Analyses of the success-failure rates and user reactions using four public access online systems indicate that users overwhelmingly preferred the online to manual systems. Improved subject access emerged as the salient feature requiring improvement. Seven references are included. (Author/RAA)

Reviews hardware (microfilm, videodiscs, computers) which can process and retrieve large amounts of educational information. Identifies ways in which computer-based techniques can be used for course management, direct learning, and research. (Author/DC)

Reasons for and methods of using the WESTLAW orientation program for computer-assisted legal research training are presented. A primer is provided to acquaint the student with the research and information retrieval system, especially in formulating search strategies. Available from Am. Assoc. Law Libraries, 53 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 1201,…

This study was undertaken at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to ascertain if a relationship exists between the kind and amount of information given for a specific item and the access point selected by the searcher to determine its availability. Data, study questions, and four references are included. (Author/CHC)

Described is the South Australian Department of Mines and Energy Bibliography Retrieval System which is a repository for a large amount of geological and related information. Instructions for retrieval are outlined, and the coding information procedures are given. (DS)

Discusses how the British Post Office is using the Prestel information retrieval system. The information structure adopted for the Prestel databases and how the Prestel system hardware works are presented. Computer system software, types of information, and the impact of Prestel system on society are also presented. (HM)

Presents a cognitive model that provides a user-centered perspective of the information retrieval process and confirms the problematic nature of online library catalogs for children. Related research is reviewed, and it is concluded that developing children's thinking skills will help them search for information. (71 references) (Author/LRW)

Argues that many ideas and practices of information science, information technology, information retrieval, search strategies, information centers, fee-based information services, linked databases, database management software, scholarly communication networks, multimedia and hypertext, and information grew out of a new "discursive…

Presents a World Wide Web page model that reacts to pre-defined events and performs actions like "prefetching" automatically. Discusses the active index, conceptual page model; design of the client system, status of the current implementation, prefetching algorithm, an experiment of the algorithm, experimental results of the active index…

Examines six cases of information-seeking behaviors--initiation, selection, exploration, formulation, collection, and presentation--as undergraduate students work through class exercises using Perseus, a Greek history information database. Describes the four themes that emerged from the learners' online protocols and interactions. (AEF)

Explores the influence of several search task characteristics on children's success in finding science materials on an automated library catalog. Findings suggest that the complexity of the search task and the level of children's science domain knowledge affect their success in identifying books on assigned science topics. (Author/AEF)

Investigates Kuhlthau's Search Process Model for information seeking using two Freshmen English classes. Data showed that students followed the six stages Kuhlthau proposed and suggest extensions to the model, including changing the order of the tasks, iterating and combining steps, and revising search goals based on social and interpersonal…

Discusses the results of a study of access problems and issues related to scholarly and peer-reviewed electronic journals (e- journals) found on the Internet. Reports data on the accuracy of directory information; accessibility of articles; status of e-journal archives; methods used to retrieve current and back issues; and data formats used by…

Discusses the role of end users in the design of a multi-format digital library project, ISLA (name derived from Spanish word for "island"), being developed at the University of Southern California library for the study of the Los Angeles region. Topics include spatial and temporal indexing; the geographic information system element;…

Reports on the methodology used in an experiment whose objective was to discover whether information seekers display experimentally demonstrable preferences for index terms with particular properties, and if so, to analyze those preferences. Results provide strong evidence that it is possible to measure human preference for index terms.…