Briefly reviews the current developments in public access catalogs and poses questions for the public service librarian. (FM)

This study compared online versions of LISA (Library and Information Science Abstracts), Library Literature, and ERIC to investigate time lag and duplication of coverage. Six searches of each database were executed over a period of 15 months. Results indicated that Library Literature had the least time lag and LISA the most; duplication was low.…

Identifies a conflict between the kind of reference service that many librarians of tax-supported academic and public libraries have accepted as workable within their institutions and the kind of reference service that has evolved for those who can pay for online bibliographic searches in these same libraries. (Author)

The computer-based reference process includes the user pre-search form, appointments, search strategy negotiation, on-line sampling and on-line search session. The role of the search analyst, his personality and communication skills are discussed in relation to the success or failure of a computer search. (JAB)

Focuses on the methods used by three academic libraries in addressing the question of whether or not to charge users for online searches. (FM)

Discusses the benefits to patrons and librarians of integrating online database searching with traditional reference services, and makes recommendations for maximizing those benefits. (Author/JD)

Reviews the literature on online bibliographic databases for secondary sources in history. The effect of online databases on the reference process is discussed, and the principal databases in the field are introduced. Areas for future research are suggested, and 23 references are listed. (Author/MES)

The three papers presented discuss the components of the pricing structure for online service vendors (Roger Summit); describe an information system designed to provide agricultural weather data to farmers (Lehnert and Scott); and explore the impact of information delivery systems for the home (Mark Plakias). (FM)

Shares some of the experiences of the University of Florida Libraries' Census Access Program, which has provided print and machine-readable census products to users since 1971. Article anticipates the demand for the new data products of the 1980 census. (Author/JD)

Describes differences between print and online reference sources in terms of the structure of the sources and the process of searching. Factors that affect the decision of which type of source to use are identified and grouped into seven categories: availability; cost; convenience; bibliographic; subject specification; inaccessibility through…

A survey of 34 of the largest public library systems, each serving at least 500,000 people, showed: (1) minority offer online database services; (2) cost is major prohibiting factor; (3) New York Times Information Bank is most popular database; (4) fee structures vary; and (5) business organizations are most frequent users. (JD)

Examines range of coverage and principles of inclusion of dissertations in PsycINFO by comparing searches done on PsycINFO and Dissertation Abstracts Online. Searchers are advised to be skeptical about the accuracy and completeness of vendor documentation and the practical journal literature. Search strategies used are appended. (eight references)…

Items to be considered in establishing on-line reference in a small to medium size library are vendor relations, equipment needed, number of data bases to offer, training of staff, and how to compute search costs. (JAB)

Description of use of Search Helper--a newly developed, user-friendly software package designed to enable a microcomputer to be used in searching Information Access Company databases on Dialog bibliographic retrieval service--at California State University--Long Beach (CSULB). Highlights six databases available, necessary hardware, and reference…

Summarizes methods of searching currently available for OCLC, provides list of questions that can be answered with terminal (monographic series, mock subject searching, bibliography, government documents, serials, microforms, music, birth/death dates, corporate bodies, name authority, variant editions, artistic transpositions), and demonstrates…