The approach of J. D. Sneed is used to argue for a distinction between theoretical and nontheoretical (or empirical) entities. Attention is directed toward this approach as an important facility for looking at statistics and for constructing a framework for the correct use of statistical theory in information retrieval experiments. (MBR)

Discusses sources of scholarly information including libraries (focusing on shared cataloging and information retrieval systems), nonbook materials, data archives, and commercial databases. Also discusses computing information and integration, the latter considering quality control, terminals, communications, user interfaces, and long-term…

Reports on retrieval of patent information online and includes definition of patent family, basic and equivalent patents, "parents and children" applications, designated states, patent family databases--International Patent Documentation Center, World Patents Index, APIPAT (American Petroleum Institute), CLAIMS (IFI/Plenum). A table…

This essay suggests that until online public access catalogs can be truly user-friendly by encouraging searchers to learn and control and relearn, making systems too easy is not in the users' or systems' best interests. Experiences at Library of Congress and examples of search strategies and menu systems are noted. (EJS)

Develops model of the reference interview which explicitly incorporates human information processing, particularly schema ideas presented by Marvin Minsky and other theorists in cognitive processing and artificial intelligence. Questions are raised concerning use of content analysis of transcribed verbal protocols as methodology for studying…

Discussion of subject access through classification number searching in online library catalogs highlights the present classification climate, increased potential for classification retrieval, effect of past and present practice on effectiveness of class number access, and proposals for action. Thirty-two sources are given. (EJS)

Examines several points in the cycle of publication of scientific research results--informal presentations, conference presentations, technical report literature, journal articles, abstracts, scientific reviews, treatises, textbooks--and recommends search strategies for locating needed references in a library. Eight references are listed. (EJS)

Presents principles for determining profile of a system user based on analysis of co-occurrence of index terms in queries and pertinent documents. A procedure for determining index term weights, the information value of which depends on the degree of homogeneity of system users, is introduced. Three references are cited. (EJS)

This review of public domain software (written by individuals who release programs for free copying and distribution) focuses on disk utility programs which deal with the manipulation of files on disks (finding, moving, changing, viewing, organizing, storing). Sources for identifying programs and three addresses for software distribution are…

Summary of survey of the American Library Association Reference and Adult Services Division (RASD) members concerning attitudes toward, need for, and preferences in acquiring information on automated information retrieval services. (KP)

Describes the data bases and programs of numerous on-line retrieval systems for chemical information, including mass spectra, NMR, x-ray, and substructure data. (MLH)

This 17-minute videotape is a tutorial that explains how to use Microsoft Internet Explorer. It reviews Web Basics and looks at the basic functions of Microsoft Internet Explorer, such as the toolbar, pull-down menus, finding a Web address, and using the Favorites menu to store favorite sites. (AEF)

This handbook provides information on how Internet search engines and related software and utilities work and how to use them in order to improve search techniques. The book begins with an introduction to the Internet. Part 1 contains the following chapters that cover mining the Internet for information: "An Introduction to Search…

The heterogeneous environment of information retrieval on the World Wide Web has brought the recognition for the need of interoperability among diverse systems to the fore. In subject retrieval, users encounter not only different vocabularies and schemes, but also different languages. As a result, there has been a flourish of projects in the last…

The Open Archives Initiative (OAI) Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (PMH) is designed to facilitate discovery of the "hidden web" of scholarly information, such as that contained in databases, finding aids, and XML documents. OAI-PMH supports standardized exchange of metadata describing items in disparate collections, of such as those…