Defends choice of abstracting service and directories as two types of reference tools for use in establishing bibliographic control over new discipline or interdisciplinary area as yet devoid of reference materials. Attributes of abstracting service (provision of current-awareness) and directory (lists organizations in field) are discussed.…

Explains listservs and describes how to locate listservs relating to the law. Topics include how to use listservs as current awareness tools; how to locate listserv archives; and how to use listservs as databases of information. Sidebars provide pertinent Web site addresses. (LRW)

Describes the kinds of online sources to use and processes involved in finding information on emerging markets and new industry trends. Highlights include relevance ranking in DIALOG searches; press releases; news sources; news alert services; market research reports; tracking research in progress; company information; and tracking subsidiaries.…

Provides current awareness sources, both paper-based and on the Internet, that are useful for keeping up on recent developments in federal information policy legislation. Coverage includes columns regularly appearing in the professional literature, trade publications, listservs, newsgroups and bulletin boards, lobbyists, and sources for tracking…

Analyzes information-seeking behavior by university academics at Moi University (Kenya). Results established that faculty depend on the library and on colleagues for information in spite of a lack of awareness of information services and nonuse of current awareness services. A copy of the questionnaire used is appended. (Author/LRW)

World Wide Web "meta sites," or collections of subject-specific hyperlinks, can expedite Internet searching. One can find meta sites by consulting: search engines that offer site ratings or selective retrieval; library-constructed Web sites; Internet-related journals; and subject experts. A compilation of meta sites, with descriptions…

Describes consumer or business-oriented online services that provide access to current news information and offers a less expensive alternative to standard online databases. Online clipping services are discussed, their costs are examined, and profiles of five services are compared: CompuServe, CompuServe as a gateway to IQuest, DELPHI, DIALCOM,…

Describes the Internet Scout Project which provides Internet users, particularly those in higher education, with current, selective, and well-annotated pointers to information about resources, network tools, and Internet news items. Offered through regular e-mail updates, titles include The Scout Report, The Scout Report Signpost, Net-Happenings,…

Discusses chemical information services offered in industrial chemical libraries, based on experiences at the 3M Library. Topics include qualifications of chemical information professionals; corporate culture; clients; services, including reference, current awareness, confidentiality, and end-user support; and information resources, including…

One way a business can meet the challenge of gathering information from different sources and platforms is to develop a news filtering and integration system. Topics include creation of a planning team; identification of user requirements; considerations of infrastructure, primarily system compatibility; and the process of analyzing, evaluating,…

Describes considerations involved in implementing an electronic current awareness service in academic and research organizations, including user needs; personal bibliographic software; data sources, including floppy disk databases, CD-ROM, online databases, and library catalogs; staffing; fees; promotion; search profiles; and recordkeeping.…