Presents a state of the art review of current awareness services in 1997 noting: the components of typical current awareness services; the range and types of databases that may be scanned during searches; and the role of feedback and document delivery mechanisms. Includes a checklist of criteria which may be used to evaluate current awareness services, including: database coverage; timeliness or currency; cost; and mechanisms for creating and maintaining user SDI profiles. Discusses the main types of current awareness services: contents page services; abstracting and indexing services; and integrated online products (such as Engineering Index’s Engineering Village) including SDI. Considers the concept of currency and remarks on the tendency for current awareness services to be products of a producer led rather than a user led culture.
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