The structure and development of the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux are discussed; as well as the journals, books, and services offered. Each institute and bureau comprising the organization collects and disseminates information in a particular branch of agricultural science. (Author/JPF)

Broad subject headings which have been assigned to each of the 86 data bases available or announced on the five major on-line search systems--Lockheed, SDC, BRS, NIM, and New York Times Information Bank--are arranged alphabetically followed by the name(s) of the appropriate data base(s). (JPF)

SIRLS is a documentation center and computer-based information retrieval system. Services include computer-generated bibliographies and user-generated files. Upgrading of subject access to the collection through a thesaurus is planned, and online access is currently under revision. (Author/MBR)

Locations of ERIC collections, extent of use, and factors affecting use are surveyed. Methods of computer searching and the effects of online searching on Canadiana and Canadian Education Index are also discussed, and a list of organizations providing ERIC data base search services in Canada is provided. (JAB)

Describes how the reading teacher can utilize the ERIC system. (MKM)

A semantic differential scale, designed to assess users' attitudes toward batch mode retrieval of the ERIC data base, grouped ten concepts and matched them with 16 adjective pairs. Although response was somewhat low, concepts and adjective pairs were clustered. (Author/KP)

Concludes that the federal government currently lacks an information system that is broad enough and detailed enough to facilitate the processes of policy development and program coordination. (Author/AM)

In negotiating to obtain a sample of records from a computer file, it is important to be able to present a simple program that will produce a representative and valid sample. This article describes two procedures: (1) an interval selection method; and (2) a random numbers file. (JAZ)

A comparison of ERIC and LISA (Library and Information Science Abstracts) indexing of the three journals--Online, Online Review, and Database--revealed some differences but more similarities in number of terms per article and concepts per article. A vocabulary which distinguished the field of online searching did emerge. (Author/EM)

Provides a technological overview of CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), an optically-based medium for data storage offering large storage capacity, computer-based delivery system, read-only medium, and economic mass production. CD-ROM database attributes appropriate for information delivery are also reviewed, including large database size,…

Describes a model for a front end query processor to deal with incomplete information in a database. The effectiveness of the processor in restricting the number of objects to be processed in a query and in aiding the interpretation of a query is discussed. (26 references) (Author/CLB)

Describes a planned information service to be offered by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, based on descriptions of exemplary programs or practices at schools undergoing accreditation studies. (DMM)

Defines and discusses bibliometrics, particularly as carried out in automated systems. The specific requirements to which data should conform to support bibliometric analysis are detailed and explained, and the Intelligent Gateway of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is described. (15 references) (Author/CLB)

Traces the evolution of the author's course on Computers in the Humanities from the late 1960s to the present. Suggests new frontiers in computing that will be relevant to humanities education. Concludes that all students need access and orientation to computer possibilities including algorithmic experience, word processing abilities, and database…

Discusses the use of beginning, intermediate, and advanced databases for instructional purposes. A table listing seven databases with information on ease of use, smoothness of operation, data capacity, speed, source, and program features is included. (JN)