The United States Department of Education and the National Library of Education help to provide a range of databases and information services that are known collectively as ERIC - the Educational Resources Information Center. There is no quick description that can do justice to ERIC, but a reconnaissance trip could start with the list of constituent databases to be found at: http:www.accesseric.org:81searchdbdbchart.html A first step inside would look at some of the 1,970 ERIC digests. These are tightly-written summaries of research findings that bear on the particular and sometimes exotic concerns of US educators.

However, many digests do include general material with relevance for UK audiences. The address to start from is: http:www.ed.govdatabasesERIC_Digestsindex In the most recently available sets there are two on educational leadership. Look in digest number ED409605, for example, for the research-supported suggestion that interviews might not be the most effective tool for selecting the best candidate for a headteacher vacancy.

Readers can e-mail suggestions on future Internet Insights topics to Sam Saunders at J.P.Saunders@leeds.ac.uk