Library improves online search systems

The library has become more user friendly this year with the addition of a new and improved PennData system. The new network helps library users locate research materials by unifying Franklin -- the online catalog, and the old PennData system -- which contained an online periodical index. The new PennData system also includes Wilson -- a new database that indexes journals in many disciplines. WILS is a composite of art, the humanities, social sciences, applied science technology and the Readers' Guide. "The nice thing about the system is that it creates a link between Franklin and the other system," Reference Librarian Bob Walther said. "Only by bringing it to Franklin can we create an integration." Walther serves as the online services coordinator for PennData. Walther said that with the old system one would have to log off PennData and on to Franklin in order to determine which of the journals the University owned. The new integrated system eliminates this step. Any computer in the University's library system that has had Franklin capability can access PennData, Walther said. The new WILS addition includes movie, book and art reviews and provides short summaries or abstracts. "There is lots of information in just the abstracts," Walther said. But Walther said that the problem with the system is that few members of the University community are aware of it. "I had no idea the computer could provide so much information," College sophomore Marna Fainman said. "I have only used it for books before. Now that I know this, it provides me with resources I never knew we had." Students who used the system said it was easy to operate. "I'm glad that it has articles," College sophomore Abigail May said. "I went home and had to search through the Readers' Guide. It is much easier to use the computer." "I'm really happy [with the system]," Walther said. "I deal with electrical resources a lot. It is more fun than I expected. I find things all the time that amaze me."