Some characteristics of Japanese databases based on user survey

Abstract

Japanese databases are an indispensable ingredient of information resources. Their importance increases rapidly since they will extensively cover information produced in Japan although the number of the databases is not sufficient enough to do any research without foreign ones.This paper describes some characteristics of the Japanese databases based on an user survey. 63 academic libraries and 65 corporate libraries are questionaired in terms of popular ones merits problems of the databases, government owned information which might be desirable to be included in the databases, and so forth.Popular databases in academic libraries are only ones produced by JICST. On the other hand, corporate libraries are using wide range of databases such as ones provided by JICST, Japan Patent Information Center, Nihon Keizai Shinbun, and others. Corporate libraries use those more frequently than academic libraries.Merits to use them are evident since searchers are exempted from the language barriers and able to obtain domestic information efficiently. Diversity of search commands and keyword types among different systems are major problems. Incomplete or biased coverage of information stored in the databases is also indicated.This paper analyzes reasons and/or backgrounds which resulted in the user responses and finally suggests the way to foster sound growth of the databases.