Library Web News

September 2001 Web News

Locate Information for Nearly 250,000 Journal Titles With Ulrichsweb

The IU Northwest Library recently subscribed to Ulrichsweb, the electronic version of Ulrich's International Periodical Directory. Produced by R.R. Bowker, Ulrichsweb provides a quick search for nearly 250,000 serials from over 200 countries by title, subject , keyword and ISSN number. The database also allows the user to browse by general subject indexes such as art, humanities, law, science and medicine as well as by more specific indexes such as electronic vendor, language, subject and title. These indexes are updated weekly.

The site also features the following sections:

• Periodicals Reading Room- This area includes reviews of selected electronic periodicals by subject.
• Serial Trends- This section provides information and discussion on the future of all-electronic journals.
• Inside Ulrich's- Contains the latest site news, press releases and product information sheets.
• Ulrich's Update- Features data on new journal titles, title changes, mergers and cessations on a monthly basis.
• Ulrich's Web Links- Gives links to discussion groups and listservs, national libraries, library catalogs and professional and library associations.
• Serial Resources- This category offers links to document delivery services, CD-ROM and online vendors and reprint services. It also features the Library Resource Guide which contains a complete online directory of library services and suppliers.

The database also has direct links to:

• Bookwire.Com - This web site offers access to over 8900 periodical reviews from Magazines for Libraries and Library Journal.
• Literary Marketplace.Com - contains comprehensive information about the book industry.
• Books in Print.Com - see the Web News' September 2000 issue for details.

To access Ulrichsweb from any IU Northwest campus computer, go to www.ulrichsweb.com.
If you need further assistance searching specific areas of this database, a Help button is provided at the top right side of the main menu.

Favorite Web Sites: Critically Evaluated Subject Directories

Starting this month, the IU Northwest Library Web News begins a new column featuring essential web sites on various topics. These sites have been critically evaluated and selected by the IU Northwest librarians as well as a group of academic and public librarians across the United States who compile a yearly Best Free Reference Web Sites List  for the American Library Association.
Here is a list of selection criteria initially created by the MARS Best Websites Task Force to choose these sites. We hope our readers will find these web sites useful for locating reliable, accurate and authoritative information on the Internet. Enjoy!

• About.Com (www.about.com)

This search engine of evaluated web sites advertises itself as "a network of sites by expert guides." The well organized main page contains a site index that can be searched alphabetically or by various subject headings such as arts/literature, education, health and fitness, sports, travel society and culture and business/careers. The site can also be searched by keyword topics using the Find It Now box.

• Librarian's Index to the Internet (www.lii.org)

The Librarian's Index to the Internet describes itself as "a searchable, annotated subject directory of more than 7,400 Internet resources selected and evaluated by librarians for their usefulness to users..." The site features an extensive directory of 40 clickable subject topics ranging from arts to women. Users can also locate relevant web sites by using a detailed subject heading index under the Browse All Subjects area or the keyword search box at the top of the home page.

• Scout Report Signpost (www.signpost.org)

Composed of over 11,000 web sites critically evaluated and chosen by librarians at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Scout Report Signpost offers subject-based access to over 6000 Internet resources. Primarily intended for college and university students and researchers, this web directory also contains general resources. Even though the Signpost project ended in 2000, a searchable and browseable database of over 7 years of the Scout Report is available through the Scout Report Archives.  Web links at this site are updated regularly. These archives offer three methods for accessing Internet sites: Keyword Search, Advanced Search and Browse by Library of Congress Subject Headings.

BNA Labor Studies Publications Now Available Electronically

In July, the IU Northwest Library added the Labor and Employment Law Library full-text database to its growing list of online resources. Published by the Bureau of National Affairs (BNA), the Labor and Employment Law Library provides the most comprehensive coverage of labor and employment law information available anywhere. Updated monthly, this web-based publication contains complete full-text documents pertaining to labor and employment cases on a wide variety of topics.

To access the Labor and Employment Law Library from IU Northwest campus computers ONLY,
 go to: laborandemploymentlaw.bna.com.

1. At the main menu, you can use the Indexes/Finding Aids to search for topics or instead choose from the following categories:
   •  Analysis/News
   •  Labor Relations
   •  Labor Arbitration
   •  Collective Bargaining
   •  Wages and Hours
   •  Fair Employment Practices
   •  Disabilities Law
   •  Individual Employment Rights
   •  BNA Daily and Weekly Report
2. After selecting a specific category, the user can then choose sections relating to cases, manuals, newsletters or indexes to locate full-text materials on that particular subject. For additional information about navigating and searching the BNA Labor and Employment Law Library, there is a Help button located on the far left side of the menu. It provides extensive instructional links on how to use this online resource effectively.

SPARC Can Help Reduce Rising Scientific Journal Subscription Costs

SPARC (Scholarly Publishing & Academic Resource Coalition) is an initiative which offers less expensive scientific alternative journals in direct competition with the outrageously priced journals from for-profit publishers like Elsevier and Pergamon. According to its web site, this coalition "introduces new solutions to scientific journal publishing, facilitates the use of technology to expand access, and partners with publishers that bring top-quality, low-cost research to a greater audience."

Through SPARC's efforts, science faculty can take back scholarship. By collaborating with this alliance, colleagues across the United States who serve as journal editors or on professional boards are exploring ays to move their journals to non-profit publishers.

In partnership with the Association of College And Research Libraries, SPARC has created a Create Change web page that is designed to guide librarians and teaching faculty toward viable solutions to this scholarly communications crisis. Presently, SPARC has approximately 180 members (including Indiana University). For further information about SPARC, visit its web site at www.arl.org/sparc.

, Library News Web Editor