The indexing and online searching of data bases have both conflicting and complementary structures, determined in part by the choice of indexing language. In the planning of a machine readable system, the Foundation Center, administrator of two data bases, initially chose a natural language for the lower cost, more rapid implementation, and…

Arguments presented against securing computer programs by copyright are centered on the question of whether computer programs qualify under the U.S. Constitutional meaning as "works of authorship," which may be protected by copyright. The possibility that the protection of computer programs by copyright might have an undesirable impact…

This manual, intended for the librarian or information specialist beginning with online systems, introduces the National Agricultural Library's (NAL) Cataloging and Indexing System (CAIN) and presents the search techniques required for retrieving information on agriculture and its many related fields. The manual, which concentrates on the online…

Programs of the National Library of Medicine over almost a century and a half are described, ranging from a history of American medical literature and the development of medical indexing to modern technological developments. Activities covered include the development of the Toxicology Information Program and the online data base TOXLINE; the…

New technologies used by libraries include computers, minicomputers, photocopiers, audiovisual equipment, videocable, and satellite. Cataloging is a major area of computer application, with the MARC (MAchine Readable Cataloging) format developed by the Library of Congress providing batch mode services, and the more sophisticated OCLC (Ohio College…

The use of computers in retrieving bibliographic chemical information is traced through the SDI, batch, and online modes, and related changes are noted in such areas as data base availability, cost, software, and amount of user control. The impact of these changes on both the quality and quantity of chemical information use is discussed, as well…

In an effort to try to better understand the emerging needs of modern society and to derive more meaningful solutions to address these needs, social planners have begun to depend more and more heavily on the accumulation and analysis of social data, and social data base systems have experienced a tremendous growth in this country during the last…

This report on the multidisciplinary PASCAL database describes the files and the indexing rules for chemistry, biology, and medicine. PASCAL deals with all aspects of chemistry within two subfiles whose combined yearly growth is about 100,000 references. The Biopascal file, organized in the two subfiles of Plant Science and Biology and Medicine,…

Designed for librarians and administrators new to the field as well as experienced online searchers, this bibliographic guide provides current and comprehensive information to aid in online searching. The normal types of materials, i.e., books, journals, newsletters, directories, bibliographies, indexes, and abstracts are listed; however, there…

ERIC is accessible to educational researchers in Australia through the microfiche collections listed in this directory or through AUSINET (The Australian Information Network) and search services provided by Lockheed and System Development Corporation. The National Library Education Information Service also offers a monthly SDI service from ERIC.…

This report presents a detailed plan for expanding the National Education Practices File, a program designed to identify information needs in education and develop a resource system for educators. This Phase 2 task focuses on the transition from a small pilot plant project to a full scale integrated resource of the organizational structure that…

This paper reports on the development of an online union catalog of serials using OCLC by the Central New York Library Resources Council. The project, now in the third of four years, is converting from a hard copy union catalog of serials to an online catalog that will have the important advantage of immediate update. Using the OCLC interlibrary…

User perception of data importance and the economic feasibility of hardware and storage devices will determine the future direction of online systems. A retrieval system's functions are ultimately dictated by database design. Early online sytems were designed for bibliographic information limited to citations only using sequential files. When…

This paper describes an innovative information system known as PROCEED (Program for Continuing Engineering Education) which is being developed to assist engineers in coping with mid-career crisis. Research involving components of mid-career crisis indicates that obsolescence or fear of obsolescence is a primary factor. It seemed reasonable that a…

Procedures are outlined for estimating changes in parenthood and marital status for respondents of the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS). Seven key variables that summarize the information on parenthood and marital status are estimated: number of children as of the first week of October in 1973, 1974, and 1976, a…