Representatives from three companies (Management Contents, ABI/INFORM, Predicasts) explain the coverage, content, thesauri, updating, products, and capabilities of their data bases. A panel of librarians from (1) a special library, (2) an academic library, and (3) a public library report on the use of business data bases in their respective…

Briefly reviews the current developments in public access catalogs and poses questions for the public service librarian. (FM)

This study compared online versions of LISA (Library and Information Science Abstracts), Library Literature, and ERIC to investigate time lag and duplication of coverage. Six searches of each database were executed over a period of 15 months. Results indicated that Library Literature had the least time lag and LISA the most; duplication was low.…

Identifies a conflict between the kind of reference service that many librarians of tax-supported academic and public libraries have accepted as workable within their institutions and the kind of reference service that has evolved for those who can pay for online bibliographic searches in these same libraries. (Author)

Describes a course which provides students with hands-on experience at a computer terminal, and includes segments on how to conduct a reference interview using counseling techniques, how to evaluate and select information retrieval services and equipment, and discusses the impact of computerized information retrieval on libraries. (JAB)

The computer-based reference process includes the user pre-search form, appointments, search strategy negotiation, on-line sampling and on-line search session. The role of the search analyst, his personality and communication skills are discussed in relation to the success or failure of a computer search. (JAB)

Focuses on the methods used by three academic libraries in addressing the question of whether or not to charge users for online searches. (FM)

Provides an annotated bibliography intended for searchers, educators, library administrators, and other reference department staff who must plan or provide for the training and continuing education of online searchers. (Author)

Discusses the benefits to patrons and librarians of integrating online database searching with traditional reference services, and makes recommendations for maximizing those benefits. (Author/JD)

Reviews the literature on online bibliographic databases for secondary sources in history. The effect of online databases on the reference process is discussed, and the principal databases in the field are introduced. Areas for future research are suggested, and 23 references are listed. (Author/MES)

Covers relevant biographical sources for diplomatic, foreign, and American government personnel, including online services, monographs, back files, the card catalog, State Department and CIA publications, other government documents, and trade publications. Lists of CIA biographical directories and U.S. government agency press offices are appended.…

Includes an evaluation of turnkey circulation systems used to support online catalogs (Richard Boss), results of a survey to determine user attitudes toward online catalogs (Kenneth Dowlin), a description of Ohio State University's library control system (Susan Miller), and a profile of a user-designed subject retrieval system (Kaske and Sanders).…

The three papers presented discuss the components of the pricing structure for online service vendors (Roger Summit); describe an information system designed to provide agricultural weather data to farmers (Lehnert and Scott); and explore the impact of information delivery systems for the home (Mark Plakias). (FM)

Shares some of the experiences of the University of Florida Libraries' Census Access Program, which has provided print and machine-readable census products to users since 1971. Article anticipates the demand for the new data products of the 1980 census. (Author/JD)

Describes differences between print and online reference sources in terms of the structure of the sources and the process of searching. Factors that affect the decision of which type of source to use are identified and grouped into seven categories: availability; cost; convenience; bibliographic; subject specification; inaccessibility through…