> Does anyone know what database was the first one
> (bibliographic or other)? The first one we could search in batch before
> online?
> And what are the names of the first ones we could search online?
The answer(s) to this rather depends on your definitions and which version of
"the history of online" you read!
The first batch database?
Western Reserve University 's Searching Selector for the American Society for
Metals is dated as 1958 by Meadows (3), "apparently 1960" by Lancaster (2).
Details not given.
A NASA batch service (limited to NASA facilities?) is dated 1962 by Lancaster
(2) and 1966 by Bourne (5).
The NLM offered "public" MEDLARS batch searches from 1963 (Lancaster (2), or
1964 (Meadows (3), Bourne (5)) or 1966 (Hartley (1)). This looks to be the first
generally available major retrospective batch search service.
The first online databases?
Hartley (1) lists the European Space Agency as offering "several databases" to
10 terminals in ESA member states in 1969; Meadows lists a limited (in what
way?) ERIC online database service also in 1969 (via Dialog?).
Bourne (5) mentions NASA online via Dialog in 1970, Hall (4) states that access
was limited to US government users.
Meadows (3) mentions "Pandex, the first commercial database" (never heard of
it!) for limited access via Dialog in 1971. Hall (4) lists CAS as available
online in 1971 (via?).
Everyone seems to agree that Medline was available from 1971, and that Lockheed
launched Dialog as a commercial public online search service in 1972, with three
databases - ERIC, NTIS and AGRICOLA.
So, the first online database (available without restrictions) looks to have
been Medline, with Dialog as the first multi-database online host.
Unless anyone else remembers it differently?
Anne L Barker
(1) Hartley, R.J. et al. Online searching: principles and practice. London:
Bowker Saur, 1990
(2) Lancaster, F.W. Information retrieval systems: characteristics, testing and
evaluation. 2nd edn. New York: Wiley, 1979
(3) Meadows, C. Online database industry timeline. Database 11 (5), 1988, 23-31
(4) Hall, J.L. Online bibliographic databases: a directory and sourcebook. 4th
edn. London: Aslib, 1986
(5) Bourne, C.P. Online systems history, technology and economics. Journal of
the American Society for Information Science 31 (3), 1980, 155-160
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Dr Anne L Barker (email: [log in to unmask])
c/o Department of Information and Library Studies (tel: +44 (0)1970 - 622186)
University of Wales Aberystwyth (fax: +44 (0)1970 - 622190)
Llanbadarn Campus
ABERYSTWYTH SY23 3AS
Ceredigion
WALES, UK
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