Verfasser-Datenbank | eDesiderata

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Overview

Launched in 2012, Verfasser-Datenbank (Database of Authors) features articles on literary authors in the German-speaking world from the Middle Ages to present. The database combines four literary studies reference works for a total of over 20,000 articles: Die deutsche Literatur des Mittelalters, Deutscher Humanismus 1480-1520, Frühe Neuzeit in Deutschland 1520-1620, and the Killy-Literaturlexikon.

Verfasser-Datenbank is intended to be updated regularly, with ongoing revision of Literatur des Mittelalters (German Literature of the Middle Ages) overseen by an academic advisory board. The entries will be updated quarterly; beginning in 2013, the publisher expects to update cited references as frequently as weekly.

Provider:

De Gruyter

Posted:

Oct 31, 2012 4:23am

Updated:

Jan 1, 2015 12:00am

Source

CRL reviews are based on independent research. Information is researched by CRL staff and other specialists at CRL libraries. See CRL Review for additional source notes.

Details

Collection Content

Subject Areas:

Arts and Humanities

Social Sciences

Resource Types:

Bibliographical citations

Reference books

Major Languages:

German

- Denotes data sourced directly from publisher

Content Details:


Geographic coverage	German-speaking Europe
Chronological coverage	Middle Ages to the present
Content types	This database combines four reference works on German language authors: Die deutsche Literatur des Mittelalters, Deutscher Humanismus 1480-1520, Frühe Neuzeit in Deutschland 1520-1620, and the Killy-Literaturlexikon.
Source formats	Paper
Total titles	20,000+ articles
Total pages	NA
Digital collection launch date	2012
Update frequency	Quarterly (in 2013, expect weekly updates to cited references)
Collection ongoing	Y
Completion date	NA
Available supplements	NA

Specifications

Metadata:


MARC records available	N
Creator of MARC records	NA
Structural metadata exposed anywhere?	NA
Subject authorities used	NA
Name authorities used	NA

Technical Platform:


Browser compatibility	IE 8+ (not in compatibility mode); also late and current versions of Firefox, Chrome, and Safari
Authentication options	IP recognition; referrer URL; username/password
Archiving solution – master files	NA
Archiving solution – derivative files	NA
Availability in web discovery tools	N
Open URL target	Y
Federated searching, z39.50	Y
Local host option	N
Usage statistics	Y (Counter compliant)

Interface Tools:


Full text displayed	Y
Page images	Y
Color images	NA
Search full text	Y
Advanced search	Y
Search within results	Y
Limit results by dates and/or document types	Y
Display highlighted search terms	Y
Display snippet -- search term in context	N
Relevance sorting	Y
Save searches	Y
Download PDF	N (coming in 12/2012)
Download HTML	Y
Print page	Y
Print full document	Y
Export citations	Y
Annotation tools	N
Cross-product searching	Y
ILL	Y
Restrictions on use	N

Terms and Provider Details

Terms:


	Options
Subscription option	Y
Purchase option	Y
Multiple year payments option	NA
Hosting charges	NA
List of purchasers available	N (new product)
Sample license available	NA
MARC records purchase fee	NA
Price tier basis	N

Provider:

De Gruyter

Website:

http://www.degruyter.com/

Main Address:

Genthiner Strasse 13

D-10785 Berlin

Germany

CRL Review

Collection Content:

Verfasser-Datenbank is intended to be updated regularly, with ongoing revision of Literatur des Mittelalters (German Literature of the Middle Ages) overseen by an academic advisory board. The entries will be updated quarterly; additionally, beginning in 2013, the publisher expects to update cited references as frequently as weekly.

Strengths and Weaknesses:

It is useful to have four literary biography reference works combined together. And since Verfasser-Datenbank is issued by De Gruyter, a large German publisher with other databases like Germanistik, it can be cross-searched with the other De Gruyter databases for citations, though not full-text retrievable.

A significant drawback of the database is its tiny font, which makes some of its functionality less obvious to users. For example, an advanced search function in the top-right corner enables searching of other De Gruyter databases, but the text is so unobtrusive, many users will miss it. User notes and background information about Verfasser-Datenbank are featured PDFs on the database’s homepage, but are only available in German.

A full citation, including a DOI (Digital Object Identifier), is listed at the very top of the results page of each entry article, simplifying bibliographic citation for the user. Citations may then be exported from the site in ALA, MLA, or Chicago formats and saved as a file. Clicking on the “Export” button will download the details in RIS format. Details include author name (if available), document title, and URL. The RIS bibliographic format can be imported in most citation managers, such as Endnote, RefWorks, and Citavi.

Articles can not be exported. Instead, once logged in, users may save an article by adding it to their “bookshelf.” Users can also add notes to saved articles that only they can see. The publisher reports that downloads in PDF format will be implemented by December 2012.

Comments from CRL members include:

A comparison between Verfasser-Datenbank and Gale’s Dictionary of Literary Biography (DLB) online found that not only does the DLB offers as good if not better treatment to an entry, including portraits from the period, but the DLB also covers all of the same historical periods that the Verfasser-Datenbank covers.
Though cross-searchable, Verfasser-Datenbank offers few other features, e.g., hot links from bibliographic sources. Instead, “In order to follow up on the bibliographies, one must practice old-fashioned librarianship, whereby one cuts and pastes the source titles into the OPAC to determine holdings and locations.”

Saving, exporting, and e-mailing results require setting up an account, and these features are limited to citation information, not the full text (though it is possible to save full text and return to it later via the “My Bookshelf” feature within the database.)

Reviewers:

Center for Research Libraries

Virginia Kerr - Digital Program Manager
Gretchen Rings - Communications Staff Writer

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Gordon Anderson - Librarian for European Studies

Sources

Sources for this review include information publicly posted or obtained directly from the publisher; data collected by CRL staff and specialists at CRL libraries; and examination of the digital collection when possible. Other sources are noted where cited. CRL continues to gather additional information on this resource and to solicit critical assessment.

CRL Offers & Status

Status	Current	Description
CRL Flagged	no	Potential interest to CRL community
Offer Pending	no	Currently a candidate for CRL offer
Active Offer	no	Currently offered for purchase or new subscription
Trial Access	no	Available for trial
Renewal Offer	no	Currently offered for renewal
Expired Offer	yes	Past offers
Inactive / Declined	no	No longer under consideration by CRL
Reviewed by CRL	yes	Evaluation available by CRL and community
Special Access	no	Member-only access available for a limited time

The complete offer and activity details for this resource are only available to CRL members.

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