The distribution of reading-research citations was investigated in three populations of journals. The rule of Pareto-like distribution was confirmed as appropriate for determining the number of journals that would contribute half the citations in populations of 26 to 112 journals. In populations of 42 to 112 journals, 24% to 29% of the…

Introduces content locality--the degree to which content-similar documents are colocated in a distributed collection--in distributed digital libraries. Proposes two metrics for measurement of content locality, one based on topic signatures and the other based on collection statistics. Provides derivations and analysis of both metrics and uses them…

Demonstrates, with an example, a relatively simple method for fitting Bradford's law to empirical data to estimate the number of journals and articles in a subject collection. An exact discrete formulation illustrates Bradford's law as a special case of the Zipf-Mandlebrot "rank frequency" law. (Author/RAA)

In information retrieval (IR), the aim of genetic algorithms (GA) is to help a system to find, in a huge documents collection, a good reply to a query expressed by the user. Analysis of phenomena seen during the implementation of a GA for IR has led to a new crossover operation, which is introduced and compared to other learning methods.…

Describes a computer-based media index designed at California State University in Los Angeles which can access elements of the library's nonprint materials collection. The media index has separate indexes for titles, subjects, and added entries. (FM)

Reports a computer assisted index emphasizing expanded subject access to the reference collection of the Iowa State University Library. The index displays abbreviated length records and complements existing catalogs. Limitations of subject access and a system for assigning subject descriptors are discussed. (Author/RAA)

Reviews the literature on enhancement of catalog records using table of contents information and reports on a study at San Diego State University that examined the proportion of catalog records in the collection that could be enhanced, the extent of enhancements, and the nature of the information that could be added to notes. (24 references) (EA)

Intended to be a comprehensive analysis of the use of government documents at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), this project was designed in particular to ascertain to what degree provision of full bibliographic control at UIUC facilitates documents use. A point-of-exit questionnaire was used to determine user status,…

A study was conducted to develop a retrieval system for slides in the History of Art Collection at Cornell University to make it more consistent and easier for patrons from other academic disciplines to use than the system currently in use. To determine whether slide library systems at other institutions could be adapted to the History of Art…

Reports on a project to provide contextual information about the derivative bibliographic relationship by studying a sample of works from a research library catalog. The research design, the proportion of works that were part of bibliographic families, the constitution of bibliographic families, and directions for further research are presented.…

Anthropologists at seven universities were surveyed to determine their methods of information retrieval, choice of information sources, perception of the adequacy of library service, and information needs. Results show that journals, field data, and maps are important sources; interlibrary loan is often used; and the majority of needs are met by…

Three studies examined public library reference services use by patrons in Anglo, Hispanic, and Vietnamese communities in California. Interview questions concerned search topics, use of staff help, perceived usefulness of search result, successful search strategies, reasons for not seeking help, foreknowledge of sources, reasons for using the…

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) inhouse library systems fall into two principle categories: basic library inventory systems and literature retrieval systems. Currently, the library network supports three inventory systems: the journal system; the hard bound book system; and the circulation system. At the same time, five efforts are…

A study investigated the attitudes of African students of business English at a British university (University of Brighton, England) toward use of the Internet as an educational resource. Students were given an introduction to Internet use for research on individual projects, surveyed concerning their attitudes toward and initial experiences with…