Presents survey of two groups of databases covering patent literature: patent literature only and general literature that includes patents relevant to subject area of database. Description of databases and comparison tables for patent and general databases (cost, country coverage, years covered, update frequency, file size, and searchable data…

This paper discusses examples of searching vocabularies, i.e., lists of terms which have been prepared with the online searcher, rather than the indexer, in mind. These lists are categorized as: enhanced thesauri or subject heading lists, synonym listings, index term listings, and merged vocabularies. Eight references are provided. (EJS)

Query forms used in library information systems are expressed in a generalized notation. Three relations, the FIELD, the inverse FIELD and the RECORD, are defined to express file access operations in known-item and subject searches, browsing, clustering operations, and truncation and word proximity searching. Eighteen references are cited. (EJS)

Presents conceptual framework for organization of factors (independent variables) affecting online bibliographic retrieval. Roles that variables play in research studies are described and examples considering various elements--setting, user, request, database, search system, searcher, search process, search outcome--are provided. Twenty-one…

Computerized searching of bibliographic databases useful in women's history studies is discussed. The particular material available in machine-readable form and aspects of searching for it are reviewed. How to arrange for a search is also explained. A number of databases and search services are described. (Author/EF)

Report on use of the microcomputer for information storage and retrieval (ISR) notes hardware (floppy disks, keyboard, screen, printer); functions of ISR software; standardization of the operating system; database creation; data entry; indexing; search process; choice of ISR software package; software market and user; training and instruction; and…

These proceedings document the fifth year of the "Brick and Click Libraries Symposium", held annually at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri. Thirty five peer-reviewed papers and abstracts, written by academic librarians, and presented at the symposium are included in this volume. Many of the entries have…