Discusses the problem of duplicate citations resulting from file overlaps in multidatabase searching and shows that such duplicates could be identified automatically and eliminated by a host computer as a complementary service to online retrieval. Steps involved in the realization of this service are described, and 11 references are listed. (RBF)

The market availability of optical storage technology will radically change the nature of information distribution, especially by reducing the high cost of mass data storage. The three general classes of optical storage are: (1) mass-produced read-only storage, (2) write-once storage, and (3) erasable optical storage. (CDD)

Discusses the quality of information retrieval using "free text" searching in full-text databases and presents a critical perspective on the importance of augmenting access to full-text databases through some form of text enhancement, such as the use of a limited controlled vocabulary for indexing general concepts. (Author/JL)

Creates a scenario for potential future publication of journals in electronic online form, from report writing and text editing at individual terminals to acceptance via electronic mail by publishers to receipt of journal information at subscribers' terminals. (SW)

Consumers and producers of educational software must make decisions about what kind of software to buy and create. Both groups must base these decisions on criteria that consider what it is important to learn in our technological era, what is workable, and what is currently practical and cost-effective. Five criteria that are central to these…