Re: [LM_NET] Why databases instead of the Web?

["Simonetta, Marcia S." <msimonetta@BCPS.ORG>]

Hello,

I am going to jump into the fray here, as a brand new ES media specialist who had a 
difficult time helping with HS student research during my practicum.

Val writes: "Students tend to rely on whatever is easiest and quickest to meet 
their needs.  We shouldn't cater to these tendencies."

I have to disagree in this case. The databases are so VERY expensive, and they are, 
in fact supposed to be easier and quicker than the Internet at-large, given that 
they are vetted and organized and categorized by key words and subject headings. 
Searching should not be MORE difficult, certainly, and the resources should be 
current, relevant, and authoritative. That is, after all, what we're paying 
THOUSANDS of dollars for. 

However, when students were searching by what I considered quality search terms, 
they were coming up with nothing useful on the databases. Similar--or even 
inferior--terms were bringing up some darn good sites on Google.

I'm not suggesting that we abandon the databases, but I do think database providers 
should be held accountable for keeping their information broad, current, and 
_easily_ accessible.

This message does not address Val's other, excellent, points about variety of 
sources or other points made about the expectations of college-level professors, 
but I do think that the fee-based databases I've seen could use significant 
improvement in content and organization.

Marcia S. Simonetta
Library Media Specialist
Seventh District Elementary School
Parkton, MD
msimonetta@bcps.org

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