Medical and health sciences libraries have incorporated the elements of evidence-based practice (EBP) into their reference services, instruction, and online resource development for years. While EBP focuses on the use of medical and health sciences literature in the clinical environment (i.e., making decisions about how to treat a particular…

This policy manual explains computer search services at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, University Library. The service is available to anyone willing to assume the cost of the services and able to schedule time for both the search strategy interview and the search itself. Requests for computer services are not accepted over the phone or…

Question analysis and search strategy development were broken down into nine steps for answering reference questions. These steps were examined for possible mechanization of the answering process. Such automation was not proved feasible. (LS)

Discusses the definition of an online library catalog; five factors to be considered by the online catalog designer; user-computer communication (error messages, help screens, prompts, unnatural language); online tutorials and offline instruction offered by bibliographic instruction librarians; and the current situation. Nine references are…

Experimentation and analysis dominate the activities with the Intrex information storage and retrieval system. Detailed analysis of the retrieval effectiveness of the Intrex-System configuration have been made in an effort to establish, quantitatively, the value of free-vocabulary and deep subject indexing; the usefulness of various fields of…

Describes how automation improves genealogical reference services and access to sources at the Genealogical Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Highlights include specialized access strategies to the computer-output microfiche catalog, the creation of a union catalog, special outputs from an automated system, and future developments in library…

Discusses issues that managers of academic library electronic reference services are facing. Topics discussed include the quantity of mediated searches; organizational changes, i.e., who electronic services staff report to; management by committee; administrative options; changing job responsibilities of searchers and other staff members, both…

Explores ways for librarians to improve search strategies in a globally networked computing environment. Discusses browsing versus more structured search strategies; thinking processes and information-seeking processes; supplementing the traditional reference interview with computer-based reference assistants; models for automating the reference…

This article describes use of the InfoTrac system, a self-contained periodical reference system designed for in-library use that provides coverage of 900 general interest, business, management, and economic periodicals, at Indiana University (Bloomington). Discussion covers InfoTrac installation, InfoTrac and student interaction, system…

Includes 10 articles that address issues involved in teaching library skills in middle schools and junior and senior high schools. Topics discussed include computer-based technology; blending print and electronic sources; search strategies for online systems; expert systems for reference questions; information skills and thinking skills; and…

Describes the thinking and research involved in implementing an electronic reference service to Raritan Valley Community College's Library Web Page. Discusses implementation of a jargon-free "Ask a Librarian" service with well-defined procedures and a plan for advertising the service. Ideas incorporated in the procedures and plans are…

Twelve papers from the Twelfth Annual Clinic on Library Applications of Data Processing are presented here. Following an introductory paper are two articles on data bases and information sources. The fourth article discusses computer-aided information retrieval in an industrial library. Bibliographic searches is the topic of the fifth article, and…