Reaching Out to Users: How Database Providers Could Help,Not Hinder

Abstract

Presents comments on selected findings of the Business Information Resources Survey 2004 in light of the experiences of the Business Information Service at the University of Strathclyde. The increasing shift in academic business libraries away from CD-ROM to Web based products has led to fewer people visiting the library. The changes involved in the movement of teaching and learning environments away from the physical environment and towards the Internet have also impacted on the physical presence of the library. Business schools are developing intranets to deliver course materials, to accept electronic submission of assignments and to use electronic bulletin boards to allow students to communicate with each other and be supported throughout their programme. Despite the efforts of library staff, students continue to place their reliance increasingly on the Web and search engines such as Google. However, there are moves by database producers to rise to the challenge of producing online databases that match Google in ease of usage and comprehensiveness, while increasingly sophisticated web portals are being developed by academic libraries.