A reference guide for online bibliographic searchers introduces and explains the major computer-searchable fields of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) database, presents field access labels or commands of three online ERIC database vendors--BRS, DIALOG, and ORBIT--and lists the codes necessary for searching particular ERIC…

Designed primarily for use by first-time searchers, this workbook provides an overview of online searching. Following a brief introduction which defines online searching, databases, and database producers, five steps in carrying out a successful search are described: (1) identifying the main concepts of the search statement; (2) selecting a…

The Interchange newsletter is prepared irregularly (approximately semiannually) by the staff of the ERIC Processing and Reference Facility in order to communicate matters of interest to users of the ERIC database and of other ERIC products and services. Initially, the focus was on computer-oriented users who were receiving the ERIC magnetic tapes…

Recent emphasis on stricter educational accountability measures has resulted in a profusion of educational and psychological tests available in today's market. This ERIC Digest has been prepared to meet educators' needs to find information about tests quickly and easily. Three resources discussed are the Test Collection database, the Mental…

A project at the ERIC Clearinghouse on Information Resources has resulted in the extension of the ERIC database to microcomputer. Small subject-related files for current-awareness purposes are downloaded from the ERIC tapes and are made available for searching with Apple II Plus microcomputers. Since the target audience for this system is…

This workbook is the third in a series of three that has been integrated into the chemistry curriculum for majors at the University of Vermont. The workbook consists of readings and exercises designed to provide undergraduate students with foundation skills in the use of professional literature. The major emphasis is on searching the literature…

As each Wiswesser Line Notation symbol for a structure containing a branching chain and/or multiplied groups is extracted in a left-to-right scan, the symbol to which it was connected in the graphic formula must be jnown. For highly branched structures the program logic becomes quite complex. (Author)

Construction of the locant path, a table of interatom connections, and the molformula from the WLN for complex ring systems (including polycyclic, spiro, perifused, bridged, and pseudo-bridged rings) is described. The procedure has been programmed for a digital computer and has been found useful in manual decoding also. (Author)

Discussed ERIC's Junior College Clearinghouse and its success in meeting its goals responsibilities. (RK)

Described on the agenda as "An Omnium Gatherum for Reference Librarians," this workshop presented by the staff of the Bay Area Reference Center (BARC) cites resources and explains search strategies used by BARC to respond to the types of questions most frequently submitted to them. Methods and tools that may be used by smaller libraries to answer…

An explanation is provided of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), a national information system that collects, processes, and makes available a wide range of educational documents. Contents of the guide include an explanation of the major components of the ERIC system; searching by subject, author, or institution in the ERIC…

This study discusses the problems of conceptual and bibliographic access to the literature of the social sciences. The study is intended to assist both professionals and students who are conducting social science research. Part I examines conceptual access and search strategies. It traces the flow of social science information from original…

A timed comparison was made of two methods of searching. Five bibliographic searchers timed themselves while searching by possible main entries in the National Union Catalog. The authors then timed themselves searching the same items by title in the English Language Books by Title and in Library of Congress National Program for Acquisitions and…

The Uniterm system of coordinate indexing, developed by the Armed Services Technical Information Agency, provides a method for the organization, storage, and retrieval of information. The contents of reports are analyzed, and terms are assigned to the documents. For each term there is a card upon which the accession number of documents assigned…

A study of relevance through comparison of texts judged by users is reported. The relevant set of documents for each information request was characterized by textual properties. The validity of procedures and interpretations is discussed. Consideration is given to possible mechanization of the process and its possible usefulness in development of…