Research tools: databases



Source: http://researchguides.library.syr.edu/mobile

The number of libraries that provide mobile access to databases, such as EbscoHost, JSTOR, or Encyclopedia Britannica, have been increased. University of Michigan library has 16 mobile resources (http://m.lib.umich.edu/mobile-technology/mobile-access), and Syracuse University library provides 17 mobile library apps for University students and faculty (http://researchguides.library.syr.edu/mobile). Public libraries have also introduced this new technology to local communities, even though a relatively small number of apps are adopted; Mobile Alabama Public Library offers 7 mobile databases including EbscoHost (http://www.mplonline.org/apps.htm), and Rockford Public Library has 4 mobile resources (http://www.rockfordpubliclibrary.org/research/databases.asp).

Libraries make efforts to introduce more mobile databases, but there is an obstacle; all mobile databases are not available for all platforms. While EbscoHost and ACS mobile are available for both iPhone and Android, Springerlink, AIP iResearch and iSSRN are only available for iPhone. Research activities can be limited by the obstacle.


Ebsco mobile access
http://www.ebscohost.com/academic/mobile-access

PudMed mobile beta
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/ma11/ma11_pm_mobile_beta.html

JSTOR mobile beta
http://about.jstor.org/support-training/help/jstor-mobile-beta

Gale Apps
http://www.gale.cengage.com/apps/

Further readings:

• http://www.carli.illinois.edu/mem-prod/mobile-database-access.html
• http://www.library.leiden.edu/help/useful/librarysmartphone.html
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mobile/
• http://musingsaboutlibrarianship.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-to-make-library-users-start-search.html