Ohio Reference
Excellence
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Electronic Resources
Many databases are available to Ohio libraries
Electronic Databases, OPLIN, and the Internet
Many indexes and directories and other reference works exist
in electronic format and are available as stand-alone databases, through OPLIN (The
Ohio Public Library Information Network), or through the Internet. Some have hard copy
(paper) equivalents and some do not.
Search strategies can be applied regardless of the format of
the information, in print, on disc, or through an electronic network.
What are the advantages of e-resources?
- Speed of searching. Often many years of an index can be searched in one look up.
- More access points. Paper files must be arranged in one logical order (for example,
alphabetically), with separate indexes for each additional way of looking up something.
This limits the ways you can search. An electronic database on businesses, for example,
may have dozens of different ways to find the information: telephone number, date of
incorporation, size of business, etc.
- Ability to combine terms. It's possible to search under multiple access points all at
once. For example, you can easily get a list of businesses in Ohio established after 1990
that employ 100 people. Such searching would be extremely time consuming to do manually.
- Ability to get information not otherwise available. More and more information now exists
only in electronic format.
What are the disadvantages?
- You must be familiar with online searching, and search procedures vary widely among the
various databases.
- The chances of finding clues through serendipity are eliminated.
- An error in spelling can mean no results at all.
- Some search costs may be passed on to the patron.
OPLIN
The Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) was
launched in 1996 to connect all of Ohio's public libraries electronically and to ensure
equity of access to information for all of Ohio's citizens. The network's address is http://www.oplin.org
OPLIN provides the residents of the State of Ohio fast, free
Internet access through the state telecommunications network, as well as the use of
high-quality research databases through their local public libraries.
MORE
The "Ohio Libraries Share MORE" system is a statewide circulation system, not
interlibrary loan. It is patron-initiated and patron-centered. It is a statewide resource
sharing network that allows a patron to search the local library catalog for an item, then
search statewide if the item is not available locally. The item will be shipped to the
home library of the patron for checkout. The patron returns the item to the home library,
where it is shipped back to the owning location. In 2007, 130 libraries were participating.
Major Point: Electronic databases, OPLIN, and the Internet connect your library to
resources around the world.
Internet resources
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Libraries Connect Ohio, MORE, and Ohio Web Library.
Libraries
Connect Ohio is a collaborative effort of Ohio's library organizations.
Ohio Web Library provides a
list of available resources, background information, and a gateway to help
Ohioans connect to the electronic resources via INFOhio, OhioLINK, OPLIN and
the State Library of Ohio.
There are 130 libraries participating in "Ohio Libraries Share MORE" - Statewide Resource Sharing. Combined, these libraries contain more than 19 million volumes, and represent more than 3.3 million Ohio students and library patrons!
Electronic reference resources require the same careful examination and
evaluation as other reference tools.
Reference with electronic resources at Wright Memorial Library.
Do you want to Learn More about
databases?
Do you want to Learn More about OPLIN?
Q: A patron called the library and wanted to know who and what was
"patient zero."
A: In the Electric Library database I used the keywords "patient zero" and
learned that Patient Zero was the first documented person who had AIDS. [Mike, London
Public Library]
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