This document details 28 policies and 37 procedures of the online searching service at the Indiana State University (ISU), Cunningham Memorial Library. Sixteen forms used in various aspects of the process are also included. The policies include but are not limited to the following: (1) the Database Search Service organization; (2) Database Search…

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 of over 200 academic, public, and special libraries in 13 selected states was conducted in the fall of 1979 to provide a state of the art report on online or computerized reference services. Libraries were selected from states which had demonstrated leadership in networking, and data were sought in four areas: (1) users of online…

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…

This study of the benefits, methods, and costs of linking two or more bibliographic utilities for use by public and academic libraries assessed the impact of linking on three distinct areas of library operations: shared cataloging, interlibrary loan, and reference searching. The analysis was restricted to bibliographic records for monographs in…

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…

Discusses the usage of online bibliographic database searching in political science research for undergraduates. Explains several advantages of this research tool. Proves a step-by-step description of how to use this research tool. Gives a specific example of this process and lists a selected directory of database vendors and political science…

Demonstrations to graduate education students on the use of the ERIC database for research of children's literature materials involved using the thesaurus and subject indexes. Electronic searches served as follow-up to the classroom instruction, and the advantages of online searching were illustrated through various approaches used to retrieve…

Discussion of issues concerned with providing library reference services to machine readable data files focuses on numeric databases. The team approach used at the University of Florida, which incorporates reference librarians, programers and data managers, database producers and vendors, and professional associations, is described. A bibliography…

Reports results of study of a group of end users (patent attorneys) doing their own online searching at AT&T Bell Laboratories. Highlights include DIALOG databases used by the attorneys, locations and searching modes, characteristics of patent attorney searchers, and problem areas. Questionnaire is appended. (5 references) (EJS)

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…