The contributions in this volume represent a decade of OCLC's user behavior research findings that articulate the need for the design of future library services to be all about the user. Highlights include: (1) People associate the library with books and do not consider the library in relation to online resources or reference services; (2) People…

Provides overview of Ergonomics Abstracts Retrieval System (EARS), an online bibliographic search and retrieval system in the area of human factors engineering. Other online systems are described, the design of EARS based on inverted file organization is explained, and system expansions including a thesaurus are discussed. (Author/LRW)

Describes several problems encountered when using the Boolean model of information retrieval, and for each problem offers a nontraditional design principle that overcomes the difficulty. The problems discussed are the unfriendliness of Boolean formulas, null output and output overload, undifferentiated facets, interpreting weights, and term…

Presents a model that places Boolean database queries into conjunctive normal form, thereby allowing probabilistic ranking of documents and the incorporation of relevance feedback. Experimental results compare the performance of a sequential learning probabilistic retrieval model with the proposed integrated Boolean probabilistic model and a fuzzy…

Presents a new model of searching in online and other information systems, and reviews the literature of manual information seeking behavior for suggestions of capabilities users might like in online systems. Based on the model--called "berrypicking"--and research, suggestions are made for how new search capabilities could be implemented…

Describes the inability of traditional subject index terms to represent relational information among concepts, and the development of frame based knowledge representation methods that provide relational semantic representations of documents and user queries. The discussion covers research in user interfaces and automatic document classifications,…

Discusses the feasibility and advantages of developing an enhancement for document retrieval systems that would automatically impose Boolean syntax on an input set of search terms. An online specification for such an enhancement is presented, based on experimental results using the MEDLINE database. (13 references) (CLB)

Discusses the inability of the standard Boolean logic model of information retrieval to deal effectively with the inherent fallibility of retrieval decisions. Recent advances in information retrieval research are reviewed, and their practical potential for overcoming the deficiencies of the Boolean model is examined. (45 references) (Author/CLB)

A theoretical framework used to derive a weighting mechanism for ranking output documents in Boolean retrieval systems is described in detail. A simple illustrative example is included, and the implications of such an approach are discussed. (64 references) (Author/CLB)

Discusses the advantages of maintaining local numeric databases, and describes the activities involved in creating a local database. The acquisition of files, user support, data storage and access, database management, costs, and planning strategies are discussed. (5 notes with references) (CLB)

Identifies two types of applications software for microcomputers: (1) communications, file transfer, and search assistance software, which facilitates intelligent access to external databases; and (2) software to support local database creation and searching. Functions of each type of software are described and examples of commercial packages are…

Discussion of user-relevance judgments in information retrieval focuses on findings from four separate studies of relevance judgments by 55 users conducting their initial online search on a particular information problem. Highlights include a theoretical framework, models of relevance, and implications for information-retrieval system design and…

Argues that online search capabilities are a form of indexing and that access is determined by the total mix of preexisting and added "search capability" indexing. The design of a "superthesaurus," geared to the needs of users and to online rather than manual searching, is proposed as part of a user friendly interface. (19…

Describes a pilot project by the University of California to provide access to biomedical and health sciences literature through the integration of the MEDLINE database into the University's MELVYL online union catalog. The discussion covers the design, implementation and evaluation of the system, current planning efforts, and key technical and…

Reviews developments and products in the information industry that are aimed at the end user and identifies impediments to end user searching that may explain why end user access has not supported these products. Suggestions for overcoming these impediments are offered. (eight references) (CLB)