Describes the concept of an integrated environment which allows managers to evaluate and measure the performance of computer based information systems. Both system efficiency evaluation and user interaction evaluation are addressed, and MADAM, a system currently operational at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, is briefly described.…

Discusses the four major elements in participative management: an information system that provides timely feedback on organizational performance, systematic representation of employees at all levels, alignment around a vision that is shared by all, and the organizational leaders' belief in the creativity and responsibility of employees. (CT)

While business administration educators are increasingly using computers for instruction, incorporating administrative computing into course content and classroom activity, requiring computer literacy of students, adding courses in high-technology management, and creating departments of management information systems, no general theory of…

This overview of PRECIS indexing system use by the National Film Board of Canada covers reasons for its choice, challenge involved in subject analysis and indexing of audiovisual documents, the methodology and software used to process PRECIS records, the resulting catalog subject indexes, and user reaction. Twenty-one references are cited. (EJS)

Examines role and contributions of natural-language processing in information retrieval and artificial intelligence research in context of large operational information retrieval systems and services. State-of-the-art information retrieval systems combining the functional capabilities of conventional inverted file term adjacency approach with…

Administrators relate their experiences in development and governance of library networks--AMIGOS (an OCLC local system); network developed by University of Minnesota Libraries; the California Library Authority for Systems and Services (CLASS); OCLC--and note past accomplishments and future prospects of the National Commission on Libraries and…

The use of a database management system to assist in tracking the progress of master's degree candidates in a nursing administration program is outlined, including a summary of database concepts, a description of the system, and a discussion of its application in other clinical and academic nursing settings. (MSE)

This essay reassesses various predictions made 10 years ago concerning the replacement of print on paper by electronic publication in light of what has actually taken place in the ensuing decade. A summary of earlier observations, stages of change, electronic publishing and publications, and changes in libraries are highlighted. (EJS)

This 910-item annual update (1984 through early 1985) covers: online systems, databases, services; man-machine studies, database creation, user interface, system design and evaluation; profile development, searching techniques, indexing; usage studies, economics, promotion, online searching services management; user training, microcomputer…

This analysis of nine myths of library automation highlights cost effectiveness, circulation control and delinquency rates, budget allocation, staff needs, technical services productivity, the online catalog, need for consultants, the MARC format, and turnkey systems. Views of the reality regarding each myth are offered. (EJS)

Bibliographic control of information in the social sciences is examined, and the transfer of social science information from the Western countries to the Third World is discussed. (RM)

The "average" costs of integrated library system components--including hardware, software, and related expenses--are outlined to assist in projecting the costs of a small system. Potential benefits of such systems, i.e., areas in which operational costs can be reduced through their use, are also reviewed. (EJS)

MINDS (Multiple Intelligent Node Document Servers) is a distributed system of knowledge-based query engines for efficiently retrieving multimedia documents in an office environment of distributed workstations. By learning document distribution patterns and user interests and preferences during system usage, it customizes document retrievals for…

This essay offers suggestions to make online public access catalogs (OPACs) less idiosyncratic and more usable. Discussion covers qualitative difference between online catalog and predecessors, challenge of debunking assumptions, skills for success, maintaining an instructional perspective, catalog development for the people by the people, and the…

Eight papers cover: optical storage technology; cross-cultural videodisc design; optical disk technology use at the Library of Congress Research Service and National Library of Medicine; Internal Revenue Service image storage and retrieval system; solving business problems with CD-ROM; a laser disk operating system; and an optical disk for…