INTRODUCTION

Information resources available to individuals are rapidly growing. No longer do you have to rely only on those available in your local library or those databases to which your local library subscribes. Be sure to thoroughly utilize all that your local library (academic and public) offers, but be aware of what else is easily available to you.

OTHER LIBRARIES, INCLUDING "LINK+"

Get a library card at any library you can. Virtually every public library in California will give you a library card as long as you are a resident of the state. There are several advantages, including:

• Access to a far larger number of books and media in the local area.
• Access to a wider range of databases, as many libraries have databases that other libraries do not license.
• In the case of libraries that are members of Link+, fast (2 to 4 days) interlibrary loan access to over five-million unique titles at over 35 California academic and public libraries. If you have a library card for a library that is a member of Link+, you can also walk in and check out books from most Link+ member libraries. Local Link+ members include the San Jose Public Library, San Jose State University Library, Santa Clara University Library, Mission College Library, West Valley College Library, and the Mountain View Library.

I suggest tetting cards at the following local libraries.

• Santa Clara County Library - The eight branches offer over one-million iterms, and they can be shipped from any branch to the one nearest you.
• San Jose Public Library - The biggest public library in the area got bigger when it bonded with the San Jose State University (SJSU) Library. The consequence is that a SJPL card holder can check out books from SJSU and use the numerous databases available from both institutions. (Note: Non-SJSU students must use the SJSU databases on campus.) The combined libraries are also subscribers to Link+, so library card holders can also access all of those resources as well.
• Santa Clara City Library - Only about 240,000 items, but the library has at least two databases other local libraries do not carry, and the SCPL is a member of Link+.

ONLINE DATABASES

Licensing bibliographic databases (such as the InfoTrac, Ebsco, and ProQuest products De Anza offers) is very expensive. Community colleges do not have a lot of money , so the library can usually afford to license no more than a dozen or so databases.

On the other hand, universities such as San Jose State University (SJSU) and large public libraries such as the San Jose Public Library (SJPL) can afford to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars licensing the contents of numerous databases. SJPL has about 40 databases, and SJSU has over 200 databases, though, unless you are a SJSU employee or student, you have to access the latter from on campus.

Again, be sure to get library cards at all of the other public libraries as well, because ones such as the Santa Clara County Library and the Santa Clara City Library offer databases that other libraries may not carry.

INTERNET/WORLD WIDE WEB

We'll address this separately, but be aware of two important aspects of information on the Internet/World Wide Web.

• “The Internet has made self-publishing possible for anyone with a computer and a modem, requiring no editing or checking for factual accuracy.” - Anne Mintz, in “Lies, Damned Lies, and the Internet” in the book “Web of Deception: Misinformation on the Internet.”
• Consequently, you have to thoroughly evaluate web sites, web pages, and other online documents to be sure that you are getting quality information.