Library Journal / September 1, 2003
Database & Disc Reviews

WDI Online
World Bank
202-473-5149
, pubrights@worldbank.org
publications.worldbank.org/WDI
Date reviewed: 07/07/03
Price: Based on population served (FTE for university libraries; population served for public and special libraries; discounts are available for developing-country residents).

WDI Online is the World Bank's latest offering of its leading dataset The World Development Indicators (WDI). Researchers who have relied on the World Development Indicators will welcome the data now available via the web. WDI will delight new users as well, with an interface that facilitates elegant results. While the World Bank published an electronic version of the data on CD-ROM in 1997, WDI Online offers networking capability that enhances accessibility of the data. Search results demonstrate that careful thought was given to the design and functionality of the web interface.

The comprehensive coverage of data includes 208 indicators on 575 countries, with 18 regional and income groups for more than 40 years where data is available. WDI Online's search interface is simple to use and logically presented. Countries and regions are arranged alphabetically. Users have the option of selecting indicators from an alphabetical list or from a hierarchy of data points called a “tree view.” The outermost layer of the tree view is broken into five categories: People, Environment, Economy, States and Markets, and Global Links. Labels within the hierarchy are meaningful enough so users who do not know the specific name of an indicator can locate it easily.

A simple search comparing illiteracy rates of adult females in various countries illustrates the straightforward design of the search function. After choosing the data-point, illiteracy rate, adult female (percentage of females aged 15 and over), I selected Cuba, the United States, Iraq, Israel, and North Korea and then selected the time period 1960-2001 (described as all available years). The “View Results” options were just as pleasing as the seamless search function. Users may select scaling options in units, thousands, millions, or billions. Viewing options include raw data, percentage change, or annual index. Finally, the database allows for orientation of data by country or series. While presentation of the data is only available in chart format, exporting to Excel or ASCII is simple so that the data can be converted easily into a graph.

The Bottom Line: WDI Online is a successful union of form, function, and content. The quality of the design is just as good as the data it presents. This product enhances the utility and accessibility of a dataset that is essential for studying the growth and development of countries throughout the world. Recommended for public, academic, and corporate libraries.—Mallory Stark, Business Information Svcs., Baker Lib., Harvard Business Sch.