The SiTuaTion: a ComprehenSive STaTe-wide neTwork

Funded by an IMLS Grant (Insti-tute for Museums and Library Services), and administered by the Arkansas State Library, The Traveler Online Database Program reaches 855 school buildings as well as 301 additional libraries (2 and 4 year academic, public and special). Traveler requires a col-lection of online databases that meets the needs of Arkansas’s diverse, statewide population. Databases are reviewed and selected by the Traveler Net-work Advisory Committee. Sally Hawkes, Manager of Network Services for the Arkansas State Library, developed the Traveler concept 13 years ago.

The Network Advisory Commit-tee is tasked with selecting a range of resources to fulfill the goal and promise of “reliable, verifiable, and accurate informa-tion,” as indicated on the Traveler website. The committee includes representatives from each library type, thus maximizing the ability to address the daunting task of developing a range of high qual-ity resources that best addresses the needs of a diverse statewide population.

www.abc-clio.com | 1.800.368.6868

ABC-CLIO Solutions: Reliable, Verifiable, and Accurate for the State of Arkansas

Spotlight on Success Arkansas State Library

ABC-CLIOSOLUTIONS

Challenge: reSourCeS for a range of librarieS and a diverSe populaTion

diSTriCT leader

Sally Hawkes is Manager of Network Services at the Arkansas State Library www.library.arkansas.gov. She also writes contemporary and historical romances as Sally Falcon and Sarah Eagle.

abling students to work with the chronology of events, then move to primary resources, and then analysis.

Hawkes stated, “The Committee was especially delighted with the

availability of good e-resources con-cerning the African American and Native American experienc-es. In their experi-

ence, when reports are assigned, there are never enough resources for these topics.”

Knowing that guidance is needed for effective use of resources, Hawkes then took the responsibil-ity for statewide training.

The resources are bid out every three years. During the Commit-tee’s review of 2010 and 2011, it was noted that usage was down for some general topic databases. The 2012 bids allowed the Com-mittee to consider more specialized databases targeted to the needs of their students, edu-cators, and patrons.

Along with Hawkes, several of the Committee members have strong reference backgrounds and had long been familiar with ABC-CLIO databases, and Hawkes was delighted with their decision to add the “new” product to Traveler.

The Committee felt that the Solu-tions databases are aesthetically beautiful – important for ease of use and a welcoming, encouraging research experience. Because of a change in the overall collection, additional primary resources were needed, and the Committee was especially impressed with those in ABC-CLIO Solutions. In addition, they liked the Analyze section for teaching analytical and evaluative thinking, especially for the course in early American History which emphasizes how to read propagan-da and the use of primary sources. They were impressed platform’s consistent and ease-of-use, en-

“The ABC-CLIO Solutions Support

Center is very concise and informative.”

The SoluTion: abC-Clio SoluTionS

www.abc-clio.com | 1.800.368.6868

Spotlight on Success Arkansas State Library

ABC-CLIOSOLUTIONS

In this balanced budget state, there are ongoing efforts to be more cost efficient. Therefore, at the state level, transition to more digital resources is being seriously considered at the state library level, and the availability of mobile access is planned for more state employees. In addition, various approaches to shared purchasing of databases are being explored.

quiCk faCTS

The Arkansas State Library: “serves as a resource for state government, for pub-lic libraries and for all Arkansas citizens. We offer a wide range of services with an overall mission to provide all Arkan-sans with access to information.”

Traveler Online Database Program: “When you need reliable, verifiable, ac-curate information, go where the experts go. Traveler databases offer magazines, books, encyclopedias, and other re-sources to all Arkansas residents. Re-search current events, science, business, health, notable people, hobbies, and much more from your library, school, home or office.“

ABC-CLIO databases used:

The American Mosaic Suite:

• African American Experience

• Latino American Experience

• American Indian Experience

enhanCing CriTiCal Thinking and analySiS

She has presented personally to school districts with the as-sistance of former Committee mem-ber, Kay Bland, at the Institute of Arkansas Studies. She is also working with the Department of Arkansas Heritage, which runs Arkansas History Hub, a portal which includes lesson plans (http://www.arhistoryhub.com). There are also discussions with AETN, the state’s educational television station, about video presentation on all Traveler databases. At the Arkansas Association of School Librarians demonstration, the response was dramatic when she showed the chronologies. She said it was the equivalent of saying “wait for it, wait for it…”, then “Oh, cool!” At the Hot Springs Technical Institute, instructors were so impressed with the ease of use and the aes-thetics that they couldn’t wait to play with it. Then they immedi-ately gravitated toward Analyze.

Hawkes is impressed with the helpful resources in the ABC-CLIO Support Center, which she finds to be very concise and informative. She has linked it to her promotion and training page which includes additional resources, handouts, and training videos.

21st Century Skills are well ingrained in the selection

“The Solutions databases are aesthetically beautiful.”

The fuTure

strategy of the Network Advisory Committee, and they

worked to ensure continued emphasis on these skills by prioritizing analysis, debate, and primary sources when they

selected ABC-CLIO Solutions.