Vascoda
Encyclopedia
vascoda is a German web portal
which offers access to scientific information
in various disciplines. The name vascoda is often associated with the medieval
explorer Vasco da Gama
, as this implies the connotation of navigating the sea of information. Initially, though, “vascoda“ is a made-up word created by an agency for naming and branding.
vascoda is also a non-profit organization
which offers support and coordination of its members’ subject portals.
. The searches can be performed within a certain subject or interdisciplinarily
. Specialized subject portals can also be accessed directly via the vascoda portal.
The vascoda portal and the integrated subject portals are set up and maintained by academic libraries
and other information providers with an international reputation. These institutions provide content of high standard, parts of which cannot be found by standard web search engines
.
Access to the portal is free. However, for some of its services and resources a fee is required (pay-per-view
). Furthermore, vascoda is connected to local library holdings and document delivery services.
vascoda’s data are integrated into the WorldWideScience
global science gateway.
. The portal is technically run by the NRW Online Utility and Library Service Centre (hbz).
(DFG) or the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Various institutions were in charge of these projects. Some examples are:
Currently, the German Research Foundation supports the vascoda 2010 project. The project aims at improving and furthering the vascoda portal.
Web portal
A web portal or links page is a web site that functions as a point of access to information in the World Wide Web. A portal presents information from diverse sources in a unified way....
which offers access to scientific information
Scientific literature
Scientific literature comprises scientific publications that report original empirical and theoretical work in the natural and social sciences, and within a scientific field is often abbreviated as the literature. Academic publishing is the process of placing the results of one's research into the...
in various disciplines. The name vascoda is often associated with the medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
explorer Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama, 1st Count of Vidigueira was a Portuguese explorer, one of the most successful in the Age of Discovery and the commander of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India...
, as this implies the connotation of navigating the sea of information. Initially, though, “vascoda“ is a made-up word created by an agency for naming and branding.
vascoda is also a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
which offers support and coordination of its members’ subject portals.
Portal
The vascoda web portal offers access to information and full texts on various subjects through an integrative user interfaceUser interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
. The searches can be performed within a certain subject or interdisciplinarily
Interdisciplinarity
Interdisciplinarity involves the combining of two or more academic fields into one single discipline. An interdisciplinary field crosses traditional boundaries between academic disciplines or schools of thought, as new needs and professions have emerged....
. Specialized subject portals can also be accessed directly via the vascoda portal.
The vascoda portal and the integrated subject portals are set up and maintained by academic libraries
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
and other information providers with an international reputation. These institutions provide content of high standard, parts of which cannot be found by standard web search engines
Web search engine
A web search engine is designed to search for information on the World Wide Web and FTP servers. The search results are generally presented in a list of results often referred to as SERPS, or "search engine results pages". The information may consist of web pages, images, information and other...
.
Access to the portal is free. However, for some of its services and resources a fee is required (pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
). Furthermore, vascoda is connected to local library holdings and document delivery services.
vascoda’s data are integrated into the WorldWideScience
WorldWideScience
WorldWideScience.org is a global science search engine designed to accelerate scientific discovery and progress by accelerating the sharing of scientific knowledge...
global science gateway.
Aim
The aim of vascoda is to merge academic resources into a single well-structured integrative information service.Supporting organization
vascoda is a registered voluntary association with 42 members, which are mostly German libraries and other information providers. The association’s aim is to develop and maintain the interdisciplinary vascoda portal. The vascoda office is based in HanoverHanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
. The portal is technically run by the NRW Online Utility and Library Service Centre (hbz).
Subject portals integrated into vascoda
The following subject portals are currently accessible through the vascoda portal. Parts of their data are integrated into the vascoda search (as of June 2009):
|
Vifanord vifanord is a digital library or internet subject gateway that provides combined access to scientifically relevant information on the Nordic countries , the Baltic countries , the Baltic region as a whole and on Hanseatic topics.It offers free and... – Virtual Library of Northern European and Baltic Studies |
vascoda-related projects
A number of projects and working groups focussing on certain aspects relevant to vascoda were financially supported by the German Research FoundationDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft is an important German research funding organization and the largest such organization in Europe.-Function:...
(DFG) or the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Various institutions were in charge of these projects. Some examples are:
- Functionality and operation of the vascoda portal
- Metadata, standards and questions of heterogeneity
- Coordination, marketing, quality assurance
- Content: rights, licences and business concepts
- Overall structures and tasks
- Shared authentication, authorization and permissions management
- Modelling and questions of heterogeneity
Currently, the German Research Foundation supports the vascoda 2010 project. The project aims at improving and furthering the vascoda portal.