Describes prototype system that provides retrieval from hierarchically structured full-text databases such as legal statutes and regulations and engineering standards. Enhanced retrieval is provided through integration of three different access techniques dependent on inherent hierarchical text structure: menu, Boolean combination of keywords,…

Presents typology of online search heuristics consisting of six main classes: philosophical attitudes and overall approach; language of problem description; record and file structure; concept formulation and reformulation; recall and precision; and cost efficiency. Heuristics in each of the six classes are listed and selected examples are briefly…

Outlines the background to an analysis of information management in the Public Service Commission and describes the implementation of proposals to create better information systems and improve libraries. Progress made by the newly established Research and Information Unit is noted, including a review of government libraries. (4 references) (EJS)

Quality in library technical services is explored in light of changes produced by automation. Highlights include a definition of quality; new opportunities and shifting priorities; cataloging (fullness of records, heading consistency, accountability, local standards, automated checking); need for new skills (management, staff); and boons of…

Components of planning, developing, implementing, publicizing, and integrating were incorporated into a model of user education for an online catalog (OPAC) in academic library. Key elements in model's success were initial full-time coordination by project manager and subsequent merger of OPAC user education with existing bibliographic instruction…

The Statewide Library Computer System (LCS) has been an established operational resource-sharing system in Illinois for more than five years. Resource-sharing activities among the 27 participating academic libraries include contributions to OCLC, LCS interlibrary circulation, and access by Illinois Library and Information Network systems. Fifteen…

Explores response time variations in National Library of Medicine's ELHILL bibliographic search system and analyzes statistical significance of response time in terms of its variations by day of week, hour of day, particular bibliographic file being searched, command issued by user, number of users logged onto system. Ten references are cited.…

Discussion of Illinois experiences in library cooperation and computerization (OCLC, Library Computer System, LIBRAS) describes use of library materials, benefits and drawbacks of online networking, experiences at Lake Forest College (Illinois), and six tasks recommended for small academic libraries as preparation for major changes toward…

Discusses the development of interlibrary lending and union catalogs, problems of library resource sharing, the development of resource sharing and interlibrary lending in Maryland, governance and costs of interlibrary lending systems, and the Maryland Interlibrary Organization School Media Project. Twenty-five references are provided. (EJS)

Reports findings of a nationwide survey to determine how select number of libraries (38 respondents) have conducted projects to convert retrospective holdings to machine-readable form. Analysis of the data in areas of planning, budget, effects on user services and cataloging/output, staff, training, and evaluation is discussed. Two sources are…

Discusses features of online library catalogs and their cost characteristics, including financial management and planning (hardware and software options, turnkey vendors); approaches to cost analysis (actual experiences, building blocks); baseline estimates for two average academic libraries; and vendor estimates. Forty-five references and a…

Presents review of recent and current work in the United Kingdom on developing computer assisted learning aids (tape-slide presentations, teaching packages, simulations and emulations of commercial retrieval services) for the teaching of online information retrieval at library schools. Seventeen references are cited. (EJS)

Statistical examination of original cataloging records of Chicago Municipal Reference Library as input into online OCLC union catalog reveals library's cataloging use rate as compared to nationwide average. Previous studies, methodology, and areas of high and low use (year of input, type of record, classification, length of monograph) are…

Describes development of computer terminal used to create and retrieve bibliographic information in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean vernacular scripts and Roman alphabet languages. Involvement of American Council of Learned Societies, Research Libraries Group, and Transtech; problem solving; enhancements to Research Libraries Information Network;…

Explores relationships between holdings data input into an online catalog and the output, including specific housing location, call number, size information, full-piece-specific hierarchy and enumeration, status of piece, and bibliographic or local notes. Record structure for holdings segment of Triangle Research Libraries Network online catalog…