National Library Week begins next week. The national observance recognizes libraries across the country to celebrate their contributions and is a way for librarians to promote library use.
In observance, the University library will host Discovery Days April 9 and 11 to offer database trainings to students from all majors. There is no pre-registration required and students will be trained to log on to databases to expand their knowledge and research skills.
Prizes will be offered to students who answer correctly on the library’s trivia game. There will also be one-on-one database training for students who are unable to attend the discovery days throughout the week.
University Librarian Stefanie Wittenbach said the University has 90 paid databases and 35 free databases that cost a total of $170,000.
Students can access the databases on and off campus. Tutorial on how to log on to databases off campus.
In order to access the databases off campus, students must have logged in to a “ground computer either in the library or computer labs,” Library Specialist Sarah Timm said. Information technology services requires students to login with their K# and password once per semester to give students database access.
The databases can be arranged by subject which can make searching for a topic simple.
Wittenbach said the databases are offered to all students enrolled in the Schools of Business, Arts and Sciences and Education and Kinesioogy.
Timm said this semester the library has given presentations to 675 students on how to use databases which was done during their 34 classroom visits.