OmniFile Full Text Select
Midwest Collaborative for Library Services, MeL Training Materials
OmniFile Full Text Select
Reviewed/revised 2/3/2011 SR
The official name of this database is OmniFile Full Text Select. I usually refer to it as OmniFile for simplicity.
Remind the class OmniFile is the same database (content) as WilsonSelectPlus, but is now on a different platform because of changes at OCLC/FirstSearch. For our training purposes, if the class has questions about that change, please let me know (SR) so that we can continue to try to get good information out to everyone.
I met with several H.W. Wilson staff here in October. They indicated that they are adding journals (therefore, content). I've asked them to let us know what is added so that we can send the information on. Stay tuned.
One of the advantages of having this database now on its "native platform" is that we have some searching options that were not available when it was on the FirstSearch platform. We hope users will enjoy those options.
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In the blue bar across the top, there are several options which we will look at as we move through the database.
Point out that this defaults to the Advanced Search screen. Each drop-down box has ways to limit the search to specific types of terms. There are also options to limit by date range, peer reviewed, etc. Please explain that we do NOT need to check the box to limit to full text because this database is all full text. (That option is there for other Wilson databases that use this interface.)
Point out that the default for results (as of Aug. 9, 2010) is to relevance. Use the drop down menu and change show how to change that to date.
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Use the drop-down menu and look at the options for various searches. Change the drop-down menu to SUBJECT(S) and type privacy in the search box. Click on the START button.
Point out the features of the results page. On the right is the list of results, with minimal bibliographic details displayed. Users can click on any title to go to that article. They also have the option of using the tabs across the top to narrow their results to full text (remember this database is all full text), PDF, peer reviewed, or non-peer reviewed. We won't actually use those tabs because they are fairly self-evident.
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Click on the first article title and show the Detailed Record. This is the first portion of what we see, with a great deal of information about the article. Give them a minute to review the detailed record, pointing out the bibliographic information, abstract, descriptors, ISSN, etc. Be sure they notice that there are two links for persistent URL's to this article (HTML AND PDF) which could be used for electronic reading lists and/or personal research lists.
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Scroll down below the detailed record to find the full text of the article. Point out that there is an option to have the article read out loud. There is also an option to translate the document. Click on that and explain that a new window opens. Use the drop down menu to see the number of languages available. We won't take time in class to actually go through the translation process, so close the small window and go back to the article.
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Next, point out the buttons on the top right of the screen for print, email, etc. Click the EMAIL button so the class can see how to send the article to their email accounts. Point out that a new small window opens. An email address and subject are required. While not required, it's nice to identify yourself or your library. Close the window to return to their article, then click on the BACK TO RESULTS link at the middle of the top of the screen, just under the "thin blue line."
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Once back at the results list, point out the they have the option to narrow a search on the left side of the screen, or to start a new search on a related subject. We will not take time in class to do this.
Use the boxesto "mark" 3-4 articles. Notice that directly above the boxes is a link to "get marked," and it tells how many articles have been marked. Click on that link to view the list.
Explain why you might want to mark records and then deal with a smaller list of records for your research. From the list, they can print, email, export, etc.
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Added 11/9/10:
A fun and very useful way to search is from the main page using the drop down menu for Document type. Click on the small arrow, and a list will pop up -- scroll down to let everyone see the long list of document types available. Click on Recipes, then type any holiday in the search box, and do the search. The results will be a list of recipes, with ability to limit on the left side.
Another fun search here is to use Do-It-Yourself-Work and search for something goofy like hot tub. You get an article about building your own hot tub - complete with pictures. (Looks like something Yoopers, like me, would love to have in the back yard right next to da sauna!)
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Click on SEARCH on the top left of the page. Now we want to briefly look at each of the tabs in that blue bar, so click on browse next. This does not seem to be very useful, so click on THESAURUS. This will give them the option to check the "controlled vocabulary" used for descriptors on the articles. It does not give alternate meanings for words. Users would be able to the thesaurus to find more accurate search terms, related search terms, etc.
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Click on SEARCH HISTORY and explain that if they had done 2 or 3 related searches, they could use this screen to combine those searches in a variety of ways to get a new results list.
The next two tabs, Print Email Save and Exporting/Citing are also fairly self-explanatory, so jump to the tab for Journal Directory. This opens a new window and gives a bit of information about the database. If users scroll down in this small window, they can see the entire journal list, including coverage dates. Close the small window.
The last tab, My WilsonWeb, is also easy to understand -- it is simply a method to set up an account to save articles, searches, etc., for future reference. We don't need to spend any time on it in class other than to point it out.
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