Abstract

The Inspec database contains more than 12 million bibliographic records on physics, electronics, computer science and engineering. Combining tradition, quality and thoroughness it is unmatched in its topic area in the current information market. From a strictly documentary point of view, Inspec is considered as one of the best-designed systems for its balanced and effective indexing, based on its well known classification and thesaurus. A brief description of its contents, value-added fields and new developments is presented.

Abstract

Reference managing tools are one of the most useful devices for researchers and librarians due to their ability to compile, storeand format information related to different products, sources and types of records. In recent years a new generation of reference-managing software has appeared. These new tools include applications from the new technological context that have contributed to reinforcing their capacity and potential. An overview of these tools and their applications is offered. We also makes a comparative analysis of the different products with a view to highlighting their strengths as well as the elements that could be improved in each tool.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to establish which document types are considered essential for learning at universities and, therefore, are recommended to students. Additionally, an analysis was conducted to determine if electronic resources are a part of the recommended reading lists for the various subjects across the curriculum and what exactly their weight is in relation to other document types. The current syllabi for the 2014-2015 academic year were accessed for each subject in ten majors offered at three Spanish universities: University Carlos III of Madrid, University of León, and University of Salamanca. The primary finding is the lack of homogeneity in the number of references by university and major which is due to the disparity observed as far as the number of references per subject. Books are the resources most frequently suggested in all of the curricula analyzed. The scarce use in course syllabi of journal articles and, particularly, conference papers, is significant. Links to institutional websites predominate, whereas the presence of electronic books is residual despite a proven inclination to prioritize recommendations for monographs and textbooks. The presence of electronic journals and electronic articles is also marginal. It is evident that traditional document types continue to be recommended despite the increase of electronic documents in academic libraries’ collections.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to establish which document types are considered essential for learning at universities and, therefore, are recommended to students. Additionally, an analysis was conducted to determine if electronic resources are a part of the recommended reading lists for the various subjects across the curriculum and what exactly their weight is in relation to other document types. The current syllabi for the 2014-2015 academic year were accessed for each subject in ten majors offered at three Spanish universities: University Carlos III of Madrid, University of León, and University of Salamanca. The primary finding is the lack of homogeneity in the number of references by university and major which is due to the disparity observed as far as the number of references per subject. Books are the resources most frequently suggested in all of the curricula analyzed. The scarce use in course syllabi of journal articles and, particularly, conference papers, is significant. Links to institutional websites predominate, whereas the presence of electronic books is residual despite a proven inclination to prioritize recommendations for monographs and textbooks. The presence of electronic journals and electronic articles is also marginal. It is evident that traditional document types continue to be recommended despite the increase of electronic documents in academic libraries’ collections.