4.2.6. Bibliographic References
Traditional documentary search tools and methods include:
- catalogues produced by libraries and publishing houses
- directories of published titles, such as Books in Print
- consultation of documentary services by telephone or in person
- interlibrary loans
- bibliographies published in specialized periodicals and other works
The terminologist's toolbox also includes computerized tools. The following paragraphs provide additional information on other bibliographic reference sources.
Documentary Data Banks
Among these data banks, DIALOG is considered to be the largest in the world. It gives access to more than 500 databases covering
different subject fields. By selecting appropriate options from a menu, it
is possible to obtain exact references, summaries, descriptors, or the complete
text of periodical or journal articles. PASCAL and DELPHES are among the many
databases available through DIALOG. This data bank is accessible via Datapac (using a modem) or the Internet; payment for access is in American dollars
Computerized Catalogues
The computerized catalogues of large libraries facilitate tasks
such as referencing, verification of bibliographic information, interlibrary
loans, or location of a book or a periodical. For example, AMICUS, the National
Library of Canada's information system, includes more than 40 search indexes
(author, program, association, department, subject heading, title, subject,
ISBN, ISSN, publisher, series, etc.). It is accessible via the Internet. The
AG-Canada database is similar to AMICUS as far as access and types of possible documentary searches are concerned (via Internet, payment required). The largest legal database in
Canada is QUICKLAW, which gives access to several databases on precedents
and administrative decisions made by government organizations, and to legislative
databases containing federal and provincial laws and regulations.
Online Search Services
These provide terminologists and
other users with bibliographic information by giving access to computerized
search services in commercial data banks, in the databases mentioned above, or in the catalogues of Canadian libraries registered with GEAC.
Reference Portals
These give access to, among other things, multilingual and multidisciplinary terminology data banks. The names of the data banks are presented in alphabetical order. Selecting a name and clicking on it calls up the querying menu of the desired bank. It is possible to switch from one data bank to another while keeping the same screen, so that search results can be compared, and pertinent information can be retained for terminology research by using a word processor's copy-and-paste function
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