Describes the results of a survey of Canadian libraries that explored the nature and frequency of use of the Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, second edition revised (AACR2R); the preferred publication formats for acquiring AACR2R; and the contribution of records to a bibliographic utility or other database. (Contains four references.) (LRW)

Discusses the shift of information access from a data-centered to a user-centered model and describes the Daltext system, a prototype user-centered information system that allows the user to determine how the data will be viewed (i.e., within a datastream model, a set model, a relational model, and/or a hierarchical model). (Contains 30…

Examines electronic access to U.S. government information on the Internet. Several government databases are described, and information is given on how to access them. The databases discussed include the White House Electronic Publishing Program, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court, the Electronic Bulletin Board, and FEDIX. (Contains seven…

Describes a statistical study of three databases, conducted at Iowa State University, on holding links between citation databases and the online catalog. Provides insights into the construction and quality control of citation databases and online catalogs, and identifies a new issue of continued maintenance of ISBNs and ISSNs for catalogers.…

Raison d'Etre, a hypermedia design history application, provides access to a database of video clips containing perspectives of design team members during the course of a project. Describes the user needs analysis; methods of collecting information and organizing the database; and the implications for design education, research, and practice. (AEF)

Discussion of users and information retrieval systems highlights a study that investigated the representation of users' knowledge by examining their names for objects and concepts, agreement on names, the Library of Congress Subject Headings representation for similar objects and concepts, and measurement of the similarity between these…

Describes a prototype online search system called ASK (Assisted Search for Knowledge) that will provide Internet and dial-up access to an array of databases related to environmental and demographic change. The Global Change Data and Information system that is being organized by federal agencies is described. (Author/LRW)

Discusses bibliographic instruction in the field of psychology and reviews library science literature, psychological literature, and electronic teaching resources. Highlights include reviews of library science and psychological journals, books, literature guides, bibliographies, databases, CD-ROMs, and Internet resources. A reference list at the…

Compares two natural language processing search engines, WIN (WESTLAW Is Natural) and FREESTYLE, developed by LEXIS. Legal issues in natural language queries were presented to identical libraries in both systems. Results showed that the editorials enhanced relevance; a search would be more thorough using both databases; and if only one system were…

Discusses the relationship between personal knowledge in a domain and online searching proficiency in that domain, and the relationship between searching proficiency and database-assisted problem-solving performance based on a study of medical students. Search results, selection of terms, and efficiency were found to be related to problem-solving…

Discusses readers' advisory services in public libraries and describes a method to convert information on specific books and genres to a computer database. Topics include utilizing staff knowledge, fields included for each book, the development of descriptors, the editing process, and writing summaries and critiques of the books. (LRW)

Discussion of hypertext and its uses in the learning process focuses on an experiment in which undergraduate students used hypertext for computer-based learning about databases. Results of a survey of students which explored when and how they used the hypertext, for what purpose, and the types of searching they preferred are reported. (12…

Describes a project at the University of Sheffield that is investigating the use of nearest-neighbor retrieval algorithms for full-text searching. Nearest-neighbor searching is compared with Boolean retrieval and hypertext, and an experimental text retrieval system called INSTRUCT (Interactive System for Teaching Retrieval Using Computational…

Describes the development of a computer-aided decision-making system to assist educational practitioners in curriculum decision making about innovative program features and implementation requirements. Topics discussed include the identification of variables; database generation; mathematical modeling; compromising between effectiveness and…

Describes how to use the Internet to access commercial online database services, such as DIALOG, and discusses the advantages in terms of costs, reference services, and accessibility. Outlines in detail how to save a search session or link another terminal to a Telnet session, and provides information and Internet addresses for eight vendor…