New Library Catalog to Roll Out June 24

On June 24, the WMU Libraries’ Catalog is getting a new look, as well as some new features.

The new interface has a cleaner look, and allows users to search by title, author, etc., as with the current catalog. Users will be able to search in the new catalog version by type of material and material location more easily. A search in the new catalog will produce a list of titles as well as a hot linked list of topics, authors, languages, formats, etc. Clicking on anyone of these links narrows your search results, a very clean and organized way of finding what you need.

Also exciting is the new catalog’s emphasis on discovery, with a “More Like This” feature, and Web 2.0 features, like tagging, that allow users to add subject tags to materials in the catalog.

A beta version of the new catalog is available for use right now. We'd love to have your feed back about it now and even after the June 24 roll out. Give it a try.

Meanwhile, the familiar "classic" version of the library catalog will also be available, but after June 24 it will not be the default version of the catalog.

*** View my parallel blog at on the WMU Libraries site ***

Chemical, Biological, and Physics Abstracts on the Move

As electronic article databases have become the research tool of choice for students and faculty, we've noticed in the Science Reference Department that our paper article abstract indexes get less use with each passing year. Since these paper indexes get such little use, and since we always need more room in the library, we will be moving the Biological, Chemical, and Physics Abstracts out of the library and into to a storage building on campus in the next week.

So, how will this move impact your library research? Very little, for two reasons. First, the content of the paper indexes is available in electronic article databases available through the libraries' web site. Here are the paper abstract indexes and their "equivalent" electronic article databases.

Biological Abstracts -- Biosis Previews
Chem Abstracts -- SciFinder Scholar
Physics Abstracts -- Scopus

Second, if anyone has a research need that requires the paper abstract indexes, they will still be accessible! Anyone can request a particular volume(s) from storage. The library catalog record for each of the Abstracts will soon list "Storage" as their location, and will have a "Get this Item for Me from Storage" link to an online Storage Material Request Form. Simply fill in what specific volumes you need and submit the form electronically.

And as always, if you have any question about accessing materials in storage, or any other questions, feel free to contact me.

*** View my parallel blog at on the WMU Libraries site ***

Trial Database: National Technical Reports Library

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 ***

Subject Guides for Your Department

Did you know that there are biological sciences, chemistry, environmental studies, and geosciences subject guides on the Libraries web site? And, that the subject guides list and *link* to the Libraries article databases especially relevant to your field of study?

Here's how you can access these subject guides...

1. Go to the Libraries web page
2. Hover your mouse over the "Research" link (on the left side of the tan navigation bar at the top of the screen)
3. Move your mouse down to "Subject Guides" and click
4. From the alphabetical list, click which ever guide you want to use

The library has over eighty subject guides. In addition to linking to relevant article databases, these guides also link to handbooks, dictionaries, patents, government information as well as other useful information.

Knowing where these resources are centrally located can save you time and effort.

Take a look at the subject guide relevant to you. Tell your students about it. If you have any questions or suggestions of other resources that should be included in the guides, feel free to let me know.

*** View my parallel blog at on the WMU Libraries site ***