The Association of Information Dissemination Centers (ASIDIC) formed the Cooperative Data Management Committee to address the problems of information center operators and data base suppliers. The number of operating centers in the U.S. is limited and their future expansion in numbers and in type of services, will depend on the education of users.…

The purpose of this Guide is to help those receiving data and data products from the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) to make better use of the material obtained. In addition, it should help data requesters to intelligently formulate inquiries based on a knowledge of the capabilities (and limitations) of the data base. Chapter I of the…

This first in a series of articles outlines general requirements (flexibility, compatibility and control, response time and volume, searching, data entry); functional requirements (acquisitions, circulation, departmental subscriptions, internal and external reports, interlibrary loan, journals/serials, codes, patron); and use of the data…

The University Information Center has transformed data retrieval and reporting from a slow process performed by high-priced technical personnel to an instantaneous service performed by those who need and can define the service required. The result at Indiana University has been improved quality of computing. (Author/MLW)

Discusses use of microcomputer hardware and software, telecommunications methods, and advanced library methods to create a specialized information center's database of literature relating to farm machinery and food processing. Systems and services (electronic messaging, serials control, database creation, cataloging, collections, circulation,…

This manual explains how the user services functions, usually performed by a User Services Coordinator, can be conducted in the 16 ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) Clearinghouses and the various adjunct ERIC Clearinghouses. It provides guidelines, suggestions, and examples of how ERIC components currently perform the user services…

Describes on-line services provided by the Educational Materials Laboratory of the Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools for students and school staff desiring access to the ERIC data base, as well as a network operation for county residents. (CMV)

Describes the process of question referral in California's second-level reference centers where questions are referred by public librarians, and provides examples of questions and sources typical of humanities research. Topics include the varied clientele and the use of databases, reference files, library collections, organizations, special…

The Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) is a national network of 16 specialized clearinghouses and several central ERIC service facilities, each of which is charged with enhancing the ERIC database of educational resources by identifying hard-to-find materials including research reports, curriculum guides, conference papers,…

In order to further define the role of information centers in institutional research activities, two hypotheses are advanced: there are distinctive markets for information center activities within the university; and different services, products and delivery mechanisms are needed to serve each market. Following a discussion of the evolution of the…

Use of online information services is currently widespread in public, academic, government, and corporate libraries and information centers. The trend is for smaller libraries of all varieties to install terminals and obtain passwords, while larger libraries add systems of all types. Even in the face of a severe recession, online growth rates have…

The Mechanized Information Center (MIC) at the Ohio State University conducts retrospective and current awareness searches for faculty, students, and staff using data bases for agriculture, chemistry, education, psychology, and social sciences, as well as a multidisciplinary data base. The final report includes (1) a description of the background…

Based on data gathered from a number of complementary sources, this study provides a detailed descriptive analysis of both the direct and indirect costs incurred by the Federal government in operating the ERIC system, and the user population and user demand for ERIC products and services. Data sources included a survey of ERIC's U.S. intermediate…

This account of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) provides information on its background and origin, and traces the development of the system from initial planning in 1962 through mid-1979. Although this is essentially an overview of the growth of the system, some of the more complex aspects of the ERIC story are included in the…

The purpose of Project ACCESS is to increase the capacity to provide information resources to aid educational decision-making and problem-solving, thereby leading to improved education in Colorado schools. This report presents a set of data pertinent to the evaluation of Project ACCESS during its first year of operation with value judgments…