Content Evaluation of Textual CD-ROM and Web Databases

This richly illustrated book provides guidelines for evaluating a variety of database types, including abstracting and indexing, directory, full-text, and page-image databases available in online and/or CD-ROM formats. Jacso discusses the purpose and techniques of comparing and evaluating the most important characteristics of textual databases, such as their scope, dimensions, source coverage, record content, accuracy, consistency, currency, and completeness. Evaluation models and procedures are given for widely used databases (e.g., Books in Print, Ulrich's Periodicals Directory, Library and Information Science Abstracts and their full-text version), whose subject, content, and terminology are familiar to librarians and information specialists irrespective of their specialization. Beyond traditional online and CD-ROM databases, the book illustrates the evaluation of the new Web-born information resources (including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Electric Library, and Northern Light).