Providing access to unique information sources: a reusable platform for publishing bibliographic databases on the Web
| Pages | 28-37 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830010314384 |
| Date | 01 March 2000 |
| Published date | 01 March 2000 |
| Author | Ronald C. Jantz |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Providing access to
unique information
sources: a reusable
platform for publishing
bibliographic databases
on the Web
Ronald C. Jantz
Introduction
Within the academic buildings, institutes, and
libraries of our universities, there are many
unique information sources to be found. Some
of these information sources will be published
in traditional forms, others will be found on the
Web, and still others will languish in back
offices, never to be integrated into the scholarly
and intellectual endeavors of the university and
the research community at large. Libraries and
librarians have a unique role to organize and
provide access to this information. The
Internet, software technology, and process
methodology are all dramatically changing the
way in which librarians carry out this traditional
role.
The Scholarly Communication Center
(SCC) within Rutgers University Libraries
(RUL) has been working in specific information
niches, striving to provide access to a variety of
information sources. The SCC is a technology-
based center that is focused on teaching,
research, and application of technology and has
been a leader in helping launch the RUL's
Digital Library Initiative (Rutgers University
Libraries, 1998). The SCC and the related
Humanities and Social Sciences Data Center
are launching digital initiatives in many key
academic areas (Gaunt, 1998). Although multi-
disciplinary in terms of information content,
these initiatives rely on similar skills and
technologies. These similarities can be
exploited to not only expedite the creation of
new Web accessible information sources, but to
also offer improved quality through the use of
standard technologies and processes. For the
research library, new roles can be created for
the librarian and the library can use the
resulting experience and technology to become
less dependent on traditional online database
publishers (Jasco, 1998). As an outgrowth of
one of our early projects in the SCC, we have
found that the concept and application of
reusable platforms has become very important
in publishing materials that may not otherwise
have been made available to the research
community.
Our work in this area began with a grant
funded project (Jantz and Langschied, 1998)
that was sponsored by the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection. The
The author
Ronald C. Jantz is a Government and Social Sciences Data
Librarian at Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New
Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. rjantz@rci.rutgers.edu
Keywords
Databases, Bibliographies, Electronic publishing, Internet
Abstract
The Scholarly Communication Center (SCC) within Rutgers
University Libraries has launched several important digital
library projects. A major objective of the SCC has been to
publish unique information sources on the Web that are not
likely to be published elsewhere. Publishing bibliographic
databases on the Web can significantly enhance access to an
original collection of research literature and further enrich
the library collection. We have found that reusable
technology platforms offer a special opportunity for research
libraries to fill a new role. Through the platform technology
and a well defined process, libraries are able quickly and
effectively to publish databases on the Web.
Electronic access
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is
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28
Library Hi Tech
Volume 18 .Number 1 .2000 .pp. 28±36
#MCB University Press .ISSN 0737-8831
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