As news outlets create headlines such as "A Cloud & A Prayer," "The Cloud Is the Computer," and "Leveraging Clouds to Make You More Efficient," many readers have been left with cloud confusion. Many definitions exist for cloud computing, and a uniform definition is hard to find. In its most basic form, cloud…

Libraries are moving into an era that incorporates improvements of a library's existing databases, embraces the research results of the information-seeking process, and makes fundamental improvements by adding new databases such as WordFocus. These new systems should convert the frustrated user of today's online public access catalog (OPAC) into…

Describes a study conducted to determine the main differences in online catalog searching styles and results among library staff, faculty, and patrons at Adelphi University (New York). Transaction log analysis, questionnaires, zero hit searches, keyword, author, title, subject, and other search strategies were evaluated to determine patterns of…

Presents highlights of research that used industrywide surveys, focus groups, personal interviews, and industry-published data to explore the future of electronic information delivery in libraries. Topics discussed include CD-ROMs; prices; full-text products; magnetic tape leasing; engineering and technical literature; connections between online…

Two statistical measures are used to compare the Library of Congress and Dewey Decimal Classification systems by applying them to the library science portions of the two systems using a database drawn from MARC records. It is concluded that the measures characterize two different properties of dispersion. (Author/EM)

This description of the functional characteristics of 20 online public catalogs in libraries in the United States notes their origin and scope, search methods, access points, search commands, record displays, user assistance, database and technical characteristics, and costs. Six references and illustrative material are provided. (EJS)

Describes an inservice teacher training program developed to teach secondary school teachers how to search CD-ROMs, laser disks, and automated catalogs. Training sessions held during faculty meetings are described, computer activities are explained, a sample worksheet for searching an electronic encyclopedia is included, and sources for CD-ROMs…

Describes the latest modifications being made to OASIS, a front-end enhancement to the University of California's MELVYL online union catalog. Highlights include the X Windows interface; multiple database searching to act as an information network; Lisp implementation for flexible data representation; and OASIS commands and features to help…

Addresses changes in cataloging at the University of California, Berkeley. Discusses experimentation with pilot technical services (OCLC PromtCat, Bibliographic Record Notification, and Repeat Search); technical services staff reductions and the emergence of a new staffing model and motivating supervisors and staff to become more flexible and…

Discusses cataloging policy at the University of Alabama libraries that allows the acceptance of LC (Library of Congress) classification call numbers from OCLC cataloging into the local database without shelflisting, and describes a study that measured error rates for locally unshelflisted samples to determine the disarrangement of the local…

Offers advice for ways in which librarians can help library patrons when online catalogs are down. Suggests using WorldCat, calling on other libraries, and employing various reference sources, such as Balay's Guide to Reference Books and the telephone. (Contains 6 references.) (NB)

Describes services of the Naval Research Laboratory Library that provide users in four geographical locations with digital library services, including over 500 electronic journals. Highlights include a Web-based information system, cooperative agreements, licensing, online catalogs, databases, hardware configuration, and future development.…

Discusses collections of standards by ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and the problems they create for technical libraries. Describes a custom-designed Web database at Oregon State University that is linked to online catalog records, thus enhancing access to the standards collection. (LRW)

The statistics that are presented are based on a one percent systematic sample of the OCLC online union catalog as of January 1980. Detailed data were collected on the use of fields, subfields, indicators in bibliographic records, and on the co-occurrence of fields within bibliographic records. The sample used for the study was obtained by…

Preliminary inquiries into the feasibility of placing the union catalog of the University of California libraries on microfiche are reported. Recent developments in the use of microform catalogs are reviewed and an extensive table is given which summarizes the characteristics of existing microform catalogs. Another section describes the potential…