DESCRIPTIVE TEXT IS USUALLY inadequate for finding the precise visual image for which one is searching. Though a search can be narrowed by using basic terminology (such as subject, date, country, format), its outcome will then often require visually inspecting hundreds of images in order to find the desired one. This creates work for the library/repository (which must retrieve many unneeded
... [Show full abstract] delicate images), wear and tear on the collection, and a great deal of inconvenience for the user. The author proposes a solution to this problem - emphasizing visual browsing tools on high resolution computer workstations. In this model, a user can perform initial online queries using descriptive text, then visually browse through high quality surrogate images of the query results. Several dozen images can be displayed simultaneously, and any single image can be enlarged for closer visual inspection. The University of California at Berkeley prototype implementation of this model is discussed in detail.
