DIALOG is a database industry leader, with hundreds of databases indexing the literature of every field. Unlike the freely available National Library of Medicine databases and the Ovid databases, to which Jefferson has a flat subscription, DIALOG database searching is fee-based. This means we are charged for each database search statement and for each citation viewed. However, some of these databases are indispensable for the research done at Jefferson.
Because of the fees involved, investigators may not be aware of the research uniquely captured in these resources. DIALOG’s DIALINDEX cross-database search allows searchers to identify those databases that best capture the literature of a particular field. You can test your search topic by choosing from pre-selected database subject categories or by selecting your own set of files.
While there is a charge for DIALINDEX searches, luckily a free version of this file--called ONTAP DIALOG--is available for any users. While it does not contain all of the content of the full DIALINDEX database, it can give you an indication of databases that you might want to explore to see if you should include them in your regular search program.
Try ONTAP DIALOG to see if you may be missing valuable citations in your field.
- First you will need an ONTAP DIALOG password, available at http://training.dialog.com/sem_info/ontap_pw.html
- Choose the link to DialogWeb [ignore the Subaccount line]
- Choose the Databases link
- You must choose a category; once you have will have the opportunity to choose Search All DIALOG databases
- Enter your search term and choose Search
- A list of databases and the number of citations found on your topic in each will display
- Choose the Sort Results link to see the databases in descending order of relevancy
- Click the blue database description to find out more about that database
You will not be able to review the actual citations found in the search. However, you will have identified those databases that capture citations in your field. When you review the description of the database, it will provide an idea of the cost of searching that database.
Because certain databases are considered important to Jefferson’s research efforts, Scott Library offers supported searches of Biological Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts and Social Sciences Citation Index. We also subsidize searches of Science Citation Index for TJU students, faculty, and staff.
Once you have identified good source databases, please contact the Scott Library Information Services staff at AskALibrarian@jefferson.edu, 215-503-7815. They can help to devise an efficient way for you to evaluate the value of the unique citations found in other databases and to include these resources in your current awareness routine.
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