Spotlight on BIDS

Terry Morrow [1st March 1996] replies to the review of BIDS on a few points concerning the number of databases and the lack of distinction between authors of the same name.

Isobel wrote: "The inital four databases (the 3 Citation Indecices and the Index of Scientific and Technical Proceedings) have been joined by eight more databases acquired through CHEST..."

I don't understand how you get eight. The following is the current menu screen:

Option	Service	Option	Service
I	BIDS ISI	F	BIDS Ecoflora
B	BIDS BL Inside Information	K	BIDS Key Record
C	BIDS Compendex/Page One	S	BIDS IBSS
E	BIDS EMBASE	U	UnCover

ISI, EMBASE, Compendex and the currently trialled RSC datasets are all CHEST contracts. IBSS didn't involve CHEST - it was funded by the JISC and ESRC. Inside Information doesn't involve CHEST either - it is a collaboration between BIDS and BL. Ecoflora, Kew Record and the currently trialled CAB Health are all BIDS initiatives. Sorry it is so complicated!

Later on, Isobel wrote: "Chief grumbles are the lack of distinction between authors of the same name..."

I don't think I understand the comment "Chief among the complaints are the lack of distinction between authors of the same name" - all authors are given initials, and in databases such as ISI their addresses are also shown.

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