The Final Reflection #8

I have been to meetings that discuss how to use different databases within the library to help patrons understand how to use them. It is interesting that each database targets a certain age group. For instance, at the Long Beach Public Library there is a database called Tumble Books, which is a database that has books that reads to children as well as educated games. In my opinion, this database is targeted to elementary school children; it is suppose to help them with their reading. There aren’t many databases that are targeted to elementary children. Many are for middle school level and older. I have also taken various library classes already and this class has been one of my harder ones to accomplish.

I think that taking this course has taught me to teach others how to research that Google isn’t the only option. I’m now more focused on seeing if print sources may have the answer to certain questions as well as online databases. Working in a library and teaching others what I know is not just limited to just basic things. There are so many interesting things that patrons still need to know like computers, databases, how to find a book, and etc. It would be nice to do face to face contact, but that can’t always be the case. Handouts, online instruction, and other instructional aides will also benefit patrons as well.

Within an academic college library different instructions are needed for different information. For instance, a PowerPoint presentation could be created to demonstrate how to use the library website. There is so much information on an academic website that a person could get lost looking for what they really want. Not only is a PowerPoint presentation would be needed but a site that demonstrates how to use the library catalog and how to do a basic search. Not many know how to use library catalogs to the best of their abilities. Besides just those instructions, but an introduction to how to use the online databases is necessary as well.