ProQuest, an information firm central to research, joins libraries in schools, campuses and communities nationwide in celebrating National Library Week (April 13-19). The company will provide free access to a rich assortment of databases available through library web sites. Libraries can access these resources here and can extend complimentary access for up to 30 days. Each day of the week-long celebration, inspirational quotes reflective of how lives change at the library will be posted to the ProQuest Facebook page.
In response to the high volume of patron requests for help with homework, ProQuest Research Companion will also be available for free. This online one-stop resource guides high school, community college, and university students through research projects, helping them overcome typical barriers, generating better research outcomes and reducing frustration. Teachers and librarians are encouraged to access the learning modules and research tools, and incorporate them into classroom assignments and research projects.
ProQuest is also supporting the School Library Month student video contest “Lives Change @ your library.” Contestants are urged to express their creativity to illustrate how the school library program changes a student’s life and submit their video before the April 15 deadline. ProQuest is awarding three school library programs a one-year subscription to CultureGrams, an online database that brings the world to the library and classroom.
“Libraries today are more than repositories for books and other resources. Often the hearts of their communities, libraries are trusted places for everyone to gather and access quality materials,” said Simon Beale, senior vice president and general manager, ProQuest. “Providing online access to reliable information and research tools helps libraries extend their services to patrons. These celebrations provide a perfect opportunity for communities to experience how lives change at their library.”
During National Library Week, ProQuest will offer libraries complimentary access to databases that support some of the most common information requests posed to libraries. Among the resources are patron favorites such as ebrary’s Public Library Complete™, ProQuest Obituaries, CultureGrams and eLibrary.
Celebrated annually in April, School Library Month (SLM) is the American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) celebration of school librarians and their programs. School librarians are encouraged to create activities to help their school and local community celebrate the essential role that strong school library programs play in a student’s educational career.
National Library Week, sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA), celebrates the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians, promotes library use, and highlights the value libraries bring to their communities