Based on information and documents gathered from 103 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries via an April 1986 ARL Recon Project questionnaire, and supplemented with additional interviews and materials gathered throughout the year, this publication focuses on retrospective conversion projects designed to support the implementation of online catalogs and participation in nationwide databases. A concise summary discusses cooperative national developments and planning, funding, and decision-making considerations. The Recon Project questionnaire, a preliminary analysis of survey results, and a listing of systems used for the retrospective conversion of records in 43 ARL libraries are provided, as well as the following documents: (1) planning documents from the University of Chicago, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Vanderbilt University, Colorado State University, Cornell University, the University of Iowa, and Rutgers University; (2) descriptions of studies of retrospective conversion from the University of Michigan and Brown University; and (3) the description of a completed shelf list conversion project from Kent State University. A seven-item bibliography, a Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) kit order form, and an ARL SPEC kit evaluation form are also included. (KM)