Describes a project at the University of Guelph (Ontario) that combined both bibliographical and archival references in one large machine readable database to facilitate local history research. The description covers research tool creation, planning activities, system design, the database management system used, material selection, record…

This interview with Bertrum MacDonald discusses the decisions that determined the character of a national bibliography on science and technology in Canadian history. Topics discussed include the scope of the project; classification and indexing decisions; the database management system used; unexpected problems; and predicted usage of the…

Discusses compilation by the National Library of Canada of comprehensive and official national retrospective bibliography to provide a record of the published Canadian heritage. Scope (inclusion, exclusions, date, Canadiana--works published in Canada, by Canadians, or about Canada), bibliographic standards, publication, impact, and future plans…

Discusses use of microcomputer hardware and software, telecommunications methods, and advanced library methods to create a specialized information center's database of literature relating to farm machinery and food processing. Systems and services (electronic messaging, serials control, database creation, cataloging, collections, circulation,…

Discusses environmental science and environmental education in Canada and describes sources of environmental information currently available. Highlights include environmental databases; environmental information online, including indexing and abstracting services as well as full-text coverage; and the growing amount of environmental information on…

Describes experiences of the Cranbrook Public Library (British Columbia) in implementation of an automated circulation system. Background of the library and need for the system, stages of development, use of community volunteers, retrospective conversion, functions of the menu-driven system, benefits from the system, software, and system costs are…

This overview of PRECIS indexing system use by the National Film Board of Canada covers reasons for its choice, challenge involved in subject analysis and indexing of audiovisual documents, the methodology and software used to process PRECIS records, the resulting catalog subject indexes, and user reaction. Twenty-one references are cited. (EJS)

Discusses reasons for the development of an online catalog using computer output microfiche (COM) supplements to the card catalog in a university library, and outlines some of the principles used in designing the online system. Three references are cited. (CHC)

Introduces the Canadian Socio-Economic Information Management System (CANSIM), one of Canada's first computerized databases consisting entirely of Canadian data. System design, distribution network, services (time series, cross-classified system, summary data system), information retrieval, data presentation, and the graphic displays of Telichart…

Provides a detailed examination of COMPULINE, British Columbia's telephone reference service designed to assist librarians, archivists, and other information professionals in their use of microcomputer hardware and software by referring them to others in the province who have relevant experience. Expenses, problems encountered, and possible…

Describes automated library network developed when five municipal library systems entered into an equal partnership to create single database and to jointly own a computerized circulation and MARC records system. Highlights include use of microcomputers, the shared circulation system, costs, benefits, governance, equality, stability and financial…

Description of national computerized information system for Canadian audiovisual material--FORMAT--highlights its development and management by National Film Board of Canada, system developments during past 4 years, system design and standards, database sources, and database processing (building database with UTLAS, cataloging, access to database,…

Examination of the challenges for serials management posed by rapid changes in technology places particular emphasis on issues relating to the bibliographic control of and access to serial publications. Problem areas are identified as organization for serials work, staffing, and the multiplication and specialization of serial publications.…

Describes and reports results of a project which used computer assisted instruction to teach public library users to search online databases directly. Tables of data provide information on the study participants; their reactions to the instruction both before and after a search session; and their attitudes toward paying for searches. (CLB)

Describes the online catalog in a university library, including the database, the database index, user instruction, the command language and search capabilities, functions of various commands, statistics generated to monitor system use, and hardware for both public access and staff use. (CHC)