Examines history of online information retrieval services in North American in general and in Canada specifically. The current situation is assessed on the basis of results of a recent national survey and the issue of charging for these services is discussed. Twelve references are cited. (EJS)

Urges that libraries become involved in providing access to machine-readable data files, such as statistics gathered by government agencies, research data gathered by scholars, and economic or business data, and describes how the Lawrence University Library developed a data collection and supportive services. Twenty-eight sources are appended.…

Discusses research on mechanisms that determine the temporal properties of the retrieval of information, represented in long-term memory as a network of associations among concepts. A theory is developed concerned with processes leading from presentation of a probe to levels of activation in the network. (JN)

This article discusses: (1) options for physical education researchers regarding computerized information retrieval systems; (2) how these systems have been integrated with traditional library services; and (3) basic issues associated with computerized information retrieval. Databases which specialize in physical education and sports information…

Presents list of sources providing information about reference uses of databases emphasizing those which are commercially available and issues and developments in online database searching. Citations to introductory textbooks, other useful monographs, journal articles, bibliographies, periodicals, directories, professional groups, conferences,…

Discusses the advances in and prospects of success for computerized systems, such as teletext, involving electronic transfer to the home of information traditionally transmitted through the newspaper. The new technology's effect in the marketplace, its providers, content, and potential audience are surveyed with respect to the future role of the…

Presents a method for identifying indexing terms from word stems, using discriminant analysis to distinguish terms which refer to topics from terms which do not refer to topics. A test of the method on the Harris Survey Question database is discussed. Included are 11 data tables and a reference list. (Author/JL)

Briefly describes the development of databases since 1979 for searching online the geographic aspects of international relations topics. Online news services, commercial databases, and government-reproduced foreign affairs databases are discussed. Some suggestions for useful future sources are also made. (JL)

Discusses the evolution of the Great Comprehensive Electronic Encyclopedia (GCEE) which would contain everything known to humanity and its potential impact on research and education. The question of who should control access to GCEE and indexing, validation, and selection procedures for materials in its data banks are considered. (AM)

Describes a computer-based media index designed at California State University in Los Angeles which can access elements of the library's nonprint materials collection. The media index has separate indexes for titles, subjects, and added entries. (FM)

Clemson University has developed techniques and procedures to assist in the construction and maintenance of administrative systems. Procedures as well as the tools and techniques used by all systems are discussed: online report request software, online user table maintenance software, report supervisor and report writer software, etc. (Author/MLW)

Explores the development of information mapping as an instructional system, a means of classifying information, an information retrieval system, and a structured writing system, and looks at future prospects for information mapping. A 17-item bibliography is included. (CHC)

Examines the probability and impact of an increase in end-user searching of online databases on librarians and library education. The problems of end-user searching are discussed, new developments in online access are reviewed, and recommendations for the education of the end-user are made. Included are 25 references. (JL)

Proposes a means for determining the similarity between search request formulations in online information retrieval systems, and discusses the use of similarity measures for clustering search formulations and document files in such systems. Experimental results using the proposed methods are presented in three tables. A reference list is provided.…

Describes the operation of an automated system that manipulates statistics for the online search service at the Texas Christian University Library. Sample input and worksheets are displayed. (FM)