Detailed profiles and comparisons of European databanks being marketed in the United States include marketing strategies, subject content, number and types of databases offered, cost information, value added services, and more. Users' views of the viability, ease of use, and strengths and weaknesses of European databases are presented. (CLB)

Discusses the use of optical disk technology in online searching and compares three versions of the ERIC database currently available on optical disk in terms of hardware requirements, ease of installation, scope and cost of the system, search procedures, displaying and printing results, and documentation and user support. (CLB)

Description of the planning of a project designed to test the feasibility of distributing a statewide union catalog database on optical disk discusses the relationship of the project's goals to those of statewide library development; dealing with vendors in a volatile, high technology industry; and plans for testing and evaluation. (EM)

Describes and evaluates a project which examined the feasibility of converting the University of Illinois' ILLINET Online Union Catalog to optical format, allowing users across the state to search the database using microcomputers. The evaluation focused on the impact on interlibrary loans and on the reactions of librarians and users. (CLB)