[Web4lib] Microsoft Academic Search vs. Google Scholar

[Karen Coyle]

I noticed in the CNET article that " The service currently covers only 
physics, electrical engineering and computer science, Microsoft said in 
a statement," -- When we had various databases mounted on the MELVYL 
system at U of California, the LEAST used system was INSPEC, the primary 
engineering database. It was also one of the largest. It appeared to us 
that the academic work done in engineering does not generate the same 
amount of literature searching as that in other fields. So starting with 
these topics, and perhaps giving users the impression that this is 
primarily a science/technology service, may not be a winning strategy.

What was searched the most? Medline. After just a short number of years, 
Medline was getting as many searches as the online catalog (1/3 of the 
total searches each, with the other 1/3 spread out over 7 topical 
databases).

kc

Sloan, Bernie wrote:
> Someone may have already mentioned this, but I don't recall seeing it.
>
> Microsoft is unveiling their "Academic Search" product, which looks to
> be a competitor to Google Scholar.
>
> >From today's online Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription
> required):
>
> Carlson, Scott. Challenging Google, Microsoft Unveils a Search Tool for
> Online Scholarly Articles. Today's News. Chronicle of Higher Education.
> April 12, 2005. (Subscription required).
> http://chronicle.com/daily/2006/04/2006041201t.htm 
>
> Also: 
>
> Lombardi, Candace. Microsoft reveals answer to Google Scholar. CNET
> News. April 12, 2006.
> http://tinyurl.com/ghrjd 
>
> And:
>
> Sherman, Chris. Microsoft Launches Windows Live Academic Search. Search
> Engine Watch. April 12, 2006.
> http://searchenginewatch.com/searchday/article.php/3598376 
>
> Bernie Sloan
> Senior Information Systems Consultant
> Consortium of Academic & Research Libraries in Illinois
> 616 E. Green Street, Suite 213
> Champaign, IL  61820-5752
>
> Phone: (217) 333-4895
> Fax:   (217) 265-0454
> E-mail: bernies at uillinois.edu
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
>
>   

-- 
-----------------------------------
Karen Coyle / Digital Library Consultant
kcoyle at kcoyle.net http://www.kcoyle.net
ph.: 510-540-7596
fx.: 510-848-3913
mo.: 510-435-8234
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