| Selection Criteria |
DB1
Comments (Yes, No and Why? Please give examples as this helps) |
DB2
Comparison with other database (Repeat your searches and comment) |
| 1. Does the content fill a client need that is already available in other formats? |
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| 2. Does the content replace information currently available in other formats? |
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| 3. Is this the most useful format for this content for the client in this Library? |
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4. Is the content of an appropriate level for the clients (e.g. scholarly, general interest)?
Which client group? |
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5. Is the content authoritative?
How does it compare for accuracy and currency if you compare it with another source of information? |
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| 6. Is the content biased? In other words, does it contain material from a particular culture or predominately reflect one country's viewpoint. |
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| 7. Does the database include a significant amount of Australian content? |
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8. Does the content include full-text, images, abstracts and/or citations?
What percentage is full-text? If you can't find any information on this, execute a search and calculate the % of full-text based on these results. |
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| 9. Is the database intuitive? Can you anticipate what you need to do to find information? |
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| 10. Does the database have effective help features i.e. help screens, help desk service? |
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| 11. Do you have a wide range of searching options, including refining results, combining sets, searching particular fields? |
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12. Are the searching features flexible? Can the searchable fields be changed?
e.g. on Proquest you can add additional search fields or boxes |
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| 13. Does the database provide additional features such as hot topics, study units or topic overviews? |
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| 14. Is there an easy to use menu bar or links that allow you to move around the database quickly and easily? |
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| 15. How often is the database updated? |
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16. Can clients print, download and email results of searches?
Does the sent email contain full-text or just a citation or a link to the database? |
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17. Can clients choose a citation style when emailing their results?
For example, some databases allow the choice of bibliographic style as well as short or long formats when emailing results. |
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| 18. Does it work in a similar way to other databases the Library offers? |
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19. Have you tested this database on client (public) PCs?
Does it work as well as it does on the staff PCs? |
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20. Does the database allow staff to view user statistics? Can you generate reports, graphs and/or charts?
To find out about statistics, you may need to look in the vendor's information within the database. This information may only be available to an administrator so it may not be possible to discover. |
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21. Is the interface similar to those used in other products that NSW.net currently makes available to clients?
Is it easy to use? |
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22. Does the vendor have a good reputation / references from other Libraries? |
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