The Internet has had a revolutionary impact on culture, communication and economic development around the world. In their efforts of using this powerful technology as a means for leapfrogging and bridging the gaps with developed nations, developing countries face challenges of poor telecommunications infrastructure and difficulties in utilizing the Internet’s full potential and managing its information flow. By studying and comparing China, Malaysia and Singapore’s practices, this article attempts to examine how a national Internet policy can address these challenges and realize the benefits the Internet offers, and to explore what lessons developing countries can draw from a comparative approach to policy analysis.
Web usage statistics are often used as a tool for assessing a Web site, despite some of their drawbacks. This paper attempts to evaluate a government publications library Web site by studying its usage statistics. It examines organization, including access, searchability, and structure, of electronic government information in subject directory format. This study reveals that a subject directory Web site is an important tool for distributing electronic government information, but it requires continuous development. The usage statistics are useful in monitoring search engine ranking, improving display, structure, and searchability.
Purpose -New (post-1949) Chinese local gazetteers are one of the major primary resources for contemporary China Studies in the field of history, social sciences, humanities and sciences. Major research libraries in North America have collected them; however, the research value of this series of publications has not yet fully explored. This paper aims at examining how new local gazetteers have been compiled, the scope of their content and research value, and how scholars have used them. Design/methodology/approach -The paper explores the scope and importance of the new Chinese local gazetteers collection through reviewing relevant regulations, policies and guidelines regarding compilation of the new local gazetteers, and randomly examining over 30 provincial, city and county gazetteers. Findings -The paper provides a detailed account of publishing history of this collection; rich and unique research information available; and approaches to collection development, including utilizing digitized gazetteers by Chinese governments. Originality/value -The paper explores the development of new Chinese local gazetteers in a more systematic way and adds to the current literature on the unique research value this collection has to offer.
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