Discusses the benefits of using bibliographic databases on CD-ROM for SDI (selective dissemination of information) in developing countries like India, and describes a method of running an SDI service automatically using two Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) software programs called Stackey and Batutil. (Author/LRW)

Describes the advantages of a prototype retrieval system that uses statistically based ranked retrieval of records rather than traditional boolean methods, especially for end users. Several new techniques are also discussed including bit mapping, pruning, methods of building inverted files, and types of search engine. (26 references) (EAM)

Presents an approach to automatic matching and linkage of citations between databases which applied 14 coding techniques and measured their effectiveness in terms of efficiency of retrieval of duplicates with minimal false hits, reliability, and performance. (EAM)

Discussion of information retrieval and the derivation of new knowledge from bibliographic databases focuses on medical journal literature. Topics discussed include the incomplete coverage of medical literature on databases; searching by free text or title words versus searching by assigned subject headings; and the implications of these factors…

Describes research which examined whether there are clusters of non-library and information science (LIS) databases that contain citations of interest to LIS researchers, the conceptual relationships of those databases, and approaches to gathering data that might be used to develop search paths and database selection guides on particular LIS…

Surveys new developments in legal bibliographical documentation. Traces the development of database systems. Discusses the addition of personal computing to traditional information retrieval systems and the problems that this creates. Examines the most recent methods of information dissemination--the CD-ROM and Hypertext systems. (RW)

Places the question of the relatively limited storage capacity of optical data disks when applied to very large databases into practical perspective, and considers some of the possibilities offered by the integration of different databases on a single CD-ROM. The advantages and disadvantages of three production options for integrated databases are…

Two articles describe computerized reference systems created for college libraries in New York (Cornell and SUNY Binghamton) and at the University of Virginia, respectively. (TE)

Discusses the effect of including relevance data on the calculation of term discrimination values in bibliographic databases. Algorithms that calculate the ability of index terms to discriminate between relevant and non-relevant documents are described and tested. The results are discussed in terms of the relationship between term frequency and…

Argues that users' needs should play a more prominent role in the design or choice of an online catalog in a specific library, and outlines requirements which enhance ease of use. Areas discussed include operational control, search formulation control, access points, output control, user assistance, and hardware requirements. (nine references)…

Describes the use of a highly parallel array processor for pattern matching operations in a bibliographic retrieval system. The discussion covers the hardware and software features of the processor, the pattern matching algorithm used, and the results of experimental tests of the system. (37 references) (Author/CLB)

Compares OCLC's competitively priced online search services--EPIC, designed for librarians and experienced searchers, and FirstSearch, designed for end-users. Discussed are databases offered, ease of searching, holdings information, training needs, and pricing. Appendices of available databases and indexes for each service are included. (four…

A new electronic bibliography, the Eighteenth Century Short Title Catalog, currently contains title and location information for 315,000 English-language books, monographs, and ephemera printed during the eighteenth century. The database is available to scholars on the Research Libraries Information Network and the British Library Automated…

Describes the processes involved in producing databases based on observations at the H. W. Wilson Company, Information Access Company (IAC), and UMI/Data Courier. Collection development decisions are discussed; serials ordering and receiving procedures are reviewed; and the indexing process is described, including abstracting, quality control, and…

Describes TEPACIS, a computer-aided instruction package to train users of the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization)-developed CDS/ISIS software, which is used to support the development of computerized textual databases. Discussion covers the structure of TEPACIS; development plans; hardware requirements; and…