Discusses characteristics of typical online public access catalogs (OPACs) and examines patron use via printouts of transaction logs for three separate systems. Desirable features of OPACs (mnemonic search commands, boolean operators, forgiveness or automatic truncation, browsing a subject heading index, suggestive prompts) and need for…

Presents findings of project aimed at improving subject access in online library catalogs by generating records with augmented subject descriptions, termed BOOKS records, and comparing them with MARC records. Procedures involved in the selection of subject descriptions to generate a BOOKS record are described and illustrated. Six references cited.…

Describes the University of California at Berkeley's participation in the TREC (Text Retrieval Conference) interactive track experiments. Highlights include results of searches on two systems, Cheshire II and ZPRISE; system design goals and implementation; precision and recall results; search questions by topic and system; and results of…

Describes various ways in which software systems for online catalogs can be designed to enhance subject access. Highlights include what to search (subject headings, titles, notes, authority-file records, classification numbers, and associated text); truncation and stemming; spelling correction; search strategies (headings, keywords, Boolean…

Description of classification schemes for fiction book retrieval covers traditional methods, universal systems, special systems, genre systems, and development of the AMP-classification system based on multidimensional analysis of users' requests (subject matter, setting, author's intention, accessibility). Trial applications and retrieval tests,…

The National Library of Medicine's Current Information Transfer in English public access online catalog offers unique subject search capabilities--natural-language query input, automatic medical subject headings display, closest match search strategy, ranked document output, dynamic end user feedback for search refinement. References, description…

Proposes an operational definition of relevance for a Web-based library catalog. Proposes measures that characterize user behavior while searching a Web-based library catalog. Develops a methodology to predict when a user's search will be perceived to be relevant by the user. Tests the methodology with over 900,000 user search sessions with the…

E-Referencer is an expert intermediary system for searching library online public access catalogs (OPACs) on the World Wide Web. It is implemented as a proxy server that mediates the interaction between the user and Boolean OPACs. It transforms a Boolean OPAC into a retrieval system with many of the search capabilities of Web search engines.…

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 precision in information retrieval highlights a prototype online catalog, ILSA (Improving Library Subject Access), developed at Indiana University of Pennsylvania that uses subject clusters and classification. Topics addressed include problems with keyword searching, controlled vocabulary, and thesauri; natural language mapping…

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)

This sixth and final course installment discusses subject access to information through the online catalog. Highlights include online catalog transaction logs (printouts showing each step in all searches done in system), search effectiveness, online user training, unified access, Library of Congress Subject Headings, and online catalog design.…

In this fourth of five course installments, statements by four practitioners and researchers on role of Library of Congress (LC) and its subject headings in improving subject access to United States libraries are presented. Comments from LC and a tabulation of suggestions from 10 respondents are included. (EJS)

This essay suggests that until online public access catalogs can be truly user-friendly by encouraging searchers to learn and control and relearn, making systems too easy is not in the users' or systems' best interests. Experiences at Library of Congress and examples of search strategies and menu systems are noted. (EJS)

Discussion of subject access through classification number searching in online library catalogs highlights the present classification climate, increased potential for classification retrieval, effect of past and present practice on effectiveness of class number access, and proposals for action. Thirty-two sources are given. (EJS)