Comments: “Research Documents” and Public Libraries
For many people, Yahoo is synonymous with searching. No matter what you need, Yahoo is it. One of the most popular search terms in web search is Yahoo, but that’s another story. With the addition of Northern Light/divine full-text “premium content”, Yahoo is making material from about 7100 sources available to the masses. That’s fine. No problem at all. For info pros NL has been a useful content provider for several years. For end users who don’t have access to library databases or need a source not available to them through a library dbase this will be a great service. However, what I find sad is that some of this content is available to public library users who might just head straight for Yahoo without realizing that it’s available to them, 24X7 via their local library, from any web accessible computer. Bottom Line? People might be paying for what they could possibly get for free while at the same time reinforcing the Internet myth that Yahoo and other web engines are the only library they’ll ever need.
The Deal
Many public libraries and/or library consortiums make available full-text and full-image content from various well-established database providers like Gale, ProQuest, and EBSCO. Even more full-text/image content is available to those who have access to an academic library and are working on school related projects. Btw, I know that many public libraries outside the U.S. do not currently offer remotely accessible databases.

Scott Gatz, V.P of Search at Yahoo, was quoted in a Newsbytes article saying that, “there are sources (in the library) just not available on the Internet today.” Gatz is correct in stating that a library holds thousands if not millions of resources only available for those who visit a library. However, much of what Yahoo is now making available can be found on services that are REMOTELY accessible to patrons via their public library. Others can gain access to proprietary databases via their school or academic library if the material will be used for school projects or other academic purposes.

Let’s hope that libraries are able to continue getting the word out about the full-text and full-image resources. Word of mouth marketing will work. Do libraries a p.r. favor and find out if your public library offers remote database services. Then, let friends and neighbors know about the high quality content available to them at no charge. It would also be wonderful for the database vendors to do some public service advertising promoting these types of services at local public libraries.
Obviously I can’t list every public library, but here are a few examples of remotely accessible databases from 5 libraries/library systems.
Fairfax County Library (VA.)
Los Angeles Public Library
King County (WA.) Library System
Chicago Public Library
Downers Grove (IL.) Public Library
Other Choices
Many online services also offer pay-per-document services. Factiva/Dow Jones News Retrieval offers a library of 6,000 publications. Note: Once enrolled, DJ search syntax seems to work without a problem. LexisNexis and Dialog also offer pay-per-document services.
Two More Points
One appealing concept in the Yahoo announcement is the ability to view up to 50 documents per month for $4.95. It’s a great idea but be careful because not all of the 7,100 resources are included in the flat rate. Here’s a list of what does apply towards the 50 document limit. Finally, don’t forget that Northern Light’s news search and alert services are still available for free. This real-time feed contains full-text content from 56 newswires. All of this content is free to search and read/print for two weeks after publication.

Online Information–Questia
Source: Houston Chronicle
More Layoffs At Questia
From the article, “Another round of layoffs at online library and academic research firm Questia Media has reduced the company to a skeleton crew of about 28 workers, just enough to maintain its Web site. About 40 workers were laid off last week without severance pay, sources say, when it became clear plans for another round of investment cash wouldn’t materialize. The company previously raised more than $135 million and at one time employed over 300 workers, but has had several rounds of layoffs beginning last spring.”

Professional Reading Shelf
Libraries–Wireless Technology
Source: Free Pint
“Using Wireless Technology – Where Does the Library Fit In?”

Resources, Tools and Documents (5 Items)
Consumer Fraud–United States–Lists & Rankings
Source: Federal Trade Commission
Top 10 Consumer Fraud Complaints of 2001
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Public Company Research–United States
Two Useful Features from the New Lycos Financial Site
After entering a ticker symbol in the search box notice the following links found under the the gray header (top of page):
1) Top Holders
Short lists of top institutional, mutual funds, and insider holders of stock.
2) I-Watch
“…a window into the previously closed world of institutional trading.”
Both of these services are “powered” with data from Thomson Financial.
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Cities–World–Lists & Rankings
Source: EIU
World’s Most Expensive Cities (Highlights from Press Release)
This link contains the Top 20 cities.
See Also: World’s Most Expensive Countries For Operating a Business (Press Release via EIU)
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Connecticut–History–Databases
Invisible Web
Image Databases
New Database: Connecticut History Online
From the site, “Connecticut History Online (CHO) is a collaboration between the Connecticut Historical Society, the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center at the University of Connecticut, and Mystic Seaport.”
See Also: “Research Institutions Put Connecticut History Online” (via AP)
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Current News Search
Yahoo News Adds Content From USA Today
See Also: Yahoo Advanced News Search

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 24th, 2002 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.