Introduces four articles on the development of information retrieval standards by people closely involved in the process. Standards organizations are described, addresses are given, and information sources are listed. (five references) (EA)

Describes the use of a microcomputer system at the elementary school level in which pupils can access information by subject, author, or title as in a standard card catalog. (CHC)

Discusses information retrieval standards as tools for interoperability among systems and traces the development of de jure and de facto standards in the U.S. and international telecommunications environment. Implementation of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) and Z39.50 standards is described. (EA)

Discusses issues in the information retrieval standards development process, including interdependency among standards, organizational responsibility, scope, and future needs. Management of the completed standard is also addressed, and the roles of specific groups concerned with standards are outlined. (EA)

Discusses ways in which new information technologies are creating change in the academic environment and in the roles of traditional knowledge centers, and describes a program in which three academic support services--the library, computer center, and media center--have integrated planning and services to provide access to information. (CLB)