RESOURCE CENTRE MANUAL
HEALTHLINK WORLDWIDE
You will need to decide what to include in the database, and how the database
will be used. Then you can work out the content and structure of the records.
For example, you might decide to include books, periodical articles and
audiovisual materials in the same database, or you might decide to have a
separate database for, say, audiovisual materials, depending on the size of the
collection. If the collection is small, a single database for all materials would be
appropriate, enabling all types of material on a particular topic to be located
with one search.
Once you have decided what to include in the database, you will need to
consider how much detail is required. This depends how the database will be
used. For example, a database that will only be used for searching materials in
the resource centre will only need to contain basic bibliographic information
(author, title, place of publication, publisher, date of publication, keywords and
classification number). For example:
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Implementation of global malaria control strategy : report of a WHO Study
Group.
Geneva : WHO, 1993
Keywords: malaria / prevention and control / health information systems /
programme management
Location: HC7.2 WOR
A database that will be used to develop a resource list will need to contain
additional information, including an abstract of each material and addresses of
distributors. For example:
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Implementation of global malaria control strategy : report of a WHO study group
on the implementation of the global plan of action for malaria control, 1993-
2000
(WHO Technical Report Series 839)
Geneva : WHO, 1993
57 pages
Keywords: malaria / prevention and control / health information systems /
programme management
Location: HC7.2 WOR
Abstract: The report provides guidance for the implementation of the Global
Malaria Strategy, and recommendations for the development of epidemiological
and health information systems to assist in the planning, monitoring and
evaluation of malaria control programmes. Emphasises the need for early
diagnosis and treatment and the importance of community involvement.
Available from: WHO Distribution and Sales, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.
Once the content and purpose of the database have been decided, it will be
possible to work out how many fields will be needed, and what the field
structure should be, including what fields need to be subdivided or repeated. The
24 SECTION 6: COMPUTERS, ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION AND DATABASES