On-line information systems in perspective

The rationale supporting the desirability of on-line information systems and the arguments underlying their development are discussed. A major argument in favor of on-line retrieval has been the assumption that the opportunity to negotiate search problems through on-line access to the data base has the inherent effect of improved system performance. The extent to which on-line retrieval has fulfilled this and other expectations is considered along with trends relating to the operational characteristics of existing systems.