Free available table-of-contents services on the Web

Abstract

The author attempts to answer the question whether the table-of-contents supply of Web can help in handling periodicals and in the search of information in libraries. Based on twerve coherent points of views, 28 free services have been studied. They can be divided into two groups. One includes those based on a large number of periodicals. In this case only the display of the table-of-contents is reasonable. In case of databases including a smaller number of periodicals, the abstracts of papers and, occasionally, the full text may be presented. In most services a search over several periodicals is also possible. In this case the name of the author, and individual title words can be searched. Later on - it is hoped - most services can respond to searches for keywords or individual words in the abstract, too when these extended search possibilities and access to abstracts can be realized, then they will be efficient means of information searching. It is hoped that in the future, there will also be free access to the databases referred to, and so they may prove to be an efficient help in solving the problems of handling periodicals in libraries.