SCELC Vendor Day 2008: About Paratext

Paratext, est. in 1993, is the publisher of three major research databases: Reference Universe: The Cumulative Index to Electronic and Print Reference Works; 19th Century Masterfile and Public Documents Masterfile.

Reference Universe is the only resource of its kind, providing single search access to more than 20 million reference citations matched to your library's holdings!

Reference Universe is designed to solve a core problem for libraries—how do we finally make full use of our electronic and print reference collections?

Reference Universe cumulates article titles and complete indexes to over 12,000 specialized subject encyclopedias, companions, guides and handbooks. Through Reference Universe you can finally open up your library's reference collection to much greater use.

Reference Universe unifies your reference queries, permitting index-level examination of your print collection while, simultaneously, searching articles in over 2,000 electronic reference works.

Over 250 reference publishers are represented in Reference Universe, and include e-reference collections from Gale, ABC-CLIO, Oxford, Credo, Routledge, Sage, Annual Reviews, and many more.

Please link to the Reference Universe Case Studies listed below:

Don Hartman, Associate Librarian/Collection Development at University of Buffalo, talks about applying Reference Universe in a research library setting: http://www.paratext.com/RUStudySUNY.pdf.

Sue Polanka, Head of Reference and Instruction, Wright State University talks about how Reference Universe unifies and deepens the search of both printed and electronic reference resources: http://www.paratext.com/RUstudymaster.pdf

FAQ about Reference Universe: http://www.paratext.com/Refuniversefaq.pdf

Enhancements:

• Includes links to your library's holdings
• Z39.50 compliant to integrate into your federated search system.
• Access includes both COUNTER compliant as well as interactive usage statistics.