Databases

It was presented in a table with descriptions of each database. || Databases are available from home with a password that can be obtained from the media center. ||
 * **Schools** || **Grades Served** || **Is the database easy to find?** || **Databases listed on the school’s website** || **Format of the presentation** || **Accessing database information off campus** ||
 * **Lees Summit North High School** || 9-12 || Very easy; it was on the main page || **Ebsco Databases**- available
 * Gale Databases**- available
 * Other Databases**- NewsBank || The website was broken down by subject and then each database available was listed in that area.
 * **Rich Hill Elementary** || K-5 || Very easy; it was on the main page || If there were any databases listed, they were impossible to find. || No presentation available || There does not seem to be much information to access off campus beyond reading lists, etc. ||
 * **West Junior High** || 8 & 9 || Fairly easy; it was on the main page, but pushed to the side || **Ebsco Database**- unable to locate.
 * Gale Database**-available
 * Other Databases**- avaliable || The actual databases were difficult to find. Once located, they were presented in a table and were very easy to maneuver through. || There was a link for off campus access with the use of a password obtained from the media center. ||
 * **Ozark High School** || 9-12 || Somewhat; it was found under the “academics” tab || **Ebsco Database-** the website said Ebsco was available, but I could not find it anywhere
 * Gale Database**- not available
 * Other Databases**- LearningExpress was available || The presentation was displayed in a list and some information about each database was displayed below its name. || Off campus access is available with the correct username and password. ||
 * **Hannibal Middle School** || 6-8 || Very easy; it was on the main page || All of the resources listed were available || MOREnet was one resource on a list of about 60 other resources which made it very difficult to locate. || I could not find any information about off campus access. ||
 * **Benton Elementary** || K-5 || The database either did not exist or it was impossible to locate || I could not even find a link to the library so I could not find any databases. || No presentation available || I could not find any information about off campus access ||
 * **Palmyra High School** || 9-12 || Fairly easy; it was on the main page, but located in an inconvenient spot || I could not find any or the databases listed. || No presentation available || I could not find any information about off campus access ||
 * **South Elementary School** || K-5 || Very easy; the link was on their homepage || **Ebsco Database**- available
 * Gale Database**- not available
 * Other Databases**- NewsBank, LearningExpress || Presented in a list with a very short description under each resource and gave information about how to login || Alluded to the idea that you could login off campus after getting the necessary passwords, but I could not find a spot to login ||
 * **West Plains Middle School** || 5(?)-8 || Somewhat; it was found under the “departments” tab || **Ebsco Database**- available
 * Gale Database**-available
 * Other Databases**- NewsBank, LearningExpress, Net Smart Workshop || Presented in a list with a detailed description under each resource; the hyperlink is included || The databases are only available at the school. ||
 * **Hickman High School** || 9-12 || Very easy; the link was on their hompage || **Ebsco Database**- not available
 * Gale Database**- available
 * Other Databases**- all available || Presented in a list on the right side of the library’s homepage; a brief description about each resource is given when you hold your cursor over it || The link “Home Access to Databases” allows students to access resources off campus. ||

Summary of Findings:

While I was very impressed with some of the school's available resources, especially a few of the more rural schools, I was extremely disturbed by others. For example, West Plains Middle School, a rural school, had all of the resources we were asked to look for available while Benton Elementary, a school in Independence, did not even have a library page available.

I chose to look at Lees Summit North High School's website because that is where I graduated from and I never really utilized the resources available when I was a student, so I wanted to check it out. This was my favorite website.I liked how the website broke information down by subject and then contained the databases available that pertained to that subject within that link. Though it made searching for the databases for this assignment a bit more difficult, I think it would be much easier for students.

I think the most important aspect that made a presentation good, besides making sure there was one, is having a description of what the database contains and what students will be able to find there. Most students know very little about what these databases contain and by having even a short description to help guide them in the right direction, students will be able to research much more effectively.