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Increased demands on catalogers to increase productivity, while maintaining quality and accuracy, can be difficult to meet, and may even be hazardous to their health. OCLC Passport for Windows (PFW) and CatME provide some ability to create macros and shortcuts to speed cataloging activities, but do not solve the problems created by long work sessions. Voice recognition software, which works with most applications, is an effective way to input commands and data accurately into a computer. The software can be customized to provide single word input of complex commands, allowing the cataloger to concentrate more on the content of their records, rather than the input. This type of software is helpful not only to workers with repetitive strain injury (RSI) or physical disabilities, but also to anyone requiring accurate input during extended work sessions. This article explains how the software works, offers examples, and provides tips on working with using voice recognition.

Many computer related injuries occur from mouse use. The mouse is the primary input device by virtue of its universal availability, yet it is not the best for all‐round work. Alternative devices such as the track ball, touch pad, and graphics tablet can be used more effectively for precise cursor control, while reducing stress and the potential for injury. Though these devices may seem exotic or a luxury, they are in fact affordable and well‐suited to daily use by everyone. This article describes the mouse and its inherent weaknesses, and offers more practical alternatives. These alternatives may help reduce injury‐producing activities, and may also improve productivity and creativity by allowing more precision cursor controls.

Reference department collections contain a wide variety of serials and serial‐like publications. These include (among others) indexing and abstracting services, directories, almanacs, books‐in‐prints ources, statistical works, trade and national bibliographies, union lists, biographical sources, government publications, and travel guides. Such publications are ideally updated via subscriptions or standing orders with vendors or publishers, and managed by sophisticated integrated systems with serials control features to facilitate claiming, check‐in, and other serials functions such as binding.