A flexible direct file approach to information retrieval-test edit, search or select and print on an IBM 1401

Much has been published on the theories of information retrieval and various means of handling and expediting the ever-growing accumulations of information which are swamping our civilization. Not much has been said, however, about any attempt to make use of a small to medium scale computer as a tool. This is an eighteen months' progress report of such an attempt undertaken at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory by a team consisting of computer people and librarians. Dr. Robert P. Rich, head of the University Computing Center, and the speaker represented the computer viewpoint. Mr. Fenton L. Kennedy, head of the APL Document Library, and Mrs. Mary E. Brown are the librarians on the team. Mr. Robert A. Lambert, formerly of the APL Document Library, took part in the early stage of development.