FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Theresa Fredericka
INFOhio Executive Director
614-752-2941
COLUMBUS (August 27, 2002) — From the moment they register for kindergarten, until life’s last library card expires, Ohioans have a vast world of electronic information resources at their fingertips. Every person in the state, young or old, can now access the same expansive collection of online journals, magazines, and research databases.
The collection, 22 databases from EBSCO Publishing, includes full-text articles from more than 6000 different titles, including 3000+ journals, 1900 periodicals, and 240 other news sources. It forms the basis of the Statewide Core Electronic Information Collection (SCEIC). Governor Bob Taft debuted the SCEIC at Arbor Hills Junior High School in Sylvania on Monday.
"There are no unskilled jobs any more," Taft said. “This new electronic information resource is yet another improvement in our efforts to support quality education.” The governor went on to emphasize the importance of education in shaping the next generation of highly skilled, technically astute workers, which he referred to as “the emerging Knowledge Industry.”
The SCEIC is a priority of Libraries Connect Ohio (LCO). LCO is a collaborative effort between Ohio’s three statewide library programs and the State Library of Ohio. The three library programs are INFOhio, the state’s virtual library and information network for K–12 libraries; the Ohio Library and Information Network (OhioLINK), the program for college and university libraries; and the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN).
LCO provided $2.5 million in combined state funds to purchase access to the collection. Had every school, college, university, and public library purchased this access individually, the cost would have been more than $18 million. With ever-tightening local budgets, many libraries could not have afforded these resources on their own.
“This set of resources provides a strong base for the SCEIC, but does not fulfill all the needs of Ohio’s schools in science, math, history, and literature,” explained Theresa Fredericka, INFOhio’s executive director. “Tomorrow’s knowledge economy workers need access to a diverse set of quality information resources in their classrooms today.”
The collection vastly improves the quantity and quality of resources available to K–12 students. Last year, INFOhio provided online access to 400+ periodicals and newspapers. The new collection ups the total to more than 6000, including more than 500 journals especially for educators. Now, for example, teachers in training can create and implement lesson plans using the resources previously available only to professionals in the field.
The collection also includes more than 3000 scholarly publications, 2600 of which are peer-reviewed titles necessary for advanced research at Ohio’s universities.
The participation of Ohio’s public libraries ensures seamless access to this collection for every Ohioan. The collection is available at all Ohio public libraries, as well as at home for public library cardholders. It also includes a number of consumer resources, easy access to health information, and provides an access point for small businesses and adult researchers that are not affiliated with a college or university.
The SCEIC provides quality information access to Ohioans:
Across all grade levels, including the college years.
Across school districts and public libraries, helping to reduce the Digital Divide.
Across colleges and universities, helping researchers to collaborate more efficiently.
Across environments – students can access the same resources at school, home, and at the public library.
For more information about the LCO partners, see:
INFOhio http://www.infohio.org
OhioLINK http://www.ohiolink.edu/about
OPLIN http://www.oplin.lib.oh.us/
State Library of Ohio http://winslo.state.oh.us
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