This 15-minute videotape introduces viewers to ERIC and emphasizes ERIC's connection to the electronic information highway. Topics covered include (1) the basic structure of the ERIC system, including the 16 subject-specialized clearinghouses; (2) benefits offered, including publications, the ERIC database, information quality, and the ERIC…

This manual consists of sets of guides for six CD-ROM databases: (1) ABI/INFORM, a business administration CD-ROM published by UMI; (2) Books in Print (an outstanding tool for compiling bibliographies on any subject); (3) ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center), an education database in the version published by SilverPlatter; (4) MLA, a…

The Insurance Division of the Special Libraries Association began an index to insurance magazines, the "Insurance Periodicals Index" (IPI), in 1962. This study examines its historical development. The index was published monthly in an insurance trade journal and then cumulated into an annual edition. Part of the background for its…

The International Project of the Commission on Preservation and Access was begun in June 1988 to explore the feasibility of creating an international database of preserved materials. Its main goals are to: (1) determine the extent to which preservation records exist in other countries; (2) identify the difficulties in converting records to…

This description of the development of the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) compact disc by two companies, SilverPlatter and ORI, Inc., provides background information on ERIC and the ERIC database, discusses reasons for choosing to put the ERIC database on compact discs, and describes the formulation of an ERIC CD-ROM team as part of…

This paper provides the documentation for the program that provides access to the University of Illinois Online Catalog (OLC), together with a script to be used with 17 slides explaining the development of the program. Advantages of connecting a database to a computer-assisted instruction (CAI) system are outlined and sources of additional…

This study investigated critical factors that would constitute reliable performance measures for bibliographic information retrieval systems, and compared the operational effectiveness of the relevance-theoretic and utility-theoretic models. The factors discussed include document and information attributes, judges, and environmental factors. (18…

Describes a study that examined four sources of LC-MARC cataloging records (a CD-ROM version available through Bibliofile, an online version from DIALOG, and two bibliographic utilities, OCLC and the Research Libraries Information Network) to determine the extent to which exact and/or helpful cataloging is present in each. (two references) (CLB)

Describes a study that investigated factors associated with frequency of use of ERIC CD-ROM in an academic library, including gender, age, level of familiarity with computers, and level of study. The implications of the findings for the allocation of library resources and personnel to meet users' needs are discussed. (11 references) (CLB)

Describes the implementation of a project that provides dial-up access to MEDLINE on remote optical data disk (CD-ROM) using software that enables callers to use programs like Wordstar, Lotus, and dBase. Highlights include networking CD-ROM databases, hardware considerations, advantages and disadvantages of remote access, and future plans. A…

Reviews the creation and evolution of ERIC, and describes changes being implemented in the system as a result of a recently concluded redesign study. Areas of change discussed include clearinghouse contract procedures, ACCESS ERIC, ERIC partners, and adjunct clearinghouses. Conclusions about the future of ERIC are offered. (five references) (CLB)

Reviews the history and structure of ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center), and describes the resources provided by the system that offer opportunities for networking by education librarians. Such resources include the ERIC database, publications, search services, document delivery services, and outreach programs. Opportunities for…

Examines possible reasons for the slow adoption of full text primary literature online by users. Areas discussed include the lack of complete online files, competition with better known sources, isolation of full text files, and the slow adoption of online services in general. Possible future developments are discussed. (three references) (CLB)

Describes variations in current bibliographic databases in such areas as database organization, contents, authority control, and uses. The discussion covers the implications of these factors, optical disk technologies, and the Linked Systems Project for the future of national bibliographic databases. (nine references) (CLB)

Discusses the need to reassess the objectives of online public access catalogs and how those objectives might be met before costly investments are made in electronic versions of "other data" for online catalogs. Several objectives are outlined and their feasibility in the modern telecommunications environment is examined. (two references) (CLB)