From: brock@ucsub.Colorado.EDU (Steve Brock)
Subject: Review of Gale Directory of Databases
Date: 20 Dec 1994 23:43:57 GMT

GALE DIRECTORY OF DATABASES: VOLUME ONE: ONLINE DATABASES (January,
1995), VOLUME TWO: CD-ROM, DISKETTE, MAGNETIC TAPE, HANDHELD, AND
BATCH ACCESS DATABASE PRODUCTS (January, 1995), edited by Kathleen
Lopez Nolan.  Gale Research Inc., 835 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit, MI
48224, (800) 877-GALE (4253), (313) 961-6083 FAX.  Illustrated
(tables and graphs), indexes.  Volume One is 1411 pp., $215.00
paper, 0-8103-8805-7.  Volume Two is 1166 pp., $135.00 paper, 0-
8103-8445-0.  Volumes One and Two together are $315.00, 0-8103-
5748-8.  The Directory is available online from Data-Star (800)
221-7754, ORBIT (800) 456-7248, and Questel (800) 424-9600.  It is
also available on diskettes, magnetic tape, and CD-ROM.

                     Reviewed by Steve Brock

     This is truly a mind-boggling set.  An integration of
"Computer-Readable Databases," "Directory of Online Databases," and
"Directory of Portable Databases," this guide will tell the
researcher exactly where to find that missing piece of information
that will tie up all the loose ends of analysis and examination, as
well as listing places to take the computer out to play while the
foundation prepares another large grant.
     Volume One, "Online Databases," is an encyclopedic index of
more than 5,300 worldwide databases, 42 new to this edition,
providing information on the following:
     -  Address and phone number of the producer,
     -  Type of database (directory, full text, bibliographic,
        numeric, bulletin board, etc.),
     -  Content,
     -  Subject coverage,
     -  Language,
     -  Geographic coverage,
     -  Time span covered,
     -  Frequency of updates,
     -  Online availability (names of the organizations through   
        which the database is available and how much it costs).
     Following the database listings are the names and addresses of
the businesses that produce the databases, combined with the names
of the databases they provide.
     The next section is an index of the organizations that provide
the online services.  This section is illustrative of how powerful
some data-controlling organizations have become.  Mead Data
Central, Inc., for example, has almost three pages of listings for
its Lexis, Nexis, and Medis services.  
     The last three sections of Volume One are listings grouped by
geographical area and subject, with a master index.
     Volume Two is for researchers who want to keep their data on-
site, paying up front for the software and its updates instead of
accumulating online charges.  With this type of database, though,
those desiring up-to-the-minute information will be frustrated. 
Online databases are much more current, with updates occurring
daily or weekly.
     Volume Two is divided similarly to the first volume, with
sections on product descriptions (the entries follow the same style
as above, i.e., type, content, language, etc.), database producers,
vendors/distributors, and indexes by geographic area, subject, and
a master index.
     A major shortcoming of the Directory is that the only mention
of the Internet as a source for database information is to indicate
that it is a network of academic, government, and research
networks, with Nolan providing information on where to inquire
about service providers.  There are no mentions of telnet, ftp, or
WWW sites, even though several online services are available via
the Internet (Dialog, for example, may be accessed from the
Internet at dialog.com).
     Editors at Gale, though, say that most researchers don't mind
exiting the Internet and going in and out of online services to
retrieve data.  Personally, I know few researchers who agree with
this scenario.
     Internet user or not, these volumes are a commanding presence
that go far toward streamlining data-gathering activities.  While
most services, whether online or on-site, are quite expensive, if
you've got the money, they've got the data. 
     Note: for libraries and research institutions who are
constrained by financial availability and have last year's volumes,
there is little enough change in the 1995 edition (there were only
four online services added from 1994 to 1995) to warrant holding
off a purchase until 1996.