Illustrates the best form for library catalogs through a retrospective examination of the nineteenth century Rudolph Continuous Indexer. (RAA)

Suggests methods for improving access and publicizing holdings in microform collections, including the use of special labels for microform bibliographies, placing plastic overlays on catalog cards, listing microform reel numbers in short-title reference catalogs, and compiling guidebooks to microform collections. Eight references are listed. (CHC)

Compares five services that offer mediated access to the Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications--Auto-Graphics, Brodart, Information Access (two services), and LSSI--on 14 points ranging from basic cost and type of media (microfiche, microfilm, laser optical disk, optical disk) to special features or enhancements. (CLB)

From the library's viewpoint, collection growth and the need to frequently update index terms make automation almost inevitable. But this triumph of technology over print is hard on scholars, who find microforms and printouts difficult to read and who cannot browse a database like a shelf or card catalog. (SJL)