Jerry D. Saye

Test of methods for evaluating bibliographic databases: an analysis of the National Library of Medicine's handling of literatures in the medical behavioral sciences

This article reports on five separate studies designed for the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to develop and test methodologies for evaluating the products of large databases. The methodologies were tested on literatures of the medical behavioral sciences (MBS). One of these studies examined how well NLM covered MBS monographic literature using CATLINE and OCLC. Another examined MBS journal and serial literature coverage in MEDLINE and other MBS‐related databases available through DIALOG. These two studies used 1010 items derived from the reference lists of sixty‐one journals, and tested for gaps and overlaps in coverage in the various databases. A third study examined the quality of the indexing NLM provides to MBS literatures and developed a measure of indexing as a system component. The final two studies explored how well MEDLINE retrieved documents on topics submitted by MBS professionals and how online searchers viewed MEDLINE (and other systems and databases) in handling MBS topics. The five studies yielded both broad research outcomes and specific recommendations to NLM.

The organization of electronic resources in the library and information science curriculum

This paper describes the introduction and integration of the organization of electronic resources into the library and information science curriculum. The description is based upon the experience of the School of Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill although it is representative of practices at other schools. It identifies courses throughout the curriculum which have the organization of electronic resources as a major focus, those with some coverage, and courses with a peripheral relationship to the topic. It also identifies other means by which the topic can be included in a student’s program.

Have we made any progress? Catalogues of the future revisited

Purpose – Library online public access catalogues (OPACs) are considered to be unattractive in comparison with popular internet sites. In 2000, the authors presented some suggestions on how library catalogues should change. Have librarians actually made their OPACs more user‐friendly by adopting techniques and technologies already present in other information resources? This paper aims to address these issues.Design/methodology/approach – The characteristics of four OPACs, one online bookstore and two internet search engines are analyzed. The paper reviews some of the changes and directions suggested by researchers and adds some of authors own. All this is in the hope that library catalogues will survive “Google attack.”Findings – Changes are identified in the information services studied over a seven‐year period. Least development is found in library catalogues. Suggestions are made for library catalogues of the future.Research limitations/implications – A library catalogue, a web search engine and an in...

Where are we and how did we get here? Or, the changing place of cataloging in the library and information science curriculum: Causes and consequences

SUMMARY Explores factors that have influenced library and information science education over the past two decades. Emphasis is placed on cataloging instruction and particularly cataloging as a required course. Identifies the introduction of new areas of study, corresponding curricular changes, and the nature of LIS faculty as influencing the role of cataloging in the professional education of librarians. An analysis is provided of the changing perception of the importance of cataloging in professional library education programs.

Cataloging Education on the Sunny Side of the Alps

SUMMARY This paper describes the status of library and information science education in Slovenia with emphasis on cataloging and classification courses. The program in the Department of Library and Information Science and Book Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana is reported in detail at both the undergraduate and masters level. Also addressed are requirements to be employed as a librarian in Slovenia, and continuing education opportunities for catalogers.