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I use ProQuest and Ebsco in middle school and used their elementary = products while teaching in K-5 library. I don't mean to slight other fine = products. On-line databases, like ProQuest and Ebsco offer a wide range of = magazine and newspaper resources that will add a lot of depth to student and = faculty research. Many more magazines (years and titles) than we could ever hope = to afford in paper. And a wide range of other materials like professional organizations' and government material. Much of this simply unavailable online otherwise. Or would require knowing which open database to go to = and how to search within them. It is like being able to search 10 yrs of Readers' Guide AND a well maintained vertical file in a few clicks. Many = of the databases offer a selection of quality web resources also. And it isn't just for current events that benefit from these resources. History, technology, literature, health all benefit from utilizing them. Human selection and indexing of these resources makes for a consistency = of quality (and balance) and searchability that won't be reached by = computer for a long while. Ebsco and Proquest also offer a good professional collection. Well worth making sure everyone (admin and teaching and assistants) know about and = how to use. Free trials should be easy to set up, providing time for you and your = staff to practice and compare. Make sure the rep shows ways to modify the = standard searches for the best effectiveness for your school. A K-8 library could want a different set up than separate buildings. Check to see if you can join any consortiums, that will help with = pricing. I've been keeping some statistics on use and percentages of hits (or articles opened). Ours run about the same over all. If I show a class = tricks in one, use and results move up. Sometimes a kid will choose a = 'favorite', sometimes the teacher points to one more than another. And sometimes how = the search page is setup, combined with a particular set of search skills = and ability to override, and a particular topic will work much better in one than another. Always worth practicing and learning and teaching.=20 Robert Eiffert, Librarian Pacific Middle School Beiffert at egreen wednet edu Beiffert at Comcast net Joyce B. Miller wrote: I am a librarian in a K-8 private school. The students use the internet = and some encyclopedias for researching. I would appreciate any information about the value of purchasing an on-line database for our school. Does anyone have a specific database they would suggest I look at? Thanks = for all your help in advance. =20 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.647 / Virus Database: 414 - Release Date: 3/29/2004 =20 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/ LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-