June 20, 2010
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The Summer 2010 update to the ERIC website features a variety of search enhancements, research tools, and valuable information. Highlights include improved searching, expanded RSS feeds, a search and citation "Share" tool, a Thesaurus update, and ERIC Microfiche "Keep" lists for library collection management.
With ERIC's latest features individuals will be able to:
- Search with greater precision
- Remove some of the guesswork from refining a search
- Search ERIC's lists of journals and non-journal sources using keywords
- Collaborate with classmates or colleagues by posting searches or citations to popular sites
- Use RSS to follow key education topics or collections
Ongoing improvements to the ERIC site are guided by user feedback identified through emails to Customer Service, user research, and usability testing. A more detailed description of the many improvements is offered below.
What's New
Search Enhancements
- Enhanced tools for narrowing search results
- Add additional search terms based on the actual data in your search results.
- You will be able to see which authors, journals, and other publications are most associated with your topic, providing additional possibilities for research.
- Terms from the following fields can be applied: Author, Descriptors, Date, Audience, Journal, Education Level, and Publication Type.
- Commonly used symbols can now be included in search strings, enabling searches on URLs, email addresses, and other terms.
- Three new search limiters, "ED Only," "EJ Only," and "Peer Review" have been added to Advanced Search.
Social Media and Collaboration
- RSS feeds have been expanded to include more key collections and new feeds on education topics.
- Follow ERIC on Facebook! You'll find links on the ERIC Homepage and throughout the site.
- "Share" tool enables searchers to post citations and searches to popular social applications and sites.
Citation Management
- "Permalinks" added to record details support bookmarking and citations.
- "Direct Link" added to record details makes it easier to locate a DOI if one is available.
- Education Level has been added to the Detailed Citation & Abstract export.
Collection Management
- "Weeding Your Microfiche Collection" has been updated and reorganized.
- Microfiche "Keep" lists have been added as an aid to libraries that have not yet begun ERIC microfiche maintenance.
- Existing "Pull" lists have been retained and updated for libraries with collection maintenance underway.
- Updated journal and non-journal source lists are searchable by keyword.
- New information page provides statistics on ERIC's coverage, full text, and sources.
Thesaurus
