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Library Information and Policies: Electronic resources

Access to Resources

Access to electronic resources, both on and off campus, is available to current members of the Quinnipiac community who have a valid QU ID.

Members of the public are welcome to come in to our libraries to access our e-resources using our in-house computers which are located on the first floor across from the Research Desk.  Off campus access is not available to not individuals who are not current members of the QU community.

E-resources Purchase recommendation

Electronic resources purchase recommendation

If you would like to suggest an electronic resource be added to the Bernhard Library's collection, please complete the Library Materials Request form.

E-resources collection development policy

Electronic Resources Collection Development Policy

The mission of the Arnold Bernhard Library is to support the educational goals of Quinnipiac University; to maintain a facility that functions as the information center of the University; and to encourage members of the Quinnipiac University community to become effective users of information through integrated, interdisciplinary learning activities.

Our objective is to store and maintain a systematically organized collection of diverse resources representing a wide range of subjects, levels of scholarship, formats and technological delivery systems that directly support the undergraduate and graduate curricula.

In support of this mission, the Collection Management Librarian leads the selection process within the Arnold Bernhard Library for the acquisition of electronic resources based on the following criteria.

Basic Guidelines

1. The intellectual content of the electronic resource, whether purchased or free, must fall within the Library's normal collecting parameters of providing direct support for the curriculum and the basic research needs of students and faculty.

2. The electronic resource will provide added value over other formats.

3. The resource should have a search interface that is powerful, user- friendly and well-indexed, with numerous access points.

4. The cost of the resource must be sustainable for the foreseeable future.

5. Whenever possible, access to the electronic resource should meet these goals: Deliver reliable access. Be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Support remote users of library and information resources.

6. The technology and staff to deliver and support the resource is available at Quinnipiac University.

Evaluation Criteria for E-resources

Evaluation Criteria for Electronic Resources

1. Content:

  • What subject does the database cover?.
  • Who is the intended audience?
  • Is the product full-text? If not, are many of the journals and other sources available in the Bernhard Library?
  • Does it include bibliographic citations, abstracts, images?
  • What years does it cover?. How often is it updated?
  • How does the product complement or overlap with resources currently available in the Bernhard Library?
  • Does it support the curriculum?
  • Do we currently receive a print version of the product?
  • Does the database allow open-URL linking?

2. Interface:

  • Is the database easy to navigate?
  • Does it use an interface we already have?
  • Does it have basic and advanced search modes?
  • Does it allow word and phrase searching, Boolean logic, truncation, natural language?
  • Does it use a simple search box or present a structured search form?
  • How does it rank results (reverse chronology, relevancy)?
  • Is online help available and user-friendly?
  • Does it allow downloading and e-mailing of records?