An overview is provided of a computer based reference course at the State University of New York at Albany which uses the ERIC file on BRS to teach online searching techniques. Course highlights include question negotiation, Venn diagramming, explanation of STAIRS file structure and Boolean logic, and management of services. (J PF)

Discussion of the changing role of the school library/media specialists argues that skill requirements for this group should be redefined to include competency in online information retrieval techniques. Appropriate online databases available on CD-ROM and sources for training are described, and a role for academic librarians in providing training…

Authors share their experiences in training Oklahoma Teletype Interlibrary System/ Oklahoma Information Line (OTIS/OIL) personnel in the techniques of "profiling" searches during a one day workshop. Components of the workshop described are straight lecturing, interactive lecturing, role playing, and problem solving. (JPF)

Briefly describes new developments pertaining to the EURONET/DIANE information network, the growth of telecommunications in the United Kingdom, education and training in information science in Europe, the current state of European videotex systems, EUSIDIC's document delivery program, and international data flow. (JL)

Describes a survey of accredited schools of library and information science in the United States and Canada that examined the database searching education that students are currently receiving and changes in this area over the past five years. Topics examined include courses; search time; amount of exposure; coursework; products, hardware and…

Describes DIATOM, an online bibliographic retrieval system designed and implemented at Syracuse University to teach search strategy and the use of DIALOG to library science students. System features and database storage considerations are explained. (FM)

Describes a study conducted with graduate library school students that compared two commercial online search systems, DIALOG and WILSONLINE, to determine which system was preferred for what purposes, and whether the order of teaching or acquiring expertise in searching a system affected preferences. An appendix includes student comments comparing…

The vice president of a computerized information center discusses her career history, the development of information services and the database industry, current information technologies and the role of artificial intelligence, characteristics of indexers and abstractors employed, the kind of training needed by abstractors and indexers, and…