Study conducted at the University of Western Ontario explored whether use of keywords of an online catalog would be a satisfactory alternative to self cross referencing for locating variant subject heading forms. Random comparison of machine readable cataloging with Library of Congress authorities demonstrated the desirability of cross reference…

Focuses on failure of libraries to study or publish comparative costs of cataloging before and after automation. Discussion covers current situation; coping with change; MARC and Anglo-American Cataloging Rules Revised solutions (Library of Congress (LC) revisionary practices, Dewey classification changes, LC subject headings); and question of…

Describes resource sharing system in Illinois academic libraries that allows patrons to borrow materials from other libraries through user-friendly interlibrary loan commands on IBM personal computer terminals. Highlights include experiences at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IBM personal computers as terminals, and increase in…

Discusses the effect of online library catalogs on when, how, and by whom authority control work is done, focusing on experiences at Ohio State University Libraries. Shifts include removal of authority work from automated cataloging procedures, separation of mechanical and intellectual tasks, unique headings and references, and original…

New York University (NYU) Libraries received a 1-year grant from the Association of Research Libraries to study users' responses to its recently installed Geac online catalog, Bobcat (Bobst Library Computerized Catalog). The survey instrument, developed for Council on Library Resources (CLR)-funded national study of responses to public access…

This survey assessing use of online databases in marine science libraries indicates that, despite generally small staff and collection size, there is considerable involvement in OCLC and computerized reference service and active planning for public catalogs, serials automation, and integrated database management systems. Eleven references and…

To investigate the experience of American and Canadian university libraries with remote access catalogs, self-administered questionnaires were sent to the 137 directors of all Association of Research Libraries (ARL) libraries and all libraries of Canadian degree-granting institutions. The study was designed to: (1) survey Canadian and U.S.…

Preliminary reports from seven Association of Research Library (ARL) members conducting research on current public services concerns describe progress to date and initial findings. Research grants of up to $4,000 were provided for the projects, which were selected in part because of their potential usefulness to academic and research libraries.…