[Eril-l] Inquiry on guidelines for A-Z Database lists

Wed Apr 10 07:21:04 PDT 2024

Hi,

Our systematic review (evidence synthesis) search team members also use the A to Z list for ideas when their search teams want to delve into topics less familiar to the librarians or not covered by the "usual big and obvious" databases...

Ramune Kubilius, MALS, AHIP-D
Collection Development / Special Projects Librarian
Galter Health Sciences Library & Learning Center
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Orcid.org/0000-0002-7881-9396<orcid.org/0000-0002-7881-9396>
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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
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Subject: Re: [Eril-l] Inquiry on guidelines for A-Z Database lists

Lots of good discussion about this!
Something else to consider is how the A-Z list might be useful to librarians and staff in their work, even if not something you'd want to add to a subject guide.  For example we do include large ebook collections even those from single publishers, even though these are in our discovery (we use Alma-Primo).    If we have a problem with our access through discovery links, it's helpful for both alternative direct access and troubleshooting to have the link direct to the collection on the publisher's site on our A-Z list.

Theresa Arndt
Dickinson College Library
arndtt at dickinson.edu<mailto:arndtt at dickinson.edu>
she/her/hers

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

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We are small enough, 7 librarians, that we can be collegial about these things. A general rule for the free stuff is that if a librarian thinks it's worth including in their subject guide, it's worth making a database A-Z page for.
We do sometimes struggle with where the boundary is between a database and a single title, especially if we're paying a substantial subscription price for the one title.
The obvious example is the OED, but also the CRC Handbook of Chemistry & Physics, the Wiley eLS (encyclopedia of life science) and others.

I tend to discourage inclusion of collections of full text content where the librarians have no intention of encouraging or teaching students to search directly on that platform, but will only be accessing it following full-text links from our discovery service. The presence of those in the A-Z list will only mislead some users into trying to search in an engine where they may not understand the limited collection they are searching and that they are missing out on so much more.
An example we struggle with in this regard is Elsevier's Topic search.

Melissa Belvadi
mbelvadi at upei.ca<mailto:mbelvadi at upei.ca>
Make an appointment: https://mbelvadi.youcanbook.me/
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Subject: Re: [Eril-l] Inquiry on guidelines for A-Z Database lists

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We don't have formal guidelines regarding what OA items to include on our A-Z list.  We will consider including if it's a good-quality, credible resource that would be widely useful for the types of research and teaching done here.  One rule-of-thumb might be:  if there was a charge for the resource, and you had the money to subscribe, would you?    E.g., PubMed is a no-brainer to include as a high quality medical database.  Other governmental databases are good candidates, as are OA databases developed and maintained by universities (perhaps using grant funds).   Also we have some OA resources on our A-Z list that our library helped to fund, often through a library consortium effort.  Also, DOAJ, DOAB are on our list, and also integrated into our Primo discovery system.

Theresa Arndt
AD for Collections & Resources
Dickinson College Library
Carlisle, PA
arndtt at dickinson.edu<mailto:arndtt at dickinson.edu>
she/her/hers

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

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Hi, Karen.

I recently set up an A-Z database list for us and I debated the same question. It's still pretty vague. I think I got all our subscription databases added in (I think!), and I did add some open access ones - ones that I thought were more well-known. I've also passed the list of electronic "collections" we have activated in our catalogue to another staff to get her input on whether or not I should add any additional ones.

For those willing to share to the list, I'd also be interested in what others are doing.
Cindy

__________________________

Cindy Wiebe, MLIS

(she/her/hers)

Cataloguing & Systems Specialist

St. Mary's University Library

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

cindy.wiebe at stmu.ca<mailto:cindy.wiebe at stmu.ca>

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As a settler of German, English, Irish, and Scottish descent, I have lived in Mohkinstsis (now known as Calgary) for most of my adult life, on the traditional territory of the Siksikaitsitapi (the Blackfoot Confederacy): the, Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani First Nations. This is where Treaty 7 was made in 1877 between the British Crown and the Blackfoot, as well as the Tsuut'ina, and Iyaxe Nakoda peoples. The City of Calgary is also home to the Otipemisiwak Métis government. St. Mary's University is situated in District 6, the Calgary Elbow Métis.

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Subject: [Eril-l] Inquiry on guidelines for A-Z Database lists

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<mailto:gaukh at vcu.edu> | library.vcu.edu/hsl<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/library.vcu.edu/hsl__;!!Dq0X2DkFhyF93HkjWTBQKhk!XBScxgAz0eTzuN8DVd_216FRiXdOyL_clH5N5ky-hh0kUV9qFC_Th53JZj4ji7yocRsTSo-FrQ2ZX0QhtHIM3VfOMdSN$>
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