Knovel: beyond e-books

Chris Gibson

John Rylands University Library of Manchester

© copyright The Victoria University of Manchester 2003

USTLG Meeting, 19th June 2003University of Leeds

Demonstration

• Service overview• Content• Browsing• Interactive features• Searching (Data and Keyword)• Customer support• Subscriptions• Benefits

Service• http://www.knovel.com/• Web interface to the full text contents of reference works

(handbooks, dictionaries, encyclopaedias), monographs, conference proceedings and databases

• Single, intuitive interface to 470+ publications, and plan increase to 700 publications during 2003

• Browse 15 subject areas in engineering and science• Cross-search aggregated content for numeric and textual values

(which saves time and retrieves more complete answers to problems)

Content• Knovel selects ‘best of breed’ publications (including classic

works) from recognised publishers (commercial vendors and scholarly societies)

• Knovel provides current editions, and intends to retain information from superseded editions

• Interactive tables, interactive graphs and interactive equations add value to the content and support the retrieval, manipulation, and export of data (which saves significant time for end-users).

• Appropriate for: scientists, engineers, technicians, students, information professionals

Browsing• Knovel supports multiple access routes (users can

browse by subject, by title, by publisher, by book type, or by featured classics)

• Knovel provides content in standard formats:> PDF - some files are enhanced with hyperlinks to support

navigation between tables of contents, indexes, and full text> HTML - viewed using proprietry Knovel Reader, which

mirrors the functionality of print publications, as well as searching and hyperlinking capabilities

Interactive Features• Interactive features add value to the content and save time for end-users• Interactive tables - retrieve and customise data like spreadsheets; export

data to other applications• Equation plotter - parametrically solves an equation and displays results

as an interactive graph (e.g. vapour pressure for a range of temperatures)• Graph digitizer - manipulate graphs; measure and capture data points;

export data to other applications• Graph plotter - superimpose multiple data plots on common axes to

permit comparisons (e.g. stress v. strain curves for plastics); shares functionality of graph digitizer

Interactive Tables• Find and customise data like spreadsheets

> Search for specific keywords or data values

> Select rows to display

> Sort columns in ascending or descending order

> Select columns to show or hide

> Change column order

• View text or notes associated with table• Unit converter converts values from a table’s existing units of measurement to

other units selected by the user• View synonyms and molecular structures for certain substances• Launch Equation Plotter or Graph Plotter• Export data to standard applications e.g. Excel

Interactive Graphs and Equations• Typically permit users to:

> Plot points on graph curves and capture the corresponding data values> Calculate data points for specific X or Y values> Change units of measurement for X and Y axes> Change precision to define the number of significant digits that are

used to plot data points (range between 1 and 89 significant digits)> Select linear or logarithmic scales for the X and Y axes> Show or hide grid lines> Export data to standard formats e.g. Excel, HTML, ASCII text, IBM

Lotus 123

Data Searching [1]• Locates textual and numeric property values within interactive tables• Cross-search aggregated content, or cross-search a single subject area,

or search a single ‘interactive’ publication• Some 140 data and text fields (e.g. properties, substance names) are

available for searching• User-friendly drop lists assist users to formulate effective search queries• Boolean operators (AND; OR; NOT) permit combination of search

criteria• Search operators enable data searching for specific values, ranges of

values (greater than, less than, between), or non-null values

Data Searching [2]• Chemical substance searching is effective:

> provides flexible search options, including: substance name, CAS Registry Number, molecular formula, trade name, UNS number, etc.

> substance name searching can automatically account for synonyms e.g. search for mek retrieves matches such as methyl ethyl ketone and 2-butanone

• Numeric data searching is effective:> permits users to select preferred search units> searches automatically compensate for differences between user-

defined units (e.g. MPa) and units cited by publications (e.g. psi)

Keyword Searching• Locates search terms in full text documents, interactive tables, and

additional indexes• Cross-search aggregated content, or cross-search a single subject area, or

search a single publication• Boolean operators (AND; OR; NOT) enable combination of search criteria• Retrieval is enhanced because Knovel:

> indexes all parts of publications, including the indexes> automatically accounts for many plurals, spelling variations, synonyms,

and some 16,000 UK/US spelling differences.• Supports proximity searching

Customer Support [1]• Online ‘Help Center’ includes:

> Help Guide - online manual and educational tool> Quick Reference Guide> Frequently Asked Questions document> Contact details for Customer Support Teams, who are

accessible (telephone, fax, email, Web-based Contact Form), prompt and helpful

> Advice regarding software requirements> Site access test

Customer Support [2]• Interactive telephone demonstrations are regularly available and the

costs are borne by Knovel• Bibliographic records in MARC 21 format are freely available and

enhance discoverability of content via the computer catalogue• Detailed usage statistics are provided regularly• Authentication options:

> IP addresses for on-campus use> passwords for off-campus use

• University license is sensitive to the needs of the scholarly environment

ChemEssentials

• Knovel offers free of charge online access for universities and colleges to:> International Critical Tables of Numeric Data, Physics,

Chemistry and Technology (1st electronic edition)> Knovel Critical Tables> Smithsonian Physical Tables (9th revised edition)> Thermochemistry of the Chemical Substances

• Institutional registration for ChemEssentials is via:> http://www.knovel.com/freechem/

University Subscriptions

• Subscriptions are based on the number of an institution’s full time equivalents (FTEs)

• Authorise an unlimited number of concurrent users

• Pricing options offer access to either entire content, or to any combination of 15 vendor-defined subject bundles

• Subscriptions are renewable on an annual basis

• Free trials are available to prospective subscribers

Knovel Benefits

1. Saves time* Retrieves quality answers to science and engineering

questions quickly and easily* Interactive features (tables, graphs and equations) support

data analysis and enable output to standard software packages* On-campus and remote access 24/7* User friendly interface (shallow learning curve saves time and

encourages further use)

Knovel Benefits2. Enables better decisions* Provides access to a ‘Best of Breed’ collection of high quality

publications* Cross-searching of aggregated content from multiple publishers

retrieves more comprehensive answers to solve problems

3. Effective customer support* Comprehensive monthly usage reporting* Dedicated technical support and training

Knovel Benefits

4. Increases efficiency* Save money by rationalising acquisition of multiple

copies of print publications and new editions across geographically distributed organisations

* Save staff time e.g. answering reference enquiries; acquisitions process for print equivalents, plus their cataloguing and handling

Knovel Testimonials• Knovel was voted ‘Best New Product of the Year’ in 2002 by the

Editorial Board of ‘The Charleston Advisor: Critical Reviews of Web Products for Information Professionals’ http://www.charlestonco.com

• California State University Libraries, Electronic Access to Information Resources Committee, gave Knovel one of their highest-ever product ratings (May 2002) http://www.calstate.edu/SEIR/EAR_rev_knovel.shtml

• Value of Knovel is recognised by major subscribers from the academic, government, and corporate sectors (including Fortune 500 companies)