A number of libraries in Europe are involved in the development of Internet subject gateways--services that aim to help users find high quality resources on the Internet. Subject gateways such as SOSIG (Social Science Information Gateway) have been available on the Internet for some years now, and they offer an alternative to Internet search…

A microcomputer-based user interface was developed and programmed for the library computer systems at the University of Illinois. Designed to provide user-friendly access to the two components of the online catalog on the library's IBM 3081 mainframe computer, the interface program resides on the IBM PC and queries the user in natural written…

Developed as part of CEN/ISSS Workshop on Learning Technology efforts to improve interoperability between learning resource repositories, the Simple Query Interface (SQI) is an Application Program Interface (API) for querying heterogeneous repositories of learning resource metadata. In the context of the ProLearn Network of Excellence, SQI is used…

Union catalogs and distributed search systems are two ways users can locate materials in print and electronic formats. This article examines the advantages and limitations of both approaches and argues that they should be considered complementary rather than competitive. Discusses technologies creating linkage between catalogs and databases and…

This fact sheet about the INTERNET Gopher, an information distribution system combining features of electronic bulletin board services and databases, describes information availability, gateways with other servers, how the system works, and how to access Gopher. Addresses and telephone numbers for additional information or news about Gopher are…

Describes EasyNet, a gateway service that allows users access to over 900 databases. Use of EasyNet at the University of Richmond (Virginia) libraries is explained, search strategies are discussed, problems with the price structure are examined, and its use both as an end-user service and for mediated searching is described. (LRW)

The increase in end-user searching, the advantages and limitations of front ends, and the role of the librarian in end-user searching are discussed. It is argued that librarians need to recognize that front ends can be of benefit to themselves and patrons, and to assume the role of advisors and educators for end-users. (37 references) (CLB)

Presents 19 papers from the Second Southern African Online Information Meeting. The articles are based on practical experience with or applications of information technology, including hypermedia and multimedia, CD-ROM, electronic publishing, network services and gateways, user interfaces, and online searching and software. Contains 83 references…

Discusses how the World-Wide Web (WWW) can be linked to the PAT system, a search engine supporting access to Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) encoded documents. Technical concepts are reviewed, and the operation of a PAT-to-Web gateway is explained using examples of how it is employed. (JKP)

Describes the development of an expert system for online patent searching that uses menu driven software to interpret the user's knowledge level and the general nature of the search problem. The discussion covers the rationale for developing such a system, current system functions, cost effectiveness, user reactions, and plans for future…

Reviews 10 federal government bulletin boards that provide information on consumer publications and consumer affairs, agriculture, economics, diseases and research programs, AIDS information, labor-related information, educational statistics and publications, and nuclear power plants. Instructions are provided for accessing the bulletin boards,…

Provides an overview of the MacNOTIS interface project at Texas A&M University to provide a tool to make the NOTIS online public access catalog more accessible to users. Highlights include an intuitive interface, saving to disk, local printing, reusable search strings, online help, and automatic dial-up. (JLB)

Report on a peer-reviewed, interactive electronic journal focuses on stages of its development; features of two available access points--an ASCII interface called EPS (Electronic Publishing Service) and a graphical interface called Guidon; advantages of Guidon access over simple electronic file transfer; and planned improvements. (Contains five…

Libraries subscribe to thousands of electronic journals and they are difficult for end-users to find. Journal and publisher interfaces and functionalities differ considerably. The recent development in e-media calls for central management of the resources. Lund University Libraries' Head Office has developed a service for presentation and…