Information Access Company was formed in 1976 and, at that time identified more than 400 publications as sources for information covering many general interest subjects. To provide a timely and continuously‐updated reference aid which would make the contents of these publications accessible shortly after each issue was published, IAC created Magazine Index as an online database and made it accessible by computer via Dialog Information Services. The initial index data‐base contained approximately 360 publications, and additional titles and retrospective material have been added until today more than 400 magazines with coverage back twenty years are contained in Magazine Index. This database quickly became and continues to be one of the most widely‐used files among the more than 200 offered on Dialog.