Describes online information systems that have been developed for community access. Systems available in cities around the country are explained and include electronic bulletin boards, local government information, human services information, library online catalogs, commercial databases, and electronic mail. Possible levels of library involvement…

Data concerning online searching in the State University of New York (SUNY) Library System was obtained from a 50-question survey of the 63 SUNY libraries conducted in March 1983. A total of 52 surveys were completed. It was found that: 18 campuses offered inhouse online search services to their patrons, 15 additional campuses offered access to…

This document details 28 policies and 37 procedures of the online searching service at the Indiana State University (ISU), Cunningham Memorial Library. Sixteen forms used in various aspects of the process are also included. The policies include but are not limited to the following: (1) the Database Search Service organization; (2) Database Search…

Written in Spanish, this booklet describes the ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) system, who uses ERIC and why, and how to use ERIC. Brief descriptions of the 16 clearinghouses and the services of the ERIC Processing and Reference Facility, ERIC Document Reproduction Service, Oryx Press, and the U. S. Government Printing Office are…

A survey of over 200 academic, public, and special libraries in 13 selected states was conducted in the fall of 1979 to provide a state of the art report on online or computerized reference services. Libraries were selected from states which had demonstrated leadership in networking, and data were sought in four areas: (1) users of online…

A survey conducted to document the status of online searching instruction in United States and Canadian library and information science schools specifically sought information on: reference use of technical processing and traditional search systems, consciousness raising instruction, instructional levels, physical facilities, funding sources, and…

This study of the benefits, methods, and costs of linking two or more bibliographic utilities for use by public and academic libraries assessed the impact of linking on three distinct areas of library operations: shared cataloging, interlibrary loan, and reference searching. The analysis was restricted to bibliographic records for monographs in…

Discusses the usage of online bibliographic database searching in political science research for undergraduates. Explains several advantages of this research tool. Proves a step-by-step description of how to use this research tool. Gives a specific example of this process and lists a selected directory of database vendors and political science…

Discussion of issues concerned with providing library reference services to machine readable data files focuses on numeric databases. The team approach used at the University of Florida, which incorporates reference librarians, programers and data managers, database producers and vendors, and professional associations, is described. A bibliography…

Reports results of study of a group of end users (patent attorneys) doing their own online searching at AT&T Bell Laboratories. Highlights include DIALOG databases used by the attorneys, locations and searching modes, characteristics of patent attorney searchers, and problem areas. Questionnaire is appended. (5 references) (EJS)

Study of online searching experience in Martin P. Catherwood Library, New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, presents results of five years of collecting data on bibliographic files accessed. A ranking of 10 most frequently searched files and commentary on pattern that emerges are provided. (EJS)

California's Vocational and Occupational Information Center for Educators (VOICE), which provides instructors, administrators, and others involved in planning and operating vocational education programs with a variety of resources for improving instruction, is examined. The authors discuss access to this database, computer searches, consultant…

Summarizes findings of online searching education survey which obtained data on teaching the use of online technical processing systems for reference service, course content, and other characteristics of consciousness raising instruction, physical resources, methods of financing, and opinions of faculty regarding the future of such instruction.…

Discusses the role of the library in distance education and describes key elements of library services for distance education, including reference services; portfolio of nearby libraries or other resources; document delivery; databases; electronic journals; database of subject specialists; and electronic resources on the Web. (AEF)

Describes two CD-ROM reference systems and the reactions of undergraduate students, faculty, and librarians to these systems. The discussion covers criteria that influenced users' reactions (e.g. ease of use, expertise in Boolean logic, database currency, and multidisciplinary characteristics of databases) and conclusions about appropriate systems…