Alternative Press Index (API) is the largest index of American and Canadian alternative and leftist periodicals, providing author and subject access to viewpoints not covered by materials indexed in the Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature. Now, National Information Services Corporation (NISC) distributes an electronic version with a flexible interface. The result is a wonderful resource that successfully meets API’s goal of expanding patron access to a wide range of opinions.
This version of API uses NISC’s BiblioLine software as its interface. Subscribers have the option of using either ID/password to access the system or IP filtering. Coverage runs from 1991 to the present and is updated quarterly. As with its print version, the database covers articles on African‐American, ethnic, gay/lesbian ecology, labor, indigenous people, and related studies.
Biblioline software offers two search methods. The novice version, designed for patrons, uses an excellent menu for searching by text word, author, and publication year. Included with the menu are links to the online thesaurus for selection of search terms and links to the advanced search versions. Ample online assistance is available through well‐designed help screens.
A professional mode provides the same features as the novice option along with advanced and expert search routines. The advanced mode uses a similar menu for searching author, title, keyword, basic search, publication source, publication year, article type, cross reference, and record identification number fields. Expert mode allows experienced searchers to search field tags, using boolean connectors, wild cards, and truncation. As with the basic routine, these modes contain ample, well designed online help.
Alternative Press Index is not a full text database; and abstracts are available for only a few citations. Entries are first displayed in bibliographic format that contains links to full records. The advanced and expert modes allow users to sort search results by title of article, author, article type, publication year, publication title, and publication type. Also, records may be marked for printing or sending via email.
Overall searching in all modes is quite simple and straightforward. As with other well‐designed databases, patrons can use the novice routines to locate useful materials with little difficulty. Librarians will find the advanced and expert modes quite useful for specialized searchers. The only problem found using the database occurred in moving between the advanced and basic search modes. Moving from basic search and advanced modes is done without difficulty. However, moving from advanced to basic proved more difficult. Also, the lack of full text materials places the system behind files like IAC’s Expanded Academic Index and EBSCO’s Academic Search. However, as with the print version, over 90% of the titles in Alternative Press Index are not available on these other databases.
This version Alternative Press Index is a required tool for any academic or larger public library wanting wide ranging coverage on important periodicals falling outside mainstream opinion. Patrons and librarians will find the flexible interface quite useful for locating materials through a range of search methods. Hopefully a full text version of API will appear in the near future.
