bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computer Informational Retrieval in China: current situation and future trends
Authors: Bing Wang
Published: January 2008

In this paper the author discusses the current situation of Computer Information Retrieval (CIR) systems in China, examines the problems, sets up an agenda for their solution, and looks at possible future trends.
Invoices for online services
Authors: Forrest Vicki
Published: January 2008

The recent Eusidic initiative to produce a Guideline on Billing Practice for Online Services reflects existing variations in the characteristics and adequacy of online service invoices. This review of the current situation, with particular regard to invoice content and method of presentation, illustrates the need for improved standards of billing; as displays of numeric data, invoices are far from being equally informative.
Reaching out to the end user with the BIOSIS Connection
Authors: Syen Sarah
Published: January 2008

The Biosis Connection was launched on 2 May 1988, as an online search system targeted to research scientists in the life sciences. Since there is no professional society dedicated to serving life scientists as an integrated group, Biosis saw a need to facilitate communications between life scientists by becoming the focal point of information services for this community. Biosis undertook this project well aware of the ‘elusive end user’ phenomenon. Biosis carefully researched ways and means to serve this audience as a first step in achieving the long term goals of the Biosis Connection. The resulting system design and specifications took into account the fact that virtually every successful electronic end user product on the market must appeal to the professional librarian as well. To that end, the Biosis Connection was designed with both a menu‐driven front end package to serve the novice or occasional user in addition to a command language version for the experienced user and/or information professional. The databases included for initial offering were selected to meet current awareness needs or to allow access to databases unavailable on any other online system. None of these compete directly with any other Biosis online database. System enhancements and the development of new databases are ongoing activities, with the first upgrades scheduled for implementation in the fall of 1988. Companion services for document ordering and event referral were incorporated from the start so that the Biosis Connection would be a complete information service. The project scope to start up the Biosis Connection was equivalent to that of establishing a new business. In this paper, the planning, project research and product development processes are examined. The effectiveness of Beta testing the system will also be reviewed. Preliminary market response and formal evaluations received are summarized. Finally, a brief discussion of the highlights and lowlights of building a system like the Biosis Connection is given.
Future enhancements for full text databases
Authors: Detemple Wendelin
Published: January 2008

It has taken about twenty years to develop and implement the wide range of public databases offered via host services today. In most cases the information available is bibliographic, factual or numeric, but full text databases are becoming more and more important. To improve their services, some vendors have added sophisticated graphics and front end features to their bibliographic and numeric databases. These improvements have been applied both at the host site, with the host systems handling the bulk of data and graphics processing, and to PC and workstation software, where sophisticated graphics and text processing packages adapted to host‐specific output formats are required. Future developments are expected in three main areas: (1) host based menu‐driven systems which do not require sophisticated user hardware; (2) menu and front end interfaces on gateway and mailbox services which allow easy access to many databases, albeit with limited search capabilities; (3) PC or front end computer based systems which already have good retrieval interaction and input/output processing features, but require more expensive hardware and software at the user's site. In the future, PC based systems are expected to utilise expert systems, both to support the retrieval of information online and to enhance the quality of the retrieved information by sophisticated post‐processing features. The developments in user support features and advanced search input/output environments which have hitherto been implemented for non full text databases now need to be introduced to enhance full text retrieval.
Access limitations to US databases for users. A critique of a report to the Commission of the European Communities
Authors: Becker Jörg
Published: January 2008

In February 1988, a conference entitled ‘International Information Flows between Eastern and Western Europe: Towards Confidence, Mutual Understanding and Co‐operation’, was held at Arnoldshain, Schtmitten, in West Germany. Europe Speaks to Europe is a collection of papers given at the conference. This paper was presented by Professor Jörg Becker, a co‐editor of the hook, which is due to be published by Pergamon Press in July 1989.
The design of browsing and berrypicking techniques for the online search interface
Authors: Bates Marcia J.
Published: January 2008

First, a new model of searching in online and other information systems, called ‘berrypicking’, is discussed. This model, it is argued, is much closer to the real behavior of information searchers than the traditional model of information retrieval is, and, consequently, will guide our thinking better in the design of effective interfaces. Second, the research literature of manual information seeking behavior is drawn on for suggestions of capabilities that users might like to have in online systems. Third, based on the new model and the research on information seeking, suggestions are made for how new search capabilities could be incorporated into the design of search interfaces. Particular attention is given to the nature and types of browsing that can be facilitated.
Corporate family searching on Dialog: techniques for the business searcher
Authors: Robinson Mark L.
Published: January 2008

Business searchers of all types are asked at times to identify a company's corporate family structure. Searches of this type involve identifying the parent company and any other subordinate firms. Knowing which databases to search on Dialog and how to search them effectively is the focus of this paper.
Questions of liability in the provision of information services
Authors: Denis Sabine , Poullet Yves
Published: January 2008

Today the total number of databanks is still increasing and online information providers are facing quasi‐unlimited opportunities to expand their services both on a national and an international level. Unfortunately for databank producers this also means increasing the risk of liability as the number of potential users and kind of uses of the information is growing. This risk of liability is not a fiction. The user expects the information he receives to be reliable and accurate. In case of unreliability or inaccuracy, he will blame the person who provided him with the information.
Evaluating MEDLINE on CD‐ROM: an overview of field tests in library and clinical settings
Authors: Rapp Barbara A. , Siegel Elliot R. , Woodsmall Rose Marie , Lyon‐Hartmann Becky
Published: January 2008

The paper presents an overview of the National Library of Medicine's 1988 field test and evaluation project, including the participation of 21 user sites, on the use of MEDLINE products on CD‐ROM, and reports on the subsequent evaluation forum held at the NLM on 23 September 1988.
The use of statistical ranking to retrieve records from a gigabyte of text
Authors: Harman Donna , Candela Gerald
Published: January 2008

In February Online Review published a Letter to the Editor from Cyril Cleverdon. This letter was written in response to Roger Summit's paper ‘In search of the elusive end user’, which was presented at the Eusidic Conference in October 1989 and published in Online Review in December. Mr Cleverdon drew particular attention to the results of tests showing the practical feasibility of statistical ranking techniques reported by Harman and Candela in a soon to be published paper. This is a summary of that paper, the complete version of which will be published in October 1990 as ‘Retrieving records from a gigabyte of text on a minicomputer using statistical ranking’, in the Journal of the American Society for Information Science.
Library Master: bibliographic and textual database software
Authors: Grosch Audrey N.
Published: January 2008

Library Master: bibliographic and textual database software. Author: Harry Hahne. Available from Balboa Software, 61 Lorraine Drive, Willowdale, Ontario M2N 2E3, Canada. Tel: +1 (416) 730–1896. MS‐DOS version US$179.95, CAN$199.95. Demonstration disk US$5.00. Trial version and full documentation US$24.95. System requirements: PC/MS‐DOS 2.0 or higher. Two floppy drives or hard disk and minimum 384 Kb RAM, with 512 Kb RAM recommended for complex databases.
DJINNI: Dow Jones International Network for News and Information
Authors: Hoetker Glenn P.
Published: January 2008

What if you could rub your computer three times and get the answers to all your pressing questions? That isn't possible yet, but the new Djinni (Dow Jones International Network for News and Information) service comes close. More than simple information retrieval, Djinni allows you to follow topics of interest, compile historical backgrounds to important events, make your own connections between new stories, and share that information with co‐workers worldwide.
Effects of linguistic functions on information retrieval in a German‐language full‐text database: comparison between retrieval in abstract and full text
Authors: Tauchert W. , Hospodarsky J. , Krause J. , Schneider C. , Womser‐Hacker C.
Published: January 2008

This paper reports the results of the information retrieval project PADOK‐II. This project, which began in November 1987, is being carried out by the Linguistic Information Science Group of the University of Regensburg (LIR) in cooperation with the German Patent Office (GPO) and is sponsored by the German Ministry for Research and Technology. The long‐term aim is to integrate artificial intelligence into information retrieval research without neglecting traditional information retrieval methodology. In PADOK‐II an information retrieval system is considered which indexes documents rather shallowly using free‐text or morphological components. A large‐scale retrieval test has been carried out, based on the German Patent Information System. Answers have been obtained to some 400 queries made by 10 users in simulated real‐life situations. These results have been used to attempt to answer the question: ‘How do the linguistically‐based functions of an indexing system contribute to its performance?’ As a spinoff of this test, the influence of document size and structure was studied with a view to identifying the most reasonable basic content for a German Patent Information System.
Roger K. Summit
Authors: Summit Roger K.
Published: January 2008

Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dialog Information Services, Inc., Roger Summit is an expert in systems design and information systems and has experience in many areas of computer application. His pioneering work on development of the DIALOG system began in 1962 at the Lockheed Corporation. He was the designer and project manager for the first‐of‐its‐kind DIALOG online information retrieval system at its inception in the early 1960s and continued as Manager, Director, and is now President and CEO. He has received many awards, has held several positions in professional associations and advisory boards, and has published over 100 papers and journal articles.
Making CD‐ROM product winners
Authors: Arnold Stephen E.
Published: January 2008

A proliferation of optical products has resulted from the need to find a replacement for microfilm for storing images, to improve mass data storage technologies and to gain control over the distribution of commercial databases. Developers of CD‐ROM products need to follow a strategy that includes the following principles: (1) Focus on innovation rather than the technology; (2) Determine customers' needs; (3) Become expert in the available technologies; (4) Make a commitment to excellence; (5) Prepare a strategic plan; (6) Get a head‐start on the competition. Companies that have already been successful in CD‐ROM product development include R.R. Bowker, Disclosure and General Motors. The chances for success are greater for companies that can introduce new products and services frequently. Several companies have developed families of CD‐ROMs with a common interface, giving multiple users access to the information at the same time.
Online access will reduce author/title catalog search failure
Authors: Kilgour Frederick G.
Published: January 2008

An analysis of library use studies previously published by this author (Kilgour 1989) revealed that of every hundred user requests for a book, seven are not satisfied because the library has not acquired the book, eleven because there is a defect in the catalog or error in its use (3.45 to deficiency and 7.55 to user error), and twenty‐three because the book is not on the shelf. This paper demonstrates types of online catalog access that can reduce the failures caused by card catalog flaws or by user search errors by half.
A language for implementing information retrieval software
Authors: O'Kane Kevin C.
Published: January 2008

Information storage and retrieval (IS&R) programming is often hindered by the lack of specialized facilities in traditional computer languages. This article describes a portable programming language, derived from the C and Mumps languages and designed to meet the needs of IS&R applications. The language allows the user to deal with an IS&R database at a level of abstraction consistent with many theoretical models commonly in use. Examples from a pilot implementation of a statistically‐based retrieval system are given which demonstrate that this approach results in substantial savings in disk storage and greater coding efficiency when compared with traditional implementation techniques.
Online vendors' strategies for reaching the end‐user: FT PROFILE
Authors: Poynder Richard
Published: January 2008

This is the first of a series of articles about different host services' efforts to reach fresh users. The author has recently left the Marketing Department of British Telecom Business Information Services, which is responsible for promoting a portfolio of online databases via BT messaging services. The article places in context this year's launch of Freeway, an offline software package for assisting search of FT PROFILE.
INTERNET groups allow for productive information gathering
Authors: Ashley Charles
Published: January 2008

Charles Ashley developed an interest in networks whilst at the University of California. In this article he explains why INTERNET groups offer an excellent medium for retrieving and exchanging information.
University of Phoenix graduates first class of online MBAs
Authors: Ashley Charles
Published: January 2008

Online communications are opening up exciting possibilities for the rapid sharing of ideas. This news feature is about a pioneering distance learning project, in which students and teachers communicate electronically.
A comparison of archives held by three host computers: DIALOG, ESA‐IRS and DATA‐STAR
Authors: Bonifacio Flavio
Published: January 2008

This paper describes the availability of databases held on DIALOG, ESA‐IRS and DATA‐STAR. In Section 2 particular attention will be paid to database overlap between hosts. Section 3 will consider the differences between prices and will analyse the relation between prices and database contents. Section 4 analyses the fixed costs of local investments and the variable added costs of online transmission.
Full text daily newspapers: increasing international availability
Authors: Libmann François
Published: January 2008

More and more full‐text daily newspapers are becoming available online. This increase in supply, led by the English‐speaking press, whose language is spoken or at least read by the largest number of people, is linked to several factors. The first of these, naturally, is the development of processing capability which enables large volumes of data to be stored and increases the speed of processing; secondly there is the introduction of new technologies in the newspaper business (photocomposition etc.) which has facilitated the formation of this type of databank. In presenting the online availability of full‐text daily newspapers, the author first identifies the characteristics of the international market, then defines the different components of the reader/newspaper relationship and finally provides a survey, by country, of the titles available throughout the world, analysing the differences between hosts.
Accounting for user diversity in configuring online systems
Authors: Woolliams Peter , Gee David
Published: January 2008

In order to enhance, consolidate and differentiate online services, developers are increasingly becoming concerned with issues of usability. Lists of design guidelines and evaluations of existing systems are extensive but attempts to place this applied science on a rigorous footing have largely failed. Despite legitimate advances in HCI (Human‐computer Interaction), no clear set of principles has emerged that is relevant to practitioners or vendors of online systems. Most previous studies have been concerned with designing the system for a ‘standard’ user. This paper will present some early findings of our work concerned with discriminating the relative effects of the cultural values of users and their organisational setting in configuring online systems.
Building an information resource center for competitive intelligence
Authors: Sperling Martin J.
Published: January 2008

The creation, operation and maintenance of information resource facilities for competitive intelligence must be responsive to the dynamic relationships among users and sources that support the organization's business goals. Such an information center must be managed to accommodate evolving competitive intelligence needs. A further challenge is developing an integrated information resource that can simultaneously serve the needs of diverse communities of users. Traditional information representations are only the starting point. Solutions integrating innovative methods such as hypertext and expert systems are increasingly relevant.
UNCONVENTIONAL TEXT RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS
Authors: Visschedijk Ankie , Gibb Forbes
Published: January 2008

This article reviews some of the more unconventional text retrieval systems, emphasising those which have been commercialised. These sophisticated systems improve on conventional retrieval by using either innovative software or hardware to increase retrieval speed or functionality, precision or recall. The software systems reviewed are: AIDA, CLARIT, Metamorph, SIMPR, STATUS/IQ, TCS, TINA and TOPIC. The hardware systems reviewed are: CAFS‐ISP, the Connection Machine, GESCAN,HSTS,MPP, TEXTRACT, TRW‐FDF and URSA.
SITE LICENSING — DATABASE PRODUCERS, ONLINE HOSTS AND USERS GIVE THEIR VIEWS
Authors: Poynder Richard
Published: January 2008

In our first Forum, where information, producers users and distributors internationally discuss a topical issue, Richard Poynder approaches key figures in the industry to solicit views on site licensing.
CATALYTIC CONVERTERS: PRESENT AND FUTURE PROSPECTS
Authors: Kinghorn Cris
Published: January 2008

In these Search Strategies, searchers from different countries and professions are given a question to answer, a budget of £50 and a time in which to produce their report. We hope that these blow‐by‐blow accounts, together with the hints and tips picked up along the way, will help all the readers of Online & CDROM Review to develop their own search strategies.
VOLKSWAGEN'S ACQUISITION OF SEAT
Authors: Brandt Tobias
Published: January 2008

(1) What are Volkswagen's plans for the Spanish car manufacturer Seat, which it acquired in 1986?
EVALUATIONS OF ELECTRONIC DATABASES, PART I: CRITERIA FOR TESTING CDROM PRODUCTS
Authors: Harry Veronica , Oppenheim Charles
Published: January 2008

The popularity of CDROM is due to a number of factors: they are versatile; large amounts of data can be held in a variety of formats; access to information is fast and a variety of user‐friendly search options is offered; and end‐users can use a CDROM with little or no instruction. From the point of view of the library or information service, they can save costs compared to online services both for bills and the need to provide intermediary assistance when online services are used. They are, of course, also space‐saving when compared with their print‐based alternatives. Gunn & Moore (1990) and Oppenheim (1993) provide helpful background on the benefits of CDROM to libraries, and issues that the new medium raises.
NEW DATABASE PRODUCTS: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE (ISSUE 2)
Authors: Williams Martha E. , Smith Linda C.
Published: January 2008

This is the second article on Science, Technology and Medicine (STM) databases in a continuing series of articles summarizing and commenting on new database products. Two companion articles covering social sciences, humanities, general, multidisciplinary and news (SSH) and business and law (BSL),will appear in the next two issues of Online & CDROMReview, issues 5 and 6. The articles are based on the newly appearing database products in the Gale Directory of Databases. The Gale Directory of Databases (GDD) was created in January 1993 by merging Computer‐Readable Databases: A Directory and Data Sourcebook (CRD) with the Directory of Online Databases (DOD) and the Directory of Portable Databases (DPD).
CHERNOBYL: THE FACTS
Authors: Stanbridge Roland
Published: January 2008

In these Search Strategies, searchers from different countries and professions are given a question to answer, a budget of £50 and a time in which to produce their report. We hope that these blow‐by‐blow accounts, together with the hints and tips picked up along the way, will help all the readers of Online & CDROM Review to develop their own search strategies. Journalists are more and more coming to use online services (see Roland Stan‐bridge's article ‘Journalists begin to embrace online databases’, Information World Review, December 1992) and here Mr Stanbridge gives a journalist's account of tracking down the elusive facts surrounding the Chernobyl disaster.
QUALITY ASSURANCE IN DRUG INFORMATION CENTRES
Authors: Vercellesi L. , Colombi M. , Pesenti M.T. , Baroni N. , Cambini A. , Coccia P. , Miranda G. , Nava M.T. , Ponti M. , Zorzi T.
Published: January 2008

A study was set to define a suitable procedure of quality assurance, aiming to define quality measurements and develop assessment questionnaires. The exercise started with a survey of products and services offered by individual centres. The need for a mission statement emerged as a prerequisite to any quality definition. Objectives for a hypothetical drug information centre were drawn. Essential common quality indicators adequate to the full range of products were identified. Specific quality indicators for each product have also been produced. Recommendations on assessment techniques were defined and follow up measures were indicated. Overall assessment of the service was not tackled as resourcing was considered critical for the production; individual parameters were not weighted, as the weakest ring in a quality chain defines the overall quality of the product. The understanding of needs and queries of customers emerged as crucial to the achievement of quality; indications were given as how to proceed in case of a direct contact with end customers being impossible. Drug information professional's responsibilities were also stressed, particularly in the case of a ‘negative’ answer.
NEWSPAPERS OR NEWSPUTERS?
Authors: Arundale Justin
Published: January 2008

The most surprising thing about newspapers in the year 2000 may be that they will still exist, and will probably look very much the same as they do today. The computerised production systems will, of course, be more advanced; the mechanisms for distribution will be more sophisticated; and the methods used for gathering, analysing and managing the incoming news information will have been transformed. But the printed newspaper will still be there. The ink will no doubt be vegetable‐based and biodegradable, and more of the paper will be recycled — but ink on newsprint there will be.
INTERFACE DEVELOPMENTS: INTO THE HANDS OF THE END‐USER
Authors: Casale Michael
Published: January 2008

There has been a continuing movement in the information industry towards the provision of menu and icon driven search and retrieval systems for both public and private databases. This trend has been motivated by a number of factors but we are now beginning to see such systems reach a level of sophistication and functionality unforeseen only a few years ago. Moreover, although command languages still have a critical role, the latest interface developments from FT Profile, New Information Paradigms and others place the capability of quite advanced searching into the hands of the end‐user.
A BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS LOOK
Authors: Keenan Stella
Published: January 2008

It is now a year since this column was launched and a number of arrows have been shot in the air … aimed at hitting the target labelled the year 2000. In the first column (vol. 17 no. 1) Charles Oppenheim (University of Strathclyde) commented that Target 2000 would be one way of learning how good information professionals are at predicting the future. So far, the Oppenheim award goes to Charles Citroen (TNO Policy Research, The Netherlands) whose prediction at this time one year ago was that ‘online hosts like the present ones will probably disappear.’ Within a few months of this prediction, Dialog and Data‐Star had announced their merger.
AN INTRODUCTION TO GENETIC ALGORITHMS AND TO THEIR USE IN INFORMATION RETRIEVAL
Authors: Jones Gareth , Robertson Alexander M. , Willett Peter
Published: January 2008

This paper provides an introduction to genetic algorithms, a new approach to the investigation of computationally‐intensive problems that may be insoluble using conventional, deterministic approaches. A genetic algorithm takes an initial set of possible starting solutions and then iteratively improves these solutions using operators that are analogous to those involved in Darwinian evolution. The approach is illustrated by reference to several problems in information retrieval.
NEWS ROUNDUP
Authors: Blake Paul
Published: January 2008

Electronic news prices set to tumble. There now seems to be little doubt that the cost of electronic news information is set to tumble as publishers begin to launch their own brand products. Gannett's electronic version of USA Today is one example, Dow Jones' Personal Journal another, and now The Washington Post is joining in the rush by announcing a computerised version of its newspaper for the same price as the hard copy version.
NEW DATABASE PRODUCTS: SOCIAL SCIENCE, HUMANITIES, NEWS AND GENERAL (ISSUE 3)
Authors: Williams Martha E. , Sutton Ellen , Sutton Brett
Published: January 2008

This is the third article on Social Science, Humanities, News and General Databases in a continuing series of articles summarizing and commenting on new database products. Two companion articles, one covering science, technology and medicine (Online & CDROM Review vol. 18 issue 1) and the other covering business and law (Online & CDROM Review vol. 18 issue 3), complement this article. The articles are based on the newly appearing database products in the Gale Directory of Databases. The Gale Directory of Databases (GDD) was created in January 1993by merging Computer‐Readable Databases: A Directory and Data Sourcebook (CRD) together with the Directory of Online Databases (DOD) and the Directory of Portable Databases (DPD).
NEWS ROUNDUP
Authors: Blake Paul
Published: January 2008

InfoPro is divided three ways The agony is over. InfoPro Technologies' future has been decided with Questel buying ORBIT Online, CD Plus buying BRS Online and Dataware purchasing BRS Software Products.
AUTOMATED CATALOGUING AND RETROSPECTIVE CONVERSION IN THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES OF SPAIN
Authors: Ortiz‐Repiso Virginia , Ríos Yolanda
Published: January 2008

Library automation in Spain has undergone considerable growth during the 1990s, with the university library sector in particular making efforts to keep up with automation trends. Due to the installation of automated management systems in nearly all universities, the creation of university library networks, and the growing accessibility of automated bibliographic information as well as online information such as CDROM, it can be said that university library automation (as opposed to other library sectors) is becoming well established and is developing in a standardised fashion. It is clear that this standardisation aids interlibrary communication, although there is a considerable amount of ground still to be covered. The exchange of bibliographical information required by the Spanish Library System Law (Reglamento del Sistema Español de Bibliotecas) falls well short of what is really needed. The business of cataloguing and classifying library stock continues to take up a lot of time. If shared cataloguing existed, this time could and should be spent on improving user services. The National Library is still not the figurehead of the Spanish system. In conclusion, there is still an appreciable lack of organisation and, on many occasions, projects are started without the necessary planning.
THE PERILS OF NOSTRADAMUS — IT FORECASTING
Authors: Cawkell A.E.
Published: January 2008

Nostradamus, a Frenchman who died in 1566, made his reputation through his prophetic but enigmatic book Centuries. He had the wit to make the book so obscure that it is impossible to say whether there are the slightest grounds for his prophetic reputation. He was appointed as physician to Charles IX, but we do not know whether his medical reputation was any better than his prophecies.
THE INTERNET WORLD: ITS PROTOCOLS AND MAINSTREAM SERVICES
Authors: Leon R.E.
Published: January 2008

In this article we review the Internet's protocols and mainstream services. Section I provides an overview of the Internet's history and its bodies. Section 2 looks at the Internet's overall architecture and goals. The IP protocol which deals with data encapsulation and host addressing is reviewed in Section 3, whilst transport control protocols are discussed in Section 4. Section 5 looks at the mainstream services based on TCP/IP protocols, i.e. telnet, ftp, electronic mail, newsgroups and finger.
THE WORLD OF INTERNET: A CLIENT‐SERVER ARCHITECTURE AND THE NEW GENERATION OF INFORMATION SERVERS
Authors: Leon R.E.
Published: January 2008

This paper draws attention to the value of a new generation of information servers as a tool for human communication. Section I introduces the notion that the Internet is heralding a new era in communications, where peoples of different age and background are able to communicate with each other without barriers of distance or time. Section 2 examines the client‐server architecture which, together with the advent of graphic user interfaces, made possible a new generation of distributed, platform‐independent information servers. Four of the new generation servers are discussed in the remaining sections, namely Archie, gopher, WAIS and the World Wide Web, as well as video‐conferencing with CU‐seeMe.
NEWS ROUNDUP
Authors: Blake Paul
Published: January 2008

Stakes are raised in online market This month's news roundup is dominated by a series of announcements which raise the stakes significantly in the online consumer market, as well as having potential ramifications in the professional market.
THE DESIGN OF DATABASES AND OTHER INFORMATION RESOURCES FOR HUMANITIES SCHOLARS: THE GETTY ONLINE SEARCHING PROJECT REPORT NO. 4
Authors: Bates Marcia J.
Published: January 2008

Based on the results of a two‐year study of online searching by humanities scholars, conducted by the Getty Art History Information Program, implications are drawn for the design of information products for the humanities. Scientists and humanities scholars not only have different kinds of information needs, they also relate to their own literatures infundamentally different ways. As a result, humanities researchers need information products that do not arise out of the conventional assumptions and framework that have produced the familiar databases and other information products in the sciences and industry. These characteristic differences of humanities scholars are first discussed; then design implications are considered in the following areas: design and content of databases, indexing vocabulary in humanities resources, and interfaces and command languages.
COVERAGE OF LEATHER LITERATURE IN CDROM DATABASES
Authors: Amba S. , Naresh
Published: January 2008

Leather Science and Technology is a multidisciplinary area of study and hence relevant information is to be found in several databases. A study was done to find out the scope of CAB databases, Compendex Plus and MEDLINE vis‐à‐vis leather literature.
REPORT ON THE THIRD NATIONAL MEETING OF CDROM/ONLINE USERS NICLAI, CLRI, MADRAS, INDIA, 9–10 AUGUST 1994
Authors: Subba Rao S.
Published: January 2008

The Third National Meeting of CDROM/Online Users was sponsored by National Information System for Science and Technology (NISSAT), Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), New Delhi; organised by the National Information Centre for Leather & Allied Industries (NICLAI); and held at the Central Leather Research Institute, Madras during 9–10 August 1994. The previous two Meetings were held at New Delhi in 1992 and 1993. The Meeting's objective was to assess the current national and international situation, the utility of CDROM services, and their popularisation within the country, and to provide a forum for exchange of experiences on this new technique. The Meeting focused its attention on databases available, demand for search services, target users, problem areas and possible solutions. The Meeting was attended by 205 participants from 91 institutions all over the country, representing a galaxy of R&D, academic, corporate, entrepreneurial and so forth institutions. Eleven industries engaged in information technology products participated in the Meeting. The Meeting included technical sessions where 39 presentations were made.
BUSINESS AND LAW (ISSUE 4)
Authors: Williams Martha E. , McDougal Sarah H.
Published: January 2008

This is the fourth article on Business and Law (BSL) Databases in a continuing series of articles summarizing and commenting on new database products. Two companion articles, one covering science, technology and medicine (STM) (Online & CDROM Review vol. 18 issue 4) and the other covering social science, humanities, news and general (SSH) (Online & CDROM Review vol. 18 issue 5) complement this article. The articles are based on the newly appearing database products in the most current edition of the Gale Directory of Databases. The Gale Directory of Databases (GDD) was created in January 1993 by merging Computer‐Readable Databases: A Directory and Data Sourcebook (CRD) with the Directory of Online Databases (DOD) and the Directory of Portable Databases (DPD).
THE POTENTIAL OF INFORMATION NETWORKS FOR LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE EDUCATION
Authors: Harries Steve
Published: January 2008

Continued professional education for information scientists and librarians is of increasingly vital importance, especially in the context of the changing role of the information professional from custodian to conununicative agent. The advent of widespread information networking offers new opportunities for developing a more extensive and participative approach to this need, through new forms of distance learning. Media such as computer conferencing may help to overcome some of the geographical and professional boundaries which have hindered individual personal development; however, at present there is no overall picture of the extent of use of the network medium, or a detailed scenariofor future developments. Research in progress at Brighton University aims to investigate these issues.
CDROM DATABASE SERVICES: A SURVEY
Authors: Subba Rao S.
Published: January 2008

Developments in information technology have revolutionised the concept of converting large volumes of information into machine‐readable form as databases. This paper reports results of a study to find the number of institutions possessing CDROM facilities, the availability of various CDROM databases, procurement modes, expenditure, usage by number of searches conducted, and so on in India.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND MEDICINE (ISSUE 6)
Authors: Williams Martha E. , Smith Linda C.
Published: January 2008

This is the sixth article on science, technology and medicine (STM) databases in a continuing series of articles summarising and commenting on new database products. Two companion articles, one covering social science, humanities, news and general (SSH) (Online & CDROM Review, vol. 19, no. 5), and the other covering business and law (BSL) (Online & CDROM Review, vol. 19, no. 6) will appear in the next two issues of this journal. The articles are based on the newly appearing database products in the Gale Directory of Databases. The Gale Directory of Databases (GDD) was created in January 1993 by merging Computer‐Readable Databases: A Directory and Data Sourcebook (CRD) together with the Directory of Online Databases (DOD) and the Directory of Portable Databases (DPD).
NEWS ROUNDUP
Authors: Blake Paul
Published: January 2008

Secondary publishers respond to Internet challenge Two services have been launched that aim to combine formal published information with data offered via World Wide Web sites. Engineering Information (Ei) and Cambridge Scientific have employed editors to select sites and to check that they are still current, and are combining them with their own databases.
AUDIO AND VIDEO ONLINE
Authors: Smith Linda C.
Published: January 2008

This update concerns various recent developments which make it much more affordable and easier than before to access digital audio and video. Typically all that you require are a standard modem, an Internet connection and low‐cost or even free‐of‐charge software.
THE SPORT DATABASE: SOME COMMENTS
Authors: Miller Uri
Published: January 2008

The Sport Database is one of the most deservedly popular information tools in the field of physical activity and sport. One reason for its popularity is that the documents contained in it are received from throughout the world. But, as often happens, our deficiencies are the consequence of our merits. Precisely this wide geographical scope and the database's constant growth, combined with the isolation of indexers and the weak coordination of their work, can make problems for the database's constructors as well as users. Under such circumstances the quality of its main indexing and searching instrument — the Sport Thesaurus — acquires great significance. It must be noted that this tool exists both in printed form (Sport Thesaurus 1994 Edition) and on optical disc (Sport Discus 1975‐June 1995), and the differences between these two versions of the same thing are often substantial. One would like to hope that their constant improvement is the main reason for this situation, but some examples make one doubt it. From now on the printed version will be called ‘edition’ and the CDROM version ‘disc’. The insertion of the huge database SIRLS into the Sport Database, which took place some time ago without changing the database's specific indexing, was taken into account in all calculations. In this paper I want not only to analyse some basic deficiencies of this thesaurus and to trace their manifestations in the database, but to propose some ways it could be improved. I hope that they will be helpful for the users of the Sport Database as well as other databases on optical discs.
NEW DATABASE PRODUCTS: SOCIAL SCIENCE, HUMANITIES, NEWS AND GENERAL (ISSUE 7)
Authors: Williams Martha E. , Novotny Eric
Published: January 2008

This is the seventh article on social science, humanities, news and general databases in a continuing series of articles summarising and commenting on new database products. It has two companion articles: one covering science, technology and medicine (STM) appeared in Online & CDROM Review vol. 20, no. 1 and the other, covering business and law (BSL), will appear in Online & CDROM Review vol. 20, no. 3. The articles are based on the newly appearing database products in the Gale Directory of Databases. The Gale Directory of Databases (GDD) was created in January 1993 by merging Computer‐Readable Databases: A Directory and Data Sourcebook (CRD) together with the Directory of Online Databases (DOD) and the Directory of Portable Databases (DPD).
GERMAN EXPERTS' VIEWS AND IDEAS ABOUT INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET
Authors: Voigt Kristina , Gasteiger Johann , Ihlenfeldt Wolf‐D. , Page Bernd , Specht Kurt , Umstätter Walther
Published: January 2008

This paper reflects the ideas on the subject of the Internet presented by four German experts at the German Language Session which took place during the 19th International Information Online Meeting in London, 5‐7 December 1995. The German Language Session was chaired again by Kristina Voigt of the GSF‐Research Centre for Environment and Health in Neuherberg, near Munich, Germany. As both the panel members and the Chairperson felt that the ideas given in their short presentations should be made available to a wider audience, they all agreed to give extended abstracts of their contributions for publication in this international journal. This procedure should give not only the German‐speaking community, but also other international interested parties the oppor‐tunity to be informed on the topics discussed.
THE FUTURE OF BRANDS IN ACADEMIC PUBLISHING
Authors: Sandelands Eric
Published: January 2008

This article outlines the revolution taking place in academic publishing with the rise of electronic methods of information dissemination, and examines the development of brands in journal publishing. The author considers the value added by publishers of academic journals, addressing the question of why do academics need publishers. He outlines the metamorphosis required in the age of electronic publishing, pointing to even greater significance being placed on brand identity.
TWO NEW APPROACHES TO ONLINE INFORMATION
Authors: Bixler Linda
Published: January 2008

Krakatoa explodes onto the Web. Anyone who has finally just about got the hang of hypertext markup language for designing pages on the World Wide Web could be excused for burying their heads in the sand and hoping the latest development, Java, will go away. It is highly unlikely that it will, since Java is to HTML what freshly ground beans are to a cheap brand of instant. With HTML alone a typical Web page consists of static text and graphics, but Java allows a more proactive element to creep in that makes it far more responsive to the user's desires and needs.
ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION IN THE HOT ZONE 3, REPUBLIC OF MESHNOON IN THE YEAR 2013
Authors: Johnston Colin S.
Published: January 2008

What a pity we didn't see the extent to which we were all unduly influenced by the hype put out by the more ‘commercially committed’ elements of the computer and information industry. Now, I know that the electronic revolution in the 1990s has brought many advantages to librarianship and I have in mind the tremendous strides taken with regard to journal publishing in particular. The provision of journals over the Net did introduce a radical degree of flexibility that has been appreciated by both libraries and readers alike. Nothing new there: however the mechanisms which were subsequently developed that allow readers to read, browse or scan an article — as well as being able to call up any references that look useful — are positive attributes. Publishing articles directly on the Internet when they are ready rather than waiting for a quarterly issue to be circulated is also welcome, although it took longer for this method of presenting academic material to be implemented by the major publishers than I would have expected. I thought it would have been available in the early 1990s.
NEW DATABASE PRODUCTS: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND MEDICINE (ISSUE 9)
Authors: Williams Martha E. , Smith Linda C.
Published: January 2008

This is the ninth article on science, technology and medicine (STM) databases in a continuing series of articles summarising and commenting on new database products. Two companion articles will appear in the next two issues of this journal — one covering social sciences, humanities, news and general (SSH) (Online & CDROM Review, vol. 21, no. 2) and the other covering business and law (BSL) (Online & CDROM Review, vol. 21, no. 3). These articles are based on the newly appearing database products in the Gale Directory of Databases. The Gale Directory of Databases (GDD) was created in January 1993 by merging Computer‐Readable Databases: A Directory and Data Sourcebook (CRD) together with the Directory of Online Databases (DOD) and the Directory of Portable Databases (DPD).
SEARCH ENGINES ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AND INFORMATION RETRIEVAL FROM THE INTERNET: A REVIEW AND EVALUATION
Authors: Dong Xiaoying , Su Louise T.
Published: January 2008

The World Wide Web's search engines are the main tools for indexing and retrieval of Internet resources today. Comparison and evaluation of their performance is of great importance for system developers and information professionals, as well as end‐users, for the improvement and development of better tools. The paper describes categories and special features of Web‐based databases and compares them with traditional databases. It then presents a review of the literature on the testing and evaluation of Web‐based search engines. Different methodologies and measures used in previous studies are described and their findings are summarised. The paper presents some evaluative comments on previous studies and suggests areas for future investigation, particularly evaluation of Web‐based search engines from the end‐user's perspective.
NEW DATABASE PRODUCTS: SOCIAL SCIENCE, HUMANITIES, NEWS AND GENERAL (ISSUE 9)
Authors: Williams Martha E. , Burgard Daniel E.
Published: January 2008

This is the ninth article on social science, humanities, news, and general databases in a continuing series of articles summarising and commenting on new database products. There are two companion articles: one covering science, technology and medicine (STM) appeared in Online & CDROM Review vol. 21, no. 1 and the other covering business and law (BSL) will appear in Online & CDROM Review vol. 21, no. 3. The articles are based on the newly appearing database products in the Gale Directory of Databases. The Gale Directory of Databases (GDD) was created in January 1993 by merging Computer‐Readable Databases: A Directory and Data Sourcebook (CRD) together with the Directory of Online Databases (DOD) and the Directory of Portable Databases (DPD).
NEW DATABASE PRODUCTS: BUSINESS AND LAW (ISSUE 9)
Authors: Williams Martha E. , McDougal Sarah
Published: January 2008

This is the ninth article on business and law (BSL) databases in a continuing series of articles summarising and commenting on new database products. Two companion articles have appeared, one covering science, technology and medicine (STM) in Online & CDROM Review vol. 21, no. 1 and the other covering social science, humanities, news and general (SSH) in Online & CDROM Review vol. 21, no. 2. The articles are based on the newly appearing database products in the Gale Directory of Databases. The Gale Directory of Databases (GDD) was created in January 1993 by merging Computer‐Readable Databases: A Directory and Data Sourcebook (CRD) together with the Directory of Online Databases (DOD) and the Directory of Portable Databases (DPD).