interest to the ordinary citizen. Coverage is also expanding in terms of rétrospective
search capability. The early data bases covered government reports, journal articles,
and patent information. Later monographie data bases were developed (MARC).
There is also a trend toward numerical data bases and toward the inclusion of less
permanent material. Another new type of data base is that which contains in-
formation about current research projects. The mission-oriented data bases were
govemment funded. There is now a trend toward commercialism and the develop-
ment of brokerage organizations. The government and its contractors were the
earliest data base users. They were followed by industry, then academie institutions,
and we now see public libraries providing data base search services. These changes
have led to the development of organizations associated with data base génération,
processing, and use. These developments have been parallrled by developments in
publications devoted to data bases. A new terminology has also corne into
existence. The need for standardization became obvious, and several standards have
already been accepted or are under considération. Early files were designed for
batch searching or were not designed for searching at ail. Data base producers now
employ sophisticated management techniques and advocate single-keying of an en-
try for whatever purpose. Today’s command languages are easy to use and the
current trend is towards free-text, natural language searching. Another trend is
towards networking and resource sharing. The problem of compétition between the
govemment and the private sector is a serious one. Other areas of unresolved
problems are : copyrights, data rights, and patents for data bases and software, and
export/import tariff considérations for data that is communicated across national
borders. Schools have not kept up with the developments in the last ten years.
Document availability is another problem. Current research projects are leading
towards resource sharing through networks on a much basis than is done today. A
common command language for accessing multiple online Systems is being
developed. The use of a “Data Base Selector” would permit the user to enter the
terms of his query and receive back (via terminal printout or display) a list of data
bases to tell him which should be searched and in what sequence. After determining
which files best suit his needs, he could consult a “Data Base Mapping” scheme to
locate the necessary data base or its nearest processing center. These and other
research programs are nearing completion.
H.-K. d. J.
Indexeersystemen
Hans H. Wellisch, ed., The PRECIS index System.- principles, applications, and
prospects. 1977. The H. W. Wilson Company, 950 University Avenue, Bronx,
N.Y. 10452, USA 212 p. $15.00. ISBN 0-8242-0611-8.
In use by the British National Bibliography since 1971, PRECIS provides a System
that is based on natural language and combines human indexing skills with com-
puter technology.
H.-K. d. J.
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