The problems faced in accessing the contents of online bibliographic data bases are assessed, and current training techniques are summarized and evaluated. A new training program, which delivers training to the trainee's home terminal, simulating interactive retrieval systems that search files and provide messages and displays, is described. (JPF)

A library instruction computer game created at Newberry College, South Carolina challenges players' skill at using the "Readers' Guide," and by noting elapsed time needed to create a bibliography of citations on a given topic, encourages an increase in skill. Computer equipment used, illustrative examples, and five references are noted.…

This paper focuses on the casual user's needs and problems in learning to search online retrieval systems. Such users are inclined to infrequent use, and are unlikely to have much interest or knowledge about the complexities of the system. The TRAINER program is designed to teach these users to search online, so that they may access information…