Selective Dissemination Of Information Research Articles

Commercialising a database: the HSELINE experience

Much is written on databases, computers, users and information to be found therein, but little (or nothing) on getting a database onto a system commercially. Once a bibliographic database is running well inside an organisation thought should be given to exploiting it and making it available for outside organisations to use. HSELINE is an example. Potential producers are taken through the stages of deciding which system to mount the database on, target audiences, special national or international needs, meeting legal obligations, negotiations with the host system covering royalties, SDI (selective dissemination of information) payments and offline print charges. When all negotiations are completed then the publicity machinery comes in. How to arrange a press launch, press releases and publicity brochures, and further publicity suggestions — exhibition stands, talks, demonstrations and training courses are also covered.

Computer science in information retrieval system! Tools and techniques

The role of information worker in the computer environment is discussed. Various steps involved in the computer based Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI) and generating Comparative Product Profile (COPP) are analysed. Some of the computer techniques and tools are examined and their application in design and development of SDI and COPP systems are highlighted. Concludes that the knowledge and skills of handling computers for information dissemination and retrieval should form an essential component of Information science.

Use of machine-readable databases to support a large SDI service

The current awareness [or selective dissemination of information (SDI)] services of AT&T Bell Laboratories are described. Several bulletins announcing over 80,000 externally published items/year are issued at regular intervals and sent to about 6100 subscribers. Production is done by the BELLPAR (Bell Laboratories Publication, Alerting, and Retrieval) system, which processes four commercial machine-readable databases and prepares camera-ready bulletin copy. A photocopy service processing some 10,000 requests/month provides document delivery for items announced in the bulletins. Subscribers may order photocopies electronically if they wish. A “captive” journal collection supports the copying operation; non-journal articles, such as conference proceedings and technical reports, are ordered from external suppliers. Improvements in the SDI service include electronic bulletins, more focused bulletins and additional databases as input.

Computerization of information processes and development of selective patent information dissemination systems

In this article we have discussed the issues of using means of automation of information processes for developing systems of selective dissemination of patent information in the USSR, and we have dwelled on the experience of SPA ‘Poisk’ in implementing a largescale system of comprehensive patent information services. We have also tried to point out some trends of establishment of direct interaction of local systems with the centralized service of supplying secondary and primary patent information sources. We believe that in a few years to come we are going to witness complete integration in the computerized SDI system of all the kinds of products of the information system, both eye- and machine-readable. Systems of this type will be able to deliver promptly and comprehensively to either an intermediary or a final user all kinds of messages or notices on every incoming relevant document. This seems to be the path leading to a significant progress leaving far behind the existing capabilities of systems of selective dissemination of patent information.

Computerization of information processes and development of selective patent information dissemination systems

Computerization of information processes and development of selective patent information dissemination systems

SDI (Selective Dissemination of Information) — a need for special facilities in commercial systems

A number of commercial online search services are now offering sdi to their customers on an increasing proportion of their databases. The present software in these systems, however, is geared more to bibliographic searches. As there is a fundamental difference between the bibliographic and sdi types of searches, a more sympathetic software, based on the experience of a smaller operating system, to construct and amend an sdi profile is suggested.

SDI service for government publications in an academic library: A description and evaluation

This article proposes that an SDI system is a valid way to promote faculty awareness of government documents. A working program for a manual SDI (Selective Dissemination of Information) or current awareness service in an academic library is described. The service covers government publications of all types and is available to all faculty members. Procedures for contacting faculty and determining individual areas of interest, establishing subject headings, selecting documents, and preparing notifications are summarized. The program, which has been in effect since 1972, is evaluated on the basis of participation levels, use statistics, alternative methods, staff time involved, and the results of a questionnaire sent to participants.

Šiuolaikinės chemijos ir cheminės technologijos informavimo sistemos

According to the absolute volume of the amassed scientific information as well as to the rate of its growth chemistry has long been one of the first among other natural sciences. The increasing difficulties in the scientific-informational exchange in chemistry led to the formation of an effective informational system based on traditional forms of the dissemination and search of information by means of books and journals. This system was successfully expanding without any essential reconstruction of its traditional basis and existed in the course of a whole century up to the fifties of the 20-th century.In the mid-fifties and early sixties in addition to reference journals and other informational editions there appeared a great number of new specialized informational publications many of which are being nowadays computerproduced.Alongside with the formation and automatic publication of various informational edittions intensive research work in the origination of automatic informational systems is being carried out. Such world-known chemical informational centres as CAS Service and VINITI are engaged in particularly perspective and largescale researches in the creation of integrated informational systems.Of great interest to chemists is the integrated system “Assistant” and, specifically, its subsystem “Chemical Information” which is now being worked out in VINITI.As the results of the investigation of informational interests electrochemists has schown selective dissemination of information is now the mast prominent among other numerous kinds of information service. In the nearest future SDI will be introduced into the Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology of the Academy of Sciences of the Lithuanian SSR.

A bibliography of scanning electron microscopy in dentistry.

This bibliography represents a compilation of pertinent technical literature on SEM in dentistry. The purpose of this collection of references is to help dental researchers and students by bringing together a comprehensive ready reference for their use. Our library utilizes the BRS (Bibliographical Retrieval Service) as their data base vendor. BRS offers a SDI (Selective Dissemination of Information) service method which automatically produces a printout of new information as it is added to the BRS medical and dental file database each month. The search strategy profile is determined by the user and can be updated at anytime. The BRS system has been utilized for the accumulation of data for this bibliography and has been updated through October, 1981. The search strategy includes SEM with a comprehensive list of dental and dental related terms, however, the 659 references contained in the bibliography is not totally inclusive of SEM in dentistry since "SEM" is not included in all citations, titles, abstracts, or key words and will, therefore, be lost to other primary and secondary titles. A subject index follows on page 225. Scanning electron microscope (y, ic) is abbreviated as SEM to conserve space and time.

Current Contents:Its Impact on Scientific Communication

Beginning in 1957, the literature explosion in science eliminated many personal subscriptions to journals and scientists with interdisciplinary interests demanded new approaches to current awareness. One of these, Current Contents now forms a major link in scientific communications. New ‘Selective Dissemination of Information’ services have helped to mechanize the process of scanning titles for keywords, and new tools for retrospective searching have facilitated historical studies of the scientific literature. The journal literature continues to evolve by means of a process analogous to natural selection.

The application of multiple‐criteria utility theory to the evaluation of information systems

AbstractThe use of multiple‐criteria theory, a means of measuring degree of satisfaction of predetermined evaluative criteria, quantifying their relative importance, identifying trade offs among them, and determining the best tradeoffs, is proposed for the evaluation of information systems. Use of the proposed method is demonstrated via the evaluation of a hypothetical selective dissemination of information (SDI) system. The illustrative evaluation involves (1) selection of two sets of typically antithetic criteria: efficiency (the inner workings of the system) and effectiveness (its impact on its users); (2) ranking and scoring each criterion in the two sets; (3) selection of alternative configurations of the system under study; (4) scoring the specimen and the alternative systems in terms of the rated efficiency and effectiveness criteria; and (5) identifying the system that scores the highest. The comparative scores for the systems are determined by Ui = [(W′) (Si′) + (W″) (S″i)], where S″i and S′i denote the efficiency and effectiveness scores of the ith alternative, and W′ and W′ are weighting constants that reflect the computed relative importance of efficiency and effectiveness.

Forthcoming events bulletin

Beecham Pharmaceuticals Research Division employs about 1,000 people engaged on pharmaceutical research and development. These are at present distributed over five major and several minor research sites. Each major site has an Information Unit and a Library: these work in co‐ordination and certain tasks are undertaken by one unit on behalf of all the others. Walton Oaks is responsible for disseminating information on forthcoming events. An account of the system used in this organization for selective dissemination of technical information by means of an information bulletin has been published. The system in use for the dissemination of details of forthcoming events such as conferences, lectures, exhibitions and courses of interest to the Research Division is somewhat similar. As little seems to have been published on such systems it seems worth while to describe the methods currently used here.

Comparison of selective dissemination of information systems

Currently available on‐line systems historically have been used as retrospective search methodologies. With interest in on‐line retrieval increasing by leaps and bounds, the application of these inverted‐file oriented systems to selective dissemination of information (SDI) services bears investigation. Within given user‐specified demands and system constraints, what is the best method of providing an SDI service? A typical batch system is compared with four types of commonly available on‐line SDI systems. The operating parameters of each are outlined, and estimates of bottom‐line costs are given.

Economic modeling: An aid to the pricing of information services

AbstractThe pressures of limited budgets and of increased competition for use of funds are forcing information centers and libraries to initiate user fees. There have been, however, few precedents or guidelines to which the information service administrator might turn for assistance in formulating pricing policy.In this paper, components of the pricing decision are identified: the pricing objectives pursued, the pricing policies these aims are translated into, and the actual pricing methods employed in calculating what price to charge. A variety of pricing methods can be used to meet a given pricing objective, and several of these pricing practices are described using a basic classification scheme developed for the field of marketing: cost‐oriented, competition‐oriented, and demand‐oriented approaches to pricing.Costs represent a starting point for developing pricing structure, and cost‐oriented pricing techniques are taken up in detail. Cost functions are identified and their impact on price setting is suggested. Examples and data are provided from recent research into the pricing of computer‐assisted selective dissemination of information (SDI) services. The techniques of price discrimination, marginal cost pricing, and break‐even analysis are discussed.In making policy decisions, the need for accurate and complete cost data and demand information is emphasized, and several common approaches to estimating demand elasticity are suggested. The paper ends with a brief enumeration of sources of models to be explored for their applicability to the pricing of information services.

Selective Dissemination of Information: A State ofthe Art for the Fast Five Years

Selective Dissemination of Information: A State ofthe Art for the Fast Five Years

On‐line information retrieval: some comments on the use of Retrospec 1 in an industrial library

The advent of the computer has forced many decisions on the industrial librarian. With all those around him using computers should he too jump on the bandwagon or should he stay with his traditional systems for catalogues, loans and recalls, information retrieval, selective dissemination of information, and so forth? All too often, librarians tend to be of one school or another; they will either computerize anything they can lay their hands on or they will steadfastly refuse to have anything to do with the computer. Decisions are based on impressions and prejudices rather than on any more rational basis.

The Function of the Library in a School of Social Work

Abstract The roles of social work libraries are reexamined in light of recent trends in library information science The implementation of special services is advocated in the following areas: Information Retrieval and Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI) programs, computer-produced subject bibliographies, regional and national union catalogues in book format, cooperative acquisition plans, and improved interlibrary loan services. Local, regional, and national consortia social work libraries are seen as a possible approach, utilizing existing and future data bank networks.

‘ENDS’ — European Nuclear Documentation Service

The mechanized European Nuclear Documentation Service which provides both retrospective searches and selective dissemination of information (SDI) to its users, at present covers 1.3 million documents. A description is given of the structure and the main features of the system including selection of literature, input operations, file organization, and search procedures. Special features of the system are indexing of abstracts by assignment of descriptors from a thesaurus, the use of an on-line dialog for retrieval, and the application of an advanced relevance feedback procedure.

Use of an automatic text analyzer in preparation of SDI profiles

AbstractThe conventional method of preparing SDI (Selective Dissemination of Information) profiles often necessitates detailed interview sessions between the client and one or more information scientists. This research shows that by submitting samples of the client's recent professional reading material to automatic text analysis, SDI profiles can be prepared that result in significantly higher initial recall scores than do those prepared by conventional techniques; relevance scores are not significantly different.

Promotion of information services: An evaluation of alternative approaches

AbstractThis article deals with the promotion of information services, specifically the formation and subsequent evaluation of different promotional programs for selective dissemination of information (SDI) services provided by the Mechanized Information Center (MIC) at The Ohio State University. Three programs—opinion leadership, “blitz,” and telephone solicitation—were developed. Data were collected to show, for each of the programs: (1) the level of market penetration achieved; (2) the level of user satisfaction generated from the service; (3) the effect in terms of influence, of the various media employed; and (4) cost effectiveness. Data analysis focused on a determination of the most effective methods to promote SDI services.