Provides step-by-step instructions for ordering documents online through DIALOG and ORBIT, including some helpful hints. Tables show database or independent document suppliers; list ordering commands, with examples; and explain optional commands, for the two retrieval systems. (SW)

Describes the statistical programs which report on activities of the university library computer system. These statistical reports document the status of the master bibliographic file, serials holdings, patrons, and circulation activity. The reports are used in decision making for collection development. (SW)

Illustrates with two examples the use of online databases for help in translating technical words that cannot be readily found in the literature or in dictionaries. Description of search methods shows how computerized documentation can provide pinpoint access to a vast body of literature. (MES)

Presents a review, an analysis, and a projection of the use of machine-readable databases, including online search and support services, and emphasizes the application of bibliographic databases for special libraries. More than 40 references are cited. (FM)

Summarizes responses given by representatives of the four major bibliographic utilities (OCLC, RLIN, UTLAS, WLN) to 26 questions formulated to gather information for special librarians evaluating those utilities. An appendix provides specific data for each system, including address, affiliation, interviewer, and interviewees. (FM)

Describes the generation and utilization of financial reports by the online book order system developed at the University of Massachusetts. A series of reports record monthly book transactions, use of funds by subject and type of publication, and the performance of vendors. (Author/RAA)

Reviews bibliographic control before and after the advent of machine-readable cataloging, and holds that new developments toward decentralization seem to counter the existing technological trend toward centralization of automated library services. (FM)

Two revisions of computer-interactive multidimensional scaling data selection procedures are presented. One revision--based on randomly ordering the list of stimuli--improves the estimates of the multidimensional scaling parameters and the other permits more efficient data designs. (Author/JKS)

Notes advantages and disadvantages of the DIALOG Predicasts files and provides instruction in their use. (RAA)

Surveys the current state of minicomputer-operated information systems capable of incorporating linguistic features, focusing on the Minicomputer Operated Retrieval (Partially Heuristic) System. Consideration is given to the automation of the indexing process and to available search strategies. (FM)

Describes ways of using Boolean questions with a clustered information file, and reviews an experiment studying the effect of such a retrieval method. (FM)

Shares some of the experiences of the University of Florida Libraries' Census Access Program, which has provided print and machine-readable census products to users since 1971. Article anticipates the demand for the new data products of the 1980 census. (Author/JD)

Illustrates the special considerations of using European search systems from North America: steps in establishing a telephone link with the European Space Agency's system, lack of availability to North Americans of some European databases through this system, user reaction, and costs. Brief descriptions of some European databases and a connect…

Europe's lag in databanks and online commercial availability is contrasted to its lead in numbers of bibliographic files. Intelligent use of new technologies such as Viewdata and the European Communications Satellite are expected to correct this imbalance. (RAA)

Presents user orientation and instruction guidelines for online search systems, including a sample reference manual outline in five parts: (1) introduction, (2) summary of services, (3) system descriptions, (4) principles of searching, and (5) operating instructions. Harmonization of search instructions is advocated, in order to eliminate user…