International Cooperation and Structured Access to Quality Information

Abstract

A subject gateway, or subject-based information gateway (SBIG) as we describe it here, is a facility that allows easier access to network-based resources in a defined subject area. The more advanced gateways offer an enhanced service via a system consisting of a resource database with various indexes, which can be searched and/or browsed through a Web-based interface. Each entry in the database contains information about a network-based resource. This could be a Web page, Web site, document or database. The sources are selected, described and catalogued using a template and classified and indexed to a database. An example of a subject-based information gateway is OMNI, UK’s independent gateway to high quality biomedical Internet resources, which has been presented at earlier EAHIL conferences. Another example is NOV AGate.