Describes a study at the California State University at Chico library that was conducted to determine the success of the ERIC database on CD-ROM as a retrieval tool. The results of user interviews are summarized, surveys of reference librarians are reviewed, and cost considerations are examined. (three references) (LRW)

Question Master (QM) is a decision-support system automating some more routine, fact-type reference questions encountered by guiding librarians through a set of clarifying questions before recommending appropriate print or electronic resource from WorldCat, the OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) Online Union Catalog. This study found that the…

Proposes that training paraprofessionals for routine reference desk service is an inexpensive way for libraries to allow professionals to address tasks such as long-range planning, policy making, and sophisticated information retrieval. Suggests that training should focus on specific questions that are likely to come up and on appropriate…

This document reports the result of a study carried out to evaluate the installation and use of the UNESCO CD-ROM prototype. A questionnaire in English and French was sent to about 267 institutions around the world. Replies were received from 97 bodies, giving a response rate of about 36%. Almost all respondents were information professionals in…

This book is in the form of a bibliographic essay, and addresses the needs of educators seeking access to legal research materials. The first item discussed is court decisions and examples are given which demonstrate the importance of legal precedent. An explanation is given of the complicated systems for reporting court decisions and how the…

In an effort to promote computer literacy among advertising students, an assignment was devised that required the use of online database search techniques to find secondary research materials. The search program, chosen for economical reasons, was "Classroom Instruction Program" offered by Dialog Information Services. Available for a…

Based on an analysis of online search evaluation forms collected from all types of U.S. libraries, and a pilot test of a draft evaluation form in selected federal research libraries, this report presents the work of the American Library Association's (ALA's) Machine-Assisted Reference Section (MARS) Committee on Measurement and Evaluation. The…

Included in this collection of papers from the Louisiana Library Association's Academic Section 1982 Micro Symposium are (1) an overview of the history and changing role of academic libraries by Jane P. Kleiner; (2) "Afro-American Literature and the Contemporary Publishing Industry," a paper by Dorothy Davis which discusses the present state of…

This report investigates seven document representations--configurations of controlled and free-text vocabulary--which can be used to search the INSPEC (Computer and Control Abstracts) and PsychInfo (Psychological Abstracts) databases. The performance of each representation is analyzed, as is overlap among the representations, i.e., the extent to…

Summarizing the organizational structure of operations and giving examples of the kinds of services provided, this report describes the establishment, work methods, and achievements of the National Rural Information Clearinghouse. The clearinghouse program maintains a specialized library, a reference service, and a technical assistance service…

Written for librarians and teachers, this monograph is a guide to documentary and reference sources in political science. The book is divided into three topic areas which help facilitate the location and retrieval of hundreds of source books. Part one focuses on the American federal govenment and explains what sources are available from or about…

A search of various literature was conducted to learn what is known about the information universe of disadvantaged adults. More than 700 documents were discovered bearing on information needs, use, and information-seeking behavior of the aged, blacks, native Americans, Chicanos, migrants, the poor, and other disadvantaged. An overview of the…

A user study to determine the ratio of citation-bound queries to data-bound queries originated by university faculty and processed through reference department personnel or by independent use of reference materials in the university library revealed a majority (75%) of the queries are citation-bound. Important implications are suggested for the…

This 216-item bibliography supplement provides language teachers with a listing of materials drawn from journals, newspapers, books, and the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC). Accession numbers of the ERIC entries are included. For the principal bibliography see ED 037 142. (RL)

The OSIRIS system is a prototype information retrieval system having the following components: an automated microfiche file having a capacity of 5000 punch card sized microfiche with a remote control 21 inch TV console for retrieving, magnifying (0-250X), and displaying any of the images on the microfiche; and a remote computer terminal for the…