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This paper examines the relevance of the expert systems approach to information retrieval. First, the purpose and nature of expert systems are outlined, and it is argued that only in domains with relatively limited and clear‐cut rule‐sets will such systems be viable in the near future. The expert systems approach is then related to the provision of interfaces for OPACs and IR systems. Intermediary systems, designed to clarify through dialogue the terms of a client's information need, are described, and the prospects for such systems are discussed. It is argued that relatively straightforward ride‐sets should suffice, and that useful systems may therefore be available fairly soon. Since they could facilitate access to general as well as to specialised information, the potential demand for such systems would seem to be enormous.

Information technology and the labour market With the help of a previous grant from BLR&DD, the Technical Change Centre carried out a detailed study of the impact of new technology on demands for information workers of various types. Data were collected to show employment trends over the past two decades but forward projections were also based on an assessment of the changes brought about by the new technologies. A full report on the project concluded that although ‘core’ information jobs will increase numerically they will decrease as a percentage of all jobs in information occupations. The present project, which runs through October and November 1985, will produce a summary of the full report, bringing out some of the qualitative data collected from the earlier questionnaire surveys. Issues discussed are likely to include the kinds of people, other than librarians, entering ‘core’ information jobs and the extent to which librarians and information scientists are beginning to enter peripheral or emerging employment sectors.

LAZY LIBRARIANS London's Underground, and particularly the central section, has long provided me with a raggle taggle selection of provincial and London suburban newspapers. Now its litter bins and train seats provide shoe‐string NLW with the equivalent of a news cutting service from which are gleaned all sorts of local library curiosa.

Browsing a database of article abstracts is one way to select and buy relevant magazine articles online. Our research contributes to the design and development of text grammars for abstracting texts in unlimited subject domains. We developed a system that parses texts based on the text grammar of a specific text type and that extracts sentences and statements which are relevant for inclusion in the abstracts. The system employs knowledge of the discourse patterns that are typical of news stories. The results are encouraging and demonstrate the importance of discourse structures in text summarisation.

Describes research undertaken in 50 companies, small, medium and large, concerning companies’ collaboration with education. Charts the rationale for company involvement, describes the types of activities undertaken and the ways in which such activities are organized and managed. Demonstrates the outcomes and benefits for business and for education of such collaborative activity. Illustrates examples of good practice by two case studies collected during the course of the research. They are illustrative of the range of activities undertaken and the mutual benefits derived. Points to the need for better monitoring and evaluation of such activities in order to secure benefits to both business and education.