Xrefer Features Ball State Libraries in Upcoming Case Study

Xrefer Inc., an electronic database vendor, anticipates publishing a case study of the Ball State University Libraries promotion and usage of xreferplus, a collection of 100 electronic reference titles. The study will be distributed at the xrefer booth at the American Libraries Association’s Mid-Winter Meeting, January 19-24, 2007 in Seattle, Washington.

According to Nancy King, Marketing and Product Analyst at xrefer, the University Libraries were chosen as the subject of the study because of our ubiquitous promotion of xreferplus on the University Libraries’ Web site, www.bsu.edu/library and the growth of our usage statistics.

“Other academic libraries will be interested in seeing how Ball State has successfully incorporated xreferplus into its digital collections. Xreferplus shows up everywhere on your site!” said King.

The University Libraries creatively promote xreferplus, along with other digital resources. Beacause of its interdisciplinary nature, this database appears in the Quick Search Tools on the Libraires' homepage and the Student Virtual Library page, www.bsu.edu/library/svl. Additionally, links to the resource are featured in various subject guides and subject-specific database lists. Librarians involved in library literacy instruction also publicize this valuble resource during class sessions.

Increased usage is the result of our promotion along with the quality of the xreferplus. Since subscribing to xreferplus in January 2006, statistics show an average of 1,031 searches per month. The number of database searches increased by 13.3% during Spring Semester 2006.

The identification of the University Libraries as the subject of xrefer's study demonstrates the Libraries' recognized leadership in delivering scholarly inforamtion to student and faculty desktops and the innovative ways in which our librarians and paraprofessional personnel continue to offer and promote excellent teaching, learning, and research resources to Ball State students and faculty.

The Ball State University Libraries’ xrefer case study will be available on the xrefer website, www.xrefer.com, following the ALA convention.

For more information, contact Matthew C. Shaw, Ball State University Libraries’ Electronic Resources Librarian, MCShaw2@bsu.edu, (765) 285-1302.