Open access to scholarly indexing/abstracting information
| Date | 01 July 2006 |
| Pages | 461-468 |
| Published date | 01 July 2006 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14684520610686337 |
| Author | Peter Jacsó |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
SAVVY SEARCHING
Open access to scholarly
indexing/abstracting information
Peter Jacso
´
University of Hawaii, Hawaii, USA
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this article is to discuss open access to scholarly indexing/abstracting
information.
Design/methodolo gy/approach – Discusses open acce ss to scholarly indexi ng/abstracting
information.
Findings – Open access versions of the traditional ready reference tools cannot always substitute for
the commercial, subscription-based indexing/abstracting databases, but they can complement them.
Originality/value – The paper offers insights into scholarly indexing/abstracting.
Keywords Indexing, Abstracting
Paper type General review
Not that long ago, say in the 1970s, libraries which had a subscription to the top ten
indexing-only databases were envied by those which still used the print version of
those resources. From the 1980s, libraries that had a subscription to the top 20
CD-ROM indexing/abstracting databases were the target of envy. From the 1990s,
libraries which offer their patrons unlimited online access from the library to these
databases have been the most envied. From the early 2000s those libraries are the
savviest which make an easy-to-navigate hot-linked, classified and well-annotated list
of the sources which provide 24/7 toll-free service from anywhere to the open access
versions of many of the traditional, fee-based indexing/abstracting databases, and thus
save money for licensing more toll-based databases.
These include databases made available directly by government agencies and
international organizations, “born to be free” indexing/abstracting databases, and the
ever-growing, partially open access bibliographic record and abstract collection
subsets of scholarly publishers’ digital archives. Some of the major open access
alternatives can save thousands of dollars per year by offering equivalent and
quasi-equivalent sources, or their subsets (when appropriate), for indexing/abst racting
information about the scholarly (and professional) literature relevant for the topic at
hand.
Equivalent information content
The advantages of reliable and accurately-informing open access sources are very
important (Suber, 2006). The key issue is not to embrace all open access reso urces just
because they are free, neither to grossly over-estimate their real value, and see only
their positive sides. I am the last to advocate cheap substitutions for time-honored
resources. I am the first to speak up against the utterly ignorant and irresponsible
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/1468-4527.htm
Open access
461
Online Information Review
Vol. 30 No. 4, 2006
pp. 461-468
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
1468-4527
DOI 10.1108/14684520610686337
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