This paper reports an industrial information specialist's experience in performing online searches for engineers and surveys the databases used. Engineers seeking assistance fall into three categories: (1) those who recognize the value of online retrieval; (2) referrals by colleagues; and (3) those who do not seek help. As more successful searches for colleagues are performed this latter category tends to decline. Information searching for engineers requires patience, cost consciousness, and a facility to meet short time frames for urgently required information. Databases most commonly used at Exxon Research and Engineering Company are Compendex, APILIT, CA Search, and NTIS. Rationale for their use, desirable features, and professional experiences with each are provided in short annotations, and similar data are provided for ten lesser used databases. Patent searches are explored through the use of World Patents Index, APITAT, Chemical Abstracts, and IFI Claims. Copies of transparencies used in the presentation of the paper are appended. (RAA)