A comparison of costs for computer-based searching of Psychological Abstracts and Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) systems by the New York State Library at Albany was produced by combining data available from search request forms and from bills from the contract subscription service, the State University of New…

The Educational Programs and Studies Information Service (EPSIS) processed and analyzed 1888 Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) computer searches requested by New York State educators. New York State agencies and the Albany capital district used the computer search most heavily. Local educational agency personnel formed the largest…

This codebook clarifies the variables used in a study analyzing the verbal behaviors of search intermediaries and library users requesting online bibliographic searches. Gathering data on 80 presearch interviews in seven medical libraries, the study was conducted (1) to identify verbal and nonverbal behaviors that facilitate, maintain, or impede…

In 1981 and 1982, a group of 5 organizations conducted a coordinated study of public online catalog users and nonusers in 31 research, academic, community college, public, and governmental libraries with 17 different online catalogs. It was found that: (1) the most important user characteristic linked with success and satisfaction in using online…

Over the last decade, studies of online catalogs have revealed that they frequently discourage users. Subject queries often fail to produce retrievals or produce retrieval sets that are too large and unwieldy to be easily scanned. Research shows that users are seeking alternative approaches to those that manipulate the subject headings in catalog…