Provides description of principal database sources for information on current events--newspaper indexes (e.g., INFORMATION BANK, VU/TEXT, NEWSPAPER INDEX); magazine databases (e.g., NEXIS-MAGS, MAGAZINE ASAP); wire service databases (e.g., NewsNet, WIRES, NEWS); and reference databases (encyclopedias, yearbooks, FACTS ON FILE). A list of the 37…

This second of a three-part series compares search features (i.e., truncation symbols, boolean operators, proximity operators, phrase searching, save searches) of two databases providing legal information. Search tips concerning charges and effective searching and tables listing functions of commands and proximity operators for both databases are…

Presents overview prepared by producer of database newly available in 1985 that covers 10 subject categories: engineering, geosciences, chemistry and materials, space sciences, aeronautics, astronautics, mathematical and computer sciences, physics, social sciences, and life sciences. Database development, unique features, document delivery, sample…

Description of bibliographic databank produced by the H. W. Wilson Company covers databases (bibliographical, directory, forthcoming); the WILSONLINE search system (search statement formulation, identifying search terms, other search features); print options; search management features; performance, documentation, and assistance; costs; and…

Reports on retrieval of patent information online and includes definition of patent family, basic and equivalent patents, "parents and children" applications, designated states, patent family databases--International Patent Documentation Center, World Patents Index, APIPAT (American Petroleum Institute), CLAIMS (IFI/Plenum). A table…

Describes Electronic Legislative Search System (ELSS), a comprehensive service which tracks current state and federal legislation and provides careful monitoring of status of bills in its database. Contents of the database, search criteria and priority, format options, learning to search, and updating the system are noted. Sample searches are…

Offers overview of research in progress information systems which provide information on projects between inception and published reports, discussing demise of Smithsonian Science Information Exchange (SSIE), and efforts of National Technical Information Service to maintain SSIE files. A listing of 28 research in progress information systems and…

Describes the online version of Comprehensive Dissertation Index as it is searchable through the DIALOG system. File content, searchable indexes, and particular features of the file such as online sorting of retrieved citations and text backup are discussed. Accompanying the text are 13 figures illustrating system features and two sample searches.…

The focus of Part Two of this series is on techniques for searching special applications in the behavioral sciences, such as grant sources, dissertation abstracts, audiovisual materials, and government publications. A sample search demonstrates the extent to which retrieval may be enhanced by exploring multiple databases for interdisciplinary…

Evaluates these two bibliographic databases for geosciences information in terms of their content coverage, search methodologies, user effort, and analysis of results. (SW)

Provides database descriptions of ABI/INFORM and Management Contents, two of the most heavily used files for current information on management practices and concepts, recent product development, and production and marketing statistics. Topics addressed include coverage of source publications and currency, indexing policies and practices, and…

Describes the Exceptional Child Education Resources (ECER) database of professional materials on the education of handicapped or gifted children and youth. Focusing on ECER as it's mounted on Bibliographic Retrieval Services (BRS), the article covers scope, related files, publication types, and searching and provides a searchguide and…

The first article discusses the general trends that led to the existence of online databases, including the development of books and libraries, mathematics and computation, computers, information systems, and databases. The second presents a timeline of major accomplishments in the online database industry from 1945 to the present. (CLB)

Describes a progression of tests that were developed for assessing online database accuracy. Results of the tests are discussed and compared; examples of search queries on DIALOG are given; and the possibility of standardizing such tests are considered. (Contains 11 references.) (LRW)

Describes the Kodak Picture Exchange that includes a database of over 200,000 photographic images collected from 28 stock photography companies in the United States that allows the user to search for images by topic. Highlights include installing the software, alternative search strategies, costs, manipulating images, and rules governing the use…