[1284] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Value of Collective Indexes for Chemical Abstracts
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (KNEE%ALBNYVMS.BITNET@mitvma.mit.ed)
Tue Sep 22 11:58:03 1992
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1992 10:36:41 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
From: KNEE%ALBNYVMS.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
Please reply to the author, not PACS-L. Thanks, Jill
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I would appreciate any input or advice related to the following question.
My question revolves around continuing to receive the collective indexes
of the Chemical Abstracts. We currently have all of the collective indexes
through the 12th. However, considering the availability of CAS online (that
is it's ease of use, the additional access points not available in print,
structure/sub-structure searching, and the academic discount on STN), does
it make sense to spend approximately $20,000 to duplicate the access that
is already available with the individual volume indexes. The main advantage
of the collective indexes is one "look-up" vs. ten "look-ups."
Is there something that I am missing in thinking about cancelling
the collective indexes? CA is a great source and should be in any library
supporting research in the chemical sciences, but just how important are
current and future collective indexes?
Michael Knee
University at Albany - SUNY
KNEE@ALBNYVMS
