Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Reflections On Two Decades, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

In 1983, the hottest issue was the entry of the end user. Throughout the previous decade, expert searchers were the only ones with their hands on the keyboard. The widespread acceptance of the personal computer in the early 1980s spurred new expectations. End user versions of major intermediary systems heralded the beginning of the end user revolution. By 1993, end users were accomplished searchers but most likely on CD-ROM versions of databases.

Database And Online System Usage, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

A DECADE AGO I wrote a column called "The Most Popular Databases" (LJ 4/1/91, p. 96,98). I used data from a company called Information Market Indicators (IMI) that tracked usage in a wide sample of libraries, plus CD-ROM best sellers lists from popular computing magazines. It is harder now to track database and system usage over all types of libraries because IMI no longer collects the data, CD-ROM isn't as important in libraries, and there are now many more choices of systems and databases.

The Digital Reference World Of Academic Librarians., Carol Tenopir, Lisa Ennis

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Throughout the 1990s, the reference departments of academic libraries have seen a rapid evolution from a print-centered world to a digital-intensive one. Online, CD-ROM, and World Wide Web resources are often the first choice of both library users and reference librarians. For the latest measure of how academic libraries incorporate electronic information sources into their reference activities and the effect on library services, a questionnaire was sent to all academic members of the Association of Research Libraries in the 4th quarter of 1997. Over 73% of ARL libraries report more than 100 workstations or terminals. Not surprisingly, the big growth …

The Data Dealers: Database Marketplace’97, Carol Tenopir, Jeff Barry

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

A 1997 alphabetical listing of data base providers is presented. The most significant development in the industry is the ongoing effort of vendors to make use of the World Wide Web in distributing their products. However, online and CD-ROM still remain the basic delivery methods.

The Evolving Database Marketplace, Jeff Barry, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Initially propelled by online searching and CD-ROM networking, and now given added momentum by the Internet, electronic reference resources are changing the way librarians provide reference service. Library users are accessing traditional citation and abstract databases with greater ease and efficacy than before, thanks to more consistent and friendlier interfaces and the integration of full text and graphics.

How fundamental are the changes to library reference services? According to LJ's 1996 Reference Survey, librarians estimate that in the next three years their CD-ROM reference sources will grow by 51 percent and their online sources by 43 percent, vs. fairly …

Has Online Made Cd-Rom Obsolete?, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Debates the longevity of CD-ROM with the rise of commercial online services and the Internet. Ways to measure the growth of the CD-ROM industry; What's available on CD-ROM; The introduction of DVD (digital videodiscs); When to use CD-ROM and when to use online services; Measurement on how long CD-ROM will still be used.

Electronic Reference Options: Tracking The Changes., Carol Tenopir, Ralf Neufang

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

A survey of 96 academic libraries belonging to the Association of Research Libraries reveals that the popularity of the four primary electronic reference mediums - online public access catalogs (OPACs), CD-ROM, end-user online and intermediary online - increased between 1991 and 1994. All the libraries provide CD-ROM access. Ninety-five provide intermediary online searching; 63, end-user online searching; and 71, tape loaded databases through OPACs.

When Is The Same Database Not The Same? Database Differences Among Systems., Carol Tenopir, Katie Hover

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Users of online databases frequently have several options available for searching the same database. Selection of the appropriate access method can be simplified through the evaluation of seven criteria. Price, time periods covered, and frequency and timing of updates should be considered first. Variations in file structure among online systems should also be evaluated. Finally, the online systems themselves should be evaluated for their support systems and search features.

Quality Of Abstracts, Carol Tenopir, Peter Jasco

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Printed, online, and CD-ROM indexing and abstracting publications are familiar reference tools in libraries. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) recognizes 3 types of abstracts: 1. indicative or descriptive, 2. informative, and 3. combination (indicative and informative). The quality of the abstracts in 3 major CD-ROM general periodical indexes that contain abstracts - Reader's Guide Abstracts, Resource-One, and Magazine Article Summaries - was tested using quantitative or objective tests to provide a generalized view of quality. The abstracts were examined for: 1. consistency of style and readability, 2. the extent to which the ANSI standard was observed, and 3. informativeness. …

Predicting The Online Future, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Major changes will mark the future of online. Five major forces are shaping online searching and the online industry. These forces are at work now and will continue to shape online in the future.

The five forces are:

1. developments in telecommunications;

2. improvements in scanning and storage technologies;

3. expansion of database distribution options (CD-ROM fits here as well as many other formats);

4. a broader user base with new needs; and

5. changes in the dynamics of database production.

Electronic Reference Options: How They Stack Up In Research Libraries, Carol Tenopir, Ralf Neufang

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Electronic reference in a variety of forms is becoming a reality in libraries today. Whether it is online, CD-ROM, or databases loaded from magnetic tapes or a combination of several options, patrons have access to more electronic resources than ever before. We recently surveyed research libraries in the U.S. and Canada to see which electronic reference options they offer. ARL libraries may not be typical because they tend to be heavy users of technology and have relatively large budgets, but they can be considered trendsetters. What these libraries are offering now will be found in all types of libraries within …

Databases Online And On Cd-Rom: How Do They Differ, Let Us Count The Ways., Diane Nahl-Jakobovits, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Librarians must choose between CD-ROM and online formats now that databases are available on both mediums. The pros and cons of each medium are discussed.

General Periodical Indexes On Cd-Rom., Carol Tenopir, Timothy Smith

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Because general periodical indexes are an important way of providing access to the library collection and are used heavily, they are a natural product for CD-ROM. Products from 4 major companies - EBSCO Electronic Information, H. W. Wilson Co., University Microfilms International (UMI), and Information Access Co. - are compared. All of the products examined feature extensive help screens, all follow the standard convention of displaying the most recent citation first, and all use the Esc key to move up through the menu hierarchy. H. W. Wilson's Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature and Readers' Guide Abstracts allow patrons access to …

Cd‑Rom In 1986, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Databases on CD-ROM (compact disk-read only memory) were the biggest news in the database industry in 1986. During the year, many new CD products became available, others were announced as forthcoming, and some of the big names in the information industry (e.g., DIALOG and H. W. Wilson) entered the CD marketplace. 11 was also a year of uncertainty and flux, with Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) entering the market in the spring only to suspend its database distribution in the fall, prices of CD products changing frequently, and the number of users not yet approaching the projected figures. The professional literature …