Describes three commercial, numeric databases that are available in microcomputer diskette format: Micro/Scan Disclosure; Wharton Econometric Forecasting Associates World Economic Service; and Trinet's Survey of Commercial Buying Power. Advantages and disadvantages of the diskette format, search strategies, and a selected list of eight suppliers…

Presents examples of bibliographic, full-text, and numeric databases. Also discusses how to access these databases online, aids to online retrieval, and several issues and trends (including copyright and downloading, transborder data flow, use of optical disc/videodisc technology, and changing roles in database generation and processing). (JN)

Reviews the current status of electronic archiving, especially in Great Britain and the United States, including current use of various electronic storage media; advantages and utilizations of optical disk technology; trends toward full-text databases and increased videotex use; growing quantity of electronic information; and problems in archiving…

Seven experts in system planning offer their views on how optical disk systems will affect library participation in online networks, and discuss opportunities presented by these new products. (CLB)

InfoTrac is a laserdisc system that provides local computer-access to Information Access Company's periodical databases and offers libraries an extensive, self-contained reference system. The system, which employs an IBM PC microcomputer, a Hewlett-Packard Thinkjet printer, and a Pioneer videodisc player, provides advantages of online searching at…