This essay extends observations made by the author to Dan Marmion, in his editorial, "The Bully Pulpit" ("Information Technology and Libraries," June 1999). The author makes the point that sometimes a user can find an answer to a reference question more efficiently and effectively in a print source, sometimes in an electronic source, and sometimes…

Argues that librarians should and can develop new electronic information products to meet their users' needs and describes the development of three such products at the Graduate School of Management Library at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)--the RATIOS file, the REF-LITE Project, and the expert system Who?Biz. (EA)

This set of materials on computerized bibliographic search services in academic and research libraries includes policy and procedure statements on online information retrieval services at the University of Houston, Colorado State University, Duke University, Temple University, Emory University, and Yale, among others; a position description for…

This report summarizes research undertaken at the Sterling C. Evans Library, Texas A & M University to assess the impact that end user information retrieval systems may have on library staff and users. Two systems, BRS/After Dark and Search Helper, were made available in the library for end user searching at no cost. A total of 260 users…

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 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…

To introduce undergraduate students to the library and to familiarize them with the various indexing systems and reference materials, the University of Michigan has produced this workbook designed specifically for their library. The information and exercises included cover physical layout, the card catalog, the Library of Congress Classification…

Lockheed has undertaken Project DIALIB to determine whether online retrieval services could be useful to the general public, and if the public library could serve as the linking agent for these services. As part of the study, DIALOG, Lockheed's online reference retrieval system, has been made available to the public through four public libraries…

Part I contains 22 papers covering all aspects of the library reference services including sources of reference materials, an evaluation of reference sources, building a reference collection, training a reference librarian, and the needs of the industrial and medical communities for reference services. All the papers are slanted toward the special…

Experimentation and analysis dominate the activities with the Intrex information storage and retrieval system. Detailed analysis of the retrieval effectiveness of the Intrex-System configuration have been made in an effort to establish, quantitatively, the value of free-vocabulary and deep subject indexing; the usefulness of various fields of…

This is a selective bibliography covering journal literature, trade publications, monographs, technical reports, and other documents which are readily available. The bibliography covers publications dated 1969 through 1971. Although material published in languages other than English was not actively sought, some references have been cited to call…

Presents a description of PLEXUS, an expert system on gardening designed as a referral tool for public libraries by the University of London. Highlights include determining user characteristics, developing the problem statement, the use of semantic categories, and search strategies that modify the original problem statement using Boolean…

Presents microcomputer-based information retrieval system in public access mode and describes preparations, procedures, and use developed and recorded during first year of operation at Louisiana State University. A detailed analysis of month-long free trial period (user status, major areas of study, subjects searched) and 10 conclusions and…

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)

Describes public library reference service which allows patrons to type out search instructions on a computer terminal, review and select references, and receive, by high-speed printer, facsimile copy of selected periodical articles. Development of periodicals center at main county library and use of self-coaching SEARCH HELPER system are…