Information retrieval in the library of the Centre scientifique d'Orsay

This article gives an evaluation of a three-year operation of a computerized information retrieval service in a scientific university library. After a review of available host computers, users and users' response to this new technology are examined. A study of utilization ratio curves shows that data bases research is closely linked to the university calendar and that the data bases most frequently searched are Chemical Abstracts, then Pascal and Biosis. The slow but steady increase in the number of searches is encouraging and the new French host computer Télésystèmes will hopefully help the development of computerized information retrieval
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