This project was designed to develop a uniform statistical reporting system that could be used by all of the library departments at Chicago State University to collect statistical information, both for major statistical reports, and for the library's daily operations. It is noted that the statistical forms were designed to enable the staff member…

Detailed reviews of two legal information databases--"Laborlaw I" and "Legal Resource Index"--are presented in this paper. Each database review begins with a bibliographic entry listing the title; producer; vendor; cost per hour contact time; offline print cost per citation; time period covered; frequency of updates; and size…

The primary objective of this report is to provide useful information to community colleges making decisions about beginning or improving online access to information. The report provides conference highlights, including summaries of the keynote address by Anne Caputo of Dialog Information Services, several short talks on community colleges and…

College and university librarians were surveyed in May 1984 to assess their experiences and opinions with respect to online searching in the humanities. A questionnaire was mailed to 1,160 4-year college and university libraries in the American Library Directory (1983) that listed an online services coordinator, an enrollment of 1,000 or more, or…

These papers discuss various options for a computerized national bibliographic network and highlight the problems and potential of developing such a database. Following a brief explanation of the conference purpose and organization, 10 primary papers are presented: (1) "A Brief Overview of Computerized Library Networking in Canada," by…

A program combining cost-free searching of the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) database and document delivery to faculty members was offered at the Kansas State University Libraries. NTIS report usage was monitored from May 1987, five months prior to the onset of the study, until May 1988, at which time the program was terminated.…

This guide introduces the reader to the basics of online database searching using a microcomputer. Following definitions of the terms online, database, and searching, the guide presents information on the online environment, hardware needed, software needed, and configuring the software. A tutorial on online searching covers how to decide when to…

The 15 articles on end-users and online searching that are annotated in this bibliography were published during 1984 and 1985 and cited in Current Index to Journals in Education (CIJE) and Resources in Education (RIE). The documents and articles cover a variety of issues and perspectives including: criteria for implementation of end-user online…

Proposes a coordinated scholarly information system that would comprise a variety of independent suppliers of information. Highlights include key aspects of the system (quality control, terminals, communications, user interface, long-term planning), and various information sources (libraries, shared cataloging, information retrieval services,…

Describes LIBRUNAM, a complete system for the handling, processing, and retrieval of bibliographic information (mainly books), developed by the Direccion General de Bibliotecas of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. (Author)

Describes a study undertaken at the Mary Couts Library of Texas Christian University that determined whether subscription costs of Science Citation Index and Social Science Citation Index were greater than the cost of offering free computer searches of these indexes. User satisfaction was also measured. The evaluation form is included. (Author/JD)

Describes a study that examined the appropriateness of database selection by patrons using CD-ROM. The findings discussed include the effect of search experience on appropriate database selection, whether the database used affected search strategies, and patrons' opinions about the need for training and the success of the searches. (three…

Two articles describe the experiences of Loyola University of Chicago and Texas A&M libraries with locally mounted online databases under the same user interface as the online catalog. The Multiple Database Access System (MDAS) offered by NOTIS is explained, its impact on the libraries is described, and student and faculty reactions are…

Describes a study that examined patron response to and success in using bibliographic databases on CD-ROM. Perceived needs for training and satisfaction with the system were measured by asking patrons about ease of use, search success, their need for assistance, and preferences for CD-ROM or print research tools. The questionnaire used is…

Describes 3.5 years' experience using BRS/After Dark and Dialog's Knowledge Index as the main systems of choice in the mediated search service of a department library on a large academic campus. Factors discussed include average use, costs, databases offered, system capabilities, comparisons of the two systems, and limitations of the systems. (13…