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Q&A

CATALOG

The library has a new catalog, how is it different?

The biggest change is that you can search both books and articles at the same time. It is a great way to start your search. You also will be able to easily tell if Loras College, or the University of Dubuque has a book that you want (if so, you can go and check it out). We have had our old catalog for 8+ years and are really excited about the new system. We have done a lot of work to update our records to make sure everything is as accurate as possible.

What other new features does it have?

First, you’ll be able to log-in with your Clarke login (first_lastname@clarke.edu & password) to check your due dates, see which items you have checked out, and renew items. We also have email notifications set up, so you’ll receive a courtesy email reminder a couple days before your items are due, at the due date and then one and two weeks after it is due.

Are there still no overdue fines?

Yes, there are still no overdue fines, but we still charge if items are not returned. With the increased email notifications we will be in better communication with you about what items are overdue and you will be held accountable for items that are not returned. The billing process starts when an item is 2 weeks overdue. At that point you will have received 4 emails from us, so please don’t ignore those messages.

DATABASES

What is going on with the library databases?

There are a lot of changes with the library databases this year. We are switching from EBSCO as the provider for our “go-to” database Academic Search Premier to a Gale database called Academic OneFile plus some other changes.

Why all of the changes?

Money. The State Library negotiates pricing with database vendors to help us get a better deal on databases. The past many years they have gone with EBSCO (which we are all probably used to). However, in order to increase vendor competition in the state, and try to get a better value on our resources the all academic libraries in the state came together with the State Library to do a request for proposal (RFP) process. There was a group of librarians that rated the different proposals. The group is going with a package of Gale resources, and not EBSCO. This will be a big change for us as we have had many EBSCO databases over the past several years, but it is a win for libraries coming together to advocate for ourselves and negotiate better database pricing. We will still have a handful of EBSCO databases that are not available on other platforms: (see next question below).

What is staying the same?

Several databases will remain on the EBSCO platform: ATLA CPLI, CINAHL Complete, CMMC, eBooks, SocINDEX with Full Text, Social Work Abstracts, and SPORTDiscus with Full Text. Also there will be no changes to the following databases: Access Science, American Chemical Society, Bloom’s Literature, DRAM, IPA Source, Learning Express, Lexis Nexis Academic, Literature Resource Center, Literature Criticism Online, Ovid, Market Research Academic, Musical Theater Songs, Naxos Music Library, Oxford Art Online, Oxford Music Online, and UpToDate.

Is there any other changes?

We are moving some databases from EBSCO to ProQuest as we received lower quotes from them – this is the exact same content, just on a different platform. This includes Philosopher’s Index, PsycARTICLES, and PsycTESTS (see “Other Changes” linked in blue box). We are also dropping CQ Researcher as Gale contains similar content in the “Opposing Viewpoints in Context” database.

Are we dropping any other databases?

Yes:

  • Access World News (Due to lower usage – did include the TH, stop by the library to view paper copies [last 4 weeks], or access through LexisNexis)
  • ArtStor (due to low usage)

Are there any new databases?

Yes:

  • Informe (Gale) Spanish Language Database, part to the State Library Gale Package
  • JSTOR Arts & Sciences I, II, III, IV, and VII (adding back + upgrade, due to State Library cost savings)
  • Credo Reference upgrading from 100 titles to 650 titles, part of the State Library Package
  • Transparent Language, language learning database, part of the State Library Package

As a faculty member what should I do?

  • We suggest you download any materials you want to retain from your EBSCO folder, regardless of which database they from, as soon as possible (just to be on the safe side). You will continue to have access to your folder, and access to articles from databases that we are retaining will not be affected.
  • If you include directions for using EBSCO’s Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, or ERIC in any assignments, please be aware that these directions will need to be updated. Librarians are happy to consult with you to help this transition go smoothly.
  • If you link to any articles from Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, ERIC, or any of the EBSCO databases that we are losing in Moodle, be aware that your links will no longer work. Again, I suggest you download any materials you access via EBSCO and retain your own copy.