University of California Libraries Evaluation of Scopus
By Jacqueline Wilson, Senior Associate, Collections
The University of California Libraries will be evaluating Scopus <http://www.scopus.com>, a large interdisciplinary abstract and citation database of research literature and selected web sites developed by the publisher Elsevier. The arrangement is part of the journals license for ScienceDirect negotiated by the California Digital Library on behalf of the ten campuses. The Scopus database will be available for evaluation until February 28, 2010. During the Scopus evaluation period members of the UC community will be invited to consider its coverage and functionalities in comparison with similar databases. Scopus will also be evaluated to determine if its unique qualities and capabilities are of interest and strategic value to UC.
Scopus currently selectively indexes abstracts and provides citation analysis since 1996 for approximately 16,000+ peer-reviewed journals from more than 4,000 publishers as well as open access journals, published sets of conference proceedings, trade publications and selected web pages. It provides searching tools that allow users to see an overview of desired search results and refine them to the most relevant hits. It also allows users to create alerts of new citations and provides tools designed to support research collaboration and assess journal quality. Citations in Scopus are linked to available full-text articles on each campus via UC eLinks. Although most comprehensive in the sciences, Scopus is currently expanding its coverage of the social sciences and humanities literature.
The Collection Development Committee has charged a Scopus Rollout and Evaluation Task Force to publicize and to lead a formal evaluation of Scopus. The Task Force members are: Myra Appel (Davis), Janet Carter (Los Angeles), Rob Melton (San Diego), Barbara Schader (Riverside), Jeff Williams (San Diego), Ivy Anderson (CDL), and Jacqueline Wilson (CDL, Chair). The Scopus Task Force is developing an informative web site which will include a model campus publicity document, model speaking points for UC training librarians, a model PowerPoint presentation, and other documents. This web site will be announced in the next week or two.
In addition, each campus library has designed a rollout liaison who will coordinate librarian training and local campus publicity. The Scopus rollout liaisons are: Myra Appel Davis), Marcus Banks (San Francisco), Janet Carter (Los Angeles), Andrea Duda (Santa Barbara), Susan Mikkelsen (Merced), Barbara Schader (Riverside), John Sisson (Irvine), Beth Weil (Berkeley), Jeff Williams (San Diego), and a soon to be announced liaison for Santa Cruz. Hands-on training sessions will be held in Northern California in April and in Southern California in May.
Please contact your local campus rollout liaison or Jacqueline Wilson (Jacqueline.Wilson@ucop.edu) Scopus Task Force Chair for more information.