Updates on the Melvyl System and Abstracting and Indexing Databases

June 24, 1998 Author: CDLCategories:

Updates and news on the Melvyl system and abstracting and indexing databases will now appear in this listserv on a regular basis. The CDL will also continue to send announcements to relevant library groups such as the User Services Group (USG).

CDL Technologies is currently adding several OCLC and RLG databases already accessible from the Melvyl Telnet interface to the Melvyl Web interface. The notes below show the status and the priority order for the addition of these databases, according to USG recommendations.

Currently available via the MELVYL system Web interface:
ArtAbstracts (ART)
MLA Bibliography (MLA)
SocAbstracts (SOC — see the next news item)

In the final stages of review on the Melvyl Web test system and due out in early July:
Chicano Database (CHI)
Anthropological Literature (ANTH)

Work has begun on:
Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals (ARCH)
RLIN Bibliographic Database (RCAT)

The next databases scheduled (in priority order) are:
WorldCat (WCAT)
RILM Abstracts of Music Literature Database (RILM)
PAIS International Database (PAIS)
ERIC Database (EDUC)
ArticleFirst Database (JRNL)
History of Science & Technology Database (HSCI)
English Short Title Catalogue (ESTC)

Priorities have not yet been set for the following:
Books in Print (available via USE FIRSTSEARCH)
ContentsFirst (JRNLT)
FRANCIS (will be added to Eureka July 1st — will be available via USE EUREKA on the Telnet interface and via Eureka from the Internet Resource page on the web interface)
Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals (FLEG)
GPO Monthly Catalog (GDOC)
PapersFirst (PAPR)
ProceedingsFirst (PROC)
World Law Index–Hispanic Legislation (HLEG)

USG has recommended that the CDL provide access from the MELVYL Web interface to the vendors’ web interfaces for Eureka and FirstSearch. A preliminary investigation shows this should be possible. Special programming will be required to pass the campus ID to FirstSearch both to support the message that OCLC generates to indicate campus ownership of an item and to support the campuses that have turned on the ILL feature for OCLC’s FirstSearch system. This feature may be ready by Fall 1998.

For questions about these databases, please call the Melvyl System Helpline at (510) 987-0555 or send an e-mail message to melvyl@www.melvyl.ucop.edu.