DataBasics 

By Kerry Smith
MSU Libraries

Mitchell Memorial Library has acquired Statistical Universe, a new full-text research database.

The reference service provides extensive and user-friendly access to statistical data. Statistical Universe makes it easy to locate facts and figures pertaining to a huge array of topics, including national income and production, retail and wholesale trade, interest rates, economic indicators, social and demographic subjects, plus data on energy, environmental protection, agriculture and fisheries, crime, and much more.

The core of service is the American Statistics Index (ASI), the master guide and index to all federal statistical data. It covers every type of statistical publication-periodicals, series, special reports, annuals and biennials, etc.-issued by the Government Printing Office or by individual federal agencies. Statistical Universe makes it easy to search the ASI, and documents whose text is not included can be located in the library's Government Documents and Microforms Department.

Statistical Universe affords users the following features:

• The full text of more than 800 U.S. government statistical publications
• Monthly updates that add up to 650 full-text statistical publications each year (approximately 50,000 pages), totaling 15 percent of ASI coverage
• Full text of the Statistical Abstract of the United States
• ASI abstract/index data for more than 5,000 federal statistical publications per year from 1973 to the present
• Links from CIS abstract/index records to full-text documents on government web sites (verified daily)

Individuals affiliated with Mississippi State can access the database from Mitchell Memorial Library's web site at <nt.library.msstate.edu/>. Users accessing the database remotely may be prompted for a password, which can be acquired by calling the reference desk at 325-7667.