The eight articles in this special section on microcomputer applications in libraries discuss selection of microcomputer courseware for school media collections, public and special libraries, information retrieval, and library education. References and an annotated bibliography are provided. (Request subscription information from W. Robert…

Survey report of how practitioners in four professions (accounting, architecture, psychology, recreation/tourism) looked for information, with a goal of improving library instruction programs at Arizona State University. Data support the necessity of information skills for those entering the professions; suggest that instruction be…

A study investigated the effectiveness of combined lecture and computer demonstration to train third-year pharmacy students (n=48) in computerized information retrieval. Results show the method to be effective in helping students translate Boolean logic into search strategies. The importance of improving pharmacy students' literature retrieval…

The Moscow University Chair of Scientific Information developed a program aimed at educating high school and university students about information science, including searching, retrieval, and information technology. Teaching has highlighted informatics, scientific information and communication, and information management. Such programs in Russia…

Discussion of instructional visuals and practice techniques as effective learning strategies focuses on a study of undergraduates that examined the effects of animated instruction and practice on adult learning in a computer-based science lesson. Analyses of the results indicate that practice affects performance measures more than visual…

These three articles discuss the use of hypertext and hypermedia systems in higher education. Topics addressed include knowledge acquisition; learning processes; access to information (highlighting the printing press, subject specialists, and broadcast media); the Perseus Project; authoring tools; incorporating hypermedia within courseware; user…

Presents the initial ideas produced by Think Groups of the American Society for Information Science (ASIS), who are developing a vision for the year 2000 in the disciplines that comprise information science. In the areas discussed, suggestions are made for the roles of ASIS and special interest groups, research directions, and issues needing…

Discusses the need for library science to examine users' search behaviors in the context of social cognition and creative problem solving. Topics covered include the psychology of search behavior, problem solving approaches to library instruction in online searching, and problem solving protocols. (29 references) (CLB)

This article reports results of a case study of text-based online and CD-ROM databases that identified design characteristics that are important to high school students' use for higher-level learning as well as for information access and retrieval. Implications for the design of databases are suggested. (Contains 62 references.) (LRW)

Describes a task-oriented assessment of two MEDLINE searching systems by medical students, one using Boolean searching on human-indexed thesaurus terms and one using natural language searching on words in the title, abstract, and indexing terms. Highlights include user certainty in answering questions, time needed, and user satisfaction.…

Discusses information retrieval and the future of databases in education, examines problem-solving strategies, and describes a study of undergraduate students that compared the use of a traditional textbook with the use of the electronic version on CD-ROM. Performance on tests and strategies used to answer questions are analyzed. (20 references)…

Discusses the incorporation of CD-ROM technology into Georgia State University's William Russell Pullen Library, and considers its impact on reference services and bibliographic instruction. Concludes that technology increases the need for critical thinking skills, faculty-librarian interaction, and human resources for reference and technical…

Four articles address traditional mediation in library services, including the librarian as mediator, the reference librarian as information intermediary, recommitment to patrons' information needs, and mediation in reference service to extend patron success. (87 references) (LRW)

Five papers discuss topics related to the USMARC Community Information Format (CIF), including using CIF to create a public service resource network; development of a CIF-based database of materials relating to multicultural and differently-abled populations; background on CIF; development of an information and referral database; and CIF and…

Examines how informetric characteristics of information retrieval (IR) system databases can be used to help system designers decide what type of file structures would provide the best performance. The development of appropriate models describing database contents is highlighted in this first part of a two-part study. (30 references) (LRW)