Search

Describes a study of the UCLA ORION online catalog that was conducted to determine (1) how often lengthy subject headings occur in the database, and what the effects of compressing the subject headings would be; and (2) how often the display of a term and its subdivisions are interrupted by syntactical construction. (seven references) (LRW)

Describes a survey of reference librarians that examined their behavior and preferences when searching for conference proceedings identified by a generic term for meeting and the name of the corporate body holding the meeting. Current cataloging practices are evaluated in light of the findings. The questionnaire used is appended. (eight references) (CLB)

Several pie charts are presented based on a survey by strategic planning committee of Special Libraries Association's (SLA) Science-Technology Division on topics including SLA membership duration, the Division membership duration, and people involved in information profession.

In an interview with Dorothy McGarry, Elaine Svenonius discusses her many-faceted career. Topics include her research interests in subject and descriptive cataloging (Svenonius notes that it “takes some untangling of vocabulary and semantics to see that the traditional bifurcation separating subject and descriptive cataloging is artificial”); her teaching experience, especially her use of Andrew Osborn's “active learning” seminar method; and her views about the development of information science and its relationship to librarian-ship. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Reports on the highlights of the 62nd International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) General Conference held in Beijing,China from August 23-31, 1996. `The Challenge of Change: Libraries and Economic Development' as the theme of the conference; Presentation of reports from different departments; Plans for the IFLA 1997; Attendance from several countries.

Presents information on the 61st International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) Council and General Conference in Istanbul, Turkey. Details on conference; Information on events in specific areas by individual reporters; Information on objectives for IFLA conference in 1996.

Gives detailed information on the 60th IFLA general conference August 21-27, 1994, held in Havana, Cuba. 61st conference to be held on August 20-26, 1995, in Istanbul, Turkey; Note on the issues to be discussed.

Recent papers have called attention to discrepancies in the assignment of Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH). While philosoohical arguments can be made that subject analysis, if not a logical impossibility, at least is point-of-view dependent subject headings continue to be assigned and continue to be useful. The hypothesis advanced in the present project is that to a considerable degree there is a clearcut right and wrong to LCSH subject heading assignment. To test the hypothesis, it was postulated that the assignment of a subject heading is correct if it is supported by textual warrant (at least 20 percent of the book being calaloged is on the topic) and is constructed in accordance with the Library of Congress Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings. A sample of 100 books on scientific subjects was used to test the hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]