Kreitzberg Library switches its catalog system

The Kreitzberg Library has decided to move its catalogue to an online database system called World Cat. According to library staff, this new system will make research easier and faster for students.

 More libraries have been moving their collections online in the recent years. The percentage of information on the new databases is much greater than it was about 10 years ago, according to Josh Petrusa, a library staff member.

"World Cat is a database of books held at libraries all across the United States, Canada and some parts of Europe and Australia," said Pretrusa. "World Cat is a cooperative way for libraries to share the books that they have. Students should look into the online databases in the library as a way to help them gather the correct sources."

The new World Cat search engine makes life easier by moving all of the databases into one location.

"Basically what it does is that it integrates our library book collection with all the book collections in the world and it puts all of our online databases in one search engine," said Elliot Pollack, a systems librarian at Krietzberg Library.  

The new World Cat search engine makes students lives easier and is a step up compared to the  old World Cat search engine, say librarians.

"World Cat has a Google like interface and it has a useful search engine. It also has a lot of user-friendly features that students and facility are looking for these days," said Meredith Sarkas, head of instructional initiative at the Krietzberg Library.

 The new database will be simpler for students to use and and will make looking up any article or book an easy task.

"I use the online databases more and it's a little bit easier than going to find (something yourself)," said Jacob Lewinsky, an 18-year-old double major in international studies and political science from Freeland, Pa.

The online databases provide a useful search engine for many different majors that the school offers.

"It's pretty useful when I do research papers. I always come here to get books or journal articles, and I can find good sources for my papers," said Lioa Tzu Chuan, a 22-year-old chemistry major from Tai Chung, Taiwan.

The Krietzberg Library also offers interactive programs that teach students how to use to the search engines and resources like World Cat.

"Five to 10 years ago, library instruction at Norwich consisted of sitting down in a room and somebody lecturing," Pretrusa said.

Now instruction is part of the curriculum.

"I think that libraries are doing a lot more with instruction these days when we're helping to teach students research," Sarkas said. "When I was in college it was expected that you figure out how to find books and articles on your own."

Students can also access online resources anywhere in the world via the library Web site, as long as they have a Norwich account.

There are also staff members who are available at the library help desk to assist students with research-related problems or questions.

"I think that librarians are very helpful and that they are just underused," said Max Corwin, a 20- year- old studies of war and peace major from Bucksport, Maine.

"A lot more of the resources that everyone needs are all electronic. So the library has a strong presence online and that is the biggest change we have seen over the past ten years," said Heidi Steiner a distance learning librarian at Norwich.