The WMU Libraries is trying out a new electronic database, the National Technical Reports Library, or NTRL, which contains technical reports produced by federally-funded organizations. The trial subscription for this database will go on through March 31. We'd appreciate your feedback about the database.
The NTRL contains technical reports produced by a variety of organizations, such as the Department of Energy, Department of the Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency, and covers a wide range topics, including biology, medicine, chemistry, natural resources, earth sciences, and environmental pollution.
The database has a search interface like most other electronic databases -- the "advanced search" page allows you to search for a word or phrase within the title, abstract, and author name, product number, or accession (i.e., report) number.
But it has another valuable search feature. You can search for reports by the agency that generated the report, by subject, and by year -- simply chose an agency, subject, or range of years from lists on the advanced search page. You can also select a specific year to search within.
Most reports in the database have an abstract and, especially recent reports, are available as a full text PDF file.
In addition, NTRL allows you to subscribe to an RSS feed of technical reports in a particular subject area. (For more information about RSS feeds, see my Jan. 21 posting.)
Please take a look and the database and give us your feedback by filing out an online evaluation.
*** View my parallel blog at on the WMU Libraries site ***
Monday, March 9, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
