Discusses the growth in nonbibliographic online databases and machine-readable data files (MRDF) that are accessed offline, and considers how libraries need to respond to the changing needs and expectations of researchers. Textual and numeric databases are described, and three possible levels of library service are outlined. (13 references) (LRW)

Describes the development of California Institute of Technology Libraries' local database of articles from science and engineering journals and its integrated document request and delivery feature. It is noted that not all journals received by the libraries are in the database, backfiles are limited, and coverage is not comprehensive. (five…

This description of the development of the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) compact disc by two companies, SilverPlatter and ORI, Inc., provides background information on ERIC and the ERIC database, discusses reasons for choosing to put the ERIC database on compact discs, and describes the formulation of an ERIC CD-ROM team as part of…

Full-text databases allow Central Missouri State University's clients to access some of the serials that libraries have had to cancel due to escalating subscription costs; EbscoHost, the subject of this study, is one such database. The database is available free to all Missouri residents. A survey was designed consisting of 21 questions intended…

Information Technology is developing rapidly and providing policy/decision makers with large amounts of information that require processing and analysis. Decision support systems (DSS) aim to provide tools that not only help such analyses, but enable the decision maker to experiment and simulate the effects of different policies and selection…

Presents an operational definition of personal information retrieval systems and describes design principles of current applications and existing systems, current trends, and research guidelines for general design principles. (4 references) (Author/CLB)

Defines information tectonics as the organizing of information in structures and good information tectonics as being adapted to the needs of the user. Topics discussed include the influence of electronic information technology and electronic databases; hypertext; hierarchical information structures; cross-graining, e.g., the Dewey Decimal system;…

Describes the Perseus project, a hypertext database of textual and visual materials for the study of classical Greek civilization. The anticipated needs of users are considered; current and potential capabilities of information technology are discussed; and the selection, organization, and presentation of materials are described. (seven…

This manual is written for any library planning to introduce a new or replacement automated system. It focuses on planning for an integrated system that computerizes a multiplicity of library functions using one common database. This second edition contains a new section on the preparation of a technology strategic plan, a section on developing…

Includes five selected papers from the Thirty-Second Annual Conference of the National Federation of Abstracting and Information Services. Highlights include future possibilities of electronic information delivery; changes in information exchange between the United States and unified European governments; Japanese information systems; updating…

This paper presents an information retrieval system for delivering educational visual materials through the World Wide Web. The system is designed to meet the following user requirements: lecturers prefer direct control over their visual resources; lecturers demand a browser-based interface that will allow them to create and modify their online…

This exploration of ethical conflicts created by information technology and their impacts on teachers, scholars, and students begins by discussing the issue of fairness or ethics, with emphasis on what is fair or ethical in obtaining access to electronic information. Technological barriers involved in obtaining access to desired electronic…

The emphasis of this text is that the problems of information retrieval are the intellectual ones of subject analysis and description. These problems are not easily solved by technology alone, although certain inroads are being made by knowledge-based expert systems and other computer aids to indexing. Linguistic approaches are also showing…

By integrating RSS feeds of new books into their campus' course management system, the authors, a systems librarian (Corrado) and a cataloging/modern languages librarian (Moulaison) at the The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), simplified initial research and spotlighted the library's collections. Faculty members are flocking to this award-winning…

Since little empirical research has been conducted on adoption of currently available information technology by the advertising industry, a study explored the extent of advertising agencies' adoption of selected information technologies such as online database services and electronic mail. The study discussed data from earlier studies and analyzed…