With the saturation of traditional markets for their services, subscription agents have evolved from orders and invoices to serving customers by communicating with librarians and publishers and making automated and paper products available. Magazine fulfillment centers, publisher discounts, and electronic publishing will influence the subscription…

This essay addresses issue of uniformity or consistency in application of subject headings--as distinct from consistency among headings--to books on any given topic. Discussion covers purpose of subject headings or descriptors, reliability of choices made by catalogers when assigning subject headings, and card and online catalogs. (18 references)…

Describes a student magazine publishing project in which the participating junior high school students accessed the information utility, CompuServe, to gather current and accurate background information for their magazine articles. Student use of CompuServe is described, and the value and costs of using CompuServe are discussed. (MBR)

Reviews pertinent research and suggests theoretical precepts that can serve as guiding principles in making decisions about the design of on-line documentation. (FL)

Discusses the differences between the uses of microcomputers and minicomputers as educational tools. Outlines how a Maryland school district overcame the drawbacks it found in using microcomputers by developing a more comprehensive computer-assisted instruction program using minicomputers. (MD)

Findings of focused-group interviews conducted for OCLC study of library users and online public access catalogs (OPACs) indicate users like OPACs, have problems finding right subject heading, envision features to improve subject access, want access to more than books, and want OPACs to provide new services. Eight references are listed. (EJS)

Discusses implementation of online Library Circulation System (later known as Library Computer System) at University of Illinois which links campus libraries and provides circulation information to numerous public libraries. Conversion of shelflist into machine-readable form in house and by vendor, input problems, proofreading, vendor…

Discusses ways to improve quality of retrieval systems that depend on use of truncated words or quasi-word stems as indexing vocabulary. Problems of generalizability and stability of discriminant function analysis for selecting good topical terms in database drawn from abstracts of Harris Survey press releases are addressed. References are cited.…

This first of five course installments on providing subject access to information focuses on three perceptions of subject access: the system analyst's view, the user-oriented view, and a consolidation. Definitions of subject access and related terms and subject access in an online environment are included. Five references are listed. (EJS)

Describes how genealogists visiting the Library of Congress can use Library of Congress Information System (LOCIS) to identify genealogies in library's collections. Search strategies within two LOCIS systems--Multiple-Use MARC System (MUMS) and Subject-Oriented-Retriever for Processing Information Online (SCORPIO)--and the PREMARC database for…

Trends in electronic editions, on-demand publishing, and online publishing are reviewed and their potential effects on library services and organization are discussed, including library material selection, acquisitions, cataloging, serials, circulation, and home printers. Thirteen references are provided. (EJS)

Provides detailed model to be used to select most effective method for accomplishing library catalog retrospective conversion. The random sample, gathering information, and steps in project to be costed (searching, verification and editing, coding and input of nonhits, and obtaining final records) are discussed. Examples and eleven references are…

This report considers the effects of new technology (online search services) on user access to information; the role of libraries in providing such access; the structure of a future national information network in the United Kingdom; and general managerial considerations. Seventeen references are cited. (EJS)

A major conversion of existing systems has significantly improved the administrative computing capabilities of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The training function has been emphasized as a vital element for an interactive computing environment. (MLW)

Reports on importance of transborder data flows (international data flows through transnational computer-communication systems), impact of transborder data flows, and what can be done to promote favorable effects and avoid unfavorable ones. Research, technical cooperation, and policies and conferences of international organizations are…