Hi Kate
Sorry for the very late reply. I'm only just getting to grips with the new ProQuest Professional platform.
I'm not so concerned about the loss of Thesaurus Mapping, though I did find if very useful. I think that the displays of keywords and subjects (previously descriptors), used with the thesaurus tool when appropriate, will allow students and researchers to access the appropriate search terms without too much difficulty and it may well be easier for inexperienced users.
I am concerned about the way ProQuest Professional displays search results and hope that that this is a development/setting up problem. The display of results for ERIC in ProQuest's other new platform which is very similar is much better.
I think the problem with linking to full text items in Eric seems to be resolved in both platforms.
For anyone finding the platform names confusing (I do) ProQuest are launching two new platforms
(1) ProQuest which is the successor to CSA Illumina and earlier versions of ProQuest
(2) ProQuest Professional which is the successor to Dialog Datastar.
The new platforms are very similar and eventually all the education databases on ProQuest Professional should be available on both platforms. ERIC is already available on both.
Best wishes
Rupert
Rupert Kahn
Information Adviser Teacher Education
LIS D&S Faculty Support Team
0114 225 6030
[log in to unmask]
News for the Faculty of Development and Society http://shu-lits-isdandsteam.blogspot.com/
-----Original Message-----
From: Lis-educ: Library services for education [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kate Williams
Sent: 24 March 2011 11:13
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: New database platform
Dear all,
I was just wondering whether anyone else has concerns about the coming move of ERIC, British Education Index and Australia Education Index from Dialog Datastar to the new Proquest platform? I have just returned from maternity leave to hear the news that we are moving, and it seems that education is going to be the first subject to have its databases switched over.
I have heard lots of different dates, but the latest I have been given is June 1st for the final switch. Apparently, this is to do with the date that the databases are paid for, under the JISC deal. Does this fit with what other people have been told?
I have had a look at the new platform, and it seems that a lot of the functionality of the Dialog Datastar platform may well be lost. In particular I am worried about the loss of the "thesaurus mapping" option. I find this so useful, and really crucial if I am helping researchers and DPhil students do a systematic review.
On the new platform, I have tried to search inside the ERIC thesaurus, or to do a search on multiple subject headings, using the Look Up Subject option, and the whole thing just freezes! I also understand that they are still trying to sort out some very basic problems with the new database - such as getting the links to ERIC full text to work.
Has anyone else tried it, and had similar issues? Or perhaps there is something I am missing...!?
Any advice, thoughts or suggestions would be really welcome.
With very best wishes,
Kate
* Please note my change of email, below. *
Kate Williams
Education Librarian and Subject Consultant
Bodleian Education Library, University of Oxford
Email: [log in to unmask], Phone: 01865 274011 / 274028
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