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History: public launch in March 1999 moving away from out of date static source lists for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http://library.usask.ca/~scottp/links/Library_Indexes/ no longer active]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
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2915 searches
Type of search:
o 2215 title search (default)
o 700 phrase search
Who/Where did search come from?
o 1685 from outside the library
 623 on VCU Campus
 1062 off campus
o 1029 from public pc's in one of the VCU libraries
o 201 from library staff
At least one out of four were not searches for periodical titles
o 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Dow Jones issn's [link http://www.library.vcu.edu/cfapps/jbc/instruct/demo.cfm?Choice=dj no
longer active. 2/11/2008]
Lexis direct url's [link http://www.library.vcu.edu/cfapps/jbc/instruct/demo.cfm?Choice=lexis no
longer active. 2/11/2008]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Marc creation interface [link http://www.library.vcu.edu/cfapps/jbc/instruct/vivamarc.cfm no
longer active. 2/11/2008]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
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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
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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http://www.library.vcu.edu/cfapps/jbc/instruct/vendor.cfm no longer active. 2/11/2008]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
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Both
4. Indicate how and how often they update their source files and how long it takes to do this
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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
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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.
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Call 'em like I see 'em
7. Indicate how treat duplicate titles available through several databases.
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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
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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
PC Magazine
Search type:
title
phrase
b. Browsing most recent issue of American Libraries for full-text articles
American Libraries
Search type:
title
phrase