[Eril-l] criteria for e-resources on A-Z databases list

Fri Apr 6 10:24:55 PDT 2018

I have complex feeling about what to include in the A-Z list, because I
don't think of it as a database list, but a list of electronic resources.
So for me, the inclusion issue is based around the quality of the resource,
if it supports our curriculum, and in the case of free resources, if there
is a significant advertising presence.  I don't mind if a resource
advertises other resources (like a museum database of images that
advertises exhibits), but I don't like to add free resources that have
generic, catch all advertising in it.

Essentially, I see the A-Z list as a way for the library to lead users to
good stuff.  As I have relatively recently moved from a pretty small
institution (about 120 databases, including free stuff) to a much larger
one (300+ databases including very few free things) and am in charge of the
A-Z list, I can totally see the point in controlling what goes in there in
order to not junk up the list.

But honestly, at over 300 subscribed resources (a mix of databases and
single reference or high use newspaper/journal titles) I think that our
patrons aren't just browsing the A-Z, they are either looking for a
specific item or they are using categories to search for topical
databases.  And that's a place I think a lot of A-Z lists fall down.  When
your topics are so broad that a visual arts student would have to wade
through 80 "Arts and Humanities" databases to find the 6 that are relevant
to visual arts, you can be sure that they won't do it.  They will either
use the subject guide to narrow the field of scope (although I am not
convinced that patrons really look at subject guides so much as course
guides unless they are lead there by an instructor or librarian), or they
look for a known title given to them by an instructor.

So my personal guidelines as an A-Z list administrator is to, whenever
possible, have categories that have at least 3 resources in them, and to
have no more than 20 databases max in order to not overwhelm a patron.  And
to reduce pointless or confusing duplication.  For example, SDSU had
categories for American Literature, English Literature (Language or
Country?) and Childeren's Literature, and all three categories had the same
4 databases in them.  But when I did a search for literature in the list, I
came up with 22 databases on literature and literary criticism.  As all 22
resources were directly on literature or literary criticism, I made that
the new category.  It didn't make sense to break it down into smaller
pieces.  I am waiting for us to hire a Business librarian to tackle our
Business category as it has 40 databases.  I'm sure that enough of those
databases are on specific enough topics (Company information, International
Business, Finance, Accounting) that we can probably get the general
Business category down to around 20 databases.

Kate Holvoet
Electronic Resources Librarian
619-594-1530

On Mon, Mar 26, 2018 at 6:25 AM, Calida Barboza <calida.barboza at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Here's what my colleague Julie Loder (Vanderbilt University) came up with
> a few years back. She mentioned having put a call out to ERIL-L and
> SERIALST for feeback at the time.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *For the purpose of inclusion in the Heard Library Database A-Z list, a
> database will be described as an online catalog or index providing a single
> point of access for digitized content, including collections of e-journals,
> online newspapers, e-books, data sets, reports, and other e-reference
> content.In general, single e-book, e-journal, e-serial, newspaper, or
> e-reference titles are not databases and will not be included in the
> Database A-Z list. This type of material is accessible through Acorn,
> DiscoverLibrary, and — in the case of e-journals and newspapers — the
> E-journal A-Z list.Publisher platforms or e-journal vendor sites (such as
> SpringerLink, JSTOR, Annual Reviews, or IngentaConnect) should be added
> selectively and only when there is clear evidence that patrons prefer to
> search the particular site for content. *
> *Free resources should be added sparingly, be scholarly in nature, updated
> regularly, relatively ad free, and work technically.  They should be
> relevant to a broad audience. Very specialized free online resources should
> be added to a subject based LibGuide instead of the Database A-Z list.
> Links to locally created lists of subject-based websites will not be
> included in the database A-Z list.*
>
> Calida Barboza
> Electronic Resources Librarian
> Vanderbilt University | Jean and Alexander Heard Library
> 110 21st Avenue South | Nashville, TN 37203
> 615-875-4049 | calida.barboza at vanderbilt.edu
>
> Preferred pronouns: she/her/hers
>
> On Sun, Mar 25, 2018 at 11:54 AM, Maureen Richards <
> marichards at jjay.cuny.edu> wrote:
>
>> We have a way to filter the A to Z list to include databases that are
>> freely available to the public.  This includes OA resources.  Here is the
>> link  https://www.lib.jjay.cuny.edu/databases/freely-available
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Eril-l [mailto:eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org] *On Behalf Of *Melissa
>> Belvadi
>> *Sent:* Friday, March 23, 2018 10:15 AM
>> *To:* Bob Pearson <b.pearson at auckland.ac.nz>
>> *Cc:* eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
>> *Subject:* Re: [Eril-l] criteria for e-resources on A-Z databases list
>>
>>
>>
>> " The database is open access and is considered a significant resource
>> of wide interest"
>>
>>
>>
>> Not to hijack the thread, but I would be very interested to know what
>> such resources other university libraries would put in that category.
>>
>> Does anyone maintain a list somewhere (aside from what's in your A-Z list
>> of course) or does anyone who has a lot of these in their A-Z list have in
>> their A-Z interface a mechanism for filtering for these so I could see what
>> you include?
>>
>> I occasionally stumble on a new such resource, and it makes me wonder how
>> many more are out there that we haven't found and that would be useful to
>> our patrons.
>>
>>
>>
>> And related back to the thread and this issue of open access resources,
>> do other libraries list databases twice if they are public AND licensed?
>>
>> For instance, the ERIC education database is free through the US govt
>> website, but we also have it available in EBSCOhost.
>>
>> We list both versions in our Database A-Z, with an eye towards "lifelong
>> learning" skills for our students.
>>
>> And maybe that's the ONLY example out there, but if there are others,
>> what do you do in terms of your Database A-Z?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Melissa Belvadi
>>
>> Collections Librarian
>>
>> University of Prince Edward Island
>>
>> mbelvadi at upei.ca 902-566-0581 <(902)%20566-0581>
>>
>> my public calendar
>> <http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=mbelvadi%40upei.ca&ctz=America/Halifax&mode=week>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 22, 2018 at 11:03 PM, Bob Pearson <b.pearson at auckland.ac.nz>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Here’s ours:
>>
>>
>>
>> Database Directory guidelines
>>
>>
>>
>> Purpose
>>
>> The Database Directory is intended primarily for licensed collections and
>> tools.
>>
>> Substantial open access resource datasets deemed to be of wide interest
>> to Library users may be included, but specialised open access resources
>> should be linked only at subject guide level.
>>
>>
>>
>> Criteria for inclusion
>>
>> • The database is licensed by the Library.
>>
>> • The database is published by the Library or another University
>> department and is designed for public use.
>>
>> • The database is open access and is considered a significant New Zealand
>> information resource.
>>
>> • The database is open access and is considered a significant resource of
>> wide interest that meets the Library’s collection management plan criteria.
>>
>>
>>
>> Exclusions
>>
>> • Monographs, and serials such as journals, are not generally given
>> individual entries in the Database Directory. However an exception is made
>> for major reference works (especially encyclopaedias) and sometimes for the
>> archive of a single newspaper or periodical.
>>
>> • Individual titles excluded from the Database Directory are candidates
>> for linking to subject guides to assist promotion.
>>
>>
>>
>> Final decisions
>>
>> Final decisions concerning databases or titles that will be added to the
>> Databases Directory reside with the Electronic Resources Manager.
>>
>>
>>
>> Bob Pearson
>> Digital Access Librarian
>> Digital Services
>> The University of Auckland Library
>> New Zealand
>>
>> *From:* Eril-l [mailto:eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org] *On Behalf Of *Calida
>> Barboza
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, 20 March 2018 5:52 AM
>> *To:* eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
>> *Subject:* [FORGED] [Eril-l] criteria for e-resources on A-Z databases
>> list
>>
>>
>>
>> What policies or criteria do you use to decide if an electronic resource
>> belongs on your A-Z Databases page?
>>
>>
>>
>> Calida Barboza
>>
>> Electronic Resources Librarian
>>
>> Vanderbilt University | Jean and Alexander Heard Library
>>
>> 110 21st Avenue South | Nashville, TN 37203
>>
>> 615-875-4049 <(615)%20875-4049> | calida.barboza at vanderbilt.edu
>>
>>
>>
>> Preferred pronouns: she/her/hers
>>
>>
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>>
>>
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>
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