Abstract
This paper describes online newsmedia databases which have been intentionally designed to respond to needs for information that is more current than the information in printed indexes or online versions of these indexes. It is suggested that these databases are useful to libraries because, in addition to subject indexing, they have "word access," e.g., to names of people, products, companies, or geographical regions. By using word access, librarians can more efficiently track down such elusive elements as a quote from a speech that may never be indexed in a bibliographic database. Databases that provide up-to-date information include: (1) databases designed to provide current records for an older file; (2) full-text databases; (3) wire-service databases which make full-text information available immediately or shortly after being transmitted to newspapers; (4) databases that quickly index current sources; (5) summaries of news stories; and (6) press-release databases. Five such databases are used as exemplars: Newsearch, AP News, Washington PressText, Washington Post Electronic Edition, and USAToday Decisionline. The discussion of each database focuses on variations in the database structure, subject access, and search strategies, with emphasis on the DIALOG versions of these files. It is noted that other strategies are generally applicable. Examples of records from each of the databases are included. (SD)
Citation
White, M.D. Access to Current Information Online. Retrieved August 12, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/142577/.
This record was imported from
ERIC on March 21, 2014. [Original Record]
ERIC is sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education.
Copyright for this record is held by the content creator. For more details see ERIC's copyright policy.
