Searching CD‐ROM and Online Information Sources

Citation

O’Beirne, R. (2001), "Searching CD‐ROM and Online Information Sources", Library Review, Vol. 50 No. 6, pp. 314-316. https://doi.org/10.1108/lr.2001.50.6.314.6

This work presents a clear straightforward approach that focuses on the principles and mechanics of search and retrieval paying no homage to the habitual hype of the Internet. What is most impressive about this book is the clear pathway the authors have chosen through their subject. Beginning in the opening chapters with an outline of basic information skills they move to assess the environment in which those skills might be put to use. The text is non‐technical and takes a common sense view, and it is refreshing to see mention of the information search process and the reference interview. Basic search principles and techniques such as Boolean logic, truncation and proximity searching are discussed with great clarity.

Having grounded the reader in the basic principles of information retrieval the authors then introduce some common reference sources: dictionaries, encyclopaedias, almanacs, yearbooks, directories, geographical and biographical resources. A general system for evaluating these sources is provided, together with some specific points relating to category and format. Having looked at the fundamental approaches the authors then appraise three main formats of electronic information sources; OPACS, CD‐ROMs and online searching.

In their chapter on OPACS they give a useful outline of the history and evolution of the online catalogue and also touch on some of the issues tied up in providing public access. They usefully note that the end users of the catalogue cannot be treated as a homogeneous group and perhaps more significantly there is a certain amount that needs to be learnt about each individual OPAC. Ten OPACs are chosen as examples ; three pertaining to national libraries (the British Library, Library of Congress and National Library of Singapore) and seven university library OPACs from a range of countries. Screenshots of these OPACs are shown and their various features, search fields, keyword and phase search and also search operators are worked through methodically. The reader is given the opportunity to compare and contrast the different technologies. This is a useful learning exercise and could have been made even more so if the reader could actually access these catalogues. Unfortunately the authors have not listed the URLs, although the enthusiastic learner may well glean the Web address from the screenshots.

Moving to the CD‐ROM as a storage and retrieval environment, the authors list 11 features that characterise this medium. There are many examples of CD‐ROM products given and this allows the reader to have an overview of the different strategies employed. The authors note that a common search interface may be used for a variety of databases and that conversely one database may have many vendors and so a range of interfaces. The real strength of CD‐ROM technology is the ability to carry multimedia content and this gives rise to the investigation of two key information sources: the Encarta Reference Suite and the Britannica CD both supported by screenshots.

In the chapter tackling the searching of online databases the authors, having noted the role of the internet and World Wide Web, confine their debate “to the traditional online service characterized by a remote online database search service offered commercially by a search service provider or vendor”. Having briefed the reader in the history of online dial‐up services (which the authors note has been traced back to 1972 with the introduction of Medline) an excellent step‐by‐step guide to the online search is included. Then, again using practical examples of five key online services; DialogWeb, OCLC FirstSearch, STN Easy, Ovid Online and Lexis‐Nexis, the authors provide the reader with a systematic evaluation process allowing comparisons to be made. Some of the quirky syntax used in these systems can be tricky and where appropriate the text alerts the reader to this. Usefully the URLs of each service are provided and the reader is encouraged to investigate further.

For the remainder of this book the authors change paths and deal with information sources arranged by the different subject areas. These are divided into: science and technology, social sciences and humanities, business, legal, health, standards and patents, and finally government, institutional and miscellaneous information sources. These seven chapters do not attempt to provide an exhaustive list of resources, rather they provide worked examples of the types of sources used and their main access points within each topic. The seven appendices which relate to the chapters are made up of selected lists which provide brief descriptions of online and CD‐ROM products.

A final chapter dealing with trends in the electronic sources and searching environment highlights some of the current issues facing reference libraries, including developments such as subject directories, gateways, portals and virtual libraries. These issues are explored briefly and readers are given useful pointers to resources where the implications of possible future developments can be looked at in more depth.

One would hope that the audience for this work is potentially every library worker – from library assistant through to library managers. It is required reading because not only does this book give a valuable clarity to the current understanding of information sources, it should provide a much needed information science underpinning to complement current popular ICT training programmes.