This survey of current work on data base systems is divided into three main sectors: data models, data languages, and support for data base operations, including hardware for content addressing, data base machines, and software techniques for optimizing and evaluating group expressions. A 203-item bibliography is provided. (Author/JD)

Assesses the financial impact of online services for management and describes the process of financial management of the online search service at Charles River Associates, Inc. The areas of budgeting, pricing, and controlling are examined in the context of a financial management methodology. (CWM)

A comprehensive framework for the evaluation of online bibliographic retrieval services is applied to EISO, and relationships between search processing variables associated with costs and output variables measuring client's knowledge gain and degree of satisfaction are discussed. (Author/MBR)

Discusses closing card catalogs in research libraries in terms of feasibility and cost effectiveness and argues for continuing the catalog. Techniques for integrating the new headings into existing card catalogs, and the advantages of delaying the switchover are discussed. (MBR)

Describes the University of Florida's course, Automated Information Sources and Services, and presents the results of a survey of 46 accredited library schools which indicate that instruction provided in online searching is widespread and growing, but that great diversity exists among library schools in instructional goals and objectives. (CWM)

Effect of automation on technical and public services, with emphasis on library and human organizational changes. (Author)

A series of experiments determined whether thesauri enhance the retrieval of Chinese documents and automatic indexing can compete with manual indexing in a Chinese information retrieval system (CIRS). Statistical analysis of recall and precision measures suggest that relational thesauri do improve retrieval and that automatic indexing is…

Users of the World Wide Web have recognized the need for better search strategies and mechanisms. This article discusses the Educom NLII Instructional Management System (IMS) Project specifications and Java-based software for metadata that will provide information about Web-based materials not currently obtainable with traditional search engines.…

Describes the Pennsylvania County Mapper, which provides economic and social data by county and enables users to create and customize electronic thematic maps through the Internet. Discusses conditions leading to the development of the site and basic requirements for service; relates experiences with building an online mapping system. (AEF)

Computer procedures were taught with either interactive multimedia CD-ROMs or manuals to 46 adults aged 60-74 and 46 aged 75-89. The younger group made fewer errors, required less help, and took less time. Both groups forgot some facts and procedures over time. Format did not affect performance. Spatial and verbal memory, text comprehension, and…

Discusses the Peirce On-line Resource Testbed (PORT), a digital archive of primary data. Highlights include knowledge processing testbeds for digital resource development; Peirce's pragmatism in operation; PORT and knowledge processing; obstacles to archive access; and PORT as a paradigm for critical control in knowledge processing. (AEF)

Describes how the Art/Art History Department at the University of California at Davis are using QBIC (TM) (Query By Image Content) image query software as a tool for managing and retrieving images from online collections of digitized artwork. Two databases were created: a Web site linked to the department's home page and a non-web version that…

Examines some of the many Internet/World Wide Web versions of MEDLINE and reports whether the file is "healthier" now than it was before. Describes two search examples and two non-National Library of Medicine Web MEDLINE sites. Notes that for MEDLINE searching, the user should pick a couple of sites and perform a personal comparisons and…

Examines what searchers want in an Internet browser. Compares the old versions of two browsers (Netscape Navigator and Microsoft's Internet Explorer) with their new versions to see what they have to offer the professional searcher. Also looks at some of the larger issues invoked by the competition between the two products. (AEF)

A survey of 20 British electronic information vendors found that 95% considered marketing important and suggested that it is likely to become more intensive and aggressive as competition increases in the information industry. Analyzed advertisements from professional journals and direct mail literature for readability, structure, and information…