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The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2011 is the fifth administration of this international comparative study since 1995 when first administered. TIMSS is used to compare over time the mathematics and science knowledge and skills of fourth- and eighth-graders. TIMSS is designed to align broadly with mathematics and science curricula in the participating countries. The results, therefore, suggest the degree to which students have learned mathematics and science concepts and skills likely to have been taught in school. In 2011, there were 54 countries and 20 other educational systems that participated in TIMSS, at the fourth- or eighth-grade level, or both. This paper is an appendix to the "Highlights From TIMSS 2011: Mathematics and Science Achievement of U.S. Fourth- and Eighth-Grade Students in an International Context" report. It contains the report's standard error tables. (Contains 42 tables.) [For the full report, "Highlights from TIMSS 2011: Mathematics and Science Achievement of U.S. Fourth- and Eighth-Grade Students in an International Context. NCES 2013-009," see ED537756.]

This report presents tabulations for the 2010 Academic Libraries Survey (ALS) conducted by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the Institute of Education Sciences. The 2010 ALS population included postsecondary institutions with all of the following: total library expenditures that exceed $10,000; an organized collection of printed or other materials, or a combination thereof; a staff trained to provide and interpret such materials as required to meet the informational, cultural, recreational, or educational needs of the clientele; an established schedule in which services of the staff are available to the clientele; and the physical facilities necessary to support such a collection, staff, and schedule. Some of the findings include: (1) Academic libraries loaned some 11.2 million documents to other libraries in fiscal year 2010 (table 1). Academic libraries also borrowed approximately 10.2 million documents from other libraries and commercial services. Documents from commercial services accounted for about 176,000 of those documents borrowed; (2) The majority of academic libraries, 2,362, were open between 60-99 hours during a typical week in fall of 2010 (derived from table 2). Another 564 academic libraries were open 100 or more hours per typical week; (3) In fiscal year 2010, academic libraries conducted approximately 34.6 million information services to individuals, including computer searches (table 3); (4) At the end of fiscal year 2010, there were 227 academic libraries that held at least 1 million or more books, serial backfiles, and other paper materials including government documents (table 4); (5) Academic libraries held approximately 158.7 million e-books and about 1.8 million electronic reference sources and aggregation services; (6) Academic libraries reported 88,943 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff working in academic libraries during the fall of 2010 (table 7); (7) Just under half of academic libraries, 1,739, had total expenditures of $500,000 or more in fiscal year 2010 (derived from table 8). Another 581 academic libraries had total expenditures under $100,000 (derived from table 8); (8) During fiscal year 2010, academic libraries spent about $3.4 billion on salaries and wages, representing approximately 50 percent of total library expenditures (table 9); (9) Academic libraries spent approximately $152.4 million for electronic books, serial backfiles, and other materials in fiscal year 2010 (table 10). Expenditures for electronic current serial subscriptions totaled about $1.2 billion. During fiscal year 2010, academic libraries spent approximately $142.7 million for computer hardware and software (table 11); (10) In fall of 2010, about 41 percent of academic libraries reported providing documents digitized by staff (table 12); (11) Over half (54 percent) reported providing technology to assist patrons with disabilities in fall of 2010 (table 12); (12) During fiscal year 2010, some 72 percent of academic libraries reported that they supported virtual reference services (table 13); and (13) During fiscal year 2010, about 32 percent of academic libraries reported that they utilized instant messaging applications (table 13). Appended are: (1) Technical Notes; (2) Glossary; and (3) Survey Questionnaire and Instructions. (Contains 37 tables and 1 footnote.)

This report presents tabulations for the 2008 Academic Libraries Survey (ALS) conducted by the United States Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the Institute of Education Sciences. This First Look summarizes services, staff, collections, and expenditures of academic libraries in 2- and 4-year, degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Among the many findings: (1) During Fiscal year (FY) 2008, there were about 138.1 million circulation transactions from academic libraries' general collection; (2) At the end of FY 2008, there were 226 academic libraries that held 1 million or more books, serial backfiles, and other paper materials including government documents; (3) Academic libraries reported 93,438 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff working in academic libraries during the fall of 2008; (4) Academic libraries' expenditures totaled approximately $6.8 billion during FY 2008; (5) In Fall 2008, some 72 percent of academic libraries provided library reference service by e-mail or the Web; and (6) During FY 2008, some 46 percent of academic libraries reported that their postsecondary institution defined information literacy or the information literate student. (Contains 36 tables.)

This article argues that American colleges and universities must better prepare their students to meet the challenges of the global economy. Institutions need to place greater emphasis on foreign language skills, cultural awareness, student exchange programs, functional skills, and job placement. (MDM)

In light of the upcoming March 1995 United Nations World Summit for Social Development, this article discusses the role that the American higher education community has played in the past and can play in the future in promoting social, political, economic, and educational opportunity and equality throughout the world. (MDM)