Books in Print," 1969, is a considerable improvement over that of 1968. However, one still might retain doubts about any library tool with an error of 8.8 percent. (MF)

Briefly reviews the history of H. W. Wilson Company and describes the development of its automation program, BEACON, which has already been used to produce Cumulative Book Index. The automation of the remaining indexes and possibility of using the system for online information retrieval in the future are noted. (EJS)

Discusses problems and costs involved in the use of the Library of Congress List of Subject Headings (LCSH) and speculates on how these problems can be minimized once the traditional card catalog is replaced with computer technology. (LLS)

Presents the 1997 U.S. Periodical Price Index sponsored by the Library Materials Price Index Committee of the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services, a division of the American Library Association. Finds that the average price increased 9.9%, .9% below 1996's rate. Includes seven tables, a chart, and a summary sheet. (PEN)

Offers a methodological critique of Thomas Hennen's American Public Library Rating Index as well as a response by Hennen. Discusses statistics; indexes; correlations; variables; weighting; and how public libraries should be assessed, and Hennen defends his work and suggests it should be called a scorecard rather than an index. (LRW)

In this second of five course installments, key terms in an up-to-date definition of "subject access"--access, collection of items, search words, vocabulary, index or catalog records, related words or clues, file--are identified, and their part in providing subject access in both traditional and computer-based services are discussed.…

Suggests reference tools and resources which can be used by reference librarians to help patrons locate information pertaining to the mass media, including films (cinema), television, radio; and archives of tape, film stock, production documentation; and script materials. (LLS)

Observations on impact of WILSONLINE (online access to H. W. Wilson's indexes) on the industry, library services, and end users are drawn from interviews with reference librarians, H. W. Wilson administrative staff, and monitors of database industry. Issues addressed include quality, thoroughness, ease of use, and marketing (demand, pricing,…

Presents the 1997 U.S. Serials Services Price Index, produced by the Library Materials Price Index Committee of the American Library Association's Association for Library Collections and Technical Services. Finds a 3.9% increase over 1996. Includes eight tables covering U.S. Serial Services, business, general and humanities, law, science and…

Presents the 1994 periodical price index, based on subscription price information supplied and compiled by the Faxon Company to measure changes in average U.S. periodical prices. Highlights include subject categories, rates of increase, price index comparisons, prices by Library of Congress Classification, and comparative information from 1977…

A laserdisc periodical index (InfoTrac) that offers relatively sophisticated search capabilities without librarian assistance or user training is now popular college library research tool. The index database consists of more than half million references to articles and reviews published since 1982 in 1,000 general interest, business, and technical…

Describes two CD-ROM reference systems and the reactions of undergraduate students, faculty, and librarians to these systems. The discussion covers criteria that influenced users' reactions (e.g. ease of use, expertise in Boolean logic, database currency, and multidisciplinary characteristics of databases) and conclusions about appropriate systems…