Library and Information Science Commons^™

Taking Online Interaction For Granted, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

The ubiquity of library user familiarity with online searching allows librarians to focus on the social and human considerations of online interaction. Librarians can be leaders in humanizing the net, in improving search engine technology, and in educating the 79% who are still not online.

As The Online World Turns, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

The relationship between online vendors and content providers was a major issue at the 1997 Online World conference. Other important topics included pricing of online services and Web sites of online providers.

Medline On The Web: Databases For Free, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

The National Library of Medicine is offering free access to its MEDLINE bibliographic database through two search systems on the Internet, Grateful Med and PubMed. Information on the various versions of MEDLINE is available on 'Dr. Felix's Free MEDLINE Page.'

Beyond The Cd-Rom Model, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Companies such as SilverPlatter Information Inc (SP) and Ovid Technologies Inc should think of themselves as being in the information industry rather than the CD-ROM industry. New products include SP's Electronic Reference Library client/server software and the Ovid Java Client web software.

Privacy, Security, And Data Integrity, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

The 1997 Mid-year Meeting of the American Society for Information Science (ASIS) was held in Scottsdale, Arizona, the first week of June. As the heat reached triple digits outside, 300 ASIS members and interested others inside held heated discussions on issues surrounding "Information Privacy, Security, and Data Integrity."

The timing was good -- just a week before the Federal Trade Commission hearings about online privacy. A poll released at the hearings showed that over half of the computer users in the U.S. support laws on computer privacy, and major companies such as Microsoft and Netscape are supporting technological safeguards …

Online Use Policies And Restrictions, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Many public libraries have been forced to adopt policies regarding Internet access, both because of potentially controversial sites and the costs of providing access. Rules on restricting the access of minors and other policies are discussed.

Reading Vendor Literature, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Literature from database producers and online vendors can be a helpful starting point in deciding which distributor to select for a library. However, librarians should be cautious of phrases such as 'easy to use' and 'low cost,' as well as misleading descriptions of size.

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.

Common End User Errors, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Traditional end user mistakes include spelling errors, deviant interfaces, Boolean logic errors, and term errors. Spelling assistance should be made a standard on every search system as spelling errors are perhaps the most common errors made by all types of users.

Learning From The Experts, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Online searching is often learned in school or through a brief workshop. However, two recent books on online searching can provide one with close to an expert training. Reva Basch's 'Secrets of the Super Searchers' and Mary Ellen Bates' 'The Online Deskbook' are two worthy releases on the subject.

Envisioning Online Services, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Research by Prof. Ruth Palmquist of the Univ. of Texas finds that the metaphors for searching in Computer Database and Magazine Index do not always match those in Information Science Abstracts. The results are analyzed in terms of improving graphical user interface icons.

Managing Scientific Journals In A Digital Era, Carol Tenopir, Donald W. King

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Special librarians would do well to examine present trends in electronic publishing. This would guide them in the efficient management of electronically published scientific journals and the avoidance of costly mistakes in the pricing and acquisitions of such scholarly studies.

The Complexities Of Electronic Journals, Carol Tenopir

School of Information Sciences -- Faculty Publications and Other Works

Electronic journals are available from a variety of sources with varying formats and prices. The growth of technology has produced a range of delivery mechanisms. Variations in quality and accessibility make it impractical for libraries to replace print formats with electronic journals.