Reference at Newman Library

Watch Out for Journal Sites That Offer Articles in ReadCube Format

Some of the major journal publishers, such as Wiley and Nature, have added ReadCube as an option for viewing the full text of an article. Depending on which journal platform you’re on, you may see links for the article as a PDF and as an “Interactive PDF from ReadCube” or just one option. Here are some examples:

Nature--ReadCube option

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v456/n7221/full/456450a.html

Wiley--ReadCube

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1017/S1464793106007032/abstract

Although these “ReadCube PDFs” may be billed as PDFs, they have some flaws, as noted by researcher Ross Mounce, who finds that they are not clearly labeled on the article page by Wiley and that in some cases the images are messed up from the original PDF. In the case of Wiley’s interface, if you want the original PDF, you first have view the ReadCube PDF and then within the ReadCube interface look for the “Download PDF” option on the bottom; only then will you be able to the traditional PDF.

Interestingly, Mounce suggests that people who are concerned about the usability problems with how ReadCube is presented and functions, and with the DRM that is built into the technology, and with its possible privacy issues may actually want to block ReadCube PDFs from even appearing in their browsers and offers a range of browser plugins and security settings to do so.

RiskMetrics Is Now Called ISS

The RiskMetrics database available on the WRDS platform has been renamed ISS. The link to ISS can now be found on the I-J tab of the main databases page. Through this summer, there will be a see reference link on the Q-R tab that redirects users to the I-J tab for the ISS link.

FWIW, I had forgotten about what was in this particular database. If you want data on directors (names, ethnicity, affilations, etc.) and governance of a publicly traded company, then ISS is the place to go.

Database Trial: World Cinema Video Collection

Database description

Nearly 400 full-length movies from legendary directors such as Ozu, Kurosawa, Eisenstein, Welles, Hitchcock, etc. Videos may be embedded.

Trial ends

1 April 2015 (CUNY-wide)

Access

On campus only via the link on the Trials tab of the databases page

Feedback

Please share with any faculty who might be interested and recommend they use the trial feedback form (also linked to on the Trials tab on the databases page)

Gale Interface Changes Coming on April 2

Gale is making a number of interface changes launching on April 2 that will:

  • make their interfaces more unified in appearance
  • be more accessible to searchers using assistive technology
  • offer a responsive design that works on all screen sizes

You can preview the changes ways:

  • on a special set of pages on the Gale site detailing the changes with screenshots
  • live in a preview mode in selected Gale resources (look for the “TRY NEW EXPERIENCE” icon in the top left corner)

Gale Virtual Reference Library--launch the new interface

This interface update will only affect a third of the databases we get from Gale:

  • Academic OneFile
  • Gale Virtual Reference Library
  • General One File
  • General Science Collection
  • Health Reference Center Academic
  • Infotrac Newsstand
  • New York State Newspapers
  • Opposing Viewpoints in Context