InfoShare
InfoShare is a database that specializes in gathering information pertaining social aspects of life on a statistical level.
It’s used to create tables consisting of numerical data, displaying the various categories in which the user wishes to preview. From the tabs shown in the database, the user is able to compare various areas in not only New York City but other cities in other states as well.
You’ll be able to view the Census from a range of years and be able to gather information accordingly.
There isn’t any usage of controlled vocabulary in InfoShare however there are various categories in which the user can select in hopes to find what they’re looking for.
There are a couple of things that have surprised me by exploring via InfoShare:
- The availability of federal government data (i.e. Census) to the public or academic scholars
- The precision of the numerical values and specific categories that the databases provides
WorldCat
Combines the library catalogs of 9000 libraries. Includes more than 67 million items. If a book was ever published, chances are it’s listed in here.
The WorldCat database provides insight to millions of books and other pieces of literature and allows the users to browse through various formats (i.e. large print, braille, manuscript, microform, audio, VHS, DVD, etc.).
Using WorldCat, you’re more likely to find books and other pieces of literature in various formats listed above.
There is controlled vocabulary in the sense that a drop-list is provided so that you’re able to select the category that best fits the word/phrase that you typed into the search box.
I’ve noticed how interesting WorldCat allows you to limit your search type to certain formats as well as the type of audience and the type of content (i.e. Fiction, Non-Fiction, etc.). I also thought that it was interesting how there’s a specific CUNY libraries drop-box as well a “Library Code” search box to specifically locate the OCLC.
