Automatic retrieval of biographical reference books
Journal of library automation
[December 1968]
Weil, Cherie B
.
Copyright (c) 1968 Information Science and Automation Division
Abstract: A description of one of the first projected attempts to automate a reference service, that of advising which biographical reference book to use. Two hundred and thirty-four biographical books were categorized as to type of subjects included and contents of the uniform entries they contain. A computer program which selects up to five books most likely to contain answers to biographical questions is described and its test results presented. An evaluation of the system and a discussion of ways to extend the scheme to other forms of reference work are given.