Furling Access: Hacking the Database November 3, 2006
One of the biggest problems researchers have on the Web is how to keep articles, categorize them, and retrieve them later using task-specific searches, and the problem is more difficult when research involves parts of the Invisible Web. A substantial part of that hidden Web consists of information available in many public library subscription databases. The problem is, once found, the articles, reviews and other documents can be tediously copied and pasted, or emailed in plain text, or stored to a hard drive in PDF formats, and each of these maneuvers is inconvenient in different ways. The emailed plain text version leaves no substantial room for categorization, and search capacities (even on gmail) are rather limited. Similar difficulties accrue with PDF or word files stored on a hard drive. What is needed is a system that makes database information available to the public, and then storable and searchable in user defined ways.
Library databases are usually accessed through the process of surfing to a public library home page, entering a login ( usually a library card and a pin number) , conducting a search, and finally saving the desired works. The only options for sifting and saving the gold out of what always is a great pile of dross are as above- until now. With a combination of sites- AccessMyLibrary and Furl ,retrievable research becomes much easier.
AccessMyLibrary is a portal to a large number of databases normally accessible only through a library home page. The site asks its visitors to enter a zip code, and then turns up a list of libraries in that area. When users locate their library of choice, they enter their library card number (minus the PIN).At that point, a sophisticated search interface allows them access to many of the subscription databases available through the library interface.
Furl.net is a free Web page archive run by the people at Looksmart. After signing up for a free account and dragging the furl button up to a browser toolbar (furl works with both Firefox and Internet Explorer) , users then proceed to save copies of web pages to an individual archive. The Furl interface allows quick saves, if users want to save everything they read with one click, and also provides an interface allowing the researcher to categorize the article, comment on it, rewrite the title, and so on. Keep in mind that what Furl stores is not a link: it is an actual copy of the page, or the PDF, or .doc file. It is thereafter searchable, editable, and easily manipulated by simply logging into Furl. It also takes much more time to explain what Furl does than to sign up for an account and get started( less than five minutes).
Armed with a Furl account and a library card, log into AccessMyLibrary, peform a search of interest, and start furling the results. You will soon have an extensive, retrievable, and if you wish, private archive of papers , classified and sorted in any way you wish.
To recap:
- Get a library card.
- Sign up for a free account at Furl.net.
- Don’t forget to drag the Furl button(s) to your browser toolbar.
- Go to AccessMyLibrary .
- Find your library with a zipcode, and log in with your library card.
- Perform a search of interest.
- Start Furling!
Remember, all of this takes much longer to say than to do. Other than obtaining a library card, the rate limiting steps for assembling an impressive archive of search results are what they always are: searching skill, reading speed, and an ability to formulate a meaningful question.
