Changes to Library Databases
Several of the Library's databases have changed. You will still have access to great content to meet your research needs, but the tools you use to access some of the content have changed.
What has changed?
Many of the Library's subscription databases remain the same, but the two largest resources, Academic OneFile and General OneFile, have been replaced by Academic Search Elite* and MasterFILE Premier*. These two databases access the largest amount of online content available through the Library, generally in the form of magazine and journal articles.
See the full list of databases currently available from Springfield-Greene County Library. All of these resources can be accessed at any library branch and most can be accessed from outside the Library with a valid library card.
Why the change?
Many Missouri libraries -- school, public and academic -- are members of an organization called MOREnet (Missouri Research and Education Network). Among other things, MOREnet contracts with the Missouri State Library to provide access to databases in a cost-effective way. MOREnet uses state funds to purchase a group subscription to a set of resources. This group purchase saves a significant amount of money for the member libraries.
From July 2009 to June 2011, MOREnet had an agreement with the company Gale Cengage Learning to provide online resources to meet general, health and business information needs to members. Last winter, MOREnet and the Missouri State Library created a panel of librarians from several Missouri institutions to evaluate the subscription options and provide feedback and a recommendation for purchase in a formal RFP (Request for Proposal) process.
The recommendation was based upon value of the resources -- the best content and functionality for the price. The panel's recommendation was accepted and MOREnet entered into an agreement with EBSCO to provide several databases and with Gale Cengage to continue to provide a business database.
The following resources are provided to MOREnet members through funding from the Missouri General Assembly. This appropriation is made to the Secretary of State's Office and is administered by the Missouri State Library. LearningExpressLibrary is funded through the REAL (Remote Electronic Access for Libraries) program and DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education).
Gale:
LearningExpress, LLC:
NewsBank:
EBSCO:
- MasterFILE Premier*
- Academic Search Elite*
- Consumer Health Complete*
- Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia*
- MEDLINE*
- ERIC*
- MAS Ultra School Edition*
- Middle Search Plus*
- Primary Search*
- Newspaper Source*
- Science Reference Center*
- Professional Development Collection*
- Book Collection: Nonfiction -- High School Edition*
- Book Collection: Nonfiction -- Middle School Edition*
- Book Collection: Nonfiction -- Elementary Edition*
Library subscription databases not listed above are purchased using funds from the Library budget, which is primarily funded through Greene County property taxes.
Find this article at http://thelibrary.org/blogs/article.cfm?aid=1452