Description: This article discusses the major topics of the American Society for Indexing (ASI) conferences. The purpose of this article is to identify major topics discussed at ASI conferences from 1997 through 2011 and to explore how the topics have changed over time. ASI conference programs reflect topics of interest to indexers and thus provide insight into concerns of the profession at large.

Description: This article discusses artificial intelligence, libraries, and information retrieval. In the science fiction short story "Anniversary" (Amazing, March 1959), Isaac Asimov described a computer system that combined advanced elements of artificial intelligence and information retrieval. Called "Multivac" in the story (The author wonders if the name was inspired by the UNIVAC systems that were being marketed in the early fifties), Asimov's system is described as "a mile-long super-computer that was the repository of all the facts known to man; that guided man's economy; directed his scientific research; helped make his political decisions--and had millions of circuits left over to answer individual questions that did not violate the ethics of privacy." Multivac was capable of understanding and answering what we would now call natural language queries on any topic. The protagonists of the story typed in their questions on a terminal that worked much like a typewriter.

Description: This article discusses embedded librarian services. Abstract: Academic librarians interested in collaborating with faculty in online courses often express questions about their role, level of involvement, and activities. This article provides a list of best practices to guide those developing embedded librarian services. The practices are drawn from a review of the literature, as case study of one embedded librarian's experiences, and a mixed methods study of embedded librarianship at six institutions. The resulting best practices will help embedded librarians collaborate effectively with faculty to create a positive learning experience for distance students.

Description: This article discusses Constitution Day outreach to campus and community. The celebration of Constitution Day (or Citizenship Day) on September 17th each year began in 2005 as a mandate for all publicly funded educational institutions to provide instructive activities that recognize the adoption of the United States Constitution in 1787 (U.S. Department of Education). There are many creative and engaging ways to commemorate the signing of our Constitution. The University of North Texas has its own traditions, which are shared in this document along with some other resources and ideas to get others started on Constitution Day celebrations at their own institutions.

Description: This article discusses cataloguing in 2012. Abstract: The major looming changes in music cataloguing today-the cataloguing code 'Resource Description and Access' (RDA); a system of genre/form and medium terms, to be used as "subjects;" and a not-yet-determined replacement for the encoding system MARC-result from a concern for the needs of the user. The first thorough, systematic analysis of user needs was 'Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR).' RDA is designed around the conceptual framework presented in that document. Similarly concerned with user needs is the new system of genre/form and medium terms that will soon replace the current workaround of using "subject headings" for what an item 'is', instead of only for what an item is 'about.' Because catalogue data created according to RDA cannot be adequately expressed in the current MARC format, another initiative is underway to develop a new encoding framework to replace MARC.