Creating Web‐Accessible Databases: Case Studies for Libraries, Museums and Other Nonprofits

Citation

Fourie, I. (2001), "Creating Web‐Accessible Databases: Case Studies for Libraries, Museums and Other Nonprofits", Online Information Review, Vol. 25 No. 5, pp. 329-337. https://doi.org/10.1108/oir.2001.25.5.329.1

Libraries, museums, and other nonprofit institutions are increasingly looking at ways to offer their patrons and the public Web access to their collections. Since this is not always an easy task, and there is little published literature on the subject, Julie Still got a selection of case studies together to share the experiences of successful projects in a casual and informal style.

The book includes an introduction, 12 chapters, and a detailed index. A wide spectrum of databases are covered, including databases by research libraries, the Rutgers‐Camden databases, women writers and online books, a historic Web site on women and social movements in the USA (1830‐1930), and a history database at the Library of Virginia. The issues of metadata, XML, and running an online bookstore are also covered. For case studies, authors had to consider the following: reasons for designing the Web site, responsibility for the planning, problems encountered, equipment required, security issues, relationships with other departments, follow‐ups, up‐dating, users’ reaction, and any special advice they could offer.

At Rutgers a reusable platform was used to create different databases. I found this first chapter by Ronald Jantz especially useful for setting the scene for the following chapters. It also provides the theoretical context for the design of Web‐accessed databases, as well as a useful list of sources. There is also an interesting discussion on how ABC‐CLIO transferred two well‐known historical abstracting and indexing tools – America History and Life, and Historical Abstracts – from CD‐ROM and print resources to the Web. Aspirant database designers should note Vibiana Bowman’s warning: “Few things in life spring full‐blown, beautiful, and complete like Athena from the head of Zeus. For most of us mere mortals, the process of creation is a messy one, full of false starts at the beginning and wistful backward glances at the project’s completion” (p. 37).

Creating Web‐accessible Databases ... is recommended as useful and interesting reading for librarians and technical coordinators who lack motivation to start a Web‐accessible database. It is an excellent point of departure. It does not, however, include any hi‐tech information, or extensive references to the subject literature. The book has a very practical slant, and the only chapters to include lists of sources are the chapter by Ronald Jantz, on a reusable platform in a research library, and the chapters on metadata and XML. Readers looking for more substantive academic guidelines should wait for the subject literature to catch up. This book could also be supplemented by Tips and Tricks for Website Managers, edited by Mark Kerr. This publication offers an excellent selection of hints and tips for Web site managers.