Retrieval Systems Training - ESRC Data Archive

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+                           ESRC Data Archive                            +
+                                                                        +
+          Information Technology Training Initiative (ITTI) project     +
+                                                                        +
+    Training for the use of the Archive's Information Retrieval Systems +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ESRC Data Archive
-----------------
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Data Archive at the
University of Essex is a national resource centre for computer-
readable data in the social sciences and humanities.  Founded in 1967,
the Archive exists to preserve the data in its collection and to make them
available for secondary analysis and teaching.  The collection consists of
the data from approximately 3,500 studies and is growing rapidly.
A substantial proportion of the data is received from either central
government or archives in Europe and North America.

BIRON
-----
BIRON - an acronym of Bibliographic Information Retrieval Online - is
the Archive's online public access catalogue (OPAC).  It contains a record
of each study deposited with the Archive.  By carrying out various types
of search, records are retrieved and can be viewed on screen; if desired,
a part of each record retrieved may be sent to an e-mail address.

Each record contains a large amount of descriptive detail about the study
it relates to.   This includes background information in what we call the
study description: the names of principal investigators, data collectors,
sponsors and depositors; an abstract detailing the purposes of the research
and main variables; information about populations sampled and data collection
methodologies.

Each record also contains a list of descriptive terms, known as a list of
keywords.  The list consists of all the topics, place names and years covered
by the data, and sometimes also the source from which the data were drawn.

BIRON is on the National Information Services and Systems (NISS) Gateway menu:
        [ telnet niss.ac.uk or call uk.ac.niss from a PAD terminal ]
At the Gateway main menu select
          V) Archive Services        then      D) BIRON - ESRC Data Archive

To connect your terminal directly using the Internet
        [ telnet biron.essex.ac.uk ]
        [ login: biron             ]
        [ Password: norib          ]

ITTI project
------------
The aim of the project has been to disseminate knowledge of BIRON
within the academic research community and to promote its use by those
outside the Archive.  Work has concentrated on (1) making BIRON easier to use;
(2) providing training through workshops; and (3) producing written material.

BIRON Version 3.0 was implemented in January 1994.  It includes a number of
enhancements which we believe make it easier to use, including help screens.

Workshops and presentations have been given at gatherings of social scientists,
information librarians and computing service user support personnel.

Material produced
-----------------
A 58-page self-help guide - BIRON Version 3.0 User Guide - containing worked
examples is now available.  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Chapter headings:
             General Information (about the ESRC Data Archive)
             Basic Concepts and Methods (of BIRON)
             How to Begin
             Sample Searches (18 worked examples)
             When Records are Retrieved
             Combining Searches
             Thesaurus Explained
             Menu Options Reference
             Index

Price 6.50 pounds in the UKHE sector.
Postage + packing will be added only to orders from overseas.

Order from: Mrs Jean Burgan
            CVCP/USDU
            Level 6
            University House           tel: 0742 725248
            Sheffield             intern'l: +44 742 725248
            S10 2TN                 e-mail: j.burgan@sheffield.ac.uk

_____________________________________________________________________________

In addition, the following publications about BIRON may be obtained
from:
            ESRC Data Archive
            University of Essex
            Wivenhoe Park
            Colchester                 tel: 0206 872001
            Essex                 intern'l: +44 206 872001
            CO4 3SQ                 e-mail: archive@essex.ac.uk

BIRON Version 3.0 (*)                                  } [ leaflets describing
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^                                      }   the main features
BIRON: the Archive's Online Catalogue and Topic Index  }   of BIRON            ]
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
BIRON Version 3.0: sample searches      [ a 13-page booklet containing seven
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^        worked examples and exercises to try ]

(*)  To receive this leaflet via e-mail join the mailbase discussion list
     essex-biron.  It will be sent to you automatically.

                                                       ESRC Data Archive
                                                               June 1994


From: Brian Shields 
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 1995
    _______________________________________________________________________
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