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 (addendum, 10/07: MetaSearch has been replaced by Multisearch, one of the options on our subject-specific Find Articles and Research Data pages.)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.