Examines how online versions of databases vary on different systems. Differences are grouped into three categories: obvious differences, including easily available information such as updating, dates covered, and price; database choice, including subfile structure, field structure, and content; and system choice, including support and system…

Describes a survey of 39 database publishers concerning their policies for downloading, i.e., capture of information into machine-readable format from proprietary databases. Discussion covers fair use principle, long-term storage and reuse, policy enforcement, and per record payment principle. Database publishers surveyed profile of survey…

The first of three articles reports the effectiveness of a feature-matching approach to computer retrieval of graphic information. The second discusses the use of multivariate techniques to measure perceived complexity of database searching by users. The third explores the limitations of user consultation in database design. (Author/CLB)

Describes a survey of library systems and software vendors that examined the sources, management, and use of authority records in their systems and the functions of an authority control module within an integrated system. Several tables and graphs offer summaries and comparisons of vendors' offerings and capabilities. The questionnaire used is…

Introduces the reader to the Food Science and Technology Abstracts, a data file that covers worldwide literature on human food commodities and aspects of food processing. Topics include scope, subject index, thesaurus, searching online, and abstracts; tables provide a comparison of ORBIT and DIALOG versions of the file. (JD)

Profiles the new bibliographic database devoted solely to scholarly articles of political science. Two "searchguides" compare the Lockheed/DIALOG and SDC/ORBIT versions of the file. (JD)

Computer based information search services, ISS's, of the type that provide on-line literature searches are analyzed from a system's viewpoint using a continuous simulation model. The analysis shows that the observed growth and stagnation of a typical ISS can be explained as a natural consequence of market responses to the service together with a…

Reports the findings of the SLA Information Technology Division's survey of database searchers regarding their opinions of current system capabilities and their requirements for future developments. Factors affecting use, text searching, standardized formats, and replacing print subscriptions with online services are discussed. The questionnaire…

Recommends those cases in which a database search of CIJE would benefit from a supplementary manual search of Education Index. Article also presents findings of a study of the usefulness of CIJE abstracts (1969-1978) which suggest that the user choose different online printing formats for different years. (JD)

Profiles 25 database distribution and production companies, all of which responded to a 1997 survey with information on 54 separate online, Web-based, or CD-ROM systems. Highlights increased competition, distribution formats, Web versions versus local area networks, full-text delivery, and pricing policies. Tables present a sampling of customers…

Discusses and differentiates between four commercially available versions of the online source of chemistry information, "Chemical Abstracts": Lockheed, SDC, BRS, and NLM. Disadvantages/advantages of the vendors are considered, and tables are used to show the different print formats and data elements of each version. (JD)

Examines the strengths and weaknesses of the three chemical dictionary files now available online--CHEMNAME, CHEMDEX, CHEMLINE--to aid the searcher in selecting the most appropriate database. (Author/JD)

Describes for researchers in language, literature, and folklore the MLA (Modern Language Association) International Bibliography, which is available for searching online: history, scope, compilation and sources, languages, print v online access, searchable fields, and future plans. (JD)

Examines the relative benefits and searching philosophies of five major search systems (DIALOG, ORBIT, BRS, NLM, and DOE/RECON) as a selection aid. Differences in command language, full text searching capability, use and expression of Boolean operators, and searching mechanisms are discussed, and comparison charts and system/database comparisons…

This article reports results of a case study of text-based online and CD-ROM databases that identified design characteristics that are important to high school students' use for higher-level learning as well as for information access and retrieval. Implications for the design of databases are suggested. (Contains 62 references.) (LRW)