Experiments were designed and carried out in an attempt to identify some parameters relating to ease of manual searching in library catalogs. A comparison of the difficulty of searching the same file in card form and book form indicated that searching the book catalog generally requires more time. (4 references) (Author/NH)

This experiment searches an online library catalog employing author surnames, plus one or two title words of books in citations of eight scholarly works whose authors selected the title words as being recallable. Results of searches yielded a single-screen miniature catalog (minicat) 99% of the time. (Author/LRW)

Describes the development of a Web-based union catalog for the New England Law Library Consortium (NELLCO) called DOM (Dom's Online Catalogs). Discusses early use of CD-ROMs; problems with using MARC records; search strategies; code samples; response time; and cost effectiveness. (LRW)

After a brief description of the Micrographic Catalog Retrieval System (MCRS) and its use in card production, searching procedures are outlined along with statistical data. The experience has demonstrated that the use of MCRS can mean a saving of staff time and more rapid retrieval of LC cataloging copy for current books. (6 references) (Author/NH)

Discussion of online help systems in online public access catalogs (OPACs) focuses on a study that evaluated the online help system for the NOTIS (Northwestern Online Total Integrated System) OPAC. Features of the system reviewed include online functions; training features; general interface features; access points; and message content and display…

Discusses methods of browsing in online public access catalogs (OPACs) and describes one method that uses information pertaining to the physical description of books from MARC records to simulate images of books on a library shelf. Electronic browsing through MARC is discussed, and methods of enhancing OPACs are reviewed. (51 references) (LRW)

Describes two options that can address the issues of catalog production in a bilingual environment: a two-file option, which is the equivalent of a separate catalog for each language, and a totally bilingual catalog. The technical characteristics of each option, and the appropriateness of each for different user communities, are discussed. (eight…

Describes a study that examined the effectiveness of implied boolean searches using personal author surnames plus first and/or last title words to retrieve an entry from a simulated online public access catalog (OPAC). Implications for the design of OPACs are discussed, and further research is suggested. (LRW)

Reviews methods to improve online catalogs for subject searching and describes the design of an expert system front-end to improve subject access in online public access catalogs that focuses on search strategies. Implementation of a prototype system at the National University of Singapore is described, and reformulation strategies are discussed.…

Discusses problems in OPAC (online public access catalog) searching, describes the value and styles of pathfinders that are used as subject guides, and illustrates how to include them in a NOTIS system. Future possibilities are considered, and examples of NOTIS screen displays for pathfinders are appended. (Author/LRW)

Describes the Library of Congress online catalog, which is now available on the World Wide Web. Highlights include the LOCIS (Library of Congress Information System) database; Telnet access; the Web gateway to book and name authority files; an experimental catalog with a user-friendly interface; and examples of computer screens. (LRW)

This experiment explores the effectiveness of retrieving the listing of a known-item book from the 3.6 million entry online catalog at the library of the University of Michigan using various combinations of author's name plus first and last title words. Discusses implications for the design of OPAC (online public access catalog) screens.…

The purpose of this study was to examine the inter-indexer consistency in the assignment of selected access points between OCLC and RLIN (Research Libraries Information Network). Both databases are used by many libraries as bibliographic sources for copy cataloging. Access points were compared for differences in wording, MARC coding, and…

Discusses the problems encountered by elementary school children in retrieving information from a library catalog, either the traditional card catalog or an OPAC (online public access catalog). An alternative system of classification using colors and symbols is described that was developed in the Common School (Amherst, Massachusetts). (Author/LRW)

Reports on a study of keyword and Boolean searching by users of an online public access catalog (OPAC) at the University of Oklahoma. Results of survey questionnaires and transaction log analysis indicate users search more often by keyword, even though the search usually fails and they don't understand it. (15 tables) (Author/LRW)