Williams Library: Annual Report 2006
As part of our
commitment to providing quality resources to enhance student learning
and enrich the NSU community, we in Williams Library once again surveyed
our users last spring.
We adopted a
different survey format and different survey questions this past year,
in the hopes of obtaining better information. We asked questions about
users perceptions of the ideal library and their perceptions of how
NSU’s library compared to that ideal. The questions fell into three
areas: web site functionality, the online catalogue, and library
services.
Concerning web
site functionality, the greatest perceived differences dealt with the
availability of tutorials and help sheets and the need for a mechanism
to determine the relevancy of individual databases to ones research
needs. In response, we will be working on improving our tutorials.
While this is an indirect way to address the relevancy problem, the
introduction of cross-database searching later this year (we hope; much
depends upon SDLN staff in Spearfish) should alleviate this problem by
allowing multiple databases to be searched at the same time.
Concerning the
online catalogue, most of the answers reflected the newness of the
catalogue and some of its more confusing aspects. This points to the
need for us in the library to be more specific in our instruction.
Overall, the
greatest perceived differences between the ideal library and Williams
Library came in the area of library services, specifically technology.
Availability of lap-top ports, wireless access, working printers, and
adequate computers, which work and which have needed software
(especially Front Page) all caused complaints. We have made our
needs known to Net Services and substantial improvements were made this
past year to computers on the first floor. However, their continuing
inability or unwillingness to provide the library with the newest
equipment will ensure that this remains, as it has been, a constant
complaint of students. In addition, users wanted desktop delivery of
inter-library loan articles and an e-reserves system. We are working on
these last two.
Over the past several years, as a result of these
surveys, the library has:
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Added additional full-text
databases. In 2005 we switched from sociological abstracts
and Criminal Justice Abstracts to an EBSCO-hosted full text
sociology and criminal justice database (SocIndex with Full Text)
that indexes the same titles but offers considerable full-text
coverage as well, and at a reduced cost. In 2006, we added, as soon
as it became available, the full-text version of Sport Discus
and a new database, Communications and Mass Media complete.
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Tried to purchase more books
(although this is quite difficult in light of our stagnant
((=declining due to inflation)) budget). We are investigating
participating in a tri-state cooperative book-purchasing plan to
further our budget dollars.
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We received wireless access in
the library and are continuing to press for better computers.
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Increased our Saturday hours
from 1 – 6 to 10 – 5.
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Moved some computers (from the
first floor and from lap-top checkout) into our group study rooms.
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While we completely redesigned
the library’s web pages for the fall of 2005, this year the web-site
police have caught up with us. Our page will change again this
month to conform with the NSU template.
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We anticipate the start,
within a few weeks, of coffee and tea service in the library.
This fall, as
the result of an appropriation by the State Legislature, regental
libraries will be adding the following databases:
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SciFinder
Scholar. A database of the American Chemical Society, contains
references from over 9,500 currently published journals and patent
information from more than 50 active patent issuing authorities.
Features complete coverage of chemistry and the life sciences
including biochemistry, biology, pharmacology, medicine, and related
disciplines. Includes substructure searching (SSM). This database
is available now on selected computers in the chemistry department
and in the library. Please contact Robert Russell in the library
should you want access from your own computer. Unfortunately,
off-campus access is not allowed.
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Scitation.
Published by the American Institute of Physics, Scitation is
a leader in online science and technology publishing and journal
hosting since 1996. Scitation has strength in science and
engineering. This database should be available during the next few
weeks.
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Web of Science.
This database (a combination of the Science Citation Index,
Social Science Citation Index and Arts and Humanities
Citation Index) provides seamless access to current and
retrospective multidisciplinary information from approximately 8,700
of the most prestigious, high impact research journals in the
world. These databases should be available by 1 November.
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In addition,
Williams Library will be getting access to ScienceDirect –
College edition: Physical Sciences and ScienceDirect –
College edition: Health and Life Sciences. These two databases
contain full-text of respectively,650 and 950 journal titles. This
database should be available by January.
