[OPLINTECH] Why a new Ohio Web Library page?

[Stephen Hedges]

*Mostly because of your feedback*

As I said in the previous message about the new Ohio Web Library
<http://dev.ohioweblibrary.org/sources/> page, we've been gathering a lot
of good information about how people use information databases provided by
libraries.

*All of this feedback has made us realize two things:*

   1.

   *It's better to expose the statewide databases alongside the databases
   the local library purchases, *rather than trying to list locally
   purchased resources in a statewide databases page.


   -

   Most usage of online databases is instigated by a librarian, in one way
   or another, and it's easier for everyone if the librarian is working from
   just one list of databases on the library's website, rather than a list of
   Local Stuff and another list of Statewide Stuff.

   -

   So, why not list EBSCO and World Book and Science Online, etc. on the
   local library website along with the locally purchased auto repair
   databases, etc.? After all, the patron doesn't really care who paid the
   bill for the databases.


   1.

   When we built *ohioweblibrary.org <http://ohioweblibrary.org>*, we
   intentionally tried to make it look and act like Google, based on user
   studies we did at KSU.* We were wrong; we're not like Google.*


   -

   Whereas Google searches the entire, crazy, mixed-up Web, Ohio Web
   Library contains a limited number of specialized, well-organized resources.
   -

   If you want, think of Google's pool of information as thousands of books
   piled on the floor, and Ohio Web Library as a modest shelf of premium
   reference books. The approach to finding something in the pile as opposed
   to finding something on the shelf is going to be different.

 [image: Inline image 1]
*That's why we decided to try something different.*

   - That's why we encourage you to link directly to the databases from
   your library website.
   - That's why we rebuilt the Ohio Web Library page to encourage people to
   skip the federated search and go directly to a resource in the collection.

--
Stephen Hedges, Director
Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)
2323 W. Fifth Ave, Suite 130, Columbus, OH 43204
st.hedges at gmail.com  |  614-728-5250
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