Discusses the motivation for integrating information retrieval and database management systems, and proposes a probabilistic retrieval model in which records in a file may be composed of attributes (formatted data items) and descriptors (content indicators). The details and resolutions of difficulties involved in integrating such systems are…

Discussion of methods that can be used to teach beginner courses in computer literacy focuses on students aged 10-12. The value of using a programing language versus using a generic software package is highlighted; Logo and Prolog are reviewed; and the use of databases is discussed. (LRW)

Outlines the courses offered by the Department of Library and Information Studies at Manchester Polytechnic, and describes the use of a database management system to teach aspects of information science. Details of a number of specific applications are given and future developments are discussed. (CLB)

Presents description of the Generalized Automatic Text Organization and Retrieval system (GATOR), a database system that indexes and retrieves information from machine-readable texts such as interviews and case histories. Qualitative and quantitative analyses are discussed, and integrating GATOR with standard statistical packages is described.…

Describes an information retrieval system developed at Bell Laboratories to create and maintain a variety of different but interrelated databases, and to provide controlled access to these databases. The components discussed include the interfaces, indexing rules, display languages, response time, and updating procedures of the system. (6 notes…

This study investigated critical factors that would constitute reliable performance measures for bibliographic information retrieval systems, and compared the operational effectiveness of the relevance-theoretic and utility-theoretic models. The factors discussed include document and information attributes, judges, and environmental factors. (18…

Discusses the importance of user cordial interfaces to the successful marketing of optical data disk products, and describes features of several online systems. The topics discussed include full text searching, indexed searching, menu driven interfaces, natural language interfaces, computer graphics, and possible future developments. (CLB)

Based on questionnaires sent to educational software companies in January 1988, this directory lists 78 companies. Information given includes company address, curriculum subject areas for which the company publishes software, types of machines and operating systems on which the software operates, and grade level for which it is targeted. (LRW)

Information about students' characteristics and their perceptions of their educational experience allow institutions to predict their risk of attrition. Trenton State College's effective use of the American Council on Education Cooperative Institutional Research Program for planning and assessment is described. (MLW)

Describes two interactive computer programs of juvenile literature that young readers can use to search for books they might enjoy reading. The hardware and software requirements, database features, search strategies, and topics included in the databases are discussed. (13 references) (CLB)

This bibliometric investigation of literature on microcomputers in library and information services focuses on the years 1973-1986. Five printed reference tools and three online databases were searched to examine the number of publications, types of documents, contributing languages and countries, and the productivity of individual authors.…

Three case studies of organizations that have implemented Cuadra Associate's STAR system, an integrated multiuser hardware and software information management system, describe and evaluate the use of the system with microcomputers within a database services organization, an academic law library, and an academic health sciences library. (CLB)

Discusses the many applications of microcomputer use by school administrators. The discussion is geared to "recalcitrant" administrators who have not begun to use computers in their work. Includes a sidebar listing of administrative software and another on computer use in education. (MD)

Describes a number of initiatives by the U.S. national security community that might restrict or monitor public access to sensitive but unclassified information. The current status of the initiatives, and their possible impact on freedom of information in a democratic society are discussed. (27 references) (Author/CLB)

A comparison of the effectiveness of information retrieval based on full-text documents with retrieval based on paragraphs, abstracts, or controlled vocabularies was accomplished using a subset of journal articles with nine search questions. It was found that full-text retrieval achieved significantly higher recall and lower precision than did the…