The information retrieval demonstration and research project was designed to demonstrate the computer terminal system of information retrieval from a central computer. Specifically, the system concentrated on computer searching of the ERIC system. The demonstrations took place by locating nine terminals in volunteer districts and conducting…

Human individuals, social organizations and societies are alike in that their knowledge of past events is to some extent maintained and brought to bear on their behavior. On the individual level we know quite a bit of how this is accomplished. However, on the social level we know close to nothing. It is not the task of this paper to ascertain the…

The existing volume and increasing growth rate of documented information has resulted in numerous efforts to construct operational Document Storage and Retrieval Systems, as a practical solution to the demand for information storage and retrieval. Accompanying the surge to build more and better and bigger Document Retrieval Systems (DRSs), was the…

Least cost decision rules for transferring documents from primary to secondary storage are developed from a dynamic programing model of an information system. The program is constrained to provide for a minimum acceptable level of user benefits. Knowledge of the physical size of the primary storage area and the fraction of documents returned from…

The materials of a library, exemplified by books, have traditionally been viewed as presenting two aspects involving two distinct problems: their description and control as unique items, and their treatment as sources of information on various subjects. But this view has tended to overlook a third fundamental aspect: that of the "works" which are…

This report presents an analysis of the problem of descriptive cataloging as a whole: the aspects of the problem, the questions they raise, the issues involved, the course adopted in the new "Anglo-American Cataloging Rules," and the principles that would serve best the objectives of the catalog. (Author)

This report provides a complete and up-to-date review of the abstracting and indexing services available in water resources engineering. Between 1955 and 1970 the number of services in this field increased from about 20 to 40. This exponential growth or doubling every 15 years suggests that by 1985 there will be 80 abstracting services in…

Demonstrates that hierarchical naming schemes--one with a single namespace and fixed root spread over all machines in a distributed system, and a second with total namespace composed of some aggregation of individual namespaces of each component system's filestores--can coexist in distributed computer systems. Combined system's design is…

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…

This 14-item annotated literature review summarizes and analyzes scientific developments in and applications of optical and videodisc technology. Implications for information storage and retrieval, prospects for the optical disc in the office, preservation and the new technology, electronic document delivery, and the impact of technology on…

A look at the University of Wisconsin's system of cataloging documents which comprise a personal library, in such a way that they may be located efficiently by subject descriptors or author. (Author)

A one-time data entry system, coupled with an efficient use of the computer, which provides inventory management, distribution, and audit reporting, the ability to answer special queries, and to produce customized reports is described. (3 references) (Author)

This study proposes and investigates file ordering and retrieval techniques which, it is hypothesized, will: (a) reduce the average cost of retrieving records which satisfy a query, and (b) increase the rate of retrieval in the initial portion of the response period. (8 references) (Author)

The role of the generality effect in retrieval system evaluation is assessed, and evaluation results are given for the comparison of several document collections of distinct size and generality in the areas of documentation and aerodynamics. (14 references) (Author)

The survey examines three commercial services which reproduce on microfiche the catalog card output of the Library of Congress. Two services which index the National Union Catalog (NUC) and the Title II depository cards by LC card number are also described. (Author/NH)