[WEB4LIB] New free database from Gale

[Julia Schult]

I tried it out and found some very important flaws in its interface.  Hopefully
those will be fixed soon (I sent them comments about them):

The worst one is that when I told it to search only in its "Reference/Ed"
category for articles on "cooperative learning", it pulled up *all the articles
in the Reference/Ed" category*, seemingly ignoring my search words.  I tried
that with a few other categories with the same result.

Another problem is that it searches the full text of the article, but once you
find the article you can only search for your term page by page.  I had searched
for articles on "Elmira College" and could not find the term in some of the
articles pulled up; I had to go page by page doing a word find, so I gave up
after the first couple of pages.  Even when you email the article, you are
really just emailing the url, so you still have to go page by page.

Once the interface works, I'll link to it.  The collection of resources is
somewhat odd, but useful enough to include it as a resource.

---Julia E. Schult
Access/Electronic Services Librarian
Elmira College
Jschult at elmira.edu

"Drew, Bill" wrote:

> Carole Leita featured this in her weekly newsletter.  I have quoted the
> following with her permission.  She also wanted me to know that the database
> is not fully developed and indexed yet.  I think it is important because
> such services will have a clear impact on what services libraries purchase
> for their patrons.  We need to discuss such issues.  Remember Britannica?
> The free version had more content and services than the paid version.  That
> is why SUNY dropped its state wide subscriptions to it.
>
> From: Carole Leita [mailto:cleita at webjunction.org]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2000 3:16 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: [LIIWEEK] July 12, 2000
>
> Best of...
> FindArticles.com -
> http://www.findarticles.com/
> This database of "hundreds of thousands of articles from more
> than 300 magazines and journals, dating back to
> 1998" can be searched by all magazines, magazines within
> categories, or specific magazine. A very few of the
> publications, including Scientific American, only have
> abstracts. Following in the footsteps of Britannica.com's
> putting its encyclopedia and full text of some 70 magazines
> online, this service is the first traditional periodical
> aggregator to release its material on the Web with ad
> revenues as the sole funding mechanism. LookSmart will
> categorize the Gale Group content and target specific
> advertisements to complement the article content. - cl
> Subjects: Periodicals | Full-text
>
> ___________________
> Wilfred (Bill) Drew
> Associate Librarian, Systems and Reference
> SUNY Morrisville College Library
> drewwe at morrisville.edu
> Home: http://www.morrisville.edu/~drewwe/
> Not Just Cows: http://www.morrisville.edu/~drewwe/njc/
> Library: http://www.morrisville.edu/library/
> Have Laptop -- Will Travel.
>
> Believers and doers are what we need -- faithful librarians who are humble
> in the presence of books.... To be in a library is one of the purest of all
> experiences. This awareness of library's unique, even sacred nature, is what
> should be instilled in our neophites. - A Passion for Books Lawrence Clark
> POWELL (1906- )
> "I feed your body, while you feed your mind." Found in library cafe
> "When you absolutely positively have to know, ask a librarian." ALA Poster
> A keeper of books. - Anonymous
> "Anyone who has a library and a garden wants for nothing." CICERO
>
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