A c t i o n f o r L i b r a r i e s — J a n u a r y 2 0 0 5

In Reference...

Edited by Brandie Baumann
OCLC FirstSearch News
OCLC has implemented a new timesaving Search/Save Feature that allows individual library users and library staff to save their search commands for future use in FirstSearch databases. After users have completed a search in FirstSearch, they will see a new link at the top of the results screen allowing them to Save each search. New users will be asked to register and create a user ID and password and enter an e-mail address. Once registered, users can re-execute their saved search commands as often as needed by clicking on a link to a previously saved search.

An enhanced Periodicals Title Finder is now available on the OCLC FirstSearch service. Including information such as the beginning and ending date for citations and full-text articles indexed in FirstSearch databases, this popular tool is updated weekly. Users download a list of titles indexed in a particular database or they can choose to search by title to find out which database in the FirstSearch services indexes it. To view the enhanced Periodicals Title Finder database, go to www.oclc.org/firstsearch/periodicals/default.htm.

OCLC has added an Electronic Books database to the OCLC Base Package and OCLC Collection on FirstSearch. Available to all subscribers, the database contains records for all ebooks currently cataloged in WorldCat from many different publishers. Users can quickly and efficiently retrieve records for electronic books that are available online through Web sites. Ebooks provides fast and convenient access to the electronic book full text available if your library owns a subscription to the ebook cited, although if the library does not own a copy of the ebook, you will not get a link to the full text. This database is also available as a stand-alone database via both per search and subscription pricing.

In conjunction with the electronic books database, OCLC plans to launch a pilot to evaluate library users' experiences with search and display of search results using a virtual interface developed by Antarctica Systems, Inc. The pilot will run from January through April 2005 and will be implemented by Antarctica Systems Inc. (www.antarctica.net) using its VisualNet data visualization software to create a visual interface to the electronic books database. When a patron selects the electronic books database on FirstSearch, he/she will have an option to use the visual interface for searching and viewing results. OCLC will be conducting a user survey during this pilot and will collect usage statistics that will be evaluated for future applications.

LexisNexis Adds New Accounting Publications
LexisNexis Academic now has 17 new accounting publications from John Wiley, all searchable from the accounting search form of the business section. A new dropdown selection will read "John Wiley Accounting Publications," enabling all publications to be searched simultaneously. The new content includes Accounting Reference Desktop, Intellectual Property Assets in Mergers & Acquisitions, Essentials of Patent and more.

Wilson Introduces Education Index Retrospective
Wilson's new Education Index Retrospective 1929-1983, provides more than half a century of cover-to-cover indexing for an international array of English-language periodicals, monographs and yearbooks. Highlights of the new database include:

Detailed, cover-to-cover indexing of some 500 periodicals, as far back as 1929.
Simplified searching using updated subject headings; revisions of obsolete or confusing terms to reflect current usage; retention of original and historical subject headings; and more. Search by journal, author, keyword, title and document type.
Citations from nearly a million articles, including book reviews.
Users can acquire actual articles by clicking from citations to the full text in your open-URL databases. Library holdings indicator links to your OPAC to let users know if they'll find cited articles on your shelves.

To expand your library's education database offerings, combine the new Education Index Retrospective with Education Full Text, Social Sciences Full Text or Wilson OmniFile databases for a century of research.

For more information on pricing and subscriptions to any of the above database products, contact BCR's Karen Graham (kgraham@bcr.org).

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