Provides generic guidelines covering the basic issues of database building within an organization. The areas discussed include assessing organizational needs, selecting and testing hardware and software, estimating costs, and creating and maintaining the database. A check list of important considerations and a list of additional readings are…

Details a rationale for teacher shared information. Outlines possible content to include in such a network. Describes advantages and implications a database might have for teachers. (RT)

The characteristics of paper or microform library materials, electronic publications, and online databases are compared in terms of equipment needs, cost effectiveness, budgeting, and satisfaction of users' needs. Suggestions for the effective integration of these materials are offered. (13 references) (CLB)

Describes the Pacific Northwest Conspectus Database, a regional resource assessment tool which includes information about library collections in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Use of the database by academic, public, and special librarians to better manage their collections and to coordinate planning and purchasing with other…

Describes government information available in machine-readable data files--primarily on computer tapes--in relation to other formats and examines requirements for their acquisition, preservation, and utilization in retrieval and reference services. Skill and knowledge adjustments on the part of librarians are also discussed, and a system in use at…

Describes three models of CALL (computer assisted language learning) activity--games, the expert system, and the prosthetic approaches. A case is made for CALL development within a more instrumental view of the role of computers. (Author/CB)

Provides information and reviews of geography computer software classified as drill-and-practice, simulations, and databases. Includes title, publisher, hardware needed, suggested grade level, geographic area covered, content emphasized, and the strengths and weaknesses of each program. (TW)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) software research and development project described explores information seeking behavior of end-user energy experts and develops software offering tutorials on front-end use of DOE/RECON databases and active help in performing online searches. Software development is described and results of prototype testing…

Humanistic scholars need simple access to jargon-free information on databases in an academic library setting. Many private databases in the humanities are being developed, creating a need for standardization to enable scholars beyond disciplinary boundaries to communicate and benefit from each others' research. (CDD)

Reports on study that used set of measures for characterizing performance with different databases and set of hypotheses for predicting search difficulties based on cognitive processes involved in decision-making aspects of information search. Highlights include confidence assessment, system design criteria, transparency, metatransparency, and…

Investigation of end-user searching at National Library of Medicine reveals that volume of searching is related to convenient placement of terminal; slightly fewer than half of potential searchers search for themselves; practices of pharmacists and pathologists do not differ in important ways; end-user searchers perform simple searches. (86…

Summarizes four options for libraries that want to offer end user searching: end user systems (Bibliographic Retrieval Service's Afterdark, DIALOG's Knowledge Index); front-end microcomputer software (Sci-Mate Searcher, Pro-Search, WILSEARCH); gateway services (EASYNET); and local databases (now available on floppy and compact discs). Advantages…

Review of background and justification of computerization project initiated to automate information work covers design concepts; implementation; and major characteristics of databases (local versions of BIOSIS and INSPEC, union catalog of monographs from Library of Congress/MARC records, union catalog of serials from International Serials Data…

Describes project undertaken to improve bibliographic access to individual works contained in "Landmarks" sets published by Readex Microprint Corporation. Highlights include reasons for project, cataloging, profile-matching, identification of subject content, in-analytic records, cost per title, project value, rare documents, scholars'…

A nationwide assessment of doctoral programs in industrial arts was conducted to (1) determine the number of industrial arts doctoral degree graduates for the 1980-83 school years and (2) assess information about employment of these graduates. Results showed a decline in the number of degrees awarded and an increase in foreign teaching. (CT)