Reports on a comparative study of the postcoordinate retrieval effectiveness of Library of Congress Subject Headings and the Preserved Context Indexing System (PRECIS). Data are presented in six tables and one figure, and a reference list is included. (Author/JL)

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 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…

The problem of the direct and inverted forms of adjective-noun subject headings which contain national adjectives is reexamined. A pattern based on subject categories is discovered which is different from the pattern based on work-frequency discussed in Harris' Subject Analysis. (11 references) (Author)

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.…

A comprehensive guide to the literature published between World War II and 1979 which critically evaluates the Library of Congress list of Subject Headings (LCSH), this bibliography has been prepared for information personnel involved with subject authority files, thesauri, or vocabulary control. A brief bibliometric analysis of the literature…

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…

Study conducted at the University of Western Ontario explored whether use of keywords of an online catalog would be a satisfactory alternative to self cross referencing for locating variant subject heading forms. Random comparison of machine readable cataloging with Library of Congress authorities demonstrated the desirability of cross reference…

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 editorial addresses the issue of whether or not to provide free-text, keyword/boolean search capabilities in the information retrieval mechanisms of online public access catalogs and discusses online catalogs developed prior to 1980--keyword searching, phrase searching, and precoordination and postcoordination. (EJS)

Discusses the graphical user interface (GUI) online public access catalog (OPAC), a user interface that uses images to represent options. Topics include user interface design for information retrieval; designing effective bibliographic displays, including subject headings; two design principles; and what GUIs can bring to OPACs. (LRW)

Discusses problems with subject searches in online library catalogs and examines theoretical principles for the design of effective information retrieval systems. Probabilistic ranking methods are discussed, and an experimental online catalog called CHESHIRE is described. It is noted that CHESHIRE uses classification clustering, provides natural…

In this research project, subject terms from the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) Schedules and Relative Index were incorporated into an online catalog as searcher's tools for subject access, browsing, and display. Four features of the DDC were employed to help searchers browse for and match their own subject terms with the online catalog's…

This review of research on subject searching in library catalogs includes a summary of research findings, reasons for search failures, free text versus controlled vocabulary searching, and studies of users' needs. Suggestions for future action to improve subject access in the online catalog are noted. A 52-item bibliography is included. (EJS)