2 New Library evaluates full-text database services Wednesday, April 8, 1998 ROBERT SCHOENBERG Staff Writer Starting April 7 and running through most of spring term, the library will be running a test and evaluation of four full-text data­ base services of which one will be chosen for use by students and faculty on the campus computer system. Available at the library will be toe database providers, Pro-Quest, Electric Library, Information Access Company (IAC), and Elton B. Stevens Company (EBSCO). Shannon Stiles, reference librarian, said, “The database providers we are testing have full text articles ranging from popular magazines to scholarly and professional journals.” The database can be accessed through any of the on-cam­ pus computers and at home by students taking part in the distance learning pro­ grams. The data services sometimes provide more than just toe full text of articles. They can also provide summaries and citations of journals and magazines that they don’t have in their services. Stiles said, “EBSCO says that it has cess to. “It's not intended as areplacementfor magazines currently sub­ scribed to. In many instances toe article provided by toe services are text only and do not include charts, graphs, photos or adver- librarian, has been toe person contacting the database providers and arranged for the free trial at the library. Evaluation forms are available in toe library that students and faculty can fill out to help toe librarians choose which service we tiscmenfs.” “The college is moving toward providing distafice edu­ cation to sibdents, providing online^burses. We need to will use. “We have a wonderful opportunity this term," shesaid. "Never again, as far as I can see, will we have four full-text databases be able to iigrovide libr library support for those kinds of ac­ SLfirovide tivities^ sajWitiles. ‘We have recognized that toe assignments services side by side, available to our patrons." that instructors are giving their students are requiring them to go beyond whabwe have traditionally have in toe library,” $he added. Doris Munson, cataloging and systems ■Be C/actomas P/mZ 5/a/f 19600 S. Molalla Ave. Oregon City, OR 97045 (503) 657-6958 ext. 2309 cccprint@clackamas.cc.or.us Co-Editors-in-Chief: Christina Mueller and 1000 journals and magazines in full text, but they also have as part of their data­ base 3000 more journals and magazines Feature Editor: Joel P. Shempert that are available in summery or just the Sports Editor: John Thorbum citation. If we have an index that will give us access to titles of articles in publica­ tion then we can go about trying to locate the full text. Using the same tools we al­ ways use, checking to see if PSU has it, checking to see if the University of Or­ egon has it, we can do inter-library loans.” The library budget allows for only one of toe services to be purchased, so at this time toe four services are undergoing evaluation by toe li­ brary staff as well as students and faculty who use any of toe four now online on toe computer A&E Co-Editors: Jared Bezzant and Alex Mahan system. “We want to get as much feedback as we can on toe usefulness of each service,” said Stiles. The main purpose of toe full-text database is to provide access to magazines and journal ar­ ticles that students otherwise wouldn’t have ac- Brad Zimmerman (ext. 2576) Assistant News Editor: Jeremy Stallwood Business Manger: Mairin-Anne Moore (ext. 2578) Copy Editor: Mike Garcia Photo Editor: Timothy Bell Cartoonist: Mark Hoffman Advisor: Linda Vogt (ext. 2310) Secretary: JoAnne Gale -4 ! ”T~——r W