SLIMMER—A UNIX™ System‐Based Information Retrieval System

SLIMMER is a powerful information retrieval system running under the UNIX operating system. Its development was guided by the needs of the library network operated by Bell Laboratories (hereafter Library Network). These needs include the ability to create and maintain a variety of different but often interrelated databases, and to provide controlled access to these databases by both Library Network staff and the users of the Library Network. To meet these needs, SLIMMER has to be a quality information retrieval system with the additional attribute of considerable flexibility. This flexibility has proved especially necessary to meet the needs of a user community and company as diverse and as much in transition as is AT&T.