For legal reasons no access from outside Oxford University can be allowed. A full current list of databases available in Oxford , either networked or standing alone is available and a briefer printed list is available in the Library. External electronic databases Access to many external information services is possible using the program OLIG either from the Library's workstations or from elsewhere. Users can search a large number of other libraries' automated catalogues and other information services. The University subscribes to information services from BIDS, which has its own home page .
BIDS documentation is available and courses are run regularly.
Worldcat, a vast compilation of library catalogue records, is a most useful aid in tracing bibliographic information. Some of the other databases are simplified or restricted versions of ones available on the University network. It is another compilation of library catalogue records including many for non-book media. This whole area is changing so rapidly that it is difficult to maintain awareness of these services, some of which are of questionable reliability, but considerable effort is being made to explore and monitor sources of interest to readers. A list of electronic journals available within the university has been recently constructed.