What's Going On With the Databases?!

As I'm sure you notice sometimes when you log onto Facebook, let alone even on Google, sometimes the interface in front of you has changed, and sometimes even the NAMES of the databases have changed. These days, these changes seem to happen overnight that even us librarians are not prepared!

Given that, here are the updates of what's going on with our databases since January of this year:

1. Project MUSE is no longer a subscription database at Chabot due to budget cuts.

2. In the Spring, with small monies, we were able to get the Arts and Sciences II version of JSTOR. It is a TINIER and more SUBJECT LIMITED version of MUSE, let alone all of JSTOR as well as more of a NON-CURRENT database (there is an embargo of five years on most titles, meaning the newest issue will most often be at least five years old). This database focuses primarily in the fields of Political Science, Anthropology, Family Studies, Classical Studies, and History. For more information, look at the title list.

3. The Library began purchasing/owning E-books which are accessed through the new Gale Virtual Reference Library platform.

4. EBSCOhost has changed its interface. When you use our tutorials on EBSCOhost, some information is now out of date, but not so radically different. It's mainly the search results page where all information to limit your search, whether it be to peer-reviewed or by subject, will now all be on the LEFT side.

5. JSTOR has changed its interface. You need to UN-CHECK the lower selection that says "Include Links to External Content" as most of that content is currently NOT free.

6. Pop Culture Universe has been bought by another company and we now have two database products. At present, the one with more detail is the E-Books database called Pop Culture E-Books. The new Pop Culture Universe should mainly be used for quick reference check-ups, news, or decades information.

7. The Gale vendor is currently in the process of replacing its "Resource Center" products with the new "In Context" products. Biography Resource Center is now Biography In Context with a brand new interface. We expect Literature Resource Center to eventually have the name change and similar interface changes as well, but we do not know when.

8. LexisNexis Academic's new interface is now the official interface. To learn more on how to use it, check out the YouTube instructional tutorials.

If you need help sorting all of this out, please contact a librarian. Even if we have just been faced with a sudden change, we are very adaptable and can quickly help you figure out any of the new quirks of the new databases. You can see us at the LEFT side of the main desk, chat with us below, or call us at 510-723-7006. Happy searching!

JavaScript disabled or chat unavailable.

Chat is offline.

Update On Our Trial Databases

We at the Library are hoping that you are enjoying our current database trials. To view them, go to: http://www.chabotcollege.edu/Library/abby/TrialDatabases.htm

As of today, we have a brand new trial to JSTOR. JSTOR is a scholarly journals database that contains archives of famed journals, sometimes going all the way back to the early twentieth century. It works only on campus and it will be running until May 15. We will not be able to get any subscriptions to it in the near future, but if we ever do, we would only be getting a portion of the current trial.
To go directly to the trial, from any computer at the Chabot campus, go to http://www.jstor.org

In the meantime, we have finished our databases budget for the following academic year and we will be subscribing to the following starting on July 1, 2009. Two of which we hope to have for a long time to come and one we will have for sure until June 30, 2010.

Pop Culture Universe
We received an overwhelming positive response to this product and we know it will be used. This database searches full-text reference and other books on American and World Popular Culture from the 1900's to the present. Our current trial runs until June 1.

CQ Researcher
While we have had an online subscription to Facts on File Issues and Controversies since 2001, we have gotten frequent requests to ALSO have CQ Researcher online.
And we've listened. Now, students will be able to get the premium in-depth research done weekly of the topics of the day. The well-detailed reports are studied also by newspaper and magazine editors and reporters from across the country as well as Congressional staffers. The Library is proud to say that this great resource that we've always had in our Reference room in print, will now be available online to students who can access them from their homes. Now, all our online courses have access to this well valued resource! The current trial runs until April 25.

Biography Resource Center
For a number of years, the Library has been evaluating and considering a biographies resource, and Gale's Biography Resource Center is definitely one of the best online resources currently available. We will definitely be having a subscription on this last product from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010, due to a unique offer we received from the vendor. After that date, as this is an expensive product, we will be anxious to hear from you as to your thoughts about the product and if you believe it will be in heavy enough use to justify its cost. Current trial runs until May 8.

For thoughts about our trials, about the future of Biography Resource Center, and other databases you would like us to consider (or consider again the next time a trial comes up), please let us know. Contact us!

And again, any databases we currently are trialling are always linked at: http://www.chabotcollege.edu/Library/abby/TrialDatabases.htm In many cases, you need to contact us or come to the reference desk to get usernames and passwords that are unique to the trials. Information is stated on the page.