Zotero no longer working with vLib records

after upgrading to Firefox 17 the download-record-to-Zotero icon may presently fail to appear in the navigation bar

vLib full record Zotero icon

for more information see http://forums.zotero.org/discussion/26419/unapi-mods-translator-no-longer-working-in-zotero-3010-firefox-170/

you may wish to update your MODS translator immediately by following the link and instructions provided by Zotero developer Dan Stillman

we understand that the updated version of the translator will be rolled out soon

vLib WoK search mangled

Please see http://vlib.mpg.de/start?title=WoK for Web of Knowledge databases as available in vLib.

As a consequence of an unexpected change of web services (i.e. services required by vLib to search databases in the background, and present results), Web of Science databases (e.g. A&HCI, SCI, SSCI) are no longer searchable through a single resource – see Web of Science – hence no vLib search checkbox is available for Web of Science at the moment.

In addition, integration of remaining WoK databases (Biosis Previews, INSPEC, Zoological Record) has turned out to be problematic and error-prone (at least INSPEC search had to be switched off entirely, investigation is continuing).

Please drop us a comment if you appreciate a stable, cross-searchable interface to search WoK databases in vLib.

Thank you in advance,

The vLib project team

Find resources in vLib, autocomplete

An autocomplete service has been added to vLib forms that enable searching for appropriate information resources.

It’s available for resource title and publisher input fields at

http://vlib.mpg.de/start?view=metasearch&srv=locate
http://vlib.mpg.de/start?view=find-database&srv=browse
http://vlib.mpg.de/start?view=find-database&srv=locate

Just type any term (presently a minimum of three characters) to display a list of resources matching the input right below the form field.

To navigate through suggestions use the mouse or cursor up/down. To select an entry, click on it or press enter.

The service behind it has been designed to consider all title variants of a resource (or publisher name variants, respectively).

However, the list of suggestions actually shown contains display titles only (suggesting any title variants would be rather confusing and would unnecessarily bloat the list).

If you type some entry, and if matches are found, it’s obvious that some of the resource titles suggested do not seem to contain the string entered, for example:

vLib autocomplete

This is because the term does not always match part of a vLib display title, but only part of the full or alternative title of the resource that is being suggested.

If you follow a suggestion, resource titles may be verified by opening the info window (by clicking the i-button):

vLib autocomplete

In our example, resource info reveals that the resource was suggested because of its former name which is still recorded in vLib.

Any feedback (comments, etc.) is most welcome.

CSA and ProQuest databases migrate to new platform

Last year the information provider ProQuest released a new user interface which brings together reference databases and full text resources which were previously spread over various platforms (CSA Illumina, Chadwyck-Healey, ProQuest).

The new platform is now ready to use via http://search.proquest.com/.

Please note that we will start to redirect the relevant entry points to the new platform next week. We also recommend to update all local links and bookmarks as soon as possible.

For more information on using ProQuest, please consult your local MPI librarian or send your questions to the colleagues in the IVS-BM. Some online workshops featuring the new platform are now available, as well as a series of training videos created by the ProQuest team.

This is the list of the databases which have been migrated so far:

  • Aerospace Database (1962 – current)
  • AIDS and Cancer Research Abstracts (1982 – current)
  • Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (1987 – current)
  • Aqualine (1960 – current)
  • ASFA: Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts (1971 – current)
  • Biological Sciences (1971 – current)
  • Computer and Information Systems Abstracts (1981 – current)
  • Electronics & Communications Abstracts (1981 – current)
  • Environmental Impact Statements (1985 – current)
  • Environmental Science and Pollution Management (1967 – current)
  • ERIC (1966 – current)
  • GeoRef (1693 – current)
  • International Bibliography of Art (IBA) (1973 – current)
  • Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts (1973 – current)
  • Materials Research Database (1965 – current)
  • Meteorological & Geoastrophysical Abstracts (1974 – current)
  • MLA International Bibliography (1926 – current)
  • PAIS (1914 – current)
  • Philosopher’s Index (1940 – current)
  • Physical Education Index (1970 – current)
  • PILOTS (1871 – current)
  • ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT) (1639 – current)
  • ProQuest Historical Newspapers
  • ProQuest Illustrata: Natural Sciences
  • ProQuest Illustrata: Technology
  • Social Services Abstracts (1979 – current)
  • Sociological Abstracts (1952 – current)
  • Solid State and Superconductivity Abstracts (1981 – current)
  • Zoological Record (1978 – 2012)

Information providers gone mobile

Over the last two years, an increasing number of information providers started to offer mobile versions of their platforms or developed specialized applications to access the electronic content. In most cases, users with mobile devices will be automatically redirected to the corresponding version. Access to subscribed content may depend on your IP address, but some providers support remote access via specific measures.

Here you find some further information for selected providers:

Using MPG/SFX with your favorite literature management tool?

Unfortunately, we don’t know what your favorite tool is, but want to share a short video which provides some instructions for how to use MPG/SFX with Mendeley:

Watch on YouTube

The so-called base URL for the MPG/SFX link resolver is: https://sfx.mpg.de/sfx_local

Please note that Mendeley is by far not the only literature software which supports this kind of integration, e.g. the colleagues from the IVS-BM put together some information for EndNote. You are welcome to contact us if you are interested in instructions for any other tool, we’ll do our best to figure it out…

vLib downtime due to electrical power outage

Due to a scheduled power outage vLib will be unavailable between Friday, 27/05/11, 8 p.m., and Saturday some time during the day.

Please see the GWDG schedule (in German) for the most detailed information we found.

As a high number of services will be experiencing a downtime, systems will be started successively.

We have done our best to prioritize the start of vLib, however, we are unable to give any precise point of time when vLib will be available again after the outage.

MPG/SFX services should be available without interruption.

More info see GWDG News (in German see here).

We apologize for any inconvenience.