This paper will look at the services presently offered to distance students by libraries within the categories of professional staff, access to resources, reference assistance, and library user instruction. It will then offer the argument that these services could be improved by developing embedded librarians within online academic courses as a…

Libraries are not so unlike market giants Netflix, Amazon, and Pandora. Despite their significantly different business models and missions, they share an interest in facilitating the search for information, including what to read, view, and listen to next. Librarians, too, want their patrons to be able to use their tools to make connections among…

Reports on recent advances in development and use of database management systems and increased recognition of importance of information requirements determination and the data dictionary/directory which have created a new role for librarians. Further potential for library careers in data administration is discussed. Twenty-seven references and…

Part 1 of this study is an exploratory look at the use of on-line services in academic libraries. For this study Lockheed and System Development Corporation (SDC) were contacted and each listed a number of libraries which used their services. Academic libraries using MEDLINE were contacted, under the assumption that they also used other systems. A…

Discussion of the marketing of bibliographic databases focuses on defining the market, the purchasing process, and the purchase decision process for researchers, managers, and librarians. The application of marketing concepts to the purchase of online information services is noted. (EJS)

Discusses problems of increasing numbers of databases (standardization, vendor contracts, training, restricted access, duplicate citations), noting implications for change in librarian's role as supplier of decision making data (education, users groups, search aids, information brokers, collection evaluation, reference and source databases,…

A survey of online searchers' perceptions of seven database vendors over 13 service-related characteristics resulted in DIALOG being ranked first for all attributes. A statistically significant relationship between overall preference and frequency of use was demonstrated, with reliability, variety, and flexibility the most highly ranked…

Identifies the advantages and limitations of online search services offered by libraries, cautioning the searcher and user to consider and evaluate all options before performing online search. The librarian's responsibility to solve the user's information problem in a desirable way is discussed. Five references are listed. (EJS)

Provides an overview of videotex and teletext systems under development or being marketed in the United States and Europe. Current trends indicate a diminishing participation by librarians and information scientists in information display technology. Seven references are listed. (RAA)

Problems which frustrate and hinder training in data base use for personnel employed in biomedical libraries include the ever increasing number of data bases which continue to be introduced, search techniques that differ from vendor to vendor and data base to data base, and differing formats of data bases and their training manuals. Training…

The results of personal interviews with 18 of the more experienced online searchers in Washington State are presented. A profile of respondents determines the experience of each in searching in years, number of searches per month, vendors used, and most used data bases. This information is used to analyze the answers given to questions about the…

This 26-item annotated bibliography cites articles and conference papers from 1981-1984 related to end-user searching of online databases in three sections: End-User Search Services and Systems, End User versus Intermediary, and Training of the End User. Questions concerning role of the librarian/intermediary and cost effectiveness of end-user…

Describes a training program omitting undesirable characteristics of vendor-supplied training and utilizing charts to compare and contrast features of online systems. Included are charts illustrating ORBIT commands for DIALOG searchers, BRS commands for DIALOG searchers, and an ORBIT string search. (RBF)

This overview of the status of online databases in the United Kingdom describes online users' attitudes and practices in light of two surveys conducted in the past two years. The Online Information Centre at ASLIB sampled 325 users, and Chadwyck-Healey, Ltd., conducted a face-to-face survey of librarians in a broad cross-section of 76 libraries.…

This survey of online search service centers in Canada was conducted to provide data on these centers and, more specifically, on the characteristics of the human search intermediary; and to provide an accurate overall picture of online searching in Canada. The survey questionnaires were mailed to approximately 765 Canadian customers of seven…