Free Online Searches for Undergraduates: A Research Project on Use, Costs, and Projections Available to Purchase

In order to determine the feasibility of offering free online searches to ndergraduates at Texas A&M University's Evans Library, the authors offered free searches to selected Technical Writing classes in the Spring Semester of 1983. The response was surprisingly low, and the offer was extended to Summer Semester classes. As a result of this research project, the authors believe that free or partially‐subsidized searches can be offered, and they suggest ways to make the service available to undergraduates.