Knowledge Ontario for Public Libraries

Resource Ontario, one of six projects, provides all publicly funded libraries in Ontario with access to a core suite of digital products as of January 1, 2007. The resources and materials in these databases go beyond what is available on the Internet by offering full text of newspapers, magazines and books. Products from Thomson Gale (CPI-Q and ten other databases), and from EBSCO (Canadian Reference Centre) are available. 
 

Topics include

Database Tips and Tricks | Library web pages promoting e-databases | Step by Step Guide to Implementing Resource Ontario  | Training Options | Usage

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General

• Knowledge Ontario  Main site
• Knowledge Ontario. Marketing and Promotional Materials
• Teach Ontario This latest Knowledge Ontario initiative is focused on developing digital teaching modules
  to help Ontarians make the most of digital resources available over the internet. View a simple presentation that libraries could link to on their website as a self-help tool for their users.  Look at the sidebar for links to tools and other KO resources. You will need to open the Windows Media Player.

KNOWLEDGE ONTARIO DATABASES

• EBSCO Canadian Reference Centre Lots of free tools and resources to download
• Gale CENGAGE Learning  Main website - for guided tours of their resources

Step by step guide to implementing Resource Ontario

SOLS has created the following pathfinders, which represent the typical steps a library might follow when preparing and launching Resource Ontario in their library. Some of the steps represent action items and resources that still need to be developed. Where possible, we have identified the action items, and have taken the liberty of assigning them to specific participants in the Resource Ontario project.

• EBSCO's Canadian Reference Centre «Next Steps» Pathfinder   How to register etc.
• Gale Databases «Next Steps» Pathfinder   How to register etc.

Training options

While “all sector” training sessions organized by Knowledge Ontario have been held in several locations, SOLS continues to organize a variety of training sessions for public libraries. Further information and the registration forms are available on the SOLS website at http://www.sols.org/librarydev/training/clinicsworkshops/index.htm

• EBSCO Training page  The EBSCO suite offered via KO is called Canadian Reference Centre
• Gale offers on-going, free on-line training to its clients. You need only register on-line to request training on the database suite offered via KO, or consult their Training calendar.

Information literacy training

• Information Literacy and You (Pennsylvania State University)  The University Libraries have developed these modules to help students learn concepts and skills for using the Libraries' databases, collections and resources. An excellent site generally guiding users through the process of information retrieval.
• LILI Learn Information Literacy Initiative (TAFE South Australia)

Usage

EBSCO Statistics Help Sheet (.pdf) Instructions on how to retrieve statistics from EBSCO admin