TARGET: Reopening a closed high school library

["J. Josenhans" <josenhan@OPENIX.COM>]

Four years ago the school I had worked at for 13 years was closed due to
low (400 students) enrollment.  I was moved to another school.  After much
political machinations the town took over the school and plans to reopen
this Sept.  I (now retired 1/97) have been hired to restart the library.
Only the book collection, and that, too, has lost many of the newer
volumes, remains - packed in boxes, and the shelving attached to the walls.
 No AV software, microfiche, magazines, hardware, VCRs - nada - zip.

Much has happened for the good of libraries in the past four years with
CDROMS and Internet access.  So the question is What data bases do you
recommend.

The school will now be configured 7-12, with a network of 6 work stations
in the IMC to start. Internet access is to added.  I'm familiar with SIRS,
and the older version of Newsbank (but the new Newsbank full text "One Stop
Shopping they call it" is bucks up, about $7000 for 1996/7, $12,000
includes several years back).  Some of the Wilson materials look good -
such as Current Biography.

But there is so much more out there, I'm sure you all have favorites.  So
any help or advice or negative comments that would help me avoid pitfalls
would greatly be appreciated.

I've just joined LM_NET and am very grateful for its marvelous resources.

Janet Josenhans
  for David Brearley High School
      Kenilworth, NJ

josenhan@openix.com    (home)