Examines how informetric characteristics of information retrieval (IR) system databases can be used to help system designers decide what type of file structures would provide the best performance. The development of appropriate models describing database contents is highlighted in this first part of a two-part study. (30 references) (LRW)

Examines the differences between terms used in four major computerized information retrieval systems in education--British National Bibliography (PRECIS); ERIC; European Documentation and Information System for Education (EUDISED); and the International Bureau of Education (IBE) thesaurus. The possibility of standardizing terminology across all…

This second report on a two-part study on the application of informetrics to information retrieval (IR) system design used models of database contents in a factorial simulation study at the University of Western Ontario. The study explored whether different file structures were better suited for different informetric environments. (32 references)…

References indexed for Australian Education Index (AEI) were sampled and compared where possible with same references indexed for ERIC and Australian Public Affairs Information Service (APAIS) databases. An analysis of coverage of Australian references reveals indexing consistency figures of 22 percent for ERIC/AEI and 18 percent for AEI/APAIS.…

Describes a study funded by the Commission of the European Community that applied document retrieval algorithms to the "Excerpta Medica" database using the EMTREE thesaurus. Nonhierarchical relations were added to enrich the thesaurus, and document ranking is discussed in terms of the conceptual distance between the documents and the…

Presents a technique for storing compound keywords with information about short and long component (SC and LC) keywords by extending Aho and Corasick (AC) string-pattern matching-machine for a finite number of keywords. Results for 38 Japanese text files reveal the extended AC machine is three to six times faster than the original AC machine in SC…

Papers on classification and subject cataloging which were presented at the 1983 International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) conference include: (1) "PRECIS: Basic Principles, Function, and Use," in which Derek Austin (United Kingdom) describes the automated subject indexing system developed for use in the "British…

Describes use of the software ADABAS (general purpose database management system) and NATURAL (interactive programing language) in development and implementation of an information retrieval system for the National Television and Radio Network of Israel. General design considerations, files contained in each archive, search strategies, and keywords…

ELNET (Electronic Library Network), a Japanese language database, allows searching of index terms and free text terms from articles and stores the full text of the articles on an optical disc system. Users can order fax copies of the text from the optical disc. This article also explains online searching and discusses machine translation. (LRW)

To compare the value of subject descriptors and title keywords as entries to subject searches, two studies were conducted, both concentrating on monographs in the humanities and social sciences held by online public access catalog of the National Library of the Netherlands. (Author/AEF)

This thesaurus identifies nearly 4,000 subject heading terms that pertain specifically to the 41 countries that make up Africa south of the Sahara. The process of identifying these terms began with a search through the "Library of Congress Subject Headings," followed by searches of other subject heading materials and bibliographic…

Measures extent of coverage of Australian research and journal titles in 34 international databases: 17 in the area of science and technology and 17 in the social science and humanities. A comparison of American and British terms and grammar is included. Illustrative material is provided. (EJS)

The National Library of Portugal undertook a leadership role in the development of the Portuguese Bibliographic database (PORBASE). The National Library defined cataloging standards and circulated them to Portuguese libraries to create a national catalog. PORBASE is a work in progress with ongoing technical projects and collaboration in the…

Includes five articles that examine the application of information technology to cultural activities throughout the world. Highlights include the development of information standards for the description of art objects; standards for the computerized exchange of museum information; the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN); vocabulary…

Papers on cataloging and classification which were presented at the 1985 International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) conference include: (1) "Online Cataloging at the Bibliotheque Nationale (Francoise Finelli and Serge Salomon, France); (2) "Development of National Press Repertoire in the Condition of Multinational State: Its…