Examines online and printed equivalents of selected government documents indexes to compare the recall, precision, overlap, and cost effectiveness of online and manual searching. Indexes studied were the Monthly Catalog, CIS (Congressional Information Service) Index, and Government Reports Announcements and Index. (CLB)

An automated retrieval system for reference works was constructed as a prototype in order to illustrate the capabilities and potentialities of future retrieval systems. More than 170 biographical works were indexed and stored in a computer disk to form a biographical data base, and a computer program was written to match patron queries. Consistent…

Study of online searching experience in Martin P. Catherwood Library, New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, presents results of five years of collecting data on bibliographic files accessed. A ranking of 10 most frequently searched files and commentary on pattern that emerges are provided. (EJS)

Since July 1978 the general reference section of the Pennsylvania State University library has compiled statistical information related to the use of online searching for reference purposes. An evaluation form completed by the librarian for each online reference search recorded such information as search date; status of requestor; printed sources…

This report investigates seven document representations--configurations of controlled and free-text vocabulary--which can be used to search the INSPEC (Computer and Control Abstracts) and PsychInfo (Psychological Abstracts) databases. The performance of each representation is analyzed, as is overlap among the representations, i.e., the extent to…

A telephone reference service operated by the Library of Congress provides immediate service to congressmen with the help of automated information files. (PF)

A study was conducted of the International Information Service in Physics, Electrotechnology, Computers, and Control (INSPEC) selective dissemination of information (SDI) user profile generation. Five degrees of user involvement in the generation of profiles were investigated ranging from having the user provide only a statement of subject…

A survey of 88 users of SISMAKOM, a computerized selective dissemination of information (SDI) and document delivery service provided by the Universiti Sains Malaysia and four other Malaysian universities, was conducted in August 1982 in order to collect data about SISMAKOM and to assess the value of a computerized SDI service in a developing…

Reference librarians at Georgia Institute of Technology provide computerized reference service through the Georgia Information Dissemination Center. (PF)

The computer search service provided to faculty by the University of New Mexico General Library is described. (PF)

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THIS DOCUMENT: Today there are over 900 on-line data banks available for public access. Most microcomputers can use them through the aid of a modem and communication program. Major public information utilities that offer access to these on-line data bases are growing and expanding. The Source, a data base utility…

Describes the experience of the University of Pennsylvania Libraries with computerized searches. (PF)

Examines use of online access to bibliographic files in library reference service, focusing on two systems: OCLC and Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN). The development and current status of each system, differences between systems, search examples, user expectations, and advantages of online access are noted. Twenty references are…

Describes an online microcomputer-based system called Reference Librarian Enhancement System (REFLES) which stores factual information. Examples of data in the system and uses of the service are presented, as well as considerations for the future. Twelve (12) references are included. (Author/BK)

Retrieval terminals have been placed in four public libraries in Northern California to provide access to sixteen different data bases. The first year of this two-year experiment is described, and some of the technical, organizational, and economic aspects of the study are reviewed. (Author)