Discusses Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) that converts existing telephone lines into digital circuits which transmit data at 256Kbps to 7 Mbps. Describes ADSL, unique features of "Megabit Services" and initial deployment, costs, and impact on library services (extra bandwidth for Internet services, multimedia or other…

In the age of electronic media, some say producing textbooks is a dying art. And it may be true that every day, devices with names such as iPod and eBook threaten to replace the age-old "technology" of the traditional book with a newer, faster, and equally (if not more) portable approach. In many cases, at colleges and universities across the…

This booklet describes online searching using Materials Information, a metallurgy and metals science information service of the Institute of Metals in London and ASM International in Cleveland, Ohio, which is available through the major online vendors. Described in detail are online searching, online databases, costs, online hosts or vendors,…

Analyzes data from quarterly surveys of vendors to determine revenues and usage of government databases and identify those receiving high revenues and high usage. It is concluded that the current decline in their market share is due to increasing numbers of databases from the private sector rather than actual usage. (EM)

This overview of the available government and defense online databases divides them into the categories of research and development and market intelligence and describes the contents of each database. A listing of the online producers and providers, starting dates of files, and update frequency is provided. (CLB)

Describes a survey that examined ways in which users interacted with the authority control of online catalogs developed commercially and locally. The two types of system are compared in terms of displayed messages related to authority control and system capabilities to aid users in understanding the relationships between headings. (CLB)

Presents the estimated market values of optical data disk products in 1987 and 1988, and describes the primary and secondary market indicators used to evaluate product standings. The discussion covers issues affecting electronic publishing and the optical disk industry. (CLB)

This brief planning guide for library automation incorporates needs assessment and evaluation of options to meet those needs. A bibliography of materials on automation planning and software reviews, library software directories, and library automation journals is included. (CLB)

Six prominent consultants consider the technical dimensions of retrospective conversion, the appropriate standards to employ, the proper relationship of conversion activities to the entire automation project, and several options available for converting a bibliographic database into machine-readable format: online or batch shared cataloging…

Describes H. W. Wilson's information retrieval system which provides access to such familiar printed indexes as "Social Sciences Index,""Humanities Index,""Education Index," and "Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature." Use of this flexible system is explained and illustrated. (CDD)

Describes InfoMaster, a gateway system produced by Western Union, which provides access to 16 online database services. Highlights include the user-oriented, menu-driven gateway approach, range of databases, searching features, and InfoMaster's relationship to the EasyLink data communication service. Sample screen displays are provided. (EM)

Describes factors to consider when doing business research on the World Wide Web. Highlights include cost, variety of information and viewpoints, timeliness of information, ease of use, time used in searching, quality and value, online vendors and online services, ownership and copyright, and an appendix that annotates 16 Web sites. (LRW)

Describes recent improvements in graphical user interfaces (GUIs) offered by online services. Highlights include design considerations, including computer engineering capabilities and users' abilities; fundamental GUI design principles; user empowerment; visual communication and interaction; and an evaluation of online search interfaces. (LRW)

Discussion of remote access to library services focuses on proxy servers as a method for remote access, based on experiences at Saint Mary's University (Halifax). Topics include Internet protocol user validation; browser-directed proxies; server software proxies; vendor alternatives for validating remote users; and Internet security issues. (LRW)

Describes study that compared the costs of online searching on six databases in four systems. Costs of the search phase and the output phase are analyzed separately; transmission rate and telecommunication costs are examined; and the effects of pricing structures on online searches are discussed. (five references) (LRW)