50 — iassist quarterly

Database directories

by Jim Jacobs

Prepared for the 1986 IASSIST conference, Marina del Ray, Calif., May 22-24, 1986.

Introduction

The following is a highly selective list of directories of [American] 1 machine-readable data files.

Emphasis is on those directories which are most current, most complete, or are unique in some

useful way. This list is current as of May 1986.

DIRECTORIES OF ONLINE DATABASES

Computer-Readable Databases: A Directory and Data Sourcebook . Edited by Martha E. Williams.

Chicago: American Library Association, 1985. 2 volumes.

Describes over 2800 publicly available databases, most of which are available online. Gives rather

detailed descriptions of each database. A subject index lists databases in 550 categories. This

directory can also be searched, full-text, on Dialog (file 230). Volume one covers databases in

science, technology, and medicine; volume two covers business, law, the humaniues, and social

sciences; multi-disciplinary databases are listed in both volumes.

Data Base Directory. 1984-85
. White Plains, NY: Knowledge Industry Publications, Inc.. 1984, in

cooperation with the American Society for Information Science.

Identifies and describes machine-readable database, both bibliographic and non-bibliographic,

which are available for public access online in North America. Lists fewer databases (about 1700

versus more than 2700) than Directory of Online Databases or Computer Readable Databases .

Well indexed by subject, producer and vendor. Also available for searching full-text on BRS
(database label: K.IPD).

Directory of Online Databases . Quarterly, cumulative. Santa Monica, CA: Cuadra Associates, Inc.

Lists and describes machine-readable databases available online to the public. The spring 1985

issue lists 2760 databases, only slightly fewer than Computer Readable Databases , which includes a

few which are not available online. Published quarterly and available online on Westlaw. Good
subject and other indexes.

'Editor's note

Summer 1987



iassist quarterly — 51

Directory of Periodicals Online: Indexed. Abstracted, and Full Text Washington, D.C.: Federal

Document Retrieval, 1985-86. 3 volumes.

This directory is useful if you have the name of a particular periodical and you want to know if

it is indexed or abstracted online, or available for full text searching online. Will cover 25,000

periodicals when all 3 volumes are published.

SPECIALIZED DIRECTORIES

APDU Membership Directory . Princeton, NJ: Association of Public Data Users. Annual.

Lists and provides profiles of members in this organization of data users, producers, and

distributors. All members are organizations.

Catalog of Machine-Readable Records in the National Archives of the United States. Washington,

DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1977.

Describes holdings of machine-readable data in the National Archives. Arranged by the same

record groups as the National Archives Guide . These files are not available online, but most can

be purchased on tape. A new edition is due in 1986.

Data Acquisitions . Storrs, CT: Roper Public Opinion Research Center. 1983- (irregular).

The Roper Center is an archive of sample survey data from over seventy countries. Data

Acquisitions lists and describes new surveys in the archive. Currently there are over 900 studies

available through the center in machine readable form. A newsletter. Data Set News Roper ,

announces new acquisitions.

A Directory of Computerized Data Files . National Technical Information Service. Washington, D.C.:

Government Printing Office, (annual).

Lists and describes over 1000 federal databases which are for sale from NTIS on computer tape.

This catalog does not indicate online availability although some files may be available through

vendors. Indexed by subject and agency.

Directory of Databases in the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Vivian S. Sessions, ed. New York.

NY: Sciences Associates. 1974.

Although dated, this directory is unique and is still valuable for identifying organizations that

collect data files, and the types of files they collect Many entries are for local data centers

collecting locally produced data. Some examples: "Historical Data on the Social Welfare Policies

in Europe", (1850-1965), "Polish Immigration in the U.S." (1776- ), "Urban Transportation

Study, Amarillo Texas", (1940- ). Few, if any, of the data files listed here are available online.

Summer 1987