Database
Description of publication
Database, which calls itself the magazine of electronic research and resources, is a fun magazine to read. It's well laid out at 115 pages or so and colorful with very informative articles. Two sections of the magazine are particularly useful: (1) "Business and Finance," and (2) "International Business & News."
The "Business and Finance" section offers new information about on-line opportunities from corporations, associations, and government sources. One example is the Coopers & Lybrand Lodging Research Network (www.lodgingresearch.com). This on-line information resource for lodging industry research features Coopers & Lybrand's economic forecasts, industry news, market profiles by city, a database of industry-specific real estate acquisitions, financial data of publicly traded lodging companies, new hotel construction data, lodging census and trend data from Smith Travel Research, and a library that includes U.S. economic and demographic statistics. Users can "store, sift, and merge data, as required." If that doesn't spice up the hotel-restaurant management school research assignments nothing will.
What does a Briefing Book contain? You better buy Database and find out! A sister publication to Database is called ONLINE: The Leading Magazine For Information Professionals (ISSN 0146-5422). It is published bimonthly by Online Inc., (800) 248-8466; fax: (203) 761-1444. ONLINE starts its 1997 January/February (20th anniversary) issue with this message: "Don't Go Online Without These Essential References For Online & Internet Searching" and then goes on to tout some of its services, such as the ONLINE Deskbook, "ONLINE Magazine's essential desk reference for online and internet searchers." The only desk reference to cover all the major on-line services and the Internet, it helps you identify important online information sources and put them to immediate use. It's loaded with shortcuts, troubleshooting guides, tips, and techniques; and contains the nuts and bolts to get up and running on-line. ONLINE's job is to take you into the intricacies of the Internet, but it also covers databases, such as "ONLINE Magazine's Field Guide to the 100 Most Important Online Databases." It usually boasts of six feature articles, and it also covers recent books and includes a number of interesting columns, such as "ONLINE WORLD Picture Story," by Amy Ferrito.
The second section, "International Business & News," also has some unique insights into CD-ROM and on-line opportunities. A recent issue announced the availability of two official CIA references, the World Factbook and Handbook of International Economics, on one CD-ROM from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), including search and retrieval software. The World Factbook is a basic reference of 267 nations and other entities and includes reference maps (see also Chapter 16). The Handbook of International Economics provides basic worldwide statistics from the last five years for comparing the economic performance of major countries and regions, including color maps, figures, and tables. The price of the CD, at this writing, is $40 plus $4 handling; orders can be placed by calling (703) 487-4650) or e-mail at: orders@ntis.fedworld.gov. The Web site is: www.ntis.gov
Each Database issue features about six articles (contemporary and market oriented, but also useful for research), such as "Mapping a Path to Success: Geographic Information Means Business to Knowledge Manager Cheryl Perkins," by Thomas Pack.
Each issue also includes nine very useful columns for researchers and a "Reviews" section that evaluates services and products. This section is followed by "Editor's Choice." Editor Mary Ellen Bates's August/September 1997 choice was the Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition. She does an excellent job of covering its Briefing Books collection-so pertinent to the goals of Business Research Sources, for example:
Dow Jones's recent foray into Web publishing-the Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition (wsj.com)-has been well received, particularly once they added the full Publications Library. Another recent addition to WSJIE (sometimes pronounced whiz-gee) is the Briefing Books service. The Briefing Books are collections of material on publicly traded companies, nicely formatted and (best yet) included in the cost of the subscription.
If you need a quick overview of a company's financial standing, current news and press releases, as well as convenient access to the company's EDGAR filings, the Briefing Book section of WSJIE is a great place to start. Articles in the current day's edition of The Wall Street Journal include links from the first mention of a company to that company's Briefing Book. You can also go directly to the Briefing Book search screen: wsj.com
What does a Briefing Book contain? You better buy Database and find out! A sister publication to Database is called ONLINE: The Leading Magazine For Information Professionals (ISSN 0146-5422). It is published bimonthly by Online Inc., (800) 248-8466; fax: (203) 761-1444. ONLINE starts its 1997 January/February (20th anniversary) issue with this message: "Don't Go Online Without These Essential References For Online & Internet Searching" and then goes on to tout some of its services, such as the ONLINE Deskbook, "ONLINE Magazine's essential desk reference for online and internet searchers." The only desk reference to cover all the major on-line services and the Internet, it helps you identify important online information sources and put them to immediate use. It's loaded with shortcuts, troubleshooting guides, tips, and techniques; and contains the nuts and bolts to get up and running on-line. ONLINE's job is to take you into the intricacies of the Internet, but it also covers databases, such as "ONLINE Magazine's Field Guide to the 100 Most Important Online Databases." It usually boasts of six feature articles, and it also covers recent books and includes a number of interesting columns, such as "ONLINE WORLD Picture Story," by Amy Ferrito.
www.onlineinc.com/database
dbmag@onlineinc.com
Database
Bimonthly periodical
ISSN 0162-4105
For more information, call
Online Inc.
Phone: (203) 761-1466
Fax: (203) 761-1444