After a brief description of the Micrographic Catalog Retrieval System (MCRS) and its use in card production, searching procedures are outlined along with statistical data. The experience has demonstrated that the use of MCRS can mean a saving of staff time and more rapid retrieval of LC cataloging copy for current books. (6 references) (Author/NH)

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 the Dewey Online Retrieval System (DORS), which was developed at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), to experiment with classification-based search strategies in online catalogs. Classification structures in automated information retrieval are discussed; and specifications for a classification retrieval interface are…

An analysis of the punctuation of the eighth edition Library of Congress Subject Headings reveals that the hyphen, coma and parentheses are most often used. Examples of these and the use of the apostrophe, dash, and period are discussed. (Author/MBR)

The problem of the direct and inverted forms of adjective-noun subject headings which contain national adjectives is reexamined. A pattern based on subject categories is discovered which is different from the pattern based on work-frequency discussed in Harris' Subject Analysis. (11 references) (Author)

Review of the 1987 subject access literature covers: (1) general works; (2) organization, history, theory, and method of classification; (3) classification systems; (4) subject headings and the Library of Congress; (5) subject authority control through the Library of Congress Subject Headings; (6) subject searching in online catalogs; and (7)…

Separation of catalogs by script, and, within non-Roman scripts, by language, is discussed as an alternative to Romanization. Difficulties are considered and a solution is suggested--the establishment of separate machine readable data bases for each script and a National Union Catalog in microform for the separate "registers." (Author/MBR)

Reports on study conducted at the James J. Hill Reference Library in St. Paul, Minnesota, which explored the extent to which duplicate records in the OCLC database are affecting usefulness of system. Search keys and 'search enhancements' recently introduced by OCLC are discussed with examples. Thirteen references are cited. (EJS)

Reviews the steps taken toward UBC (universal bibliographic control) in the past 20 years and critiques some of the shortfalls in the UNESCO/IFLA (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization/International Federation of Library Associations) program. Advances such as electronic publishing are put in context to suggest an…

Reviews a wide range of retrieval problems that arose with the implementation of an online catalog in an academic library, especially the problem of retrieving uniform titles coded as authors. The need for changes in the underlying format of coding uniform titles as a universal solution is discussed. (Author/CLB)

Reviews the questions and problems in library cataloging addressed through the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries by Panizzi, Cutter, and Lubetzky; asks whether computerization represents an advance that will free catalogers from earlier difficulties; and discusses the ongoing relevance of the principles of cataloging. A reference list is…

Four artificial intelligence (AI) concepts that have relevance for information retrieval systems are discussed and applied to area of authority control in automated catalogs--pattern recognition, representation, problem solving, learning. Existing automated authority control systems are analyzed using two other AI concepts, augmentation and…

This overview of the current capabilities of subject access in online public catalogs discusses keyword searching versus subject cataloging, users' views of the online catalog, and user-friendly versus user-hostile systems. Existing online catalogs in public and academic libraries are cited as examples. (EJS)

Considers the relationships between bibliography, library records, and catalogs in light of computer technology. Consequences of electronic publishing for bibliography and catalog design are discussed, and an approach to information retrieval in the future is suggested. (24 references) (MES)

Reviews the literature on enhancement of catalog records using table of contents information and reports on a study at San Diego State University that examined the proportion of catalog records in the collection that could be enhanced, the extent of enhancements, and the nature of the information that could be added to notes. (24 references) (EA)