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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 print 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's mission is to ensure that all Ohio residents have fast, free public Internet access throughout the state, as well as the use of high-quality research databases not freely available on the World Wide Web. Access is provided through Ohio's 251 independent 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. Public and school libraries are OLS: MORE participants.

Major Point: Electronic databases, OPLIN, and the Internet connect your library to resources around the world.

Internet resources

Libraries Connect Ohio and Ohio Web Library.

Libraries Connect Ohio is a collaborative effort of Ohio's library organizations, building the Ohio Web Library tp provide resources, information, and a gateway to help Ohioans connect to the electronic resources via INFOhio, OhioLINK, OPLIN and the State Library of Ohio.

Electronic reference resources require the same careful examination and evaluation as other reference tools.

Reference with electronic resources at Wright Memorial Library.

MORE (Minnesota Opportunities for Reference Excellence) site offers these e-resource sections:
Searching in the electronic reference environment
Types of electronic information
Patrons and the Internet
Internet and Reference Services

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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