What is the scope of the database? What years, subject matter does it cover/include? What sorts of information are outside the database’s scope? What types of controlled vocabulary does it offer? What kinds of search operators does it provide?

Assignment Question

Upon successful completion of this assignment, students Will have thoroughly reviewed and become familiar with one commercially available database Will be able to apply concepts, theories, and issues raised in class and in class readings to an in-depth evaluation of a database Will be able to communicate findings effectively Scenario.

You work for a library that has received a free trial to a commercially available database. Your supervisor has charged you with the task of evaluating this database and its suitability for your library. She would like you to communicate your findings in a report of about 10 to 12 pages in length (double-spaced) to be presented to your colleagues. What to do Select a database available through OU Libraries. Prepare your report as if you were working in the type of library the database you select might be marketed to. For example, Business Source Elite could be marketed to public, academic, or corporate libraries. You may choose whichever library setting you like for this assignment. What should your report cover? The report will be no more than 12 double-spaced pages in length. This includes any screen shots or figures.

Your report should address the following questions: What is the scope of the database? What years, subject matter does it cover/include? What sorts of information are outside the database’s scope? What types of controlled vocabulary does it offer? What kinds of search operators does it provide? How easy is it to use? Is the interface easy to understand? Does it include unnecessary features? Does it lack necessary features? Who is the intended audience for the database? Is the database well suited to its intended audience? What are the database’s strengths & weaknesses? Do you recommend that your library subscribe to the database? It would be appropriate to interview and quote one or more librarians who are using this database in a library setting. When evaluating databases in professional settings, it is common for library employees to contact other libraries that are already using the database to see what their experience with the database has been and to share this information with colleagues. It is also appropriate to include illustrative screen shots, graphs, charts, etc. If you include images, be sure to label them and refer to them in your narrative.

A note on plagiarism: Use APA citation styleLinks to an external site. and cite all resources you use. If you significantly paraphrase another’s ideas or words, or you mimic the flow of another’s article or research paper, or you quote someone directly, you must give them credit for their ideas by citing them in the text. Do not use another’s ideas or words without proper attribution.

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