Information Bridge

IB Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)



What does the Information Bridge (IB) contain? and what is the date range of the content?
The IB contains:
– over 170,000 electronic searchable and downloadable documents
– a fielded search that offers multiple field searching, 'Sort by' capabilities, relevancy ranking, and choices to limit by publication date, system entry date, type of document, and/or matches with electronic documents
– a Subject Select feature that assists in identifying terms for subject searches
– an Author Select feature that assists in identifying variation(s) of an author name or identification of multiple author names
– The capability to create, revise, and cancel weekly Alerts in subject areas of interest
– navigation options that include the links at the top of each page and the Site Map.
The content of the database is primarily from 1991 forward, with some older documents.
When was IB created and why?
IB was created in 1998 in order to provide Web access to DOE documents at no cost to the user.
Top
What are the topics in IB?
Topics in IB are wide-ranging and include subjects such as chemistry, physics, materials, environmental science, geology, engineering, mathematics, climatology, oceanography, computer science and related disciplines.
How often are documents added to the database?
The database is typically updated twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. If the week contains a federal holiday, then the database is updated once during the week.
How do I find a document in IB?
To find a document in IB, you may use either the Basic Search or the Fielded Search. Enter the search term(s) of your choice, make other selections as appropriate, and either hit the Enter key on your keyboard or select the Search button.
Top
How do I download a document? and how long will it take? and how much will it cost?
If the document is available electronically, to download right-click on the icon and choose "Save Link As" or "Save Target As". The length of time it will take depends upon the size of the document and the technical capabilities of your equipment. For instance, a large document downloaded using a modem would take a long time while downloading the same document using a T-1 line would be much quicker. Downloading a document is free of charge.
If I am interested in just a few pages, can I download only those pages of interest?
To download a specific page, use the "Access Individual Page" feature that is on the bibliographic citation page to identify the page(s) of interest. After you open an individual page in Adobe, you can download it using the "File --> Save Page As" option. Downloading an individual page is free of charge.
Can I capture citations using Zotero?
In order to utilize the Information Bridge Zotero capability, you will need to have already downloaded and installed the Zotero browser plugin (FireFox only).

To capture citations using Zotero, click the folder icon in your browsers address bar on the Search Results or Bibliographic Citation page for the item(s) of interest. Selecting this folder icon from the Search Results screen will provide you with the option to capture one or more of the results on the page. Simply select the checkbox beside the citations you wish to capture then click "OK".

To view your captured citations simply click the "Zotero" icon towards the bottom right hand side of your browser window.
Can I download records in MARC format?
Yes. OSTI offers the opportunity to download records of DOE Scientific and Technical Information (STI) in MARC format. See MARC records for more information.
Can I download records in OAI format?
Yes. OSTI offers the opportunity to download records of DOE Scientific and Technical Information (STI) in OAI format. See OAI records for more information.
What types of documents can be found on IB?
IB contains DOE report literature, conference papers, books, dissertations, and patents.
Top
How do I get help with IB?
In addition to the FAQ page that you are currently looking at, there is a Help page containing additional information. If you have questions about the Web site or wish to make a comment, you can do so through the Contact Us/Comments form.
How do I get help with IB Alerts?
To get help with IB Alerts, please see the IB Alerts Help page and/or the IB Alerts FAQ page.
How widespread is DOE's research efforts?
DOE is responsible for the management of an extensive National Laboratory System, which represents one of the most comprehensive research enterprises in the world. These laboratories perform research and development that is multidisciplinary in nature and for which there is a strong public and national purpose. DOE sponsors research at universities located in 49 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. These efforts support tens of thousands of principal investigators, post-doctoral students, and graduate students who are tackling some of the most challenging scientific questions of our era.
What other databases/products are available from DOE's Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI)?
OSTI's DOE Science Accelerator searches multiple science resources, including Information Bridge. These resources, developed by OSTI, reside in the deep Web where popular search engines cannot go. The DOE Science Accelerator provides a "deeper" search that yields results ranked by relevancy. This search may take a little longer, but returns more comprehensive, higher quality science information.

Additional databases/products can be found in the left column on the OSTI Home Page.
Top