Starting with Beekeeping

1. Starting with Beekeeping How to prevent swarming and be happy Wim de Mes October 2004

2. Wim W de Mes

3. Communication with information (search) systems focused on Bibliographic online databases

4. Communication with information (search) systems • Bee colony, sophisticated information community uses feromones and “gestures” (behaviour) to transfer information from scattered remote sources • Human beings can use words and non verbal expressions to communicate “information” with each other. (Two-way interaction) • Human beings can only use words (and commands) to communicate with- and gather information from “dumb” information systems (two times one-way (inter)action) Wim W de Mes

5. Communication with information (search) systems Goal: Obtain enough knowledge for independent, effective use of online systems for the answering of questions from “clients”, regarding available sources, command language and search strategy Subgoal Start of building an overview of sources for use in the working field Wim W de Mes

6. Communication with information (search) systems • Brief overview and history of online information systems • Hosts • Databases; general structure, some examples • Search tactics and strategies, using • Online information retrieval and database searching. • Using EINS/Gem through the Web interface, and • examples from CD-ROM • Key issues for the next days: • - Using the right words and commands at the right time • - “Mapping”of information sources, where can we find what ? Wim W de Mes

7. Communication with information (search) systems Tomorrow: • Bibliographic databases in Science and Technology, some examples, also from EINS. Solving questions using the proper search tactics/strategy • Cineca I2 plus , combining database and Internet searching Wim W de Mes

8. THE "HIGHWAY" TO INFORMATION....OR MANY BARRIERS TO TAKE ? Wim W de Mes

9. Content of “bibliographic” databases Increase in availability Wim W de Mes

10. History of Online Hosts

11. History of online (bibliographic) databases and hosts • Most of the bibliographic databases started as printed "Abstract Journals“ • During the 1960s computer type-setting came up --->resulted in a digital form (tapes) • First system NASA/DOE RECON 1969 • (pushed by the space race, Weinberg report • --> transfer to Europe --> start of ESA/IRS • --> commercialising --> start of DIALOG • During the 1970s strong growth in "hosts" and the number of online databases • Diversion in retrieval languages due to different software/hardware choices Wim W de Mes

12. History of online (bibliographic) databases and hosts • Halfway of the 1980s start of many OPC or OPACs (Online Public Access Catalogues) library automation and online lending and photocopy services • Today there are some 4500 bibliographic databases publicly accessible (estimate) • The last few years the number of hosts is declining, partly by cooperation, partly for economical/commercial reasons • Many databases are available also on CD-ROM, some also directly through Internet/WWW , • like Pascal=> INIST, • Metadex and others =>Cambridge Scientific Abstracts (CSA) Wim W de Mes

13. Wim W de Mes

14. Types of online systems Wim W de Mes

15. History of online (bibliographic) databases and hosts Some general problems: • Most hosts started as supply-side facilities, trying to create a demand • Heavy investment in mainframe computers and infrastructure (now moved to servers cheaper, but still far from cheap) • So relatively high costs, to be covered by income ( and/or subsidies) • Pricing based on connect time ( taximeter problem ) and output. (Chemical Abstract also charges for search terms) Wim W de Mes

16. History of online (bibliographic) databases and hosts Use of online systems was stagnating or growing to slow -->Move towards end-users - Menu driven searching - Lower priced services outside prime time Questmenu at ESA/IRS Knowledge Index, Medical Connection, Business Connection at Dialog BRKTHRGH, After Dark at BRS - Changes in Pricing Structure The example of ESA/IRS for low connect time searching has only been followed by STREAMLINE (Australia), the last one is now accessible on WWW free of charge? Wim W de Mes

17. History of online (bibliographic) databases and hosts - improved search possibilities: multiple file searching and manipulating output Cluster Searching at ESA/IRS Onesearch at Dialog most are combined with a command to remove duplicates !!! Power Searching at ORBIT, etc. - Dialog OnDisc CD ROM coupling with online system, + intranet systems - growth of access to other sources through Internet/WWW - Access through Internet/WWW, combined with “easy searching” Wim W de Mes

18. Databases (bibliographic) Most of the bibliographic databases started as "Abstract Journals“ partly Commercial like Chemical Abstracts partly Institutional  meant for a limited user group  cause of overlap Structured in records (bibliographic descriptions of “paper” sources) Inside the records, structured in fields - Direct document related (formal) fields ( author, title etc.) - Added fields  indexing using keywords, codes, classifications etc *) *) Meaning intellectual work = costly = hard to cover by users Wim W de Mes

19. Example from EAUDOC Wim W de Mes

20. Fields in EAUDOC Wim W de Mes

21. Indexes from EAUDOC The Basic Index for EAUDOC consists of the Title (TI), Controlled Terms (CT) and the Abstract (AB). If no access code is specified then all of these codes, belonging to the Basic Index, are included in Expand and Select commands, eg S AFRIQUE means select the word “Afrique“ in the title, controlled terms and the abstract. Basic Index Wim W de Mes

22. Indexes from EAUDOC Basic Index Title words Abstract Wim W de Mes

23. Future of online databases • Is there a future? • Yes, • if the easy search gets a sophisticated as the command search • if document delivery is made easy • Competition comes not from all search engines, but from “originators” offering direct access to their databases like DOE (energy), ASCE (civil engineering), Elsevier ‘s Science Direct, Pascal etc. Wim W de Mes