An overview of information retrieval software for microcomputers in France

The potential uses of microcomputers seem unlimited and information retrieval is now an important area of application. This paper presents the teachings and the conclusions of a survey undertaken by the DBMIST (Direction des Bibliothèques, des Musées et de l'Information Scientifique et Technique) in the French Department of National Education. Forty systems have been studied but only ten of them appear to be interesting. A range of criteria allows us to classify packages in two main categories: the first suitable for personal systems or very small information centres recording up to approximately 5,000 documents; and the second appropriate for average documentation units.