FEATURE Content databases
we are starting to see it being given more credence. A welcome trend we’re noticing is that electronic databases are starting to be cited in some research papers as the data source. While it’s still not prolific, and currently seems to be limited to science disciplines, the more this happens, the better picture we’ll have of where such databases have played a preliminary role in research.
‘Interestingly the service is not confined to academics and library staff. There are also large numbers of PhD students using Zetoc – accounting for almost one third (30 per cent) of respondents in our survey. Zetoc clearly has benefits for anyone starting a research project, and it’s encouraging to see that use is extending.’
Continuing on the theme of emerging trends, Phimister at ProQuest observes: ‘For the researcher, content databases are evolving to remove many of the barriers that could inhibit database usage. A recent trend has been for information providers to ensure that content is discoverable from as many starting locations as possible and, once the user arrives at content, it is rendered in a way that supports their workflow. ‘Today, users increasingly come to ProQuest databases through multiple routes, such as a library’s discovery service, or from Google or Google Scholar. Once reaching the database, authentication steps are made as seamless as possible. Once a user interacts with content in a database, trends have been to ensure engagement – for example, with added workflow tools including document and citation management and recommendations for related content, while at the same time providing a simple, uncluttered search interface.’
Phimister continues: ‘For research libraries, trends have been toward helping librarians make informed purchasing and renewal decisions. At ProQuest, we hear that many librarians have become overwhelmed with the plethora of products that are available. While some distinct databases may best support specific research groups, libraries often seek to purchase collections, or premium collections, which provide access to multiple databases, ensuring that a wide range of research groups are served.
Latest developments A number of recent developments have been made in content databases. EBSCO has released a number of databases that expand on existing topics, including Communication
Source and Philosopher’s Index with Full Text, plus databases that provide broad coverage to support academic research in new geographic areas, such as Arab World Research Source and Chinese Insight. EBSCO has also brought existing resources to the EBSCOhost platform, such as MathSciNet, and introduced new digital archives for Forbes and Businessweek. EBSCO has also expanded its partnerships with the American Medical Association and MA Healthcare to offer academic institutions access to the JAMA Network and MA Healthcare journals.
In addition, Phimister explains: ‘We are continually seeking to enhance existing databases, or launch new databases where there
types that are used throughout the research process, in a single location. ProQuest’s team of specialists and subject matter experts curate the breadth of sources required to achieve research and learning success in a given discipline. This often means stepping beyond traditional journal content to assemble diverse collections to include newspapers, working papers, dissertations, reports, surveys, raw data, and more, alongside secondary sources including scholarly and professional journals and monographs.
Electronic databases are starting to be cited in some research papers as the data source
is established or emerging research and teaching interests. This year we will launch more than 20 new databases, including the UK’s House of Lords Parliamentary Papers, Women’s Magazine Archive, and Regulatory Insight – a rich resource that contains US administrative law histories, supplemented with tools that foster targeted search and learning.
‘At the same time, ProQuest continually enhances its existing databases with the most recent or available publications. For example, this year we have partnered with BMJ and the RCNi for inclusion of their titles in our aggregated databases, as well as REPEC and NBER economics working papers. These titles are in addition to the more than 7,000 periodicals added over the past few years.’
Benefits and challenges Highlighting some of the benefits and challenges faced by database providers, ProQuest’s Phimister says: ‘One of the primary benefits of content databases is access to a diverse set of content
28 Research Information DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016
‘A challenge we share with many of our customers, is how to maximise the benefits of patron access. Content databases can be replete with tools that enable targeted, precision search, which benefits from content metadata. Associated workflow tools in the user environment can reward returning researchers who wish to stay on top of their research on an ongoing basis. These tools, if utilised, can profoundly impact discovery and learning. ‘And yet utilisation can be a challenge. New users have expectations on layout and functionality built from experience of free resources. Their tolerance for learning new tools can be low. As such, at ProQuest we are continually evaluating how users interact with content. We test, in real time, small changes to the user’s environment, to glean insights into user behaviour and preference. In doing so, we can steer users, when it is appropriate, to new tools that can enhance their experience.’ So what does the future hold for content databases? Phimister concludes: ‘Perhaps 10 years ago, content databases seemed destined to join other technology anachronisms such as “floppy disk,” “mainframe,” and “Pong.” And yet, a funny thing has happened over the past decade. Databases are back, re-imagined, and fit for purpose. Some of the core tenets of content databases remain – they provide users with a degree of comprehensiveness, while removing irrelevant information. These tenets create a foundation for long-term growth. ‘And yet, importantly, some limitations of databases have started to dissolve. We no longer think of databases as being held in parallel silos, with impermeable walls that preclude information from enhancing content. Rather, today we think of content databases as a valuable part of an information ecosystem. They are resources that are continually enhanced and that support the user, anytime and anywhere. It is both by recognising why users valued content databases in the first place, and by using the latest advancements to improve them, that content databases are being revitalised.’
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