Abstract
The effectiveness of library pathfinders as a tool for bibliographic instruction, in the field of health sciences, was examined. The participants in the survey have found pathfinders to be an effective tool in searching for and in retrieving relevant information. High quality pathfinders created overseas are good sources, if not, pointers to helpful references. In preparing a pathfinder, the use of thesauruses and subject headings are highly recommended, as they are helpful tools for pinpointing the subject areas covered, and also for improving subject searches. The process involved in the creation of pathfinders, in itself, will help enforce better subject searches and the quality of bibliographic instructions in Japanese libraries.
