This paper compares the subject indexing on articles pertaining to Immanuel Kant, agriculture, and aging that are found simultaneously in Humanities Index, Academic Search Elite (EBSCO) and Periodicals Research II (Micromedia ProQuest), in order to show that there are substantial variations in the depth and quality of indexing in these databases.…

This directory of the major bibliographic databases that are offered by more than one vendor lists the producer, subject, vendor, maximum and minimum online charges, online hit charge, and offline print charge. The pricing systems of nine vendors are described. The directory appears every February and August in "Online Review." (EM)

Provides information on commercial connections to the Internet via gateways as opposed to direct connection or through a modem. Hardware and software requirements are described; and commercial online services offering an Internet gateway are discussed, including America Online, CompuServe, Delphi, GEnie, and Prodigy. (LRW)

Describes standards for computer-based information systems, including Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) and open distributed processing. The standardization process is explained, and the Open Software Foundation's Distributed Computing Environment is described as a de facto standard for open distributed processing that has already gained…

Interviews with three vendors of electronic resources provide a historical perspective of pricing, a discussion of current pricing structures, and insight into the future of pricing from three different perspectives: a database producer (Disclosure, Inc.), an online services provider (Questel-Orbit, Inc.), and a commercial online service/consumer…

This article presents a brief history of computer assisted library research and describes ten DIALOG databases that are most relevant to the humanities. Illustrates a simplified search strategy and describes the results of a project designed to involve humanities faculty at a university in using computerized searching. (JDH)

This article describes the role of microcomputers as communication devices in evaluation research. The capabilities of two new international computer networks, SocNet and PoliNet, are described to illustrate how the evaluation research community can begin to adapt to this alternative mode of professional communication. (BS)

The efficacy of using comprehensive database search strategies in performing an online literature retrieval in psychopathology is investigated. The results indicated that databases other than PsycINFO provided relevant citations. Concludes that literature retrieval involving psychological topics should include multiple comprehensive database…

Several leaders in the online industry react to the sale of DIALOG by Lockheed to Knight-Ridder and comment on possible future directions for DIALOG. A sidebar describes the Knight-Ridder organization and its information services. (MES)

Discusses provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DCMA) that relate to special librarians and offer a limitation on liability for online service providers. Highlights include eligibility requirements; storing material and referring users to material at other locations through hypertext links or search engines; system caching; and scope…

Describes Internet service providers and information infrastructure in China, including achievements, problems, and predictions of its future development. Highlights include examples of Web sites; proportion of Internet users by province and city; age distribution of Internet workers; occupations of internet users; and users in Taiwan and Hong…

Reviews automated-systems activities in libraries during the past year and profiles major vendors. Topics include new partnership arrangements driven by competition; library-systems revenues; Y2K issues; Windows-based interfaces; consulting; outsourcing; development trends; global system sales; and sales by type of library. (LRW)

Offers advice on selecting online vendors, such as determining quality, graduation credit, course articulation, delivery equipment, teacher support, handicap accessibility, pricing methods, and grading functions. Includes a selected list of vendors of online courses. (PKP)

This digest describes how to use a microcomputer as a terminal to access ERIC online. Hardware and software requirements are explained, configuring the software is described, and basic requirements for specific microcomputers are listed. One diagram is included. (EW)

Reviews the database industry over the past year, including new companies and services, company closures, popular database formats, popular access methods, and changes in existing products and services. Lists 33 firms and their database services; 33 firms and their database products; and 61 company profiles. (LRW)