THE CHANGING FACE OF CURRENT-AWARENESS SERVICES

Presents a state of the art review of current awareness services in 19 97 noting: the components of typical current awareness services; the r ange and types of databases that may be scanned during searches; and t he role of feedback and document delivery mechanisms. Includes a check list of criteria which may be used to evaluate current awareness servi ces, including: database coverage; timeliness or currency; cost; and m echanisms for creating and maintaining user SDI profiles. Discusses th e main types of current awareness services: contents page services; ab stracting and indexing services; and integrated online products (such as Engineering Index's Engineering Village) including SDI. Considers t he concept of currency and remarks on the tendency for current awarene ss services to be products of a producer led rather than a user led cu lture.