ECLAS moves to the web, April 1998

In February 1998 ECLAS became available on the web at http://europa.eu.int/eclas as well as in the BASIS command language version from Eurobases. This has done much to improve access to a previously underused but very important database which contains the holdings of the Commission Library in Brussels. The web interface offers an expert search screen with Boolean operators as well as the basic search screen. Other search facilities include the possibility of selecting terms directly from the 'Index Browse' feature, while the on-line thesaurus, currently in English and French, but with German coming soon, will dispense with the need for the huge multivolume printed copy and allow the user to click on the chosen term to activate the search immediately. However, future plans offer even more developments - look out for the introduction of a search history list, the facility to combine previous searches, the possibility of storing profiles, downloading in MARC format and the implementation of the Z39.50 protocol. Though database access is free, users are required to register, which can be done in minutes on-line. The idea at present is simply to gather statistical information about who the users are and which countries they come from, but when the profiles option is introduced a personal registration becomes essential. At a later stage it is intended to introduce a 'Guest access' option similar to that of the RAPID database.

European Commission: RAPID http://europa.eu/rapid/search.htm

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