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

Wed Apr 10 18:45:03 PDT 2024

Thanks so much to you all for sharing how you curate your Databases A-Z
lists! There is certainly plenty to consider as we decide how to move
forward with our own.

In case it's helpful to any of you, my colleague Mary Beth Holm shared that
Melissa Robohn and Michael Crane at the US Air Force Academy did a
presentation on "The Evolution of Database Lists
<https://site.pheedloop.com/event/erl24/schedule/SES2P1F3JO8CX8MH7>" at
ER&L 2024. I haven't watched the recording yet, but their presentation
includes a discussion of the 8 factors they used to determine whether a
resource should be included/excluded in their A-Z list.

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

On Wed, Apr 10, 2024 at 10:29 AM Electronic Resources in Libraries
discussion list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org> wrote:

> 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 <http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7881-9396>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Eril-l <eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org> *On Behalf Of *Electronic
> Resources in Libraries discussion list via Eril-l
> *Sent:* Wednesday, April 10, 2024 8:49 AM
> *To:* Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list <
> eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> *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
>
> she/her/hers
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> *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:* Wednesday, April 10, 2024 7:41 AM
> *To:* Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list <
> eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [Eril-l] Inquiry on guidelines for A-Z Database lists
>
>
>
> *Caution:*This email originated from outside of the College. *Do not*
> click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know
> the content is safe. Report anything suspicious to the HelpDesk.
>
>
>
> 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
>
> Make an appointment: https://mbelvadi.youcanbook.me/
> ------------------------------
>
> *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 2:26 PM
> *To:* Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list <
> eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [Eril-l] Inquiry on guidelines for A-Z Database lists
>
>
>
>
>
> *CAUTION:* This email originated from outside of UPEI. Do not click links
> or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is
> safe. If you are uncertain, please forward to phishing at upei.ca and delete
> this email.
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> *WARNING:* The sender of this email could not be verified and may not
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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
>
> she/her/hers
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> *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 8:47 AM
> *To:* Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list <
> eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [Eril-l] Inquiry on guidelines for A-Z Database lists
>
>
>
> *Caution:*This email originated from outside of the College. *Do not* click
> links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the
> content is safe. Report anything suspicious to the HelpDesk.
>
>
>
> 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
>
>
>
> [image: LOGO_stmu_library_BLUE&YELLOW_2019apr_100x72_email]
> *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.*
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> *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:* April 9, 2024 5:33 AM
> *To:* eril-l at lists.eril-l.org <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> *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 | library.vcu.edu/hsl
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/library.vcu.edu/hsl__;!!Dq0X2DkFhyF93HkjWTBQKhk!XBScxgAz0eTzuN8DVd_216FRiXdOyL_clH5N5ky-hh0kUV9qFC_Th53JZj4ji7yocRsTSo-FrQ2ZX0QhtHIM3VfOMdSN$>
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