Faculty have designed alternative ways to hear from their students. The use of a box for comments and questions at the back of a University of Vermont chemistry class and an online computer conference to enhance writing classes at the University of Michigan are described. (MLW)

Stresses the role of children's literature in working toward international understanding and the advancement of knowledge, and outlines an international storage and retrieval system for the bibliographic control of children's books, magazines, and audiovisual materials. (CLB)

Discusses the usage of online bibliographic database searching in political science research for undergraduates. Explains several advantages of this research tool. Proves a step-by-step description of how to use this research tool. Gives a specific example of this process and lists a selected directory of database vendors and political science…

Demonstrations to graduate education students on the use of the ERIC database for research of children's literature materials involved using the thesaurus and subject indexes. Electronic searches served as follow-up to the classroom instruction, and the advantages of online searching were illustrated through various approaches used to retrieve…

Examines the internationalism of the network marketplace through case studies of the London Stock Exchange and I. P. Sharp Associates, a Canadian computer service bureau. Discussion focuses on the importance of transnational computer networks to the production of information services and marketplace expansion, and global information policy issues.…

Discussion of issues concerned with providing library reference services to machine readable data files focuses on numeric databases. The team approach used at the University of Florida, which incorporates reference librarians, programers and data managers, database producers and vendors, and professional associations, is described. A bibliography…

Description of problems that have hindered the development and use of online databases in the humanities focuses primarily on history. The discussion covers vocabulary difficulties, lack of retrospective information, attitudes of humanities scholars toward technology, and lack of funding. Some suggestions for meeting the needs of historians are…

A medical-information system (MIS) designed to retrieve literature directly related to clinical questions generated during medical practice is described. Questions were processed at the centralized MIS in the Division of Continuing Medical Education at the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine. (MLW)

Presents interview with Roger Summit, the president of Dialog Information Services, Inc. Highlights include Summit's role as chief architect of the system, the inception of Dialog and its beginnings at Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, services provided by Dialog, a challenge for libraries, and future developments and services. (EJS)

Because of the increasing importance of online databases, school library media specialists are encouraged to introduce students to online searching. Four books that would help media specialists gain a basic background are reviewed and it is noted that although they are very technical, they can be adapted to individual needs. (EM)

Data were gathered at nine academic and research libraries to study processing components of nine integrated systems for support of bibliographic and item-record creation and maintenance. System support for basic processing functions, flexibility, ease of use, and effect of system design on work flow are examined and results are charted. (CDD)

A representative sample of monographs and analyzed serials distributed to depository libraries was searched in the OCLC online system to determine when, how, and by whom documents are likely to be cataloged. Patterns of document distribution and cataloging practices are presented. Implications for cataloging policies among depository libraries are…

This article outlines the technological developments that have taken place in the online information field and their effects on the role of librarians as information intermediaries. Discussion covers changing technologies; products (data bank switch, electronic publishing and full-text databases, user friendly access and end user searching); and…

Articles highlight National Endowment for the Humanities Support for United States Newspaper Program; coordination of cataloging practices; on-site cataloging; Pennsylvania Newspaper Project; Newspaper Cataloging Manual and Anglo American Cataloging Rules (AACR2); national policy for cataloging microform reproductions; and intended audience terms.…

Summarizes the growth of databases, including major milestones, issues, and trends of the past 20 years, during which time the database/online industry had become a large and thriving segment of the information industry. A time line overview of database developments from 1951 to 1985 is appended. (42 references) (EJS)