DATABASE RESOURCES:
You got ‘em, flaunt ‘em
Scott Millard
FIVE PRINCIPLES
Electronic products are for use.
 Every reader his or her electronic database
 Every database its reader
 Save the time of the reader
 The library is a growing organism.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS
Know the goals
 What is it you are trying to achieve?

COMMUNICATE

Communication is essential
KNOW YOUR PRODUCTS
Staff awareness
 Training
 Play time

KNOW WHAT THE VENDORS HAVE
KNOW WHAT ELSE IS AVAILABLE
END USERS
Who are they
 Go beyond the obvious

FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS
LEARNING ABOUT LOGICAL CHOICE
LITERACY
FORMS OF LITERACY
FORMS OF LITERACY
SERVICE RECALLS AS LITERACY
SCHEMATICS AS LITERACY
LEVELLING /DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION
USE PRODUCTS IN DIFFERENT WAYS
LEVELLING
INFORMATION
Knowledge is key
 Inform staff as well as end users/clients

BLOG IT TO DEATH
WIKIS AS MEANS OF PROMOTING
PUBLICITY
GOALS
To raise awareness of the online resources
available at school and public libraries

To clarify the differences between resources by
identifying their content strengths and
weaknesses


Communicate basic search skills

Promote remote access to assist with research
The Rules:
1. Only ballots with a name and contact information will be
considered eligible.
2. Participants are eligible to receive prizes at the local contest
entry location as well as regional prizes.
3. Only one entry per person per location.
4. Winners will be contacted to arrange for prize pick-ups.
5. The contest is open to residents of Halton region, students
who attend a Halton school or Halton public library users.
6. Staff working in school or public libraries are not eligible.
7. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received
at each partner location.
8. Each partner will have prizes to award.
The Rules:
8. Prizes vary according to local library system or school board.
9. Ballots are available at participating locations that are part
of Halton District School Board, Halton Catholic District
School Board, Burlington Public Library, Halton Hills Public
Library, Milton Public Library and Oakville Public Library.
10. Hand-drawn facsimiles of ballots will not be eligible.
11. Answers to Treasure Hunt questions must be correct to be
eligible for the prize draws.
12. Winners agree to have their names and photos publicized in
local media and online.
13. Prize draws will occur on a commonly determined date.
QUESTIONS FOR 5 – 12 YEAR OLDS
Hints
Ages 5-12 Questions
Can you find all the Redwall books and what order to read
them in?
Use Novelist K to 8
Can you name the first and third Lemony Snicket books?
Use Novelist
What is the title of the article that you find on Canadian
Magazine Index when you search for Sir Wilfrid Laurier?
Use the Subject guide search.
According to the magazine “Ranger Rick”, how long is the
bill of a white pelican?
Use Primary Search.
The name of the resource you can use to find out about
jobs is Career _______?
Using Canadian Literary Centre, tell me how many articles
you can find about the book Anne of Green Gables?
Search Anne of Green Gables as
a ‘Subject’.
How long is a hadrosaurus?
Use Searchasaurus.
SAMPLE ENTRY FORM
RESULTS
Ballots
completed
2005
Ballots
completed
2006
Ballots
completed
2007
Ballots
completed
2008
Burlington Public
Library
15
121
86
115
Halton Catholic
60
185
28
167
Halton District
699
1918
3134
4671
17
54
37
107
Milton
6
39
57
101
Oakville
6
123
169
192
Halton Hills
FIRST TIME USING DATABASES?
How often
used?
Never, 1st time
1-4
5-9
10+
Burlington
56%
23%
5%
21%
58%
18%
22%
13%
47%
31%
11%
9%
Halton Hills
47%
28%
6%
18%
Milton
46%
Oakville
57%
21%
7%
15%
Overall
52%
24%
10%
15%
Halton
Catholic
Halton
District
54%
Comments:
•The databases are extremely useful for many of my
assignments.
•This is fun, man!
•These are exciting. I am hoping to win a prize.
•It’s fun to search.
•It is a good resource and I love to search it. I cannot
wait until I show my mother.
•These are cool.
•Excellent resource centres!
•Very good, especially for English.
CHANGE IS ESSENTIAL
Based on feedback every year, things would
change.
 One big change was to ensure staff
training/awareness.

STAFF FLYER
STAFF BALLOT
MAKING IT WORK
So what?
 Make is as easy as possible for you clients to
participate. We made the mistake of trying to make
it too difficult and we suffered. We now have it easy
and it works.
 Create generic posters and ballots that can be reused.
We spent hours on our own at the beginning. Then,
we spent hours on devising a generic poster and
ballot. But now that it is done, I can quickly go in
and edit the ballot or poster in a few minutes. Worth
the time.
 Share, share, share… We had phenomenal experience
and expertise in the group. One could use this file,
another could do something else. In my experience, I
have never worked with such a team before. They all
are superb . And they share.
MAKING IT WORK
Be willing to alter it as you need. We did alter it
many times.
 Prizes are nice and ‘sexy’. But that is not always
possible. How about waiving fines? Try
whatever works.
 Ask others to work on the ballots. A team
working group – get them to create the teen
questions. Why not? Involve everyone.
 Have students or colleagues to the art and devise
a poster.
 HAVE FUN. It did not work until we laughed.

GROWTH IN PRODUCT USAGE AT HCDSB
2010
2008
2006
2004
2002
2000
1998
1996
YOUR CHALLENGE
What can you adapt for your system?
 Promote Resources Ontario and Knowledge
Ontario every chance you get.

MOST IMPORTANT

Have fun! We only got better when we all
laughed.
CONTACT

Contact me any time for further information

[email protected]