Using an information retrieval package, CAIRS, as an OPAC in a small, university medical library Available to Purchase

Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School Library serves the needs of teaching staff, students, researchers and other medical workers in this University of London Medical School. In 1984 it was decided that an OPAC system with sophisticated information retrieval facilities be acquired; CAIRS was chosen. The paper describes the reasons for choosing CAIRS and the tasks involved in designing the record structures, screen layouts and so on, as well as the ways of searching the catalogue using CAIRS.