Information Retrieval, Einführung in Grundlagen und Methoden. 2nd revised and expanded edition

Citation

Voigt, K. (2001), "Information Retrieval, Einführung in Grundlagen und Methoden. 2nd revised and expanded edition", Online Information Review, Vol. 25 No. 5, pp. 329-337. https://doi.org/10.1108/oir.2001.25.5.329.3

Information retrieval is an urgent topic in information science. It gains more and more importance with the increasing possibilities for end‐users to retrieve data on the Internet. The author puts a main focus on the online Internet hosts and the corresponding Web‐search possibilities.

This book, Information Retrieval: An Introduction to Basic Principles and Methods, is a compilation on the subject information retrieval. It is a text‐book mainly for students of information science.

This book is divided into two parts:

1. 1.

   (1) Part I: Basic principles of information retrieval. In this part the main topics of information retrieval with respect to their practical searches are considered. These topics comprise steps of a database search, prerequisites of a search, overview on the types of databases, overview on online hosts, user aids, software tools, retrieval languages and costs.

2. 2.

   (2) Part II: Methods of information retrieval. In this section an introduction to the methods of information retrieval is given, using examples of retrieval languages, Windows‐based retrieval tools and Web‐based search possibilities with host‐specific search tools. In this section the command retrieval language DSO (DataStarOnline), Windows‐based retrieval tools (DataStar for Windows and GENIOS InMedia) and Web‐retrieval (DataStar Web and GENIOS Web‐Search) are described. The corresponding command retrieval language, Windows‐based retrieval tools and Web‐retrieval search possibilities of DIALOG are published in the book entitled Business Information: Online – CD‐ROM – Internet.

Each section includes a sub‐section entitled “Repetition” with questions regarding the content of the chapter.

This book is well‐structured and worked up for instruction. Several examples are given to support the theoretical background. Unfortunately, it is written in German. Hence it can mainly serve only the German‐speaking community. It might be a good idea to encourage the author to write the next edition in English in order to improve the readership of the international community.

This idea is supported by the fact that this work can be regarded not only as a textbook for students of information sciences but also for librarians, information specialists and all interested scientists who want to get a deeper knowledge in the methodology of information retrieval concerning databases.