SPIRES (Stanford Public Information REtrieval System) is a computer information storage and retrieval system being developed at Stanford University with funding from the National Science Foundation. SPIRES has two major goals: to provide a user-oriented, interactive, on-line retrieval system for a variety of researchers at Stanford; and to support…

Farmer cooperatives are rapidly adopting the computer as a managerial tool as indicated by their attempts to make greater and more sophisticated use of their computers since their initial installation. This report presents factual data on the popular criticism that many cooperatives are not using the computer to its fullest potential. The report…

Descriptions of representative nonconventional information systems in use today are given in order to provide managers, management analysts, supervisors, and others with ideas as to how they might improve the dissemination, storage, and retrieval of information in their offices. No attempt was made to evaluate the relative merits of the systems…

The cost of an item of information in a storage system is defined as the sum of an initial cost, a time dependent cost, and a usage cost. Item usage is assumed to follow a simple exponential obsolescence pattern. A decision rule for the economic holding time of an item in storage is derived from the model and based on a policy of minimizing the…

The aim of this study was to develop methods, based upon computer simulation, of designing information systems and illustrate the use of these methods by application to an information service. The method developed is based upon Monte Carlo and discrete event simulation techniques and is described in an earlier report - Sira report R412 Organizing…

A description and analysis of numerous management problems pertaining to the substantial annual expenditures of the Government for computer software products together with recommendations to executive branch agencies for strengthening management practices are presented in this report. Appendix I provides an overview of the growth in use of (ADP)…

This bibliography of environmental services is designed for general orientation and not intended as a comprehensive listing. Reference is made only to information systems initiated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or those which contain reference to EPA services. The booklet is divided into three sections: (1) EPA information systems,…

Indexing and abstracting can be thought of as a way of modeling an actual document or textual item. Both are miniature versions of the actual thing. Normally, the indexing model is used to locate desired information, while the abstracting model is used as a screening medium to help the searcher decide which of the apparently correct actual items…

The study reports on technical and cost factors affecting future growth of Cable TV (CATV) systems and the development of the "wired nation." Comparisons are made between alternatives for distributing CATV signals and alternative prototypes for subscriber home terminals. Multi-cable, augmented-channel (with converter), and switched CATV…

The research has contributed toward establishing a discipline of information science since it shows that fundamental principles dealing with communication exist and can be applied to pracitcal problems. Several courses and Ph.D. dissertations grew out of the research. (Author)

Nearly all organizations are faced with problems of classifying and coding financial data, management and technical information, components, stores, etc. and need to apply some logical and meaningful system of identification. This report examines the objectives and applications of classification and coding systems and reviews eight systems…

The goal of this study guide is to train education information consultants to do a literature search in an information center, both manually and by computer. The guide provides five lessons, self-tests and keys for each of the tests. A short teacher's guide and examples of computer searches are also included. (RH)

A 1-YEAR PILOT PROJECT OF DOCUMENT ABSTRACTION WAS UNDERTAKEN BY A VOLUNTARY PANEL OF 32 SCHOOL PLANT SPECIALISTS FROM THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON SCHOOLHOUSE CONSTRUCTION. THE GOAL OF THIS PILOT STUDY, CARRIED OUT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, WAS TO IDENTIFY, ACQUIRE, ABSTRACT, AND DELIVER TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH INFORMATION…

The Department of Textiles, Clothing, and Merchandising in the College of Home Economics at the University of Kentucky has developed a cataloging, storage, and retrieval system for their expanding historical costume collection. (LH)

Describes plans for a European information network that will link the nations of Europe together in providing easy access to data bases from all parts of the world and in all fields of science and technology. (Author/PF)