As college faculty and students become increasingly sophisticated in the use of microcomputers, academic libraries must resolve common issues involved with the decision to add data disks to their collections, including selection policy, hardware and supplies, acquisition and cataloging, location, staffing, level of service, circulation, and…

Discusses rationale for the conversion of a card catalog to an online system in a special library owning approximately 4,000 titles. Equipment, software, and procedures are described, and pros and cons, costs, and personnel needs involved in use of microcomputer for such a project are outlined. Nine references are cited. (EJS)

Discusses need for retrospective conversion of library catalogs in terms of user-problems related to split catalogs in various formats. Difficulties to be overcome in retrospective conversion projects (ownership of records, costs, non-Roman script languages, standards and inhospitability of MARC for variety of manuscript and pictorial material)…

Addresses importance of online databases as part of library reference collection and focuses on bibliographic databases (ready reference, print versus online migration, bibliographic utilities); selection/evaluation of online databases (vendor selection, individual databases); full-text databases; numeric databases; end-user searching; and use of…

Discussion of Library of Congress's efforts to meet challenge of designing and improving its online catalog system LOCIS (consists of SCORPIO and MUMS systems) includes sample searches and results of user surveys (access points in online catalog searches and response to input search statements resulting in no retrievals). (5 references) (EJS)

Points out the need for informed and experienced users of data bases. Discusses the definition of a data base, creating a data base for research, comparison use, and checking written text as a data base. (EL)

Describes three commercial, numeric databases that are available in microcomputer diskette format: Micro/Scan Disclosure; Wharton Econometric Forecasting Associates World Economic Service; and Trinet's Survey of Commercial Buying Power. Advantages and disadvantages of the diskette format, search strategies, and a selected list of eight suppliers…

This second article in a series discusses the implementation and use of BASIS, a software management system developed and distributed by Batelle, for a database consisting of bibliographic book records and circulating book records. Field names and their content, creation and entry of a record, and sample records are included. (EJS)

The SilverPlatter system is a complete, stand-alone system, consisting of an IBM (or compatible) personal computer, compact disc with read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive, software, and one or more databases. Large databases (e.g., ERIC, PsycLIT) will soon be available on the system for "local" installation in schools, libraries, and…

Describes computerization of routine library procedures on Apple microcomputers at a small regional campus of Ohio University. Highlights include use of a database management program--PFS:FILE--for acquisition lists, equipment/supplies inventory, microfilm and periodicals management, and statistical manipulations, and a spreadsheet…

One of the areas most often neglected by those responsible for information systems in colleges and universities relates to ownership, privacy, confidentiality, and security of data. Background information and definitions are provided, and a suggested environment is described. Model recommendations for institutional policy are offered. (MLW)

Discusses indeterminancy of selection of terms by indexers and by inquirers as major factors influencing subject access to documents in document retrieval systems. Five types of interactions between these two indeterminancies are discussed, and a change in traditional method of subject searching is suggested to reduce effect of inter-indexer…

Describes use of personal computer at George Mason University to provide support to the online catalog. Merging of bibliographic information in MS-DOS format into database management system and experimentation with full-text retrieval packages (ZyIndex and SIRE) are discussed. Addresses and price information for hardware and software packages…

Reviews important developments of Microsoft's first international conference on CD ROM, focusing on the announcement of a new medium called Compact Disc-Interactive (CD-I). Discussion covers CD-I's design, applications, kinds of programming made possible compatibility with current CD ROM products, impact on consumer market, and impact on overall…

This discussion of uploading (the transmission of information from local memory to a remote system) covers benefits, disadvantages, host system features, technical aspects, and four examples of uploading using CROSSTALK. Examples include function keys, searcher assistance with commonly-used terms, the use of hedges and boiler-plate searching, and…