| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is the Bowker Library School Initiative?
A: The Bowker Library School Initiative is a program designed to foster an ongoing, supportive relationship with library schools through the provision of free database access and support materials to Library School students and faculty who have limited or no access to some of our flagship electronic resources.
Q: How long has the Initiative been in place?
A: The planning of the Bowler Library School
Initiative started in mid-2005. Bowker began to contact
accredited library schools in the United States and Canada
shortly thereafter.
Q: What is the goal of the Bowker Library School
Initiative?
A: There are several goals:
a) To expose library school students to databases they might not otherwise have the opportunity to use in advance of their entry into the marketplace.
b) To increase library students' exposure to, awareness of and proficiency in using one or more of the Bowker databases.
c) To augment students' existing database searching skills within the context of academic projects, research, or lectures
d) To integrate the Bowker powerful database features into academic coursework and projects where faculty feel this will benefit library students' knowledgebase and marketability.
Q: What benefits can the Bowker Library
School Initiative bring to students?
A: There are several benefits:
1) Exposure to and experience using one or more of the premier bibliographic databases that are important workflow tools in libraries and the publishing industry world-wide; and
2) Access to online resources to aid with academic study, research and projects.
Q: Who is eligible to take part in the Initiative?
A: Faculty (full time, part time and adjunct), support staff, and students currently enrolled in accredited Library School programs.
Q: How long is Bowker committed to offering the
Initiative?
A: Bowker is committed to providing and evolving
the Library School Initiative for the long term.
Q: What databases are available through the Bowker
Library School Initiative?
A: BooksInPrint.com or GlobalBooksInPrint.com, as well as access to Bowker's innovative Fiction Connection Reader's Advisory tool.
Q: Can participating library schools offer access
to the databases to students and faculty outside the library
program?
A: The Bowker Library School Initiative is
designed specifically to support the learning, research
and study needs of currently-enrolled library students and
the faculty supporting them. Access to Bowker databases
is not meant to be granted to individuals outside this group.
Q: How can library schools limit the access to
these databases to eligible students?
A: Bowker will work with participating Library
Schools to provide a system of passwords which permit eligible
individuals to access Bowker databases both on- and off-campus.
Q: How will access and support be provided to faculty and students wanting to use these databases as part of the Initiative?
A: Optimally, library school educators will contact the Bowker Educational Liaison sufficiently in advance (at least 3-4 weeks is helpful) of the start of their course in order to secure logon/password information as well as support materials. In some cases, live, interenet-based training can be provided to help with the challenges presented by distance learning venues.
Q: Can the support provided be tailored to compliment existing course structure and goals?
A: Yes. Bowker understands the importance of providing support that both compliments and enhances course objectives. To that end, (with sufficient advanced notice) the Educational Liaison will be happy to work with faculty to produce customized training material to ensure relevance, timeliness and utility.
Q: Can database access be offered to more than one class/course/campus concurrently?
A: Yes. With enough advanced notice, the Educational Liaison can provide logons/passwords to accommodate the specific needs and/ or schedule of a class, course or campus.
Q: Can the Educational Liaison provide database access for frequently-taught library school classes?
A: Yes. With sufficient advanced notice, logons/passwords and support materials can be provided for classes offered more than once during the academic year.
Q: Who will serve as an Education Liaison between library schools and Bowker?
A: Bowker employee Paul S. Hoffman will manage the Bowker Library School Initiative (BLSI). Mr. Hoffman is also the initial contact person for library school faculty who have questions or wish additional information about BLSI.
Q: Where can I go to see Paul S. Hoffman's contact
information and vitae?
A: You can contact Paul S. Hoffman at:
Paul S. Hoffman, M.L.S.
Bowker Educational Liaison
888.542.0282 (toll-free office phone/fax)
402.429.2223 (cell)
paul.hoffman@bowker.com
To see Mr. Hoffman’s vitae, CLICK HERE.
Q: Will providing student access to the various
Bowker databases "bog down" our in- house server
and other computer-related systems?
A: No. The Bowker databases available through the Initiative are Web-based. No software applications need to be loaded locally. Additionally, any lists compiled or searches saved while using a Bowker database reside on a server at Bowker headquarters (located in New Providence, New Jersey). Note: Library school staff also have the option of setting up Bowker databases to "time out" if no activity is detected on them during a specific period of time.
Q: I am interested in collaborating with Bowker
on this Initiative, but not immediately. How should I proceed?
A: For the purposes of planning, it would be helpful to inform the Educational Liaison of your interest in the BLSI, even if you are not ready to identify the courses and dates involved. At the point when you do have these specifics settled, it is best to contact the Educational Liaison as early as possible.
Q: Many of our courses are offered online to accommodate
distance and non- traditional students? Are these students
still eligible to take part in the Initiative?
A: Yes. If necessary, support materials can be sent in advance to the library school for subsequent distribution to off-campus students. These materials can also be downloaded from the Bowker Library School Initiative Web page, if desired. Off-campus students participating in the Bowker Library School Initiative can access Bowker databases in a manner similar to those on-campus students.
Q: What technology do we need to have on hand to access the Bowker database?
A: Access to the Internet and a current web browser are all that is required. A networked printer is useful, but not requited.
Q: How will Bowker be evaluating this Initiative?
A: The Educational Liaison will request faculty involved in the BLSI to complete a short evaluation form to help Bowker gauge the success of the Initiative as measured against several criteria. Feedback received will help "fine tune" the program to increase its utility and relevance to library school faculty and students.
Q: Will Bowker be tracking online use of the databases it offers library school students?
A: Yes. As part of the evaluation process, Bowker staff will periodically monitor the activity its databases receive in the library school settings where access have been provided. (Note: This kind of monitoring will not reveal the names of users; the topics or search statements employed; or other data that could be considered a breach of privacy.)
Q: Before I make a decision, I would like to review
the features and functionality of the available databases.
How can I do this?
A: Faculty interested in reviewing the available
Bowker databases and their companion documentation are invited
to contact the Educational Liaison. If the library school
does not already have access to one of the available Bowker
databases, passwords for limited-time use can be provided.
Q: Who can I talk to if I have additional questions?
A: You can contact Paul S. Hoffman at:
Paul S. Hoffman, M.L.S.
Bowker Educational Liaison
888.542.0282 (toll-free office phone/fax)
402.429.2223 (cell)
paul.hoffman@bowker.com
|
