Return-Path: Received: from k.gp.cs.cmu.edu by K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU id aa14632; 6 Nov 90 22:36:27 EST To: bovik@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: [Ginther-Webster] Japanese databases Date: Tue, 06 Nov 90 22:36:25 EST Message-ID: <14630.657948985@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU> From: Harry.Bovik@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU 20-Jun-90 14:02 Kimberly.Ginther-Webster access to Japanese database From: Kimberly.Ginther-Webster@B.GP.CS.CMU.EDU FYI - This was forwarded to me by Alan Fisher. NSF OFFERS U.S. SCIENTISTS FREE ACCESS TO JAPANESE DATABASES U.S. scientists and engineers may now access, at no charge, computer-searchable Japanese bibliographic databases in Tokyo, through a National Science Foundation program. The databases are compiled and updated by Japan's National Center for Science Information Systems (NACSIS), a component of the Japanese Ministry of Education. "Since Japanese scientific and engineering publications have proliferated during the past 20 years, researchers in other countries can no longer afford to overlook Japanese-language papers," says Alexander De Angelis, Manager of NSF's Japan Program. "And it is no longer safe to assume that all good research work will be rapidly published in English. In hot fields such as bio-engineering, electronic components, and computers, Americans need to be aware of important Japanese-language publications as soon as their colleagues in Japan. NACSIS provides that link." The databases include information about research projects sponsored by Japan's Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture; papers presented at electronics and chemistry society conferences; doctoral theses; and Japanese- and foreign-language holdings of periodicals and books in the libraries of 1,100 Japanese universi- ties. The NSF/NACSIS database searcher accepts search requests submitted in English or Japanese via ordinary mail, E-mail, facsimile, or telephone. Each request is then converted to an effective NACSIS search protocol, relevant records are selected from the databases via an interactive communications link with Tokyo, retrieved materials are translated into English as necessary, and the results are returned to the requestor. NSF has collaborated with the Japanese Ministry of Education for many years on exchanges of science information. Under the most recent cooperative agreement, the NACSIS program, the Education Ministry provides access to a trans-Pacific telephone link and supplies several bilingual workstations, so that searchers in the United States can access the Japanese-language databases. An American researcher may request a search by calling the NACSIS operator between 1:00 and 4:00 P.M. EDT at (202) 357-7278, or by sending a message via electronic mail to nacsis@nsf.gov [Internet] or nacsis@NSF [Bitnet]. Searches may also be requested by writing to: NACSIS Operator National Science Foundation Room 416A 1800 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20550 Requestors are encouraged to discuss their bibliographic needs in person or by telephone with the operator at NSF. The operator can also schedule time for requestors proficient in Japanese to come to NSF to perform their own NACSIS searches. ----------