Alkek Library News

Ebsco Databases' Interface Get an Uplift....

EbscoHost unveiled their new 2.0 interface today and although it was an expected change, it still came as a surprise. Many of the changes implemented are the result of extensive user testing and feedback. 

With the new interface design, Ebsco has implemented what end users like and use. The layout is set up to default to 3 columns with similar items grouped together.  You can also easily create a RSS feed to your search, and the "Add this" button makes it easy for people to bookmark and share the link to the article.

The changes make the Ebsco databases some of the most user-centered databases the library subscribes to. I expect to see other database vendors follow suit and redesign their interface too.

Click on the images below to see a larger view of the changes I think should be pointed out. You can also read more about the changes at the Ebsco website.

As always, if you would like a hands-on overview of searching databases or other research tips you can schedule an appointment with a librarian or watch one of our YouTube video tutorials (which are updated often.) 

Use Startpages to Organize Your RSS Feeds & More

One of the coolest new tools I've been using lately is NetVibes startpage. A startpage is a personalized web homepage. Others include: iGoogle, Pageflakes, and MyYahoo. I've chosen Netvibes because you also have a public version you can share with others socially. (Pageflakes also has this feature.) Here is my Netvibes public page. Notice the different tabs .

On both the private and public page, you can choose what modules and widgets to add.  Netvibes already has many to browse and choose from. If you already have a delicious, facebook or flickr page you can have them fed to your startpage. See the larger view of the image by clicking on it.

You can also create different tabs to organize your feeds. I have one for blogs, database & journals feeds, and one I have created for research feeds for a presentation I am giving.  Tabs help to organize your RSS feeds according to how you want to view them.

On the private page, you see the same modules as on the public page plus you can add a widget to monitor your email from your different accounts in one place, have a calendar, weather widget, and more. Its as easy as clicking the "add content" button, pasting the RSS feed URL into the box and adding it to your page.

Most databases will allow you to subscribe to a search query or the latest articles from a particular journal. Use the databases help feature or look for the RSS image to find out how.

Here is a nice comparison of different startpages that discusses the different features of each one. At the bottom of the post is a chart that puts all the features together for easier comparison.

Watch the library workshop page for future workshops in late summer or the fall semester on setting up personalized startpages. Or follow the links above to create your own startpage now.