PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release: 8 October 2012
IMarEST OPEN VIRTUAL LIBRARY AS KEY BENEFIT OF MEMBERSHIP
Having demonstrated its new Virtual Library to great acclaim at SMM in Hamburg last month, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) has now officially launched the service, which is available to all members online.
Providing access to the full text and metadata of thousands of academic journals, trade magazines, market reports and news providers from publishers across the global engineering, scientific and technology community, The Discovery Service, provides yet another significant benefit for the Institute’s 15,000 members around the world.
Members can access the Virtual Library and existing ‘eBook Collection’, via a landing page at www.imarest.org/Technical/InformationServices. Visitors can also access the new Discovery Service; a third new resource ‘The Digital Archive’, which comprises full text access to over 120 years of IMarEST publications, which will be available within a matter of weeks.
“On clicking the ‘Discovery Service’ logo members will see a standard ‘Google style’ search box provided by EBSCO but also three columns highlighting relevant links to specific journal titles and subject searches in marine engineering, science and technology disciplines,” explains James McRae, IMarEST’s Information and Knowledge Manager, who has overseen the project. “For those who wish to use the Discovery Service on a mobile device, there is also a link to an iPhone and Android app”
“This is indeed a critical step into the 21st century for the Institute,” says IMarEST Chief Executive, David Loosley. “As a Learned Society we understand the importance of access to knowledge – indeed, this was why the Institute was founded over 120 years ago. This access not only supports scientific and engineering advancements, but helps individuals maintain their continuing professional development (CPD) and promotes validation of expertise through professional registration.
“With a global membership in over a hundred countries, it is vital to be able to provide consistent knowledge benefits to all our members. Our new Virtual Library comprises three key online resources all of which are exclusively available to members via our website, further establishing IMarEST as the leading international membership body and Learned Society for marine professionals.
“These new services are fully searchable online and easy to navigate,” says David Loosley. “We are eager to provide our members with an easy-to-use system that they will come to rely upon as an essential daily work tool; demonstrating the new service at SMM enabled us to see people putting it to the test, and their feedback was invaluable. I would like to congratulate James McRae, and all the members of my team who have moved things along so fast and effectively.”
Further information on the IMarEST Virtual Library is available from www.imarest.org/Technical/InformationServices.
ENDS