Use of free and low-cost online databases

The use of online bibliographic databases is of paramount importance in modern library services. This is especially true for libraries in the global South where the means for building extensive paper collections are often lacking. However, the costs of commercial licenses are often equally prohibitive to academic and research institutions in the South. Fortunately, a range of high-quality online bibliographic databases with direct access to the full text has become available in recent years, completely free or at relatively low cost for institutions in low-income countries. The awareness and the technical skills to use these databases, however, are often lacking.

This course is aimed at:

1. creating awareness among library staff about the existence of relevant free and low-cost online bibliographic databases for academic and research institutions
2. creating the capacity among library staff to use these databases and for giving primary user instructions.

Participants in the course will be library staff involved in literature searches and/or end- user instruction, and their supervisors. The course is not restricted to any particular set of databases, but will be adjusted to suit the client's areas of interest.