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Online literature-retrieval systems: how to get started.
American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy
|February 1, 1983
Summary
Online literature-retrieval systems offer powerful, efficient searching of published literature. This method requires minimal equipment and provides access to numerous search points, saving time compared to traditional printed services.
Area of Science:
- Information Science
- Library Science
- Computer Science
Background:
- Traditional literature searches rely on printed indexes with limited access points.
- The advent of online systems revolutionized information retrieval.
- Understanding online search capabilities is crucial for researchers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe basic information about online literature-retrieval systems.
- To discuss the advantages and practical aspects of online searching.
- To compare major online vendors and search procedures.
Main Methods:
- Description of necessary equipment (computer terminal, telephone) and vendor connections.
- Comparison of four major U.S. online vendors: Dialog, BRS, SDC, and NLM.
- Illustrative example using International Pharmaceutical Abstracts to demonstrate search access points.
Main Results:
- Online searching requires only a terminal and telephone connection to a vendor.
- Systems like Dialog, BRS, SDC, and NLM offer extensive search capabilities.
- Compared to printed services' two access points, online systems provide 17, enabling rapid literature retrieval.
Conclusions:
- Online searching significantly enhances the efficiency of literature retrieval.
- It is particularly beneficial for complex searches or when dealing with limited information.
- Researchers can locate relevant articles in minutes using online systems.