The Fort Detrick Information Retrieval System is a system of computer programs written in COBOL for a CDC 3150 to store and retrieve information about the scientific and technical reports and documents of the Fort Detrick Technical Library. The documents and reports have been abstracted and indexed. This abstract, the subject matter descriptors,…

Methods to make computer searching as simple and efficient as possible have led to the development of various data structures. Data structures specify the items involved in searching and what can be done to them. The nature and advantages of using "self-adjusting" data structures (self-adjusting binary search trees) are discussed. (JN)

This composite report provides summaries of presentations by 10 experts at the 23rd Annual Clinic on Library Applications of Data Processing in April 1986 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All were concerned with the design of online systems to make them easier for library patrons to use. (Author/CDD)