Describes a computer program designed to manage statistics about online searches which reports the number of searches by vendor, purpose, and librarian; calculates charges to departments and individuals; and prints monthly invoices to users with standing accounts. (CLB)

Offers a model for choosing among CD-ROM, end user access, mediated online searching, or locally mounted files as alternatives for extending online catalogs and replacing printed indexes. Estimates of demand and comparisons of costs made at Trinity and Clemson Universities provide a quantitative framework for selection. (Contains four references.)…

Describes a study that was conducted at the Ohio State University library to examine interlibrary loan transactions and to determine (1) the ratio of unfilled to filled loan and copy requests, and (2) why the unfilled requests could not be satisfied. Interlibrary loan success rates using the OCLC Interlibrary Loan Subsystem are discussed. (eight…

Explains shareware computer programs and describes a shareware microcomputer-based workstation that was set up in the University of Idaho library to make shareware CD-ROM discs available to users. A hypertext program that was used as the user interface is described, and software problems are discussed. (two references) (LRW)

This description of the automated acquisitions system used by Knox College Library provides a history of its development and compares the system to the OCLC Acquisitions Subsystem. The system's chief management tool--a dealer report and several permutations (sorts by publisher and fund)--is discussed. Six references are cited. (EJS)

Describes a simulation of OCLC's TAPECON retrospective conversion service and its impact on an online catalog in a large university research library. The analysis includes results of Library of Congress Card Numbers, author/title, and title searches, and hit rates based on an analysis of OCLC and locally generated reports. (three references)…

Reports on a study of keyword and Boolean searching by users of an online public access catalog (OPAC) at the University of Oklahoma. Results of survey questionnaires and transaction log analysis indicate users search more often by keyword, even though the search usually fails and they don't understand it. (15 tables) (Author/LRW)

Reviews the history of library consortia, examines present activities, and considers future possibilities. Topics include consortium and cooperation; academic consortia; library automation and the development of library consortia; consortia with other countries; and electronic libraries. Tables include library consortia establishment, institutions…

Evaluation of data from assessments of full bibliographic displays in academic library OPACs (online public access catalogs) and World Wide Web catalogs against a checklist of desirable features found that OPAC displays scored 58% and Web displays scored 60%. Discusses weaknesses, focusing on those found in the majority of the displays…

Describes the scope, objectives, and status of a study of user responses to public online catalogs conducted in 1982 with Council on Library Resources (CLR) funding. The framework for evaluating the user-catalog interface, data collection, and questionnaire content are discussed, and a copy of the survey questionnaire is appended. (Author/JL)

Reviews technological innovations that have allowed the emergence of digital libraries and fostered new multidisciplinary collaborations; identifies areas of collaboration between librarians and engineers; and gives examples from digital spatial library projects funded by the National Science Foundation that involve maps, cataloging, data…

Examines the factors that determine the cost of retrospective conversion (definition of conversion, standards of acceptance, method of conversion, hit rate, standards for creation of machine-readable records for nonhits); reports results of cost study at University of Michigan library; and introduces an alternative strategy for discussion. Seven…

Reports on a study that examined spelling errors of keywords in a university library online catalog. Data are presented on distribution of errors by machine-readable catalog (MARC) field location, part of speech, origin of the bibliographic record, and error type. Commonly misspelled word roots and specific mistakes are listed. (12 references)…

Four articles review the development of the MELVYL system, which began as the online catalog for the University of California campuses. Topics discussed include union catalogs; local library systems versus bibliographic utilities; retrospective conversion; MELVYL as a reference tool; and an online survey of remote use of MELVYL. (LRW)

Outlines methods that the Florida Center for Library Automation (FCLA) has developed to estimate transaction costs and overall demand for NOTIS services. Transaction resource usage analysis is discussed, record structures are explained, institution collection size is considered, and usage and response time by hour of day is described. (six…