Professional Reading Shelf Online Databases
Source: Library Journal "Online Databases- Sorting Through Online Systems"
An article by online database expert Carol Tenopir. She writes, "Librarians often ask if there's a simple way to keep online systems straight in order to help users and conduct efficient searches. Although there is danger in oversimplifying the complexities and contrasts among the hundreds of online systems and databases to which libraries provide access, all but full-time online searchers should practice a simple coping mechanism. First recognize the similarities rather than the differences (today's commercial online services are more alike than not) and then focus on the few important differences that make each system stand out." I think many librarians can relate to having so many databases, each with different content, interfaces, and search syntax, that trying to assist end users can be especially challenging. Not only do end users want to know which database(s), including web search engines, to choose for content but how to search them. It's a shame that a great deal of the "power" these tools offer, both end users and professionals, doesn't get fully utilized. One product that I've seen, MuseGlobal, is developing an impressive tool that broadcasts a search to proprietary (fee-based) and open web databases and then be able to fuse all of the results together into one result set. MuseGlobal works with most databases and online services and is not Z39.50 dependent. Because of this, MuseGlobal can harness the full power each database/online service has to offer.
-- Controlled Vocabularies
Source: National Library of Canada Updated, Thesauri and Controlled Vocabularies Bibliography Updated, Definitions of Key Terms in the Field of Controlled Vocabularies
-- Freedom of Access To Information
Source: IFLA "Freedom of Access to Information, the Internet and Libraries and Information Services"
A manifesto from the International Federation of Library Associations
News Briefs Portions of the Financial Times Site, Archive (FT.Com) Moving To Fee-Based Model
Another freebie bites the dust. From the site, "Users will be able to read all the latest news and most comment and analysis on FT.com free of charge. However, users will be asked to pay a subscription fee to read some of the site's most valuable content. Subscription-only features will include the full Lex column; top columnists such as Martin Wolf, Peter Martin and Lucy Kellaway; web pages devoted to specific industries; and all articles more than seven days old." "The new FT.com subscription service will have two levels. The first will give access to the full editorial offering, including new services such as Lex comments written and published online during the day and the opportunity to read and print important pages of the newspaper. Subscription to this level will cost �75, $110 or E120 a year. The second level will also offer two new research tools: a database on 18,000 listed companies across 55 countries and an archive of articles from more than 500 media sources going back five years. This will cost �200, $300 or E320. Newspaper subscribers can subscribe to FT.com for two-thirds of the standard prices. Introductory discounts will also be offered."
- Infotrieve Completes Technology Upgrade, New Product Set To Debut at SLA Conference
-- Web Search--Google "Google And AOL Announce Strategic Alliance"
From the announcement, "Under the agreement, Google's search technology will begin powering the search areas of AOL, CompuServe, AOL.COM and Netscape this summer." See Also: "Google Lands Pact With AOL, Strengthening IPO Prospects" (via The Wall Street Journal)
-- Deep Linking
Source: Wired Dallas Morning News Demands Site To Cease Linking Direct To Individual Articles
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