Junior Library Guild

So if there are almost two easy dozen reasons for keeping your database subscriptions, which ones are you most likely to keep? And why keep those?

Etta Thornton-Verma, Associate Editor, Reference at Library Journal and School Library Journal, posed exactly that question in a recent blog post. If almost 13,000 page views is any indication, Best Databases, is something we want to know. If we only have a little bit of money, we want to spend it wisely. Who better than librarians to offer up a best list? So Etta is asking us to chime in once again.

Think about it. Look at the following list of categories and provide a short explanation of your database’s best merits. Your reasons will be used as direct quotations in the November 1, 2012 reference supplement and later, online. Go ahead. Put in your two cents. You know you have an opinion. Give her a shout out and let the rest of us know.

Suggested Database Categories:

Best
Newest
Greatest Content Upgrade
Greatest Usability Revamp
Quirkiest/Eccentric
Most Ambitious (in scope or content)
Most Improved (overall)
Best Integration of Media
Most Unlikely Hit (with users)
Most Elegant (aesthetics and functionality)
Best Buy
Best Integration of External/Outside Content
Best Original Content
Your Patrons’ Favorite Database(s)

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