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…

Provides statistical data from MARC-II bibliographic files to be used in the design of a nationwide authority file. The data include information on characteristics of headings and on expected sizes and growth rates of various authority file subsets. Although the data are system dependent, some general implications are derived. (RAA)

In 1981 and 1982, a group of 5 organizations conducted a coordinated study of public online catalog users and nonusers in 31 research, academic, community college, public, and governmental libraries with 17 different online catalogs. It was found that: (1) the most important user characteristic linked with success and satisfaction in using online…