Provides an overview of robots that retrieve World Wide Web documents and index data and then store it in a database. Nine robot-generated databases are described, including record content, services, search features, and sample search results; and sidebars discuss the controversy about Web robots and other resource discovery tools. (LRW)

Presents overviews of three relatively new sites that have much in common with the directory "Yahoo!"-Snap (http://www.snap.com), LookSmart (http://www.looksmart.com), and eBLAST (http://www.eBLAST.com). Describes findings of sample searches to help users compare and contrast the type of results that can be expected from each directory.…

Describes some of the problems encountered in full text searching and suggests ways to overcome them. Areas discussed include differences between online and offline versions of full text; lack of precise and flexible indexing; software inadequacies; record displays; typographical errors; and problems with both global and source searching. (six…

Presents a dBASE III searching/micro tip that will reveal whether any journals listed within a capture log file are in local holdings. An example gives the commands needed to use the ISSN field in the citations to search a local holdings database. (DB)

These two articles discuss search strategies and the selection of databases. The first examines database selection when recommended database indicators are changed and database names are expanded in the EasyNet system; and the second discusses multifile searching versus single file searching in terms of success rates for novice users and cost…

Two tables compare projected costs of online versus offline retrieval of citations from 50 databases using BRS and DIALOG. Data include database; databank; cost of access per hour; cost of 15-minute search with no retrieval; and cost of 15-minute search plus cost of 10 and 30 online or offline citations. (CLB)

Compares two full featured database management systems for bibliographic information in terms of programs and documentation; record creation and editing; online database citations; search procedures; access to references in external text files; sorting and printing functions; style sheets; indexes; and file operations. (four references) (CLB)

Discusses the information database Britannica Online. Topics include compact discs versus online feeds; database delivery via the Internet; use of technology such as hyperlink, graphics, audio, and video; Britannica's search engine architecture; search options; user reactions, and costs. (AEF)

Describes the design and functions of a technical library database maintained on a mainframe computer and supported by the SPIRES database management system. The topics covered include record structures, vocabulary control, input procedures, searching features, time considerations, and cost effectiveness. (three references) (CLB)

Advanced online search facilities and information retrieval techniques have increased the potential of bibliometric research. Discusses three case studies carried out by the Centre for Informetric Studies at the Royal School of Library Science (Denmark) on the internationality of international journals, informetric analyses on the World Wide Web,…

Describes push technology, which supplies automatic newsfeeds to users from a select group of Internet and intranet news, information, and software resources. Highlights include similarities to selective dissemination of information, intranet management, and addresses of some push technology sites on the World Wide Web. (LRW)