Full-Text Information Online

The City College Library Home Page on the World Wide Web offers our college community a wealth of information literally through a few key strokes.

You say you’d like to read an article that someone told you about that appeared in the New York Times within the last two weeks, but she didn’t remember just when?? Rather than rifling through a stack of Times sections (and you know how many there are now...), turn on your computer’s browser—or use the library’s — type in the library’s home page URL (http://www.ccny.cuny.edu/library) and click on "Full-Text Articles" in the frame on the left side of the screen.

Scroll down to Lexis—Nexis UNIVerse and click again. You’ll be prompted to type in a user I.D. and password (both given on screen). After choosing "Top News" and specifying a two-week time period to search "Major Newspapers," simply type in several keywords from the sought-after article in the appropriate boxes, and click on "search." Your article should appear on screen ready to be printed out or downloaded to your "a" drive floppy disk - or simply to be read. If it’s not a specific article you want, but information on any topic currently in the news, it’s a good bet that you’ll find what you want through Lexis-Nexis. The "General News" category broadens your search back in time and adds magazines and other news sources for a search on your topic.

More Than News

In addition to news, you can choose search categories such as "Federal Case Law" which, among other riches, offers you access to full-text U.S. Supreme Court opinions going back to 1790! Do you need to look up a section of a state code? Not a problem. Click on "State Legal Research," and choose your state. If you’re interested in researching a medical question, choose "General Medical and Health Topics" to browse full-text medical journals and newsletters. You’d like Compaq’s latest annual report? Turn to "Company Financial Information," and find that report as well as other SEC filings. Do we need to say more? This is an inordinately rich and user-friendly fount of information. If desired, our reference librarians are ready to assist you in your initial attempts.

The Catch?

It’s available on a trial basis only through May 16 on your local webstations or by dialing in from off site. Take the time to try it out, sample the riches, and let the library know if you’d like us to continue offering it. We’ll pass your comments on to CUNY which will make the decision about financing the continuing availability of this service. Email Professor Guy Westmoreland at: guwcc@cunyvm.cuny.edu, or call 650-7602.

What Else Is Available?

Also on a trial basis, but available until further notice, Info Trac Search Bank (reached as above) provides both abstracts and full-text articles from four different databases focusing on health, general reference, business, and academic subjects. In general, information is available from 1980 to date.

If it’s science you’re interested in, click on Science and Technology Journals on the same "Full-Text Articles" site and you’ll be linked to journals which are available for varying time periods. Again, your input is valuable. Email Professor Westmoreland on Search Bank, and Professor Phil Barnett on the science journals at: phbcc@cunyvm.cuny.edu or call 650-8243.

Finally...

To access other useful online information be sure to click on the "Databases" link to connect to online databases such as The Avery Architectural Index, Britannica, and Engineering Information Village (all three available from campus workstations only). And be sure to click on the "Selected Internet Sites" link on the library’s home page to find a recommended list of useful web pages on a host of subjects ranging from abortion to the White House, brought to you courtesy of the library.