The five critical years in the development of OCLC (1951-56), the culmination of a century of cooperation between Ohio's colleges and universities, are used to underscore its expansion into a bibliographic utility interconnecting 2400 institutions in the United States and Canada. There are 19 references. (RAA)

A questionnaire was sent to 446 members of OCLC to ascertain their views on the development of a special minimal standard to be used only for the conversion of retrospective cataloging records to machine-readable form. It was found that 74.5 percent would oppose the creation of a new lower standard. (Author)

There are several ways to connect to library catalogs on the Internet: telneting, links via home pages, and online directories. This article discusses Hytelnet and Libgopher, online directories which list available catalogs and make telnet connections to them. Hytelnet is a good resource for OPAC statistics and Libgopher provides keyword…

This feasibility study was conducted to (1) estimate the alternative costs in 1980 Canadian dollars of using four bibliographic utilities to accomplish the retrospective conversion (RECON) of eight British Columbia public libraries' manual card catalog files, (2) make recommendations as to which alternative should be selected and how it should be…

Seventy-two libraries participated in the development of a cost model for library catalogs, considered alternate forms of catalogs (including various combinations of card, computer output microfilm, and online), and prepared input data for computer runs to arrive at costs. Card catalogs appeared to be the least costly. (FM)

This final report of the Committee on the Future of the Card Catalog at the University of Virginia considers the evaluative reports of three task forces on the effects of AACR2 and recommends that the university library set as a top priority goal the design, development, and implementation of an online catalog by 1983. The committee further…

This collection of library documents which provide instructions for users of online public access catalogs in member libraries of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) contains: (1) a set of enhanced instructions for library users of Geac, a commercial online circulation system at the University of Arizona; (2) sets of materials of…

A committee was appointed in March 1978 to investigate feasible alternatives to the existing card catalog at Northwestern University Library; this interim report reviews the committee's activities and recommendations, identifies tasks still to be completed, and describes the status of a proposed online successor to the card catalog. Ten concerns…

The focus of the January 1975 meeting of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) was the future of bibliographic records of library holdings. Speakers from the Library of Congress (LC) reported on historical problems associated with card catalogs and on plans for conversion to other forms. Speakers from large research libraries indicated a…

This working paper was prepared by a subcommittee of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Working Group on Public Catalogs. The material consists of cost estimates on generating, duplicating, and maintaining book catalogs and computer output microfiche catalogs. Included are costs estimates from the Ohio College Library Center…

Assesses the current state of reference structures in online public access catalogs (OPACs) in a framework defined by stagnation, progress, and future challenges. Outlines six areas for reference structure development. Twenty figures provide illustrations. (AEF)

After considering the effects of AACR2 (American Anglo Catalog Rules 2) on the present catalog system, this task force on catalog usage recommends that the university library retain the present catalog beyond 1981 and later adopt an online catalog. Other options considered were, in order of priority, (1) close the catalog in 1981 and start an…

Outlines progress of California Spanish Language Data Base (CSLDB) project in its effort to provide subject access to Spanish language collections in public libraries. Generating Spanish counterparts for English subject headings, going online, and the current effort of seeking a host bibliographic utility are examined. References are provided.…

Prepared for users of OCLC terminals at the Michigan State University library, this manual provides a brief description of the contents of the OCLC database, instructions for constructing search requests in OCLC, guidelines for interpreting OCLC search results, a key to "reading" the OCLC screen, an overview of typical terminal responses…

Discusses and compares some online catalog systems actually in operation in terms of self-service usability; number, choice, and formulation of access points; record content and display; database content; connections to technical processing and circulation; number and location of terminals; equipment and software features; and cost. (Six…