Iwona Pujanek, Krzysztof Ober Poznań University of Technology (PUT) User Access to the Web Based Information Services and Databases.
	The Main Library of Poznań University of Technology
	This article was translated thanks to the grant received from the Open Society Institute

The university libraries are committed to providing scientific and educational research at the universities. Their main task is to fulfil the information needs of researchers and students.^[1] On-line available information resources are essential tools in the process of acquiring knowledge.

The library of our university creates its own databases and organizes a licensed access from a home page: http://www.ml.put.poznan.pl^[2] to many databases and services^[3] both bibliographic and full text national and world wide products ( fig.1.).
 

Fig.1.Electronic resources available from home page of the Main Library of the Poznań University of Technology.

Global bibliographic databases

Bibliographic databases are available on the net from the Main Library and are located on two servers:

• Warsaw University Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical and Computational Modelling provides the following databases, http://zatoka.icm.edu.pl
  • INSPEC - in the OvidNet system
  • Ei COMPENDEX
• The Main Library of the Wroclaw University of Technology http://www.bg.pwr.wroc.pl provides:
  • Chemical Abstracts in IRIS CD Web Ware System.^[4]

On the municipal Computer Network POZMAN, there is a local system for accessing databases. This system is called - InfoWare CD/HD Ultra*Net ^[5], and the following databases are available for users at the Poznań University of Technology:

• CURRENT CONTENTS on CD with Abstracts, six series (1996-2002), a networked version for 1-3 simultaneous users
• SCIENCE CITATION INDEX on CD with Abstracts (1996-2002), a networked version for 1-5 simultaneous users
• ARTS and HUMANITIES CITATION INDEX on CD with Abstracts (1997-1999), a networked version for 1-5 simultaneous users

INSPEC, the CD-ROM version, was provided (from 1989 -1999) by the Main Library to the PUT. However, in 2000, the Library began providing the networked INSPEC bibliographic database through an annual license agreement ^[6]. Networked software and regular updates enables users to use the SDI (selective dissemination of information) system, which then retrieves literature according to a user`s profile. Search results are sent by e-mail.

The usage of INSPEC by the PUT members is about 2000 searches per year (there were 2210 in 2000 and 1768 in 2001). In 2001, the average number of searches, per Polish institution, was 1326 ^[7]. As with the case of INSPEC, since 2001, users of the university have also had networked access through a licensing agreement to Ei COMPENDEX - a bibliographic database, containing references and abstracts, covering 3 million articles concerning all aspects of a technical literature. The wide scope of the database - both in content and in time ( coverage includes the period between 1970-2002) and the availability of an easy and friendly interface which includes help on searching databases effectively are valued and appreciated by users.

Chemical Abstracts database has been available since 2000 to the PUT. This service has been made possible on the basis of a national license and a networked system, IRIS CD Web Ware^[8]. There are 33 available terminals, mainly for use of the Faculty of Chemical Technology and the Reference Department in the Main Library. The average usage of the database by the faculties, postgraduate and undergraduate students in the years 2000-2001 was about 600 searches per year.

Databases which are available via a local network are situated on a Pozna Supercomputing and Networking Center (PCSS) server. It is necessary , both to fill out a form and to install software (available via ftp) to open an account and to gain access to the Ultra*Net server^[9].

The Poznań University`s of Technology users have a remote access to the databases of the local system Ultra*Net from 70 networked computers. Usage (the number amount of searches) of the databases of Current Contents (CC) and of Science Citation Index (SCI) in the years 1998-2001 by the staff, postgraduate and undergraduate students of the university (fig. 2). ^[10]
 

Fig.2. Usage of CC and SCI databases in the years 1998-2001
by the users of the Poznań University of Technology.

The content of databases is drawn from the Institute's for Scientific Information Master Journal List. The databases are placed on the server of PCSS in Poznań and this enables access through broad-band lines. Therefore, users have optimal conditions for searching in the databases. ^[11]

Networked databases created and co-created by the Main Library of the Poznań University of Technology.

Databases created by the staff of the Main Library of the Poznań University of Technology available by the users on the Internet include:

• Computer Catalogue of Books, Journals and Other Serials Publications and Special Collection of the PUT in the Horizon system are available from: http://www.ml.put.poznan.pl/fs_katalogi.html (the database includes: books added to the Horizon system since November, books imported from the previous database, and added since 1992, journals and other serials publications added to the system since 1998 and special collection: standards and dissertations added since 1999).
• The PUT Scientists` Bibliography of Publications created in CDS/ISIS system and available on the Internet: http://www.ml.put.poznan.pl/bib/index.html (this includes printed and electronic version of scientists` bibliographies available since 1994; the content consists of 26,000 records and is currently and retrospectively updated).

Drawing from records from selected journals and conference proceedings our library takes part in creating other databases of Polish scientific materials:

• BAZTECH - Polish Technical Journal Contents http://baztech.icm.edu.pl (this collection covers Polish engineering, technology, science, and environmental protection literature housed in 20 Polish university and scientific institute libraries. The Main Library took part in extracting bibliographic records from 15 Polish scientific journals, including 7 published by the Poznań University Publishing House. The staff have prepared 1066 records since 1998 (in the period between the years 1998-1999 - 551 records, in 2000 - 223 records and in 2001 - 292 records).
• SYMPONet http://www.bg.pw.edu.pl (information about conference proceedings, congresses, Polish and foreign symposia on science acquisited in 60 technical libraries). The database consists of about 31,000 records and is weekly updated by the librarians. The library has completed the database from 1994 to the present time and the total amount of the records added by the staff is currently 1602.^[12]

Networked Electronic full text journal services

These days important publishers e.g. Academic Press, Springer Verlag, Elsevier, Institute of Physics Publishing, Chapman and Hall, Kluwer, John Wiley & Sons all offer on-line access to full texts of the scientific journals they cover. ^[13]

Full text journals accessed through national consortia are electronically available for users of the Poznań University of Technology via the library home page: http://www.ml.put.poznan.pl

• National Consortium of e-journals Springer Verlag/Swets Blackwell GmbH
  • Dates covered: from 2000 http://link.springr.de
  • Scope: approximately 480 full text journals - Springer Verlag publisher. It is possible to print or download articles in pdf format
  • Automatic options: alerting service - table of contents can be e-mailed to a user`s mailbox.
• Direct Science System/Science Server Elsevier Science
  • Dates covered: 2001 - 2003 http://vls.icm.edu.pl/cgi-bin/sciserv.pl?collection=elsevier
  • The System offers access to 500 full text journal titles in pdf format and about 1400 titles - table of contents and abstracts
  • Automatic options: SDI ( selective dissemination of information ) based on a researcher`s subject profile. Results of specific tailored searches can be sent by e-mail according to this profile.
• IDEAL (International Digital Electronic Access Library) Open Consortium Academic Press/Swets Blackwell GmbH
  • Dates covered: from 2001 http://www.idealibrary.com
  • Scope: approximately 250 full text journal titles in pdf format.
• National Consortium SwetsNet Navigator (presently SwetsNetWise)
  • Dates covered: from 2001 http://swetsnet.nl
  • Scope: approximately 900 full text journal titles in pdf format, including all journals published by Academic Press, Springer Verlag and some titles of other publishers (Mechanical Engineering Publication, MCB University Press Ltd., Multiscience Publishing Co. Ltd., Royal Society of Chemistry, SIAM Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, Taylor and Francis). Tables of contents and abstracts are provided for 17,000 journals.
  • Alerting services - sending through e-mail tables of contents to users uniquely selected journal titles as well as SDI (selective dissemination of information) - e-mailed transmission of materials as identified according to a specific user profile.
• Polish Consortium EIFL Direct Service EBSCO Publishing
  • Dates covered: from 2002 http://search.global.epnet.com
  • Scope: approximately 8,000 journal titles (including 6,000 full text) representing social sciences, science and technology, medicine and economics
  • Automatic services: SDI (selective dissemination of information) - materials searched by profiles and e-mailed to the user.^[14]

In addition to full text journals available in a national consortium, the PUT users have access to e-journals, printed version either by library subscription or through donations. Generally the users of our university have a net access to over 8,000 full text journals.

The expertise and experience that librarians demonstrate to the users of networked information services available in the Poznań University of Technology result in the following services:

• support of educational and research processes
• training in the use "Modern Electronic Information Resources" for postgraduate extramural students,
• presentations, seminars and practical exercises on "Efficient Use of Electronic Information Resources" for four year students,
• basic instruction in "Using the Library" for the first year students.

The scientists of the PUT have cooperated with the librarians from the time that electronic services were first accessible. Thanks to their help, testing of the databases has been possible and the recommendations of the staff is taken into account while purchasing networked services.

The staff of Reference Department participate in seminars organised by the researches of the university and is called upon to inform researchers about different options for using electronic resources and subject bibliographies which enable the staff to keep up-to-date with any new literature that may have been published on a particular topic relevant to the research subject. As stated earlier, librarians take part in some research processes and are able to assist in use of wide-ranging local (Polish) or international collections and databases. Bibliographic records as well as full texts are sent through e-mail.

On the basis of Science Citation Index are prepared citation analyses of the PUT`s researchers (fig.3.)
 

Fig.3. An example of a record in Science Citation Index.

The webmasters of networked services take part in preparing alerting journal lists. Current table of contents are sent through e-mail to the users using alerting function ( fig.4.).
 

Fig.4. An example of a user`s alerting list.

The Library staff help to define and set up profiles using Key Terms or (Thesaurii) to receive relevant literature sent later through e-mail to the user who takes advantage of SDI function in SwetsNetWise, Elsevier Science, EBSCO Publishing services (fig.5).
 

Fig.5. An example of a profile in SDI automatic function.

The staff in the Library's Reference Department is available to assist postgraduate extramural students in use of the facilities as an introduction to the training course of "Modern Electronic Information Resources and Techniques". As the next step, librarians demonstrate or guide researchers themselves in actual searching a database according to prepared subject profiles.

The aim of workshops for the four year students is to provide basic but continually upgraded knowledge and experience in locating literature necessary for writing a thesis. The students are given advice about the various references, bibliographical and full text searching aids. The students become familiar with the structure and details of databases and increase their efficiency in the use of the extensive collection of resources. The tutorials help the students to use the facilities two ways - either with library staff guidance or independently since they have access to networked terminals. An example of a search profile is introduced in the fig.6.
 

Fig.6. An example of a profile.

Library presentations "Using the Library" are organized for new students at the beginning of each year. Presentations consist of explanations of library services as well as the distribution and explanation of printed guides to the library collection (books, journals and special collections). The modules of the integrated library system HORIZON are introduced. Students are familiarized with the options of remote searching and requesting materials (fig.7).
 

Fig.7. An example of a patron's remote access/requesting capabilities.

The research university library contributes to the fulfilment of users' needs which involve broadening their knowledge of a given subject at various levels of complexity, enlarging their contacts and general awareness of other researchers publishing in their own particular areas of interest.

Footnotes

[1]  P. Bala, P. Grochowski, B. Lesyng: Biblioteki wirtualne, fikcja czy rzeczywistość następnego stulecia? [In:] INFOBAZY'99, Bazy danych dla nauki. Materiały konferencji organizowanej pod patronatem KBN, Gdańsk 30th August - 1st September 1999,pp 25-38.

[2]  Home page designed by: Karolina Popławska i Jakub Bajer; K. Popławska, J. Bajer: Przewodnik po stronie domowej 2001. [In:] Naukowa biblioteka techniczna na początku XXI wieku: vademecum: Biblioteka Główna Politechniki Poznańskiej, Poznań, December 2001, pp 9-13.

[3]  U. Błaszczak, I. Pujanek: Źródła elektroniczne dla Politechniki Poznańskiej, [In:] Naukowa biblioteka techniczna na początku XXI wieku: vademecum: Biblioteka Główna Politechniki Poznańskiej, Poznań, December 2001, pp 32-38.

[4]  I. Pujanek, K. Ober: Doświadczenia Biblioteki Głównej Politechniki Poznańskiej w użytkowaniu sieciowych systemow informacyjnych. [In:] III Krajowa Konferencja MISSI'2002, Multimedialne i sieciowe systemy informacyjne, Wrocław 19-29 September 2002. Wrocław 2002. pp 527-537.

[5]  S. Niwiński, M. Stroiński: Udostępnianie baz danych w Poznańskim Centrum Superkomputerowo-Sieciowym. [In:] INFOBAZY' 2002. Bazy danych dla nauki. Materiały konferencji organizowanej pod patronatem KBN, Gdańsk-Sobieszewo 24-26 June 2002. Gdańsk 2002. pp 159-167; Poznańskie Centrum Superkomuterowo-Sieciowe [on-line]. [accesible from 11th October 2002] http://www.man.poznan.pl.

[6]  Dates covered and availabilityof databases in ICM in 2002 [on-line]. [accessible from 11th October 2002]: http://vls.icm.edu.pl/zasady_udostepniania_2002.html#Inspec.

[7]  U. Błaszczak: Wykorzystanie wybranych baz danych i serwisow informacyjnych przez Politechnikę Poznańskš: próba analizy za lata 1999-2001. [In:] VI Krajowe Forum Informacji Naukowej i Technicznej nt. Informacja-wiedza-gospodarka. Katowice 2001 [in print].

[8]  Krajowe konsorcjum CA In the Main Libray and Scientific Information Centre of the Wrocław University of Technology [on-line]. [accessible from 11th October 2002]: http://www.bg.pwr.wroc.pl/BAZY/ca/.

[9]  Poznańskie Centrum Superkomuterowo-Sieciowe [on-line]. [accessible from 11th October 2002] : http://www.man.poznan.pl.

[10]  I. Pujanek, K. Ober: Doświadczenia Biblioteki Głównej Politechniki Poznańskiej w użytkowaniu sieciowych systemów informacyjnych. [In:] III Krajowa Konferencja MISSI'2002, Multimedialne i sieciowe systemy informacyjne , Wrocław 19-29 September 2002, pp 527-537.

[11]  B. Gajda, S. Niwiński, I. Pujanek: Sieciowe bazy danych, użytkownicy i ich szkolenie w Poznańskim Centrum Superkomputerowo-Sieciowym. [In:] Elektroniczna biblioteka dzisiaj. Efektywne wykorzystanie baz CD-ROM w sieciach komputerowych. Materiały II Konferencji Górnośląskiego Konsorcjum Bibliotek Naukowych, Katowice-Opole 21-23 April 1999. Katowice 2000. pp. 201-213; S. Niwiński, M. Stroiński: Udostępnianie baz danych w Poznańskim Centrum Superkomputerowo-Sieciowym. [In:] INFOBAZY' 2002. Bazy danych dla nauki. Materiały konferencji organizowanej pod patronatem KBN, Gdańsk-Sobieszewo 24-26 June 2002. Gdańsk 2002. pp 159-167.

[12]  L. Derfert-Wolf, Sz. Matuszewski, E. Tomczak: Baza Danych o Zawartosci Polskich Czasopism Technicznych, [In:] INFOBAZY'99, Bazy danych dla nauki. Materialy konferencji organizowanej pod patronatem KBN , Gdansk 30th August -1st September 1999, pp 203-208; Bibliografia publikacji pracowników Politechniki Poznańskiej In the Main Library of the Poznań University of Technology [on-line]. [accessible from 11th October 2002] : http://www.ml.put.poznan.pl/bib/index.html.

[13]  Z. Szkutnik: Dostępność elektronicznych czasopism naukowych. Drogi dostępu, oferty, modele cenowe i licencyjne, konsorcja. Biblioteka 1999, No. 3 (12), pp 43-56.

[14]  I. Pujanek I., S. Niwiński: Dostęp do literaturowych baz EBSCO Publishing. [In:] INFOBAZY' 2002, Bazy danych dla nauki. Materiały konferencji organizowanej pod patronatem KBN, Gdańsk - Sobieszewo 24 -26 June 2002, pp 151-158; I. Pujanek, K. Ober: Doświadczenia Biblioteki Głównej Politechniki Poznańskiej w użytkowaniu sieciowych systemow informacyjnych. [In:] III Krajowa Konferencja MISSI'2002, Multimedialne i sieciowe systemy informacyjne, Wrocław 19-29 September 2002. Wrocław 2002. pp 527-537.

Translated by Jolanta Wróbel