Comments on: Databases and Choices http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/09/15/databases-and-choices/ A view from a school librarian's bookshelf. Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:38:18 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Sandra http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/09/15/databases-and-choices/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Sandra Wed, 19 Sep 2007 03:20:10 +0000 http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/09/15/databases-and-choices/#comment-13 Shonda, I'm writing in response to your comment that librarians aren't able to access the wiki from school and won't take the time to use it from home. I believe, even if the Wiki is not blocked at school, most librarians don't have time for this type of thing during the school day. Those of us who do professional reading and research have to do it during our off hours anyway. As for the Wiki we're talking about, only a handful have contributed. I don't know how well the information was spread about it. However, those librarians who don't participate in voting for the encyclopedia, probably aren't going to use it anyway. Just my 2 cents. Thanks for all you do in keeping us informed. Sandra Shonda, I’m writing in response to your comment that librarians aren’t able to access the wiki from school and won’t take the time to use it from home. I believe, even if the Wiki is not blocked at school, most librarians don’t have time for this type of thing during the school day.
Those of us who do professional reading and research have to do it during our off hours anyway. As for the Wiki we’re talking about, only a handful have contributed. I don’t know how well the information was spread about it. However, those librarians who don’t participate in voting for the encyclopedia, probably aren’t going to use it anyway.
Just my 2 cents. Thanks for all you do in keeping us informed.
Sandra

]]> By: shonda http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/09/15/databases-and-choices/comment-page-1/#comment-12 shonda Sun, 16 Sep 2007 14:52:49 +0000 http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/09/15/databases-and-choices/#comment-12 Yes, I worked ten years with a state agency and I understand the delays, the paperwork, the problems, and the process. I also understand the issue of staying with one product (even if it isn't the best) because of the pricing, the discounts received, and the apathy among many who don't want to go through the process of making changes. It does take time...and it's frustrating to wait; however, most things that are worthwhile take time. State agencies often don't make significant changes to the status quo because it is more cost effective for them to stay with what they have or they don't want to do the work. Sometimes it's both. It will be interesting to investigate the other companies to see if they are already on the bid list for the state. It wouldn't take much time to ask some key people with each company to find out. Yes, I worked ten years with a state agency and I understand the delays, the paperwork, the problems, and the process. I also understand the issue of staying with one product (even if it isn’t the best) because of the pricing, the discounts received, and the apathy among many who don’t want to go through the process of making changes. It does take time…and it’s frustrating to wait; however, most things that are worthwhile take time. State agencies often don’t make significant changes to the status quo because it is more cost effective for them to stay with what they have or they don’t want to do the work. Sometimes it’s both.

It will be interesting to investigate the other companies to see if they are already on the bid list for the state. It wouldn’t take much time to ask some key people with each company to find out.

]]> By: Anonymoose http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/09/15/databases-and-choices/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Anonymoose Sun, 16 Sep 2007 11:24:43 +0000 http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/09/15/databases-and-choices/#comment-11 One thing you might want to know is that for state agencies, any kind of procurement can take literally months to a year, due to the paperwork and accountability requirements in place (gotta keep the taxpayers informed as to where and why their money is being spent!). Whenever there is a pre-negotiated contract or a pre-approved list of vendors, state agencies are either required to use it or strongly motivated to do so. The "turn on" phrase was probably meant to refer to this issue, rather than actually "turning on" access to the database itself. Yes, it keeps agencies from being able to jump quickly to the "latest and greatest," and that's frustrating for them too. If they ever hope to switch databases, they'll have to start planning now -- as in gathering votes from now until December, and then starting contract negotiations in January so as to have something in place by fall of 2008. That's even assuming they get permission to do it; I don't know the particular restrictions placed on TSLAC. One thing you might want to know is that for state agencies, any kind of procurement can take literally months to a year, due to the paperwork and accountability requirements in place (gotta keep the taxpayers informed as to where and why their money is being spent!). Whenever there is a pre-negotiated contract or a pre-approved list of vendors, state agencies are either required to use it or strongly motivated to do so. The “turn on” phrase was probably meant to refer to this issue, rather than actually “turning on” access to the database itself. Yes, it keeps agencies from being able to jump quickly to the “latest and greatest,” and that’s frustrating for them too. If they ever hope to switch databases, they’ll have to start planning now — as in gathering votes from now until December, and then starting contract negotiations in January so as to have something in place by fall of 2008. That’s even assuming they get permission to do it; I don’t know the particular restrictions placed on TSLAC.

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