|
In Reference...
(February 2000 Action for Libraries newsletter)
OCLC FirstSearch
OCLC has added 145 new journals from 17 publishers to the OCLC FirstSearch
Electronic Collections Online service. There are now 2,106 journals available online.
Libraries that offer Electronic Collections Online allow users to search for citations by
browsing lists of journals, selected issues or selected topic areas, as well as providing
abstracts and the full text of articles. Two notable publishers now making their journals
available are the Oxford University Press and Hayworth Press. A complete list of
participating publishers, available journals and journals under contract can be found at
the Electronic Collections Online Web site (www2.oclc.org/oclc/ fseco/publish.htm).
New FirstSearch Update
Four databases, MLA Bibliography, SocioAbs, Sociological Abstracts and OCLC Union
Lists of Periodicals, and French and Spanish versions of online help were added to the
New FirstSearch service in mid-December. There are now 85 databases available, with
the final database, Basic BIOSIS, to be added soon. For a complete list of databases see
www.oclc.org/oclc/fs/9085fs/tablerev.htm. Since OCLC is making the current
FirstSearch available in tandem with New FirstSearch through at least June 2000, current
FirstSearch users have plenty of time to familiarize themselves with and try out the new
service. A good source for information and answers to questions about migrating to New
FirstSearch can be found at www.oclc.org/oclc/ fs_new/migration_faq.htm.
OCLC mailed New FirstSearch marketing packets to libraries subscribed to FirstSearch.
The packets provide several ways to introduce the new service to patrons. Included are a
press release to send to the local media, a news article for the library newsletter and a
poster.
SilverPlatter Full Text Update
SilverPlatter has added two new databases, Annual Reports and Portland Press, to the 85
SilverLinker databases already available. These scientific-based publishers issue
literature reviews summarizing important developments in the fields of biomedical
science and engineering as well as the physical and social sciences. Portland Press has
gone one step further by making all articles from issues prior to January 2000 available to
all users free of charge. This means that back articles on the Portland Press database are
available from SilverPlatter through SilverLinker for anybody, whether or not they have
a print subscription. For more information about Annual Reviews, go to
www.AnnualReviews.org. Information on Portland Press can be accessed at
www.portlandpress.com/ejournals.htm.
SilverPlatter is now the sole vendor to offer the Directory of Periodicals electronically.
SilverPlatter will include the Directory with the MLA Bibliography database beginning
February 2000. The directory supplies research submission and subscription information
for more than 3,500 journals and series.
SilverPlatter discontinued two Gale Group databases, Research Centers and Services
Directory and the Directory of Databases, on January 1. Orders will no longer be
accepted.
CIS History Universe
Final pricing for History Universe Access to African-American Studies has been set at
$0.385 per FTE student for the calendar year 2000. This useful database provides
libraries and schools with an extensive collection of information resources on
African American history, including legislation, U.S. Supreme Court decisions,
reference works, biographies and articles from selected academic journals. New
subscribers will still be granted the promised two-for-one deal and have their
subscriptions automatically extended to end on January 1, 2002. Be sure to take
advantage of this offer soon, because it is available only until the end of February 2000.
Further information can be accessed through the BCR Web site (www.bcr.org). Click on
Reference Databases, then CIS or Universe.
Grolier Online
BCR is offering a free trial of Grolier's new online Spanish-language encyclopedia,
Nueva Enciclopedia Cumbre en l¡nea. This new online reference source is the only
Spanish-language encyclopedia built from the ground up with a Latin American
perspective and offers a unique and user-friendly resource for students from middle
school on up. More information and final pricing is available on BCR's Web site
(www.bcr.org). Click Reference Databases, then Cumbre en l¡nea.
For questions or to subscribe to any reference database CD-ROM, online or Internet-
accessible contact BCR's Jim Hensinger (jhensing@bcr.org) or Karen Graham
(kgraham@bcr.org).
|
|