Improving the Access and Usability of Specialized Reference Databases

Challenge Integrating and Expanding Libraries’ Bibliographic and Full-Text Databases

Specializing in electronic reference publishing for the academic, public and special libraries community, Paratext produces four interrelated electronic reference databases:

• Reference Universe - serves as the bridge between a library’s printed reference collection and specialized online reference databases, and also contains links to hundreds of electronic reference titles and online reviews of titles in a variety of electronic databases.
• 19th Century Masterfile - the largest resource for pre-1925 studies online, with more than 60 indexes to periodicals, books, newspapers, patents and US/UK Government Documents.
• Public Documents Masterfile - a comprehensive electronic guide to federal, state, local and international public documents spanning over 200 years of publication, in a single searchable database.
• Book News Online - provides libraries with timely news of high-level books in science, technology, reference, and humanities research.

Paratext required a solution for integrating and regularly updating these four extensive databases so that academic and scholarly communities would have ready access to this unique body of knowledge.

Solution Aptara Provides Data Entry and Coding Services to Create Fully Searchable Data Files

Paratext turned to Aptara for its ability to integrate data from disparate sources in multiple formats into coherent and searchable data files. Working closely with Paratext, Aptara utilized its experience in tackling high-volume coding projects and meta-data tagging abilities to provide data entry and coding services in conformance with Paratext’s proprietary SGML DTD.

Results Seamlessly Integrated Electronic Reference Products

Paratext now offers the academic and scholarly communities integrated access to their four specialized electronic reference products, including full cross-search capability.