On‐line information retrieval: some comments on the use of Retrospec 1 in an industrial library

The advent of the computer has forced many decisions on the industrial librarian. With all those around him using computers should he too jump on the bandwagon or should he stay with his traditional systems for catalogues, loans and recalls, information retrieval, selective dissemination of information, and so forth? All too often, librarians tend to be of one school or another; they will either computerize anything they can lay their hands on or they will steadfastly refuse to have anything to do with the computer. Decisions are based on impressions and prejudices rather than on any more rational basis.