Bookcarts for Assignments – A Facelift
Posted by: Sara Rofofsky Marcus
The Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) subcollections are starting to compliment the traditional bookcart of books on a topic. Rather than going to the physical shelves to find books for an instructor’s specific assignment, obtaining single copies of various books of a wide chronological range, I find myself turning first to the GVRL to see if I can create a subcollection for that assignment. The unique url is then posted to the Library’s listing of ejournals, and is also provided to the instructor to share with the class in the course management system (i.e., Blackboard) for on-campus use; and a second version via the ezproxy for off-campus authenticated usage. I am not saying to get rid of the physical books, but when the physical book is limited to one user at a time, the GVRL titles can be accessed simultaneously by as many students as desire, and do not have to be lugged home, or photocopied. The GVRL titles are available 24/7 and thus suit the hectic schedules of our patrons – the students.
