This document contains abstracts of papers on database design and management which were presented at the 1986 mid-year meeting of the American Society for Information Science (ASIS). Topics considered include: knowledge representation in a bilingual art history database; proprietary database design; relational database design; in-house databases;…

This article discusses sources from which information used in in-house databases can be obtained and enumerates points to consider in database building phase (test database design ideas against external database if available, make arrangements for data entry, exercise quality control). Fourteen contractors or sources of computerized information…

Briefly describes the ERIC system and discusses the costs, who can use it, and what kinds of information it provides. (JOW)

The paper addresses the potential of informatics to patient care quality assurance curricula, focusing on (1) terminology and developments related to quality of care evaluations; (2) criticisms of traditional approaches; (3) limitations of existing data sources for quality assurance in dentistry; and (4) quality assurance considerations in…

Describes infomapping, or the mapping of corporate information assets, as a method to manage information as an organizational resource. Attributes of Information Resource Entities (IREs), which are profiled in an information map, are described; management benefits are discussed; and the use of InfoMapper, a software tool for information mapping,…

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are a combination of maps and databases that provides geographical information not otherwise possible. The result of combining street data and geographic data is a precision map showing exact street locations. GIS can be used by delivery people, emergency vehicles, and taxicabs. (JOW)

Special librarians are in unique position to become directly involved in the design, development, and management of automated in-house databases. Software packages called application generators enable the librarian/information scientist to develop database applications without programmer intervention and with very little or no knowledge of…

Proposes a "Model of Querying" for users of office filing facilities and discusses its motivation, aspects, attributes, and advantages. A review of current information systems and attempts to combine information retrieval, artificial intelligence, and database management techniques leads to conclusion that no resultant system is adequate…

Provides a systematic guide for evaluation and selection of an online service vendor. Topics briefly considered include the availability of selection aids, cost, online services, system search capabilities, training services, file documentation, and complimentary services. A selective listing of database directories is provided. (Author/JD)

Discusses political questions raised by the existence and growth potential of the online retrieval industry because it is privately owned and profit oriented. The user fee debate, information ownership, danger of manipulation, libraries as marketers, library action, and a library database consortium are highlighted. Seventeen references are cited.…

Investigates the role of information retrieval in the enhancement from database management to knowledge base management and considers the relationship between information retrieval and artificial intelligence. Highlights include unstructured databases; storage of internal forms of documents; an example with relational database operations; and…

Asserting that few teachers can provide examples of how they actually used educational research to shape an instructional decision, this position paper argues that as presently structured, the educational research institution does not appear to be effective in communicating products of its work to practitioners. The paper examines obvious barriers…

Suggests a unified concept of a lexical subsystem as part of an information system to deal with lexical problems in local and network environments. The linguistic and control functions of the lexical subsystems in solving problems for large computer systems are described, and references are included. (Author/BK)

Europe's lag in databanks and online commercial availability is contrasted to its lead in numbers of bibliographic files. Intelligent use of new technologies such as Viewdata and the European Communications Satellite are expected to correct this imbalance. (RAA)

As computer databases become more publicly accessible through public networks, there is a growing need to provide effective protection for proprietary information. Without adequate assurances that their works will be protected, authors and other copyright owners may be reluctant to allow the full text of their works to be accessed through computer…