Report on use of the microcomputer for information storage and retrieval (ISR) notes hardware (floppy disks, keyboard, screen, printer); functions of ISR software; standardization of the operating system; database creation; data entry; indexing; search process; choice of ISR software package; software market and user; training and instruction; and…

Describes MicroUse, a microcomputer-based database on microcomputer applications in libraries and information centers which was developed using relational database manager dBASE II. The description includes its system configuration, software utilized, the in-house-developed dBASE programs, multifile structure, basic functions, MicroUse records,…

Discusses major features of microcomputers (word length, memory, size, disk size and capacity, central processing unit speed, peripherals, software) and provides descriptions of 19 models. Comparative analysis on basis of cost, software support, machine capacity, storage capacity, and types of peripherals is presented. A 173-item bibliography is…

Given the right hardware and software, digital information is easy to create, copy, and disseminate; however it is very hard to preserve. At present, it is impossible to guarantee the longevity and legibility of digital information for even one human generation. Migration can be defined as the periodic transfer of digital materials from one…

Describes new information processing developments and end-user products from 18 companies. Applications include optical storage and imaging devices, document management software, and automated business and data processing systems. Developments include flat-screen images, affordable image item processing, digital writing technology, and a federal…

Explains the basic hardware, software, and media options for changing from a CD-ROM user to a CD-ROM publisher. Highlights include system configurations; computer recommendations; transfer media, including tapes, discs, and optical media; backup software and formatting/simulation software; costs; and publishing systems. (LRW)

Intended to stimulate discussion rather than present solutions, this report summarizes how digital technology applies to preservation problems beyond the preservation of print materials. Specifically it describes the problems new kinds of media such as audio and videotape and computer disks pose to librarians and archivists in terms of long-term…

Describes a microcomputer-assisted method of using the commercial dBase III software package for the management of a personal bibliographic storage and retrieval system. This system provides users with a systematic way of keeping, for rapid retrieval, references to papers or documents previously read. (Author/CLB)

Discusses factors converging to create high-capacity, low-cost nature of next generation of microcomputers: a coherent vision of what graphics workstation and future computing environment should be like; hardware developments leading to greater storage capacity at lower costs; and development of software and expertise to exploit computing power…

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…

Description of Optical Disk Pilot Program (ODPP) at Library of Congress, a research and development excursion into laser-based information storage and retrieval, focuses on the Sony videodisk system and innovative use of microcomputers in the storage and retrieval of visual and audio materials. Future goals of ODPP are outlined. (MBR)

This second in a series of six articles introducing microcomputer applications in smaller libraries describes the main microcomputer hardware components--processors, internal and external memory, buses, printers, communications, hardware. Importance of ergonomic factors in equipment design, multi-user and network configurations, and the role of…

Intended to enable educators to make intelligent decisions when purchasing hardware and software, this article presents basic information on computer hardware, effective software, and necessary peripherals needed to achieve educational objectives instructors have set. (MBR)

Reviews ConSearch 3.0, a product that provides flexible searching of electronic files, allowing the location of related meanings as well as exact matches. ConSearch 3.0 differs from other file retrieval approaches by relating words in search phrases of questions to the "meaning" of the words, which are stored in a "conceptual…

Provides practical information on multimedia and mass storage devices, productivity tools and authoring systems, and software/hardware compatibility for language training. Also provided is an extensive list of recommendations for creating effective software and another for selecting, developing, and adapting software. (GLR)