Recently a national opinion poll revealed many people don’t realize the extent of the services available from their local public library. The service most overlooked is access to electronic databases. This is unfortunate because databases are one of the things we do best. We’re not talking about what you’d find in Google. We’re way better than that.
Did you know that our customers can easily search, view, print, download or email current and back issues of the Democrat and Chronicle, Irondequoit Post and well known magazines in full text through our NewsBank service? How well known? Do Time, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, Money, Fortune and People qualify?
Did you know that through our databases such as InfoTrac OneFile and Ebsco MasterFILE Select you can easily search, view, email or print millions of full-text articles from hundreds of the best known magazines, journals and newspapers? How well known? How about the New York Times, Washington Post, Consumer Reports to name a few?
An individual would have to pay thousands of dollars for access to the millions of articles represented by the three products mentioned above. Your cost for access through the public library? ZERO. Yes, ZERO. I know, I know. You are asking: “How do they do it? With their shrinking budget how can they afford to deliver such amazing value?”
We do it 2 ways. We use the buying power of the large consortiums of which we are a member such as the Monroe County Library System (MCLS) and the Rochester Regional Library Council (RRLC) and negotiate great deals when we buy as a group. Also, The New York State Education Department negotiates great database deals and licenses them for all public libraries in New York through the NOVEL program.
We believe easy access to magazine, journal and newspaper articles is vital. It is the key to obtaining the latest information on any subject. Google can’t cut it. Many web sites are of dubious origin and contain inaccurate or biased information. Even the latest books have information that is at least a year old. Do you want to make important decisions about investments, health or major purchases using old or inaccurate information? I don’t think so!
To review: All the resources I have mentioned have 3 things in common:
1. They are very expensive.
2. You cannot find them for free on the internet.
3. We provide them free for our customers.
Can’t get to the library? No worries. Go to our website, visit the “Find An Article” page and work from home or anywhere you access the internet. But, have your library card handy. A deal this good is only available to our customers.
As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or comments you have about this or any library services. Click on “About” for my contact information.
