d atabase r esources : you got em, flaunt em scott millard

DATABASE RESOURCES:

You got ‘em, flaunt ‘em

Scott Millard

FIVE PRINCIPLES

Electronic products are for use. Every reader his or her electronic database Every database its reader Save the time of the reader The library is a growing organism.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS

Know the goals What is it you are trying to achieve?

COMMUNICATE

Communication is essential

KNOW YOUR PRODUCTS

Staff awareness Training Play time

KNOW WHAT THE VENDORS HAVE

KNOW WHAT ELSE IS AVAILABLE

END USERS

Who are they Go beyond the obvious

FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS

LEARNING ABOUT LOGICAL CHOICE

LITERACY

FORMS OF LITERACY

FORMS OF LITERACY

SERVICE RECALLS AS LITERACY

SCHEMATICS AS LITERACY

LEVELLING /DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION

USE PRODUCTS IN DIFFERENT WAYS

LEVELLING

INFORMATION

Knowledge is key Inform staff as well as end users/clients

BLOG IT TO DEATH

WIKIS AS MEANS OF PROMOTING

PUBLICITY

GOALS

To raise awareness of the online resources available at school and public libraries

To clarify the differences between resources by identifying their content strengths and weaknesses

Communicate basic search skills

Promote remote access to assist with research

The Rules:

1. Only ballots with a name and contact information will be considered eligible.

2. Participants are eligible to receive prizes at the local contest entry location as well as regional prizes.

3. Only one entry per person per location.

4. Winners will be contacted to arrange for prize pick-ups.

5. The contest is open to residents of Halton region, students who attend a Halton school or Halton public library users.

6. Staff working in school or public libraries are not eligible.

7. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received at each partner location.

8. Each partner will have prizes to award.

The Rules:

8. Prizes vary according to local library system or school board.

9. Ballots are available at participating locations that are part of Halton District School Board, Halton Catholic District School Board, Burlington Public Library, Halton Hills Public Library, Milton Public Library and Oakville Public Library.

10. Hand-drawn facsimiles of ballots will not be eligible.

11. Answers to Treasure Hunt questions must be correct to be eligible for the prize draws.

12. Winners agree to have their names and photos publicized in local media and online.

13. Prize draws will occur on a commonly determined date.  

Ages 5-12 Questions Hints

Can you find all the Redwall books and what order to read them in?

Use Novelist K to 8

Can you name the first and third Lemony Snicket books? Use Novelist

What is the title of the article that you find on Canadian Magazine Index when you search for Sir Wilfrid Laurier?

Use the Subject guide search.

According to the magazine “Ranger Rick”, how long is the bill of a white pelican?

Use Primary Search.

The name of the resource you can use to find out about jobs is Career _______?

Using Canadian Literary Centre, tell me how many articles you can find about the book Anne of Green Gables?

Search Anne of Green Gables as a ‘Subject’.

How long is a hadrosaurus? Use Searchasaurus.

QUESTIONS FOR 5 – 12 YEAR OLDS

SAMPLE ENTRY FORM

Ballots completed 2005

Ballots completed 2006

Ballots completed2007

Ballots completed2008

Burlington Public Library

15 121 86 115

Halton Catholic 60 185 28 167

Halton District 699 1918 3134 4671

Halton Hills 17 54 37 107

Milton 6 39 57 101

Oakville 6 123 169 192

RESULTS

How often used?

Never, 1st time

1-4 5-9 10+

Burlington 56% 23% 5% 21%

Halton Catholic

58% 18% 22% 13%

Halton District

47% 31% 11% 9%

Halton Hills 47% 28% 6% 18%

Milton 46% 54%

Oakville 57% 21% 7% 15%

Overall 52% 24% 10% 15%

FIRST TIME USING DATABASES?

Comments:•The databases are extremely useful for many of my assignments.•This is fun, man!•These are exciting. I am hoping to win a prize. •It’s fun to search.•It is a good resource and I love to search it. I cannot wait until I show my mother.•These are cool.•Excellent resource centres!•Very good, especially for English.

CHANGE IS ESSENTIAL

Based on feedback every year, things would change.

One big change was to ensure staff training/awareness.

STAFF FLYER

STAFF BALLOT

MAKING IT WORK

So what? Make is as easy as possible for you clients to

participate. We made the mistake of trying to make it too difficult and we suffered. We now have it easy and it works.

Create generic posters and ballots that can be reused. We spent hours on our own at the beginning. Then, we spent hours on devising a generic poster and ballot. But now that it is done, I can quickly go in and edit the ballot or poster in a few minutes. Worth the time.

Share, share, share… We had phenomenal experience and expertise in the group. One could use this file, another could do something else. In my experience, I have never worked with such a team before. They all are superb . And they share.

MAKING IT WORK

Be willing to alter it as you need. We did alter it many times.

Prizes are nice and ‘sexy’. But that is not always possible. How about waiving fines? Try whatever works.

Ask others to work on the ballots. A team working group – get them to create the teen questions. Why not? Involve everyone.

Have students or colleagues to the art and devise a poster.

HAVE FUN. It did not work until we laughed.

GROWTH IN PRODUCT USAGE AT HCDSB

YOUR CHALLENGE

What can you adapt for your system? Promote Resources Ontario and Knowledge

Ontario every chance you get.

MOST IMPORTANT

Have fun! We only got better when we all laughed.

CONTACT

Contact me any time for further information

millards@hcdsb.org