VIVA Jan 7th Forum, Electronic Journals

VCU Libraries

Barbara Anderson and Jimmy Ghaphery presenting.

The Interface

http://www.library.vcu.edu/ejournals/index.html

History: public launch in March 1999 moving away from out of date static source lists for SearchBank

For more info see notes from Charleston conference presentation

Another interesting resource: Electronic Journals Resource Directory: Library Indexes [link: http://library.usask.ca/~scottp/links/Library_Indexes/ no longer active]

Log Analysis

One week: Nov. 9-16, 1999

• 2915 searches
• Type of search:
  • 2215 title search (default)
  • 700 phrase search
• Who/Where did search come from?
  • 1685 from outside the library
    • 623 on VCU Campus
    • 1062 off campus
  • 1029 from public pc's in one of the VCU libraries
  • 201 from library staff
• At least one out of four were not searches for periodical titles
  • My favorite: Do I need a living will?

Special Sauce

Dow Jones issn's [link http://www.library.vcu.edu/cfapps/jbc/instruct/demo.cfm?Choice=dj no longer active. 2/11/2008]

Lexis direct url's [link http://www.library.vcu.edu/cfapps/jbc/instruct/demo.cfm?Choice=lexis no longer active. 2/11/2008]

My Journals through My Library (login: viva password: viva)

Marc creation interface [link http://www.library.vcu.edu/cfapps/jbc/instruct/vivamarc.cfm no longer active. 2/11/2008]

Questions and Answers

1. Discuss the hardware and software used for creating the merged database

• Access Database
  Importing external data via Excel (Dow and Lexis) or Text file (Infotrac).
• Served to Web with Cold Fusion software.

2. List all the databases or services from which they get aggregated titles

• InfoTrac (with General Ref Center Gold deduped: 183 unique titles), Dow Jones Publications Library, Lexis/Nexis Academic Universe, Ethnic NewsWatch, International Index to Black Periodicals
• Database also includes non-agg titles from ACM, Muse, Ideal, Wiley, etc. [link http://www.library.vcu.edu/cfapps/jbc/instruct/vendor.cfm no longer active. 2/11/2008]

3. Indicate whether the titles in the database are separately searchable in the database only, or are also searchable from their OPAC

• Both

4. Indicate how and how often they update their source files and how long it takes to do this

• Updated at least 3 times a year depending on each Vendor
• 1 hour or so per Vendor, biggest challenge preserving value added data like subject headings, issn's, direct url links that are not included in the source lists.

5. List the fields (e.g., title, ISSN, start date, stop-date) they have chosen to include in their database

• Title
• Subject1(for a few selected titles)
• Subject2 (for a few selected titles)
• Start Date
• Stop Date
• ISSN
• Vendor
• Viva yes/no
• Selected Full Text yes/no for Dow
• URL (for 450 Lexis titles)

6. Indicate how/if make decisions regarding what is/isn't to be considered full-text even if the aggregator notes it as FT.

• Call 'em like I see 'em

7. Indicate how treat duplicate titles available through several databases.

• General Reference Center deduped from IAC list
• Multiple listings in FT retrieval from Web
• Single listings based on title match for OPAC

8. Indicate whether and how they use Search tips for the user as well as links to the aggregator database

• Javascript pop up search tips

9. Demonstrate on their system (as live connection, screen clips, or pdf)
a..Finding the full text article for the citation:
Why Y2K is good for you PC Magazine, April 6, 1999 p4