SIRS Mandarin, Inc. has announced that 1,800 Kansas libraries recently
gained access to the SIRS Discoverer Deluxe general-reference database.
SIRS Mandarin also announced that the Virginia Community College System
has signed a contract to obtain online access to SIRS’ databases. SIRS
also announced that it held its first SIRS Knowledge Source (SKS) Advisory
Board Meeting.
Kansas Libraries
SIRS Discoverer Deluxe is available through Blue Skyways (http://www.skyways.org),
a service of the Kansas State Library that provides Kansas citizens with
easy access to global information resources. Statewide access to SIRS Discoverer
Deluxe is provided for all public libraries, schools, universities, and
colleges. According to the company, between 400,000 and 500,000 users will
benefit from SIRS Discoverer Deluxe.
According to Marc Galbraith, director of the Kansas State Library’s
Reference Services Division, access to SIRS Discoverer Deluxe brings Blue
Skyways one step closer to creating a comprehensive library of online resources.
“The Kansas State Library and the Reference Networking Committee are very
pleased to provide our citizens, and especially our young people, with
access to SIRS Discoverer Deluxe, an educational, informative, and age-appropriate
tool,” he said.
Virginia Community Colleges
The contract allows Virginia libraries to access SIRS databases—SIRS
Researcher, SIRS Government Reporter, and SIRS Renaissance, as well as
the children’s database SIRS Discoverer Deluxe—online via the SIRS Knowledge
Source online interface.
According to the Library of Virginia, the decision to purchase SIRS
databases was motivated by highly favorable feedback from a survey undertaken
to assess library needs throughout the state. SIRS databases, now available
throughout Virginia in 2,000 schools, will help meet the information and
research needs of users of various ages, reading levels, and interests.
The addition of the SIRS databases enables Virginia citizens to effectively
search, sort, print, and e-mail general-reference and graphical information
from thousands of full-text articles. Database articles and graphics are
selected from nearly 7,000 U.S. and international newspapers, magazines,
government documents, and wire services.
SKS Advisory Board Meeting
Library professionals representing statewide consortia, universities,
community colleges, public libraries, and schools throughout the country
recently met at SIRS Mandarin, Inc.’s corporate office for the company’s
first SIRS Knowledge Source (SKS) Advisory Board Meeting.
Formed in June 2000, the SKS Advisory Board brings experienced library
professionals together to evaluate and enhance SIRS’ popular Internet interface,
SIRS Knowledge Source, SIRS Researcher, SIRS Government Reporter, SIRS
Renaissance, and SIRS NetSelect. The SKS Advisory Board provides SIRS with
valuable feedback regarding the functionality, performance, and level of
user satisfaction with its online products, including SIRS Discoverer Deluxe
on the Web. The SKS Advisory Board will play an important role in the future
research and development of SIRS’ online products. Board feedback will
help SIRS to expand, alter, and point the direction for new and auxiliary
products.
At the meeting, board members reviewed SIRS Knowledge Source’s content,
graphical presentation, and administrative functions, and studied ways
in which SIRS databases have been successfully used in online research.
In addition, participants discussed online database trends and the current
information needs of their diverse users with SIRS’research, information
technology, and sales staff.
Source: SIRS Mandarin, Inc., Boca Raton, FL, 800/232-7477; http://www.sirs.com. |