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.
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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.
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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 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.
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I'm thinking of submitting a discussion. What kind of document discussions are you looking for?
We value thoughtful discussions representing a range of ideas that make a point quickly and politely.
How do I submit a Document Discussion?
Search for a document. Select the document title. Select the "See/Add Document Discussion" or scroll to bottom of document to find the input box. Type in your text and select the "Discuss" button.
When will my discussion be displayed/posted?
Discussions are moderated and posted during business hours.
Why do you moderate document discussions?
Our goal is to provide substantive commentary for a general readership. Remember, these discussions are for feedback and discussion - not for publishing papers, press releases, advertisements, etc. They will be moderated for personal or offensive content.
Do you edit discussions?
In most cases, we do not edit discussions. They are either approved as they are, or they're not. However, we reserve the right to edit a discussion that is quoted or excerpted in an article or that needs a spelling correction.
The author contacted me. Did you give him my email address?
No. It is against our policy to share email addresses. Email addresses stay anonymous unless the person chooses to post the email address/contact into the body of their discussion.
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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.
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