Many changes in research databases

Does your favorite research database look different?  Many of our licensed electronic resources have undergone (or are about to undergo) changes due to interface upgrades or transitions to another publishing or vendor platform.

Interface improvements made by database vendors are often the result of input from UC librarians and other users.  Changes from one vendor platform to another are the result of extensive review and evaluation by UC librarians, considering factors such as database content, search capabilities, and ease of use.

July 1 – EconLit
EconLit (formerly on the OvidSP platform) is now provided by ProQuest/CSA.

July 1 – FIAF: International Index to Film Periodicals
FIAF (formerly on the OvidSP platform) is now provided by ProQuest/Chadwyck-Healey.

July 1 – World Bank Databases
Four of the World Bank databases that previously were restricted to several campuses because of licensing agreements are now freely available:


Week of July 26  – New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)

The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM.org) will launch its new website, offering enhanced page design and navigation, personalized accounts, specialty pages, new search tools, and archives back to 1812.
End of July – Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)
The EIU databases will be restructured to improve and simplify searching.   Some of the new features include:  new homepage featuring “My countries” and “My reports” dropdown menus; country pages with snippets of the latest analysis; quicker navigation across topics covered in different reports.

August 2 – OVID/SP databases
Interface enhancements will  include: new search filters; new citation management options, and more; My Workspace (create work projects and organize all of your research materials); and a toolbar option for your web browser.

August 4 – EBSCOhost databases
This user interface upgrade will include: clearer displays; enhanced selection options; an improved PDF viewer; and more.

August 7 – LexisNexis Academic
Interface enhancements include clearer navigation and a redesigned “Easy Search” form.

Week of August 7 – SpringerLink

Interface enhancements will include: related documents for articles; PDF Preview for eBook chapters; enhanced browsing features; viewable abstracts without leaving search results; and improved search functionality, including searching by citation.

August 8, 2010 – Wiley Online Library
This transition will combine Wiley InterScience and the former Blackwell Publishers content on a single platform [Details].  Wiley InterScience will be unavailable beginning Saturday, August 7 at 1am PDT.  The new Wiley Online Library will go live on Sunday,
August 8 at 9am PDT.

August – AccessEngineering
AccessEngineering 2.0 will feature a number of customer-requested enhancements including: streamlined user interface; new subject category of Software Engineering; multimedia resources; articles from McGraw-Hill’s Engineering News-Record (ENR) covering Environment, Water, Power, and Infrastructure; an Image Bank; full author biographies; and the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Science and Technology.