Emphasizes that the current closed or in-house systems approach to information retrieval needs to be expanded to include all the information systems available, and that the sources of user satisfaction and retrieval success must be tracked before changes can be made in certain system components. Ten references are listed. (FM)

Describes a fast algorithm for comparing the lists of terms representing documents in automatic classification experiments. Complexity and running time for the algorithm are compared to other procedures, and a short algol-like routine is presented in the appendix. Eight references are included. (Author/BK)

Explores the intended and unintended outcomes of information technology on (1) business and economics, (2) research, and (3) library career preparation. Specific examples of the potential effects of databasing in these areas are provided, and four references are listed. (SW)

Social interest in information as a shared resource is diminishing, while proprietary interest in information as a profitable resource increases. Technological advancement in information processing and services, considerations of cost recovery by public agencies, and opportunities for commercial profit are blurring distinctions between the public…

Outlines the characteristics of TRAINER, a computer-based system designed to aid individuals in learning and practicing the search skills needed in using online bibliographic retrieval services. (FM)

Discusses general aspects of education, training, and marketing techniques for on-line searching, and describes methods adopted by 12 organizations in Norway, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, and Britain that use computers for their bibliographic information requirements. (CWM)

Outlines the advantages of digital documents for scholars and offers considerations for designing systems for storing and retrieving digital information products. Discusses conventional and electronic storage and retrieval; network costs; digital storage; search strategies; acquisition prices; and digital initiatives. (AEF)

Three Web search engines--Alta Vista, Excite, and Lycos--were compared and evaluated in terms of their search capabilities and retrieval performances using sample queries drawn from real reference questions. Findings indicated Alta Vista outperformed Excite and Lycos in both search facilities and retrieval performance, although Lycos had the…

Compares features and search performances of three popular Web-based search services: InfoSeek, Lycos, and OpenText. Five queries were used to conduct searches with these services. There was a low level of result overlap among the services; none of the services provide good output control for users. Includes recommendations for improvements in…

Investigates the importance of book reviews to science and technology scholars and humanities and social science scholars. Focuses on the sources, importance, and utility of book reviews for information seeking; research by scholars and scholars' criteria for useful book reviews; and whether scholars use electronic book reviews. (Author/AEF)

Examines some of the incentives behind cataloging on the Internet. Discusses the Dublin Core metadata elements set which attempts to apply traditional cataloging practices to new technologies. Looks at the practicalities of such a system, including three obvious benefits to mapping Dublin Core elements to MARC fields. (AEF)

Describes a conceptual model of information retrieval. Includes a model of the Internet to help college students form mental models so they perceive information retrieval as a process and are able to decide when to use the Internet and to decide on suitable search strategies for different question types. (Author/LRW)

Discusses six principles of visual perception and their cognitive implications for interactive screen design: clear perception determines continuity and flow of information; perceptual grouping establishes screen sequencing; placement of information aids recall; distinctiveness increases retention and retrieval; consistency in the perception of…

As Information Retrieval (IR) has evolved, it has become a highly interactive process, rooted in cognitive and situational contexts. Consequently the traditional cybernetic-based IR model does not suffice for interactive IR or the human approach to IR. Reviews different views of feedback in IR and their relationship to cybernetic and social…

Librarians and information scientists have debated whether traditional cataloging methods can bring order to the Internet. Reviews literature on alternative strategies for organizing and accessing information resources on the Internet that incorporate some aspect of traditional library expertise, including library catalogs, subject trees,…