As part of their final grant report, Library Systems were requested to record any anecdotal information that
demonstrated evidence of the value of training their library customers to use the NOVEL databases. The following
anecdotes are taken from those reports.
|
"Just wanted to let you know that one librarian told me this morning that she was able to help a patron
much more quickly and thoroughly with a medical question because she had learned in your NOVEL workshop about how
many of the Gale online products are online versions of printed resources. Thought you might like to know that
it made a difference!" -- Capital District Library Council
|
"One social studies teacher was just amazed at all the information offered in the NOVEL databases. This
teacher realized that his students would be able to complete research projects using the NOVEL databases. He also
concluded that the use of database information could cut back on plagiarism." -- Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES SLS
|
"Another librarian who volunteers at a local hospice house overheard a family member of one of the patients
talking about school. The family member had to find a critical review of a piece of literature and was stumped
as to how to proceed. The librarian stepped in and offered that if she had Internet access at home and a library
card, she could access Twayne's Author Series online for free from the NOVEL databases using her public library
web site. The young woman was thrilled as it was Saturday and of course the paper was due relatively soon."
-- Central New York Library Resources Council
|
"Another Adult Ed student was concerned that a species of olive trees were being sprayed with a pesticide
that was detrimental to humans and when searching on the databases found an article that described an organic method
of attacking the insects that were damaging the trees. She was elated." -- Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego
BOCES SLS
|
"One of the changes that came out of this project was that teachers began using the online resources available
through NOVEL to involve students in more project-based learning. We were surprised, but very pleased, that teachers
began using a more constructivist and collaborative approach after being trained on the NOVEL databases."
-- Genesee Valley BOCES SLS
|
"One student recently told me that she uses the databases at home all the time. Teachers tell me how the
databases have helped them with their professional studies. As a result, our students are doing a better job of
locating, note taking, writing and citing professional databases. This beats the free Internet web sites. I tell
our students that the databases cost the State money. I ask them, how much did they pay for Google? I remind them
to think about all the things they got free and whether the freebie was better than what had to be paid for. The
answer is usually the paid for is better". -- New York City SLS
|
"A library staff member reported she was waiting in a Midas Muffler Shop for her car to be repaired. The
television was on and the library/NOVEL commercial aired. Other people in the room commented on the commercial
and a lively discussion about libraries and their importance took place." -- Northern New York Library Network
|
"At another library, the director wrote that she observed an elderly patron sit at their computer and
'go through the whole binder.' He then came to her with questions and they had a great conversation about what
databases are and what they do. She said he now comes in on a regular basis to use their computers." -- Onondaga
County Public Library
|
"While I was visiting an elementary school, a small group of second graders doing research on whales came
into the library. There were not enough books appropriate for their topic and reading level. I suggested to the
library media specialist that we try Primary Search. We found the facts they needed on their particular type of
whale in the Encyclopedia of Animals. Because the information was presented in a straightforward manner, the second
graders were able to cull the facts they needed even though the reading level was higher." -- Orange-Ulster
BOCES SLS
|
"At one district Parent's Night, participants received a 60 minute training session on EBSCO Primary Search,
Gale Junior Edition, Custom Newspapers, and Gale Health and Wellness Resource Center and Alternative Health Module.
Following the workshop one parent said, 'I hope you'll offer training again. This was helpful. My older (high school
junior) daughter knows how to do all this but I want to be able to help my two younger children.'" -- Otsego
Northern Catskills BOCES SLS
|
"Most obviously pleased were two gentlemen who needed business information. One called because he had
heard the library had a 'backdoor way to get into Hoover's.' I told him we couldn't do that but walked him through
accessing the NOVEL business site. He was like a kid in a candy store. Here was all the information he needed,
for free. The second man needed to know the local business with a specific SIC number. He, too, was able to find
just what he was looking for." -- Pioneer Library System, Rochester Regional Library Council
|
"Two people noted that they had library cards but had not used their library in a long time but as a result
of learning about these resources were using their library card to get access to the resources. One of them noted
that they planned to visit their local library to see what else may have changed." -- Ramapo Catskill Library
System
|
"We had one school that wanted to introduce their elementary students to NOVEL before they moved up a
grade to the middle school. These fifth grade students loved being able to locate information of their favorite
Yankees and Mets players, Mia Hamm and NASCAR drivers. There was one young man that couldn't find relevant information
in InfoTrac Jr. on rottweilers. This provided the teachable moment for analyzing what information he was looking
for and other library resources that could provide that information on various dog breeds." -- Sullivan County
BOCES SLS
|
"A woman in her mid-50's who attended a workshop at the Mt. Kisco Public Library in which NOVEL training
was provided told the project director that she was planning to change careers. As a self-supporting person who
had been laid off several times as a recruiter in the graphic design field, she wanted to learn new skills and
enter an industry that had more stability. She was thinking about the financial services field after noticing that
Wachovia Bank was recruiting people to sell investments. With little knowledge of Wachovia Bank and the financial
services industry, she wanted to learn to use the NOVEL databases to do research and prepare herself as a candidate.
"Several months later, this client contacted the WEBS office, thanking us for the opportunity to attend the
free program. She reported that she had used the Business and Company Resources Center to research the bank and
find recent news items about it. She searched its web site and became familiar with the company history and its
business units. She also researched competitors. She was particularly interested in the skills that she could transfer
from her previous career, and learned that her marketing and organizational experience was definitely desirable.
She applied for a position at a local Wachovia Bank, was interviewed several times over a four-week period, and
was offered a job that included a three-month training program. She was excited about the opportunity ahead, and
attributed her attendance at the NOVEL training program as the primary factor in giving her the tools to succeed
in a career change." -- Westchester Library System
|
![[NOVEL Databases logo]](../database/../novelcsft.jpg)
