[Web4lib] Microsoft Academic Search vs. Google Scholar

[Ross Singer]

Of course, your mileage may vary on that.  Our most heavily used database is
Compendex (which includes searching in INSPEC).

I think it might depend heavily on what the actual focus of your institution
is.

-Ross.

On 4/12/06, Karen Coyle <kcoyle at kcoyle.net> wrote:
>
> 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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