The National Centre for Guidance in Education is launching two new publications on information technology this week, Computer Assisted Guidance and the Internet in Europe and Guidance in the Information Job hunting on the internet and counselling via video are just two of the options that will be available to students in the not-too-distant future and which are foreshadowed in these books.

Some of the ideas expressed are controversial, but reassuring and guidance counsellors who are fearful that they may be replaced by PCs will be heartened to discover that the opposite is in fact intended. Instead, counsellors will be free to concentrate on core activities, allowing them more time for the students who most need their attention.

Apart from crystal ball-gazing, the books are essentially practical and provide clear indications on the impact of information and computer technology in guidance and counselling. They start by looking at what computers can do, explain the benefits of their use in guidance and provide extensive listings and evaluation of appropriate software. The internet is also assessed and suitable web sites are identified for counsellors and students. And for the first time in Ireland, the range of computer programmes and internet sites are compiled together in these two indispensable publications.

Both are available at the inclusive price of £30 from the National Centre for Guidance in Education, 189 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, phone (01) 873 1411 or fax (01) 873 1316.