[Eril-l] [External] Re: EXTERNAL: Inquiry on guidelines for A-Z Database lists

Tue Apr 9 11:54:54 PDT 2024

I think one of the answers to your question about adding or not adding
every resource to a Databases A-Z list might have to do with the ability of
your institution to maintain those records and links. As a person who is
and has been working in small institutions with limited staff, the ongoing
processes of updating links and resources are complex and time consuming.
While I would encourage multiple access points to all of our electronic
resources (that is, via the online catalog, discovery service,
Knowledgebase, Databases A-Z list, etc), this can be a lot to maintain and
track. Here's one example: sometimes a Knowledgebase and catalog (MARC
records) linking are the same. That is, you get MARC records for your
ebooks/ejournals via the Knowledgebase. While this can save time, these
links and records can be good enough or they can be terrible. You will have
to negotiate with the vendor  to have the records cleaned up and/or the
links changed.  And, if you do not maintain your list of resources and
links, you cause a lot of frustration to your users.

The discussion about what to include on our Databases A-Z list is
never-ending. Do we include online encyclopedias or only those that
function like a database (e.g. OED)?  Do we split large aggregators into
subject collections? Do we include resources paid for by another department
on campus (yes, if asked)? What open access do we include? Why? What should
be accessed via a Knowledgebase or the catalog? Why?  In this day and age,
what exactly IS a database?   What does the Databases A-Z list include that
is NOT available via our discovery service? And, the questions go on and on.

  In the end, I think any institution has to weigh the number of staff /
time / frustration / access for each of their electronic resources as well
as their ability to reach out and promote or help all of their users find
resources.   I would reach out to Reference/ Research /Instruction
librarians to ask these questions. That with the consultation from Metadata
or Electronic Resources staff should get a good compromise on how to best
utilize the access points resources and staff that you have.

Judith

--
Judith Nagata  (she/her)
Electronic Resources & Serials Librarian
Dinand Library
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA 01610
p: 508-793-2639
e: jnagata at holycross.edu

On Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 12:54 PM Electronic Resources in Libraries
discussion list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org> wrote:

> I’m not sure I understand the reasoning behind not including every
> collection in the A-Z list.  As an end user, if my instructor highlights a
> particular collection/resource, I expect to be able to find it from the
> catalog/library web site.  If I’m looking for resources on a topic, I
> expect that every resource available on that topic is listed.  Similarly, I
> don’t understand the logic behind not including links to all ebooks in a
> subscription full-text package.  PQ Literature One has a lot of classics in
> ebook form, but we don’t necessarily include the records in our catalog.
> As an end user, if I want to access a title, I search the catalog – if it’s
> not there, I presume access is not available.  I would not think to look
> into every literature collection searching out that title.
>
>
>
> I can understand that a subject/course-oriented LibGuide would not
> necessarily every single collection that may have relevant content.  The
> LibGuide is meant to be selective, although it would be nice to be able to
> easily link to a list of all relevant resources (e.g., a comprehensive
> subject list of all resources relevant to any one subject).  If the concern
> is that such a list is overwhelming, perhaps a short list could be
> highlighted, followed by the complete list.
>
>
>
> As a Collection Assessment Librarian, I’ve found that usage is highly
> dependent on findability.  If a collection is not findable from the catalog
> or library Web site, it’s usage will suffer.  If they can’t find it, how
> can they use it?
>
>
>
>
>
> Karen R. Harker, MLS, MPH
>
> Collection Assessment Librarian
>
> University of North Texas Libraries
>
> 1155 Union Blvd.
>
> #305190
>
> Denton, TX 76203-5017
>
> 940-565-2688
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Eril-l <eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org> *On Behalf Of *Electronic
> Resources in Libraries discussion list via Eril-l
> *Sent:* Tuesday, April 9, 2024 10:13 AM
> *To:* Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list <
> eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [Eril-l] [External] Re: EXTERNAL: Inquiry on guidelines
> for A-Z Database lists
>
>
>
> Hi there,
>
>
>
> I once tried to pare down our a-z list because I don’t feel we needed to
> have a database entry for every single little collection but I received a
> lot of pushback from librarians in public services. They like the way their
> lists look and no matter how hard I tried to lower the number of databases,
> it was an uphill battle I wasn’t going to fight.
>
>
>
> Best,
>
> Ilda
>
>
>
> *From: *Eril-l <eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org> on behalf of Electronic
> Resources in Libraries discussion list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
> >
> *Date: *Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 8:02 AM
> *To: *Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list <
> eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> *Subject: *[External] Re: [Eril-l] EXTERNAL: Inquiry on guidelines for
> A-Z Database lists
>
> External Email Use Caution and Confirm Sender
>
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> We are also in the process of updating our A-Z list. We list mostly
> everything we subscribe to/pay for as well as a few open access resources,
> but we are also not exhaustive about these and may end up eliminating them
> at some point for easier maintenance. We currently have about 200 databases
> in our A-Z list.
>
>
>
> One constant challenge I am curious about is how others handle collections
> from Gale. We currently have 200 databases in our A-Z list and nearly 70
> are from Gale. We don't even include all the sub-collections in Archives
> Unbound. It is a lot to maintain and while listing all of them versus just
> some seems to be easier for tracking, I know many are not used and am
> tempted to hide them at the least. There is also the challenge of the
> periodic database name change and the maintenance that comes with that. If
> others have an approach to these collections, it would be great to hear.
>
>
>
> Best,
>
> Nancy
>
>
>
> On Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 10:26 AM Electronic Resources in Libraries
> discussion list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org> wrote:
>
> Everything we pay money for is on the list.  I check it a couple of times
> a year to make sure everything is still responding, URLs haven't changed,
> and so forth.  (Large database vendors are pretty good about stable URLs
> and forwarding old URLs, but some of the smaller places... oy vey!).  We
> get most of our databases as part of a package deal from the Texas State
> Libraries and Archives Commission, so I monitor their mailing list and
> website for announcements of database changes and additions.
>
>
> We also include some open access resources if they are reasonably general
> and/or relevant to our university's instructional goals (e.g., the
> Directory of Open Access Journals several free music databases for our very
> busy music department, the Occupational Outlook Handbook for our career
> center, etc.) but we don't obsessively track down every OA resource ever.
>
>
>
> We have (currently) 98 databases and other resources, so we worry a bit
> about having too many databases for our students to reasonably keep track
> of.  I suspect that most of them just use our discovery portal and search
> everything, even if it would be better to focus more tightly on one
> database...
>
>
>
>
>
> Tony Zbaraschuk
>
>
>
>
>
> *Tony Zbaraschuk*
>
> Public Services Librarian, Assistant Professor – Library
>
> Chan Shun Centennial Library
>
> 100 West Hillcrest Street | Keene | Texas | 76059
>
> www.swau.edu
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.swau.edu/__;!!GF3VTAzAMGBM8A!2cmwkV3w8xv6NPSHgqJwjwc-B8ivYDS2v2CVwJxvH5wtq0-qlOzecTZCb5lIQhfkAbqKX5px2AnDB_5t_YolN_T7U_o$> |
> 817-202-6480 | tony.z at swau.edu
>
>
>
> [image: 1562774135912]
>
>
>
>
>
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> *From:* Eril-l <eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org> on behalf of Electronic
> Resources in Libraries discussion list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
> >
> *Sent:* Tuesday, April 9, 2024 6:33 AM
> *To:* eril-l at lists.eril-l.org <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> *Subject:* EXTERNAL:[Eril-l] Inquiry on guidelines for A-Z Database lists
>
>
>
> *Warning:* The sender of this message could not be validated, and may not
> be the actual sender.
>
> Hi, everyone --
>
>
>
> We are gathering information on guidelines for alphabetical lists of
> databases and/or electronic resources. How do you all decide which
> subscription resources to include in your library’s Database list? Does
> your list also include Open Access resources? If so, how do you decide
> which OA resources to include/exclude? Even if your library doesn't have
> formal guidelines, it would be great to hear from you.
>
>
>
> Please feel free to email me directly. Thanks in advance for any
> information you're willing to share!
>
>
>
> Best,
>
> Karen
>
>
>
> ---
>
> *Karen H. Gau, MSLIS (she/her)*
>
> Health Sciences Collections Librarian
> VCU Libraries | Health Sciences Library
> Virginia Commonwealth University
> 509 N. 12th St., Box 980582, Richmond, VA 23298-0582
> (804) 828-0638 | gaukh at vcu.edu | library.vcu.edu/hsl
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> --
>
> *Nancy Schuler, MLIS (she/her/hers)*
> Assistant Professor, e-Resources & Serials Librarian
>
> Liaison to the Creative Arts Collegium
> Eckerd College Library
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