From the Desk of Susan C. Curzon
Dean, University Library
MetaSearch: The Oviatt Library is testing a new search
interface that allows users to search the content of up to eight databases
through one interface. MetaSearch
is a research tool which organizes by subject category a collection of online
resources, including over 100 databases and 13,000 e-journals. MetaSearch
is able to suggest the most useful resources and databases for specific subject
areas and allows users to create a personalized list of favorite resources
and e-journals. MetaSearch also provides links to the databases it searches
so that users can search a database's native interface, allowing more powerful
and precise searching than that available through MetaSearch. Look for MetaSearch
on the Library home page under the Find
Articles link. (addendum, 10/07: MetaSearch has been replaced by Multisearch, one of the options on our subject-specific Find Articles and Research Data pages.)
New and Improved Databases: The Oviatt Library is pleased to offer some
excellent new online historical resources that can be accessed by clicking
the What's
New link from the Library home page.
- American
Periodicals Series Online 1740-1900 (APS Online) contains articles spanning
a 200 year period from over 1,100 periodicals that started publishing sometime
between 1740 and 1900, with coverage for some publications continuing through
1941. Periodicals include special and general interest publications, as well
as literary and professional journals from this period.
- Issues of the New York Times
dating from the first issue in 1851 through 2001 are available through ProQuest
Historical Newspapers: The New York Times. The historical New York
Times database provides cover-to-cover digitization of the newspaper,
with over 25 million articles, photos, graphics, and advertisements.
- The historical Los Angeles
Times, with coverage from the first issue in 1881 through 1984, is also
available through ProQuest
Historical Newspapers: Los Angeles Times. This database offers digitized
images of every available page of the newspaper, and includes photos, graphics,
and advertisements. Content is still being added, so coverage for some years
is not yet complete.
Safari Tech Books Online: Read, browse and search nearly 400 full-text
computer manuals, directories, and reference works from premier publishers
of technical and information technology books. Safari
Tech Books is available from the Databases
A-Z link on the Library home page.
New Electronic Reserves Service: The Library officially launched its
electronic reserves service for the Fall 2004 semester. The electronic reserves
service enables students to access selected course-readings, online, 24 hours
a day. During the 2003/04 trial period, more than 11,000 documents were downloaded
by students. This semester, more than 750 documents are online for courses
currently being taught, and usage statistics are expected to be even higher
than during the trial period. For more information about electronic reserves,
please go to the Course
Reserves link on The Library's home page at http://library.csun.edu.
New Librarian: Jacqueline
Solis is a new reference and instruction librarian responsible for planning,
developing, and coordinating outreach activities for the Oviatt Library. Jacqueline
received her MLS from Emporia State University and a BA in Romance Languages
from the University of Oregon. For the past year and a half she has been working
in the Oviatt Library as the Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program Librarian.
She can be reached at jacqueline.solis@csun.edu
or 818-677-6808.
