Report on developments in the retrospective conversion of manual library files to machine-readable form discusses planning and decision making; accommodating full records; conforming to standards; creating bibliographic records; sources of retrospective conversion support (bibliographic utilities, stand-alone systems); use of microcomputers;…

Description of considerations special libraries must address before building databases is based on practical experiences of Comstow Information Services. Developing standards for all types of materials (journal articles, internal reports, competitors' literature, government documents, conference proceedings, analytics, books), retrospective…

Describes two methods for the computerization of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean (CJK) input and output--Research Libraries Group's Sinoterm and OCLC's Asiagraphics. East Asian vernacular computerization efforts, system development, character sets, terminal design and keyboards, and member library use of CJK records are highlighted. Six references…

Describes Tennessee Technological University Library's participation in test of a network's local online services, i.e., database maintenance, authority control, reference support/patron access. Online catalog, training, patron access points, transactions and response time, database maintenance activities, bibliographic and authority record…

Outlines the background of the library system at the Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM) and presents an account of the programs which have been developed in support of the library infrastructure and the Universal Availability of Publications (UAP) program, in particular the development of the LIBRUNAM automated retrieval system.…

Surveys reactions of students and faculty to the online circulation system at University of Guelph Library, Ontario. Findings concerning status of users, frequency of use, effectiveness of instructions on screen, convenience of terminal locations, type of information required by user, and general comments are noted. Four references are provided.…

Discusses trends in computer technology and their use for library catalogs, noting the concept of bandwidth (describes quantity of information transmitted per given unit of time); computer hardware differences (micros, minis, maxis); distributed processing systems and databases; optical disk storage; networks; transmission media; and terminals.…

Presents the design procedures, bibliographic system, file structures, acquisitions and circulation systems, functional implementation, and future development of the Managing Resources for University Libraries (MARVEL) data base at the University of Georgia Libraries, which accepts MARC input from OCLC and Library of Congress (LC) MARC tapes. (CWM)

Libraries are moving into an era that incorporates improvements of a library's existing databases, embraces the research results of the information-seeking process, and makes fundamental improvements by adding new databases such as WordFocus. These new systems should convert the frustrated user of today's online public access catalog (OPAC) into…

Describes the development of library services at AT&T Bell Labs, which led to the creation of a large variety of services and computerized systems. The discussion covers the effects of divestiture on the present network and plans for future growth. A comprehensive list of the current information product line is provided. (16 references)…

Reviews the concept, context, status, and potential of the Linked Systems Protocol. The discussion covers the functions of the protocol; its implications for scholarship, bibliographic access, and the notion of a national database; and problems that would affect the effective implementation of international use. (21 references) (Author/CLB)

Discusses the benefits of mounting commercial and local databases to provide online access and describes the approach taken by the University of Pennsylvania. The issues discussed include database, local data file, and software selection; agreements with online vendors; cost effectiveness; and actual use of the online files at the university. (CLB)

Discusses the use of union catalogs by school libraries and gives examples of their use in two districts in Texas. Topics addressed include downloading, bibliographic information, holdings information, components of a union catalog, inventory lists, resource sharing, and time-saving benefits. (LRW)

Compares LISA (Library and Information Science Abstracts) on SilverPlatter's CD-ROM with its replacement version, Bowker-Saur's LISA Plus. Features reviewed include entry to the databases; use of Boolean search facilities; indexes and browsing; displaying and printing records; subsidiary functions; on-screen help; and interfaces. (Contains eight…

Describes presentations made at a forum on automation, interlibrary loan (ILL), and document delivery sponsored by the Houston Area Library Consortium. Highlights include access versus ownership; software for ILL; fee-based services; automated management systems for ILL; and electronic mail and online systems for end-user-generated ILL requests.…