Discussion of the effects of CD-ROM journal indexes on interlibrary loan departments focuses on a study conducted at Moravian College that analyzed interlibrary loan requests for journal articles indexed in PsycLIT. Results indicate that appropriate bibliographic instruction can prevent an increase in interlibrary loan requests. (11 references)…

Describes principles underlying the development of guides for electronic indexes such as the Catholic Periodical and Literature Index (CPLI): begin with basic steps, keep it simple, answer questions most frequently asked, be consistent, emphasize search techniques that use the strengths of the index. Includes a copy of the guide for the CPLI on…

Describes and compares several general interest periodical indexes available on CD-ROM. Features described include target audience, coverage, updates, subscription prices, licensing, the availability of turnkey systems, search features and interfaces, screen displays, full-text support, and installation and support. The addresses of the companies…

Suggests evaluation criteria for selecting CD-ROMs and describes some typical titles along with examples of learning activities. Highlights include reference titles, including encyclopedias, magazine indexes, newspaper databases, subject-specific indexes, timetables and almanacs, and atlases; and curriculum-specific titles. (LRW)

Describes the rationale, method, automation developments, and future directions of the "Air University Library Index to Military Periodicals," a subject index to 81 military and aeronautical periodicals. Results of a user survey on the desirability of producing the index on CD-ROM or incorporating it in the library's integrated system…

This 2-year project at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) was conducted to determine the feasibility of providing online periodical indexing to the journal holdings of the UTA libraries by demonstrating an extended use of the libraries' NOTIS Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) to provide better access to local resources. Three approaches…

Discussion of selection of the InfoTrac Expanded Academic Index database of journal citations to add to the online catalog at a university library considers access to full text on microfilm, coverage, differences between CD-ROM and tape versions, pricing, search capabilities, printing, and downloading. Comparisons are made with the UMI Data…

Describes two CD-ROM reference systems and the reactions of undergraduate students, faculty, and librarians to these systems. The discussion covers criteria that influenced users' reactions (e.g. ease of use, expertise in Boolean logic, database currency, and multidisciplinary characteristics of databases) and conclusions about appropriate systems…

This overview of the review literature is designed to assist librarians selecting CD-ROMs, applications software, and online databases. Described are specific directories, periodicals, review sources, and indexes that review electronic technologies. A chart analyzing the features of these sources is included. (EA)

Describes study that was designed to assess user interaction with InfoTrac, a computerized periodical index on optical disc that is accessed through workstations consisting of a microcomputer and printer. Use in three types of libraries--an undergraduate academic library, a graduate-level academic library, and a public library--is examined. (LRW)

Examines the effects of compact disk technology on a medium-sized academic library. Statistical data before and after the acquisition of compact disk indexes are compared in the areas of staff training; librarians' teaching loads; reference desk activity; periodicals acquisition, use, and retention; interlibrary loan activity; and online…

Integrating comments from the literature about CD-ROMs, online searching, and information retrieval, this report describes the initial experience of using InfoTrac at Winona State University (WSU). After finding that students did not tend to order fee-based online searches, the WSU library provided access on a trial basis to bibliographic…

This purpose of this study was to determine which periodical index--InfoTrac or EBSCO Magazine Article Summaries--is the most appropriate for use by middle school students preparing required research projects. The study population consisted of randomly selected sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students (N=50) in a Cobb County (Georgia) middle…

This study examines the reliability of article coverage in the American Theological Library Association's (ATLA) Religion Database CD-ROM of two emerging theological fields: lesbian theology and womanist theology. Indexing predictability and consistency of coverage is important for the access of needed documents. There is concern that women's…