Provides excerpts from interviews with expert online searchers to be published in a book entitled "Secrets of the Super Searchers" in the fall of 1993. Planning search strategies is the focus; and topics addressed include methods of planning searches, broad versus narrow searches, and building with component parts. (EAM)

Discusses relevance in search engines for the World Wide Web. Highlights include types of searches submitted; database scope; how organizations position their Web sites; link analysis; spelling errors; offering alternatives to queries; and the single-answer approach. (LRW)

Acquaints information professionals with Digital Equipment Corporation's compact optical disk read-only-memory (CDROM) search and retrieval software and growing library of CDROM database publications (COMPENDEX, Chemical Abstracts Services). Highlights include MicroBASIS, boolean operators, range operators, word and phrase searching, proximity…

Describes basic strategy for cocitation searching, i.e., searching for any document citing at least two other specified documents, usually on same topic. Search terms, using combinations for retrieving cocited papers, boundary spanning, retrieving review articles, adding new cited sources to modify strategy, and cited sources/free-text terms are…

This bibliography provides citations to 74 articles which compare either single databases across different systems or different databases to each other. All articles included were published after 1976 in Database, Online, Online Review, or the Bulletin of the Medical Library Association. A subject index is provided. (EJS)

Discusses paragraph qualification, a search strategy used to retrieve information from computerized databases. Positive and negative paragraph qualification, after-the-fact qualification, multifile searching, and free text searching are described, using examples from the Bibliographic Retrieval Services (BRS)/Search System. (EJS)

Describes a technique for editing and formatting online database searches which provides the requestor/user with a clean finished and more readily understandable product. (CWM)

Describes a simple six-step searching model designed to deliver good results without introducing complexities likely to confuse the naive user. The findings of tests that compared the results of the easy search model with expert searches are presented, and conclusions about end user training are discussed. (nine references) (CLB)

Presents guidelines for effective online searching developed over the last 20 years. Areas covered by the guidelines include preplanning, database selection, cost-effective search techniques, searching for names, awareness of differences between databases and systems, matching search strategies to databases, postsearch routines, and the…

Compares three Web-based online reference services that are described as a cross between a traditional database service and a Web search engine: Ask Jeeves (http://www.ask.com), The Electric Library (http://www.elibrary.com), and Information Please (http://www.infoplease.com). Concludes that each has strengths and weaknesses and aren't directly…

Introduces search technique that professional searchers often use to start tracking down information regardless of topic. This technique involves using set of large databases that cover material because of format rather than subject. Databases reviewed include books/monographs, journals/magazines, reports, expertise, and full-text and Public…

Introduces HARFAX Industry Data Sources, a bibliographic database which provides access to international sources of statistics on 60 key industries. Criteria for inclusion of material in the database, indexing policy, and uses of the database are discussed. Sample searches are illustrated and exhibits containing facts on the file are attached.…

Comments based on actual reference use of Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN II)--formerly BALLOTS--in a library environment focus on RLIN files, interlibrary loan, search keys, and subject searches. This article updates a description of BALLOTS as it was developed by Stanford University to support cataloging and acquisitions (Online,…

Describes the requirements, data elements, functions and systems design for an online search log which maintains records of search services provided. (CWM)

Data collected from analysis of the University of South Dakota's uninhibited database selection and use policy are evaluated as an aid in developing a cost-efficient database searching strategy. Statistics are presented which clarify the effectiveness of single and multiple database use. (SW)