Library launches new Whitman Business and Management Information Gateway

Library launches new Whitman Business and Management Information GatewayJanuary 16, 2008Pamela McLaughlinpwmclaug@syr.edu

Syracuse University Library launched its new Business and Management Information Gateway on Jan. 14. A collaborative project of SU Library and the Whitman School, the Gateway is a customized collection of information resources specific to business and management that was designed specifically for the Whitman School, but is available to all SU students, faculty and staff. As information continues to shift towards online digital formats, the number of available information resources is increasing at a rapid pace. The Gateway organizes the best business information resources in a custom-designed and easy to use interface.

The Gateway’s search functionality, powered by MetaLib, streamlines the discovery process and enables users to locate the information they need quickly and effectively. The new interface searches multiple information resources simultaneously, eliminating the need for users to learn different search protocols and interfaces. A single search will include results from a variety of information resources such as journal articles, newspapers, books, library catalogs, and other quality Internet resources. The Gateway also includes links to other library services, as well as to course-specific information developed by the library’s business subject specialist.

Gateway search results are presented in a manageable, unified format, enabling users to:

• Review retrieved items in a merged, de-duplicated list
• Group results by facets such as author, date, journal or other attributes
• Compare the result lists of different searches
• Save relevant records and locate the actual material

The search interface accommodates the varying skill and experience levels of individual users, offering both novice and expert search modes. Options include a simple “Google-like” keyword search or an advanced search of specific fields with Boolean operators.

There are three audience-specific versions of the Gateway available for student, faculty and staff use. The Gateway can be accessed through Whitman’s Blackboard Community Intranet; the student version is also available on the library website at http://library.syr.edu/information/services/whitman/students.html. Licensed online resources are accessible only by those with a current SU/ESF I.D. card.

For more information about this project, contact Angela Ramnarine-Rieks at 443-8709 or email auramnar@syr.edu.