Lubetzky, who is 100 years old, will not be able to join us for the meeting. However, we are extremely happy to announce that Professor Mich=E8= le V. Cloonan, Chair of the UCLA Department of Library and Information Scien= ce will speak about Mr. Lubetzky's contribution to Information Science We will also be presenting the Margaret McKinley Scholarship Award to Holly Ying who received her MLIS from UCLA in June 1998 and now works at the Quarterdeck Corp as an Information Resources Specialist. Tuesday, November 10, 1998 6:30 p.m.-Hospitality 7:00 p.m.-Dinner 7:45 p.m. -Presentation UCLA Faculty Center 480 Circle Drive Los Angeles, CA 90095-1617 Phone: 310-825-0877 $20 for LACASIS members $16 for Student, Retired, or Unemployed LACASIS Members $25 for Others Registration Deadline Thursday, November 5, 1998 For more information about the meeting, please check the LACASIS website at http://www.usc.edu/isd/friends/orgs/lacasis/ ********** IV.C.3. Fr: June Lester Re: UOK: SLIS: Fellowship Opportunity in MLIS UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA SCHOOL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION STUDIES FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY MASTER OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION STUDIES The School of Library and Information Studies of the University of Oklaho= ma announces the availability of six National Leadership Grant fellowships f= or spring 1999. These fellowships will be awarded as part of the Library and Information Science Education Project to Enhance Cultural Diversity, which has as an overall goal increasing participation in the field of librarianship and information science by underrepresented groups, especially persons of color. The fellowships will enable qualifie= d individuals to complete an ALA-accredited Master of Library and Informati= on Studies (MLIS) degree with emphasis on information literacy and new techniques of information acquisition, transfer, and communication technology. The National Leadership Grant fellowships are supported by th= e Institute of Museum and Library Services, a Federal agency that fosters innovation, leadership, and a lifetime of learning. Currently enrolled and prospective MLIS students are invited to apply for the fellowships. The fellowships cover tuition, fees, books, and a stipend. The exact amou= nt of each fellowship will depend upon demonstrated need. Fellows will purs= ue a 36-credit MLIS program, which will include course work in library and information studies; a specialized mentoring program; and an opportunity for an internship in an exemplary setting appropriate to the fellow's career goals. Fellows will also receive partial assistance to attend one national level and one state level conference or workshop appropriate to the area of specialization. Applicants for these fellowships must meet the admissions requirements fo= r the Master of Library and Information Studies degree. Those applying should submit the following by December 1, 1998: -- the standard MLIS application forms and supporting materials -- a three-page application essay reflecting interest in and qualifications for a fellowship -- a completed U.S. Department of Education Application for Federal Student Aid form. An interview will be required. Criteria for selection will include -- potential for academic success as demonstrated by educational background, paraprofessional employment, and materials submitted for admission to the program -- leadership potential as evidenced in the essay, supporting letters, and previous activities -- commitment to providing information services to all members of our diverse society. Absolute priority will be given to qualified applicants from underrepresented groups, especially persons of color. Applicants will be notified of selection results by December 15, 1998. For further information about the fellowships, please contact Dr. Michael Havener (mhavener@ou.edu; 405-325-3921) Dr. Kathleen Haynes (khaynes@ou.edu; 405-325-3921) Dr. Kathy Latrobe (klatrobe@ou.edu; 405-325-3921) Dr. June Lester (jlester@ou.edu; 405-325-3921). Applications forms and information about the School may be found at the School's web site at http://www.ou.edu/cas/slis/ or may be requested by calling 1-800-522-0772, ext. 3921 or 405-325-3921 or by e-mail to slisinfo@slis.lib.ou.edu. The postal mailing address is School of Library and Information Studies University of Oklahoma 401W. Brooks, Room 120 Norman, Oklahoma 73019 ****************************************************************** IRLIST Digest is distributed from the University of California, Division = of Library Automation, 1111 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA. 94607-5200. Send subscription requests and submissions to: nancy.gusack@ucop.edu Editorial Staff: Nancy Gusack nancy.gusack@ucop.edu Cliff Lynch (emeritus) cliff@cni.org The IRLIST Archives is set up for anonymous FTP. Using anonymous FTP via the host ftp.cdl.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). Search or browse archived IR-L Digest issues on the Web at: http://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/idom/irlist/ These files are not to be sold or used for commercial purposes. Contact Nancy Gusack for more information on IRLIST. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN IRLIST DO NOT REPRESENT THOSE OF THE EDITORS OR THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. AUTHORS ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MATERIAL.