Databases: An "Ah-ha Moment"

I look back on my University experience with a sigh. I received my BEd from the University of Alberta. Their program is a four year degree - two years of general arts or science courses, and two years of education courses. I remember stumbling through my research for history and earth science papers unaware of the library's databases. At first, most of my research was done through printed resources. I remember one time in particular going home to Kamloops to pull books on JFK for my American history paper from the public library. I was too intimidated by the enormous unknown campus library. Oh geez. Later my research turned more and more towards the web. It was not until my third year of university that I learned about the wonders of databases! During my laws and ethics education course, our professor took us on a "field trip" to the education library. The teacher-librarians walked us through the databases and directly taught us those much needed information literacy skills. My research world was changed. I look back on it now and am grateful the professor took time from lecturing to bring us to the library, but I was a little bitter that I was not equipped with these skills earlier on in my school career.

Now with taking these Library courses, educating myself further, and having this experience of being the lost student, it only motivates me that much more to ensure students have these vital skills before they reach the post secondary level.

It was only during this course did I become aware of the numerous databases our district subscribes to. It makes me wonder how many classroom teachers are also not aware of these, or if they are, how many of them are still not using them.

http://www3.sd73.bc.ca/general/content/district-digital-reference-library 

I am curious to know how much our district spends per year subscribing to these databases. However, like many people mentioned in their postings, this is not something companies make public or district's divulge. While I could understand many people's reactions of this being, as Chris put it "doesn't seem very fair" (July 4, 2011), I could not help but think, that this is a common way things are done in our society. When we go buy a car, we as a consumer have some room to negotiate. One person may walk away with a better deal than the next person on the exact same product. The company is not going to advertise the original deal as it sets a precedent. Later, Lori (July 5, 2011) was able to eloquently place into words what I was thinking.

First, as a former sales person I understand the need to keep prices confidential. While it is not "fair" to everyone concerned, businesses exist to make money. Incentives offered to some customers are often subsidized by others who either cannot reach the same economies of scale (discounts for very large orders), or lack the same skill at negotiating their contracts. No matter the reason, each district/school will make its decisions based on what they are prepared to pay or are able to pay. From the buyer's perspective, a true belief that they have reached the best price available (and every buyer wants to think they have) means that they'll "keep the supplier's price secret" in order to secure their price.

This is one of the reasons why I think it is wonderful that our district negotiates and pays for these subscriptions instead of leaving it up the the individual schools. Firstly, library budgets would not be able to afford it, especially this many databases, and secondly, it makes more financial sense to pool users in able to secure a better deal.

In closing, I think electronic databases are wonderful. When I went back to University for my Special Education Diploma, they helped me out immensely as a lot of research was required for the various assignments and papers and don't know what I would have done without them. Better late than never!


Works Cited:

School District #73. "District Digital Reference Library." Kamloops Thompson School District No. 
                    73. Board of Education of School District No. 73, 2009. Web. 05 July 2011. 
                    <http://www3.sd73.bc.ca/general/content/district-digital-reference-library>.