Title Indexes for Remote Host Full Text Databases: Alternatives to Traditional Serials Cataloging

摘要

In an environment of stagnant materials budgets and rising serials costs, the collection of journal literature at California State University, Chico has been greatly expanded through the use of remote host full text databases. While these databases make more journal literature available to the Library, they present bibliographic control challenges to which traditional cataloging methods cannot easily respond. An alternative to traditional cataloging is presented in the form of an online journal title index to seven remote host full text databases --ProQuest Newstand, ABI/INFORM, EBSCOhost Academic Search, EBSCOhost Business Source, Academic Universe, Dow Jones Interactive, and Contemporary Women's Issues. Using data provided by the database vendors, the amount of work required constructing the index was a fraction of that required for traditional cataloging methods. The library can respond to changes in database holdings with quick updates to the local title index. In addition to the construction and maintenance of the index, this article identifies problems with such an alternative cataloging method, and solutions applied in the project. Future enhancements and other suggested alternative cataloging methods are also discussed.