Cost
How much does it cost to use GEM?
How much does it cost to use the Complementary Services?
How do I pay for GEM and the Complementary Services?

Who to contact in case of difficulty
What do I do if I have a problem?

What is GEM?
GEM is an information resource providing access to scientific, technical and medical databases. GEM is provided by EINS.

You can search for information with:

• Command Search - use command language for precision searching.

• Easy Search - use a point and click interface for a quick search.

Subject areas covered include: Aerospace, Building and Construction, Chemistry, Engineering, Environment, Food Science and Technology, Geology, Health and Safety, Medicine, Materials, Physics and Transportation.

Most databases are bibliographic - providing detailed references to articles, conference papers, books and reports.

This service is a priced service.

What is the difference between Command Search and Easy Search?
With Command Search you access and search the databases using a command language.

With Easy Search you can access and search the databases with a point and click interface. You do not need to know the command language.

Both search options are available for all GEM databases. You can switch from one to the other at any time during your search.

What are the Complementary Services?
GEM also offers the following Complementary Services:

• LexisNexis - news, company financials, legislation and court cases information. This is a priced service.

• Free Medical databases - free access to MEDLINE and other medical databases, provided by DIMDI, the German Institute for Medical Documentation and Information.

• I² - a search engine trawling for information on the information industry, provided free of charge.

• EINSCafè - a free magazine for news on cultural events.

How do I register for GEM and the Complementary Services?
You need only sign one contract* to use GEM and the Complementary Services and you can register online at Register for GEM.

Current EINS customers can easily access GEM and the Complementary Services. Simply follow the instructions at Re-Register. No new contract* is required.

*NB: If you use LexisNexis you must agree online to their terms and conditions.

How do I access GEM?
Access is possible via the GEM Web site: www.gemcatcher.com or www.einsgem.org

Which databases are available?
The databases encompass a wide range of information from different sources, including science, technology, medicine, news, business and law.

What documentation/online help is available?

• GEM
  A range of documentation is available, select Documentation for more details.

• Complementary Services
  Online help is available whilst searching LexisNexis, the Free Medical databases and I².

Is training provided?
Courses are provided by your National Centre, contact them for further information.

GEM also provides you with a training database, the INSPEC Training database.

What browsers are supported?
GEM is designed to work with Netscape Navigator 4.x, Netscape Communicator version 4.6 and higher and Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x/5.x

To avoid malfunctions during the connection to GEM you should enable JavaScript. The recommended monitor resolution for GEM is 800x600 pixels or higher. The recommended screen size is maximised.

What are the service hours?
Access to GEM's scientific, technical and medical databases is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. CINECA databases are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. FIZ-Karlsruhe databases are available from Sunday at 14:00 CET through Saturday 24:00 CET. DIMDI databases are available 22,5 hours daily incl. Weekends, eg 6.30 am to 5.00 am CET (rsp CEST). DIMDI carry out maintenance between 6.30 pm and 11.00 pm on one Monday of each month. For more details see the DIMDI Web site.

Free medical databases are available 22,5 hours daily incl. Weekends, eg 6.30 am to 5.00 am CET (rsp CEST). DIMDI carry out maintenance between 6.30 pm and 11.00 pm on one Monday of each month. For more details see the DIMDI Web site.

I² and EINSCafè are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

What is EINS?
EINS (European Information Network Services) is an organisation formed of existing European online Service Providers working in co-operation with the British Library, a Technological Centre (CINECA), an Administration Centre (COBIDOC) and a network of National Centres.

The EINS organisation provides GEM and the Complementary Services.

How much does it cost to use GEM?
The cost of searching GEM is mainly based on the value of the information retrieved. You have the option of paying an annual subscription to receive regular updates to search support material.

See our prices for details.

How much does it cost to use the Complementary Services?
LexisNexis
You can search LexisNexis sources free of charge. The purchase price of documents varies according to the source. The price for an individual document is shown in the list of headlines/titles of the documents retrieved.

Free Medical databases
There is no charge to use these databases.

I²
There is no charge to use I².

How do I pay for the services?
You will be invoiced monthly, by your National Centre, for use of GEM. Invoices are payable in a wide range of national currencies. You pay by credit card for use of LexisNexis.

What do I do if I have a problem?
You can contact your National Centre or you can report the problem online.