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The 24 Hour Library – Increasing Your Database Use

Presented by:Justine Shaffner

Library Services Consultant - Publicjshaffner@bcr.org 800-397-1552 x140

http://blogs.bcr.org/publiclibraries/

www.BCR.org | 800.397.1552

• Appropriateness

• Accessibility

• Staff Awareness

• Patron Use

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Appropriateness

• Evaluate new databases– Worth it?– Staff opinions– Patron input?– Dedicated web page

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Appropriateness

• Form for potential databases• Suitability• Scope• Ease• Speed• Searches• Cost• Restrictions• Use statistics available?• Purchase?

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Usage Statistics

• COUNTER – release 3

http://www.projectcounter.org/

• SUSHI

http://www.niso.org/workrooms/sushi

● BCR Free Friday Forum – Making Sense of the Standards Menu: COUNTER, SUSHI, and SERU http://www.bcr.org/training/schedule/programdetail.php?programid=227

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Appropriateness

• Selection meeting– Current databases

• Database budget• Look at statistics & cost

– Cost / # of sessions

• Staff (& patron) input

– New databases• Staff evaluations

– Well rounded collection– Timing

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Accessibility

• Website– Annotated links– Search platform

• Speed– Subject groupings

– Catalog & website?

• Results display

– Featured database– Single authentication– Catalog search

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Annotated Databases

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Databases by Subject

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Accessibility

• Cataloging database contents– Books– Journals/magazines– MARC records – Collection Development– Fiscally responsible

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Accessibility

• Promotional materials– Guides– Pathfinders– Bibliographies– Bookmarks

• Steps to reach it• Tips• Hard copy & electronic

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Staff Awareness

• Spread the word– Staff meeting demos– Emails– Use stories– Practice for information services assistants– Volunteers– 23 Things http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/2010/04/dd-3.html

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Patron Use

• Bookmarks– At all desks– On shelves

• Use your imagination

• One on one promotion– Look for opportunities

• Make assumptions and generalize!!!

– Don’t wait to be asked

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Patron Use

• Larger audiences– Storytimes– Talks– Schools

• School tours• Teachers and media specialists• It’s not the Internet http://www.bcr.org/training/schedule/programdetail.php?programid=248 see “handout for teachers”

– Citations!!!!!

– Meeting room users– Library programs

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Patron Use

• Outside the library– Blogs, local media, RSS Feeds, Twitter, Facebook

• Terms to avoid http://www.jkup.net/terms.html

– Direct marketing• It’s advocacy• It’s not sales (well, they already bought it…)• Think like a business owner• Community groups

– Join local groups• Public speaking

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Any Questions?

Justine Shaffner, MLSLibrary Services Consultant – Public

BCRjshaffner@bcr.org

800-397-1552 x140http://blogs.bcr.org/publiclibraries/