Describes a survey of library systems and software vendors that examined the sources, management, and use of authority records in their systems and the functions of an authority control module within an integrated system. Several tables and graphs offer summaries and comparisons of vendors' offerings and capabilities. The questionnaire used is…

The social sciences require multiple methods of analysis of information from complex data bases. Data bases have been constructed which contain hierarchical, spatial, and temporal associations among information elements. To provide effective processing capability an integrated approach was taken to facilitate storage and retrieval, statistical…

Using macro and micro-structure analysis of large files of personal author names, this study developed retrieval techniques and algorithms to automatically correct and/or flag typographical errors in names, identify names in a database that are similar to a name entered by a user during a search, and measure similarities between names. It was…

Describes the statistical programs which report on activities of the university library computer system. These statistical reports document the status of the master bibliographic file, serials holdings, patrons, and circulation activity. The reports are used in decision making for collection development. (SW)

The role of the coauthor relationship in the structure of informal communications networks within disciplines is explored, and the validity of coauthor graphs used to map these relationships is tested for both small and large databases. (CLB)

Explores technique which may be used to enhance research by manipulation of databases to determine trends in literature. The online searcher's function supporting research's use of technique is emphasized. An example on the topic of "school desegregation" as covered by various databases, particularly ERIC, is included. Five sources are given. (EJS)

The increasing presence and use of computers in libraries has brought about the more frequent introduction of computers and their uses into library education. The Drexel University Graduate School of Library Science has introduced the computer into the curriculum more through individual experimentation and innovation than by planned development.…

Urges that libraries become involved in providing access to machine-readable data files, such as statistics gathered by government agencies, research data gathered by scholars, and economic or business data, and describes how the Lawrence University Library developed a data collection and supportive services. Twenty-eight sources are appended.…

Describes a project that was designed to study the effectiveness and efficiency of editing procedures within an online bibliographic system at a large research university library. A comprehensive statistical overview of editing commands available is presented, frequency of their use is studied, and questions for further research are suggested.…

Discusses ways to improve quality of retrieval systems that depend on use of truncated words or quasi-word stems as indexing vocabulary. Problems of generalizability and stability of discriminant function analysis for selecting good topical terms in database drawn from abstracts of Harris Survey press releases are addressed. References are cited.…

Presents results of study undertaken at Census Bureau Library to determine which databases would be most productive and how they can be effectively searched to meet demands of bureau staff for literature on statistical research and methodology. Database selection in DIALOG Information Retrieval Service and journal coverage are noted. (EJS)

Derives the underlying structure of the Zipf distribution, with emphasis on its application to word frequencies in the inverted files of automatic bibliographic systems, and applies the Zipfian model to the National Library of Medicine's MEDLINE database. An appendix on the Zipfian mean and 12 references are included. (Author/JL)

Describes prototype retrieval systems that use statistically based rank retrieval of records for text retrieval and bibliographic records: (1) the PRISE System at the National Institute of Standards and Technology; (2) the CITE System, for MEDLINE; (3) the Muscat System at the Scott Polar Research Institute; and (4) the News Retrieval Tool at the…

Focuses on problems in making machine-readable data files (MRDFs) accessible and in using them: quality of data in MRDFs themselves (social scientists' concern) and accessibility--availability of bibliographic control, quality of documentation, level of user skills (librarians' concern). Skills needed by social scientists and librarians are…

This bibliometric investigation of literature on microcomputers in library and information services focuses on the years 1973-1986. Five printed reference tools and three online databases were searched to examine the number of publications, types of documents, contributing languages and countries, and the productivity of individual authors.…