Business education in universities should include training in microcomputer-based information acquisition techniques. This paper describes some of the recent advances in the field of electronic data retrieval, assesses advantages and disadvantages, and offers suggestions for incorporating electronic data retrieval exercises into business classes.…

Presents a general overview of the development of Information Science Abstracts. The historical perspective, including the contributions of individuals and institutions, is discussed; its coverage is compared with that of other information science databases; and retrieval capabilities are described. (four references) (Author/CLB)

Discusses the use of logical imaging in information retrieval. Topics include the use of nonclassical logic in information retrieval; imaging and possible worlds semantics; retrieval by imaging; evaluation processes; worlds mass and worlds distance; and future work. (LRW)

The Internet, a network of computer networks, is leading the way to the information superhighway. Explains the basic features and various ways to get hooked up to the Internet. (MLF)

Discussion of index construction for large text collections highlights a new indexing algorithm designed to create large compressed inverted indexes "in situ." Topics include a computational model, inversion, index compression, merging, experimental test results, effect on retrieval performance, memory restrictions, and dynamic…

Describes a hierarchical text database model and defines an algebra based on concordance lists. The algebra is presented as a theoretical model to define both a conceptual schema for the database and search protocols for database implementation. Several retrieval examples are included. (19 references) (MES)

Investigates performance of online searchers using a prototype expert system that automatically reformulates queries to improve results and ranks retrieved passages to speed identification of relevant information. Results indicated that the system significantly reduced the number of queries needed, produced marginally significant improvements in…

Describes a research project in progress that is investigating the subject relationship between citing and cited documents for journals in the field of library and information science. Relevant literature is reviewed, and microanalysis and macroanalysis methods are explained. (50 references) (LRW)

Presents new methods for compressing bit matrices in large information retrieval systems which exploit possible correlations between rows of words and columns of documents. Three encoding methods are tested and compared--Shannon-Fano, arithmetic, and Huffman--and an appendix discusses binomial coefficients. (20 references) (LRW)

Describes two systems--Wide Area Information Servers (WAIS) and Rosebud--that provide protocol-based mechanisms for accessing remote full-text information servers. Design constraints, human interface design, and implementation are examined for five interfaces to these systems developed to run on the Macintosh or Unix terminals. Sample screen…

Discusses the use of thesauri in automatic indexing and describes the development of a prototype computerized abstractor's assistant. Topics addressed include TEXNET, a text network management system; the use of TEXNET for abstracting; the structure and use of a thesaurus for abstracting in TEXNET; and weighted terms. (Contains 26 references.)…

Discusses standards as tools to promote compatibility and improve practice, the role of research versus expert opinion in creating standards, and the changing scope of indexing standards. The current draft of the NISO (National Information Standards Organization) American Standard Guidelines for Indexes in Information Retrieval (Z39.4) is…

Describes a conceptual design of a bibliographic retrieval system that enables more thorough control of bibliographic entities. The conceptual schema describes a database comprising two separate files of bibliographic description, one of intellectual works and the other of physical items. This model provides information about a work's association…

Describes the use of a telecommunications program called "PC Anywhere" to afford users remote access to compact disc ready-only-memory (CD-ROM) systems. Describes hardware requirements and benefits to libraries and users. (DMM)

Discusses special problems that the symbols for sharps and flats in music notation present for the retrieval of music materials in online catalogs, and describes the results of a survey of vendors of online systems that was conducted to determine how vendors deal with this notation. (nine references) (LRW)