Describes the selection policies, subject access, search aids, indexing, coverage, and currency of three online databases in the fields of electronics and computer science: COMPENDEX, ELCOM, and INSPEC. Sample searches are displayed for each database. A bibliography cites five references. (FM)

Describes the scope, content, and retrieval characteristics of Sociological Abstracts, an online database of literature in the social sciences. Sample searches are displayed, and the strengths and weaknesses of the database are summarized. (FM)

Reports a preliminary investigation into the man-machine interaction aspects of online searching, including the methodology developed for observing and recording man-machine interface in the use of online information retrieval systems. Three references are cited, and a bibliography lists 16 sources. (FM)

Describes a method of iterative searching that uses local metrical clustering in the formulation of additional searches by producing searchonyms, terms which are synonymous to keywords in the context of a single query. The method was applied to a database containing Hebrew and Aramaic text. Seven references are listed. (FM)

Describes the Elaboration Theory of Instruction (ETI) and charts its correspondence with several major principles drawn from contemporary cognitive psychology. Components of the ETI are related to current models of knowledge representation, schema theory, memory processes, and earlier cognitive based instructional frameworks. Fifty-three…

Focuses on the methods used by three academic libraries in addressing the question of whether or not to charge users for online searches. (FM)

Argues that classification schemes like LC and Dewey Decimal are not adequate devices for organizing and retrieving library materials, and suggests the use of two separate schemes, one for shelf arrangement of materials and the other to provide subject searching capability on automated systems, as a solution to the problem. (JL)

Views increasing costs in the form of royalties as an obstacle to the development of online services in academic libraries. Increased volume, creative pricing, and alternate charging algorithms are suggested for containing costs. Comments of vendors and database producers are included. (RAA)

Describes an online microcomputer-based system called Reference Librarian Enhancement System (REFLES) which stores factual information. Examples of data in the system and uses of the service are presented, as well as considerations for the future. Twelve (12) references are included. (Author/BK)

Compares database update currency, number of hits, elapsed time, number of offline prints or online types, offline print turnaround time, vendor rates, total search cost, and discounted search cost based on vendor discount rates for five simple searches run on three major commercial vendors' online systems. (CWM)

Describes XMARC, a set of computer programs which provides students with a simplified means of writing programs for the automatic indexing of an experimental collection of MARC records. (Author/FM)

Explains, with supporting figures and flowcharts of programing logic, two search strategies introduced to the MORPHS System since 1976: one that employs the normal Boolean operators in strings without bracketing or in the form of marked steps, and one that treats a string of keywords as a compound word. (Author/JD)

Contrasts the nature of citation practices in the sciences and in the humanities, and details the workings of the Institute for Scientific Information's new Arts and Humanities Citation Index. Fifteen references are cited. (FM)

Describes an automatic method, based upon a text structure analysis and using a relatively small dictionary, to extract significant phrases from the title and the abstract of scientific and technical documents. The information representation of the document is discussed with relation to the construction of the document information retrieval…

Briefly described is the County of San Mateo Online System (COSMOS) which was developed and is used by the San Mateo Educational Resources Center (SMERC) to access the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) and Fugitive Information Data Organizer (FIDO) databases as well as the curriculum guides housed at SMERC. (TG)