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Librarians Speak Up
How do you direct users to your library’s A&I resources?

Dr Martin Brändle, Chemistry Information Specialist, Chemistry Biology Pharmacy Information Center, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland; www.infochembio.ethz.ch

On the basis of our experience both social and technological efforts are important for optimal use of A&I resources. Students’ and researchers’ knowledge of available sources, their strengths and limitations, is of utmost importance. We impart this knowledge in library instruction and lectures integrated into lab courses. Multimedia materials complement the lessons. For these educational activities, support of involved departments is essential.

The database page is one of the most frequently accessed pages of our library website. Its main menu lists the “blockbusters” for chemistry and life sciences and provides direct access to them or to support pages. This Web page also provides dynamic metadata (title details, access authorization, product information, updates, content information and purpose of use) on all our A&I sources by way of a browseable and searchable database of databases.

Technology is certainly not all; for special databases and difficult searches, users can get professional support from an information specialist. All these measures together help in creating and maintaining good customer relations.

Pat Bril, Electronic Collections Librarian, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, California, USA

This question concerns us greatly. Some have likened such directional efforts to our traditional role in directing users to print materials. However, the stakes now seem higher as we seek to promote these important and often costly electronic resources to our users. CSUF is probably not alone in its approaches to promoting use of databases. Our library instruction program focuses heavily on the effective identification, evaluation and navigation of these finding tools. They feature prominently on our library website, and are accessible from various pages, ranging from an A-Z database listing to subject-based guides for academic majors that include a relevance rating to suggest the most appropriate sources. In addition, our OpenURL resolver links users seamlessly to and from abstracting and indexing sources. Soon we will add metasearching capabilities to expand further the possibilities of channeling users to the most relevant mix of searchable resources in a single search.

Victor Herrero, Professor, Library and Documentation Department, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

In our university the main channel of communication with users is our libraries’ website. Our libraries are spread across several campuses and cities and so the Internet is the best way to connect with users. We have a pilot program that has set up computers in our libraries and various spots across campus, so users, regardless of their locations, can consult our electronic resources.

Making library resources available electronically facilitates their use, since researchers don't have to cross the campus or city to access information. Electronic access is what most facilitates and motivates our researchers’ use of A&I resources. Another important reason for our researchers to use online A&I resources is that they offer access to prestigious sources, enhancing outcomes of investigations consulting these sources.

J.K. Vijayakumar, Scientific & Technical Officer (Library Division), INFLIBNET Center-UGC, Ahmedabad, India

Among the many activities of my organization, INFLIBNET (the Information and Library Network), one is to support libraries as they direct users' attention to digital resources including A&I databases. Thanks to the University Grants Commission of India having launched the UGC Infonet E-Journals Consortium, managed by INFLIBNET, there's now a higher demand here for services providing not just references to articles but also the articles themselves. Still, the most useful way of finding journal articles remains the use of indexing and abstracting databases, providing complete indices for a large number of journals. Through our interactions with Indian academics and researchers, it has become clear that the logical step after electronic searching of A&I databases is e-delivery of full-text articles. I believe e-journal portals or online collections may slowly replace A&I services as all journals go online.

Debbie Fang, Reference & Information Services Section, Tamkang University Chueh Sheng Memorial Library, Taipei, Taiwan

While full-text databases and electronic journals have brought great convenience to users, A&I resources remain the crucial tool for users when it comes to broad-based and comprehensive information searching. Hence, assisting end users in utilizing the A&I resources effectively is a major part of our librarians’ responsibilities. We direct users to our A&I resources in many ways, including through announcements, printed and Web materials, and training courses — scheduled or on-demand, and in the library or on-site. We also provide one-to-one training to new faculty members on various library e-resources. Through these methods in directing users to A&I databases, we hope these resources will benefit our teaching staff and students in their work.