This paper provides the outline of database and metadata design process, and emphasizes the importance of conceptual modeling (i.e., conceptual design) in the process. While taking up practical examples, it explains 1) the conceptual modeling using the Entity-Relationship model, and 2) its subsequent logical and physical design steps, that is, 2a) database schema design using the Relational data model and 2b) metadata schema design including the decision on its record structure and data elements, both of which schema are converted from the conceptual model built on in the preceding step. In particular, the importance of conceptual modeling, which clarifies components and their relationships building up the universe of discourse and requirements satisfied by implementing the database and metadata, is emphasized.

This paper introduces the concept of tidy data and discusses its usefulness and limitations. Tidy data is a tabular data that fulfills the following conditions: 1) each value corresponds to a cell; 2) each variable corresponds to a column; 3) each observation corresponds to a row; 4) each type of observational unit corresponds to a table. It is a useful concept for data users especially when they use R, a programming language for data analysis. The concept is also applicable to data sharing.

In Japan, there are three databases which are constructed by Public Prosecutors Office, Correction Bureau and Rehabilitation Bureau about criminal information. For adopting the national policy of preventing recidivism, Ministry of Justice considers how to manage and use data by coordinating them with these databases. In this paper, I report about constructing collaborative database system named “System for Crime and Recidivism Prevention” (SCRP). Especially, I describe how to identify an individual from these databases.

For publicly accessible databases on the Internet, long-term accessibility is not necessarily secured in general, because of change in contents, relocation of URL, and/or even closure of the websites. In this paper, we report on the results of accessibility survey as of April 2017 for the databases registered in the National Diet Library (NDL) Database Navigation Service (Dnavi; operated in 2002-2014), showing that web access was rejected for 22% of total 17,470 databases after three years. We discuss sustainable access to databases published on web sites, from a view point of use of NDL’s WARP (Web Archiving Project), and based on the OAIS reference model which is a standard of electronic information for long-term preservation.

Summarized the basic duties of Information Professionals along the process of information retrieval, referencing bibliographic information databases. Information Professionals are the main standing position of a company. I present 3C ability as a qualification. There are end users, database producers, and own company organizations involving with Information Professionals and advicing the role to be accomplished. On the future image of Information Professionals, one proposed a way of living as a leader in corporate activities, the other prospected as a separate information expert who jumped out of the company. In that case, I propose that the target to be noted is intra-company information.

When conducting systematic reviews, it is essential to perform a comprehensive literature search to identify all published studies relevant to the specific research question. The Cochrane Collaborations Methodological Expectations of Cochrane Intervention Reviews (MECIR) guidelines state that searching MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL should be considered mandatory. The aim of this article was to provide guidance for those undertaking a literature search for a systematic review. It is important to construct search strategy carefully in literature search for systematic review. It is also necessary to continue to gather and update information on resources available for systematic review.

Dr. Eugene Garfield, the founder of ISI passed away at the age of 91, on 26th of February 2017. Dr. Garfield is the greatest entrepreneur of information industry of 20th centuries. Being his intimate international friend, the author describes more than 50 years of his association with Dr. Garfield both in private and in business on ISI products and services in Japan market.