This study was designed to be a state-of-the-art survey and investigation of intelligent "front end" design approaches and software for improving subject access and subject searching in today's large online bibliographic retrieval systems and online public access catalogs (OPACS). The report begins with an illustrated overview of retrieval features and subject searching in current second-generation OPACs, which is followed by a discussion of the problems and shortcomings of conventional OPACs and online information retrieval systems, especially with regard to subject access and retrieval methods. A summary discussion of perspectives, models, and design contributions from the information retrieval research and experimentation community is then presented, and an illustrated review and analysis of intelligent interfaces and retrieval methods is provided. The discussion facilitates a refined grouping of the issues into four major areas: (1) ease of use, orientation, and presentation factors; (2) vocabulary control and correlation factors; (3) more effective system-guided or automatic query formulation and retrieval techniques; and (4) meaningful engagement of the searcher in relevance assessments, query modification/expansion, and provision of smart navigational, exploration facilities. A summary of recommended design principles and achievements in intelligent interface and retrieval system design concludes the report. A checklist of features of second-generation OPACs and a list of OPAC and retrieval systems and software investigated for the study are appended. (51 references) (MES)
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