Argues that online search capabilities are a form of indexing and that access is determined by the total mix of preexisting and added "search capability" indexing. The design of a "superthesaurus," geared to the needs of users and to online rather than manual searching, is proposed as part of a user friendly interface. (19…

Presents a model for the design of online catalog subject access based on three principles: the uncertainty of subject indexing, the need for greater variety in searcher's queries, and the complexity of the search process. The proposed system is based on existing Library of Congress subject cataloging. (EM)