Citation
Clayton, P. (1998), "AsianDOC Electronic Newsletter", Asian Libraries, Vol. 7 No. 11. https://doi.org/10.1108/al.1998.17307kad.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1998, MCB UP Limited
AsianDOC Electronic Newsletter
Multimedia and electronic resources
AsianDOC Electronic NewsletterVol. 1 No. 1, March 1998http://asiandoc.lib.ohio-state.edu/
This homepage should be of interest and value to almost all Asian scholars and researchers, including most readers of Asian Libraries. The "DOC" stands for Database Online Community, and the site's publisher/editor is Maureen Donovan of Ohio State University Library. First impressions of any Web document can be misleading. The rather primitive graphics of the AsianDOC site a bright red logo on a plain yellow background are not especially inviting, however functional. But at least the viewer is not asked to wait while fancy graphics are downloaded, nor distracted by flashing objects or advertising.
For those for whom content is more important than presentation, AsianDOC has a lot to offer. At the time of review the first issue was available. This really is a newsletter, not an electronic journal no articles as such are included. It is organised around five buttons, each of which conveniently reappears in a row at the foot of each page: databases, conferences and meetings, technical corner, interest groups, reviews.
Databases: all the items I tried in this very impressive list were working, not often the case with many sites. Perhaps a line of description or annotation could be added for each, although the content of most titles is apparent.
Conferences, meetings: sensibly, these are arranged by date, with an annotation on each, and include electronic contact details.
Technical corner: this page includes links to a transliteration group, a listserv and an invitation to a visiting scholars programme. Useful as these are, "technical corner" does not seem an appropriate heading for them, and I wondered why they were not included with the button for interest groups.
Interest groups: provides three additional, and appropriate, listings.
Reviews: this page includes a review column compiled by Matthew Ciolek, an outstanding selected and annotated online bibliography. However, in the sub-section devoted to publication notices and brief reviews, an item entitled "Online usage statistics", contributed from the American Institute of Physics, seemed to me as irrelevant to users of this site as it sounded.
In short, AsianDOC is a no-frills, content-oriented site of the kind Asian scholars using the Web should find of continuing value. I look forward to seeing the next issue
Peter ClaytonUniversity of Canberra