Date: September 1, 2005

To: RCPL Trustees

From: Greta Chapman

Re: Database purchase contract

Recommendation: Subscribe to the Opposing Viewpoint Resource Center (OVRC) database at an annual cost of $1950. This will require an annual agreement to be signed; if approved, this resource will be added to the annual Contract Renewal list.

Background: This dynamic database offers students central access to facts, statistics and opinion essays related to current-event issues. The OVRC is updated daily with current newspaper and periodical content.

This resource will be available to both in-house and remote users, and meets the following criteria from the Information Resources Development and Maintenance Policy:

• Section 7.C.2 - the Young Adult Non-fiction collection focuses on “current and timely materials”. The OVRC database, with its weekly and quarterly updates, is much more up-to-date than its print counterparts.
• The IRDMP also states that the Young Adult Non-fiction collection will be developed to meet the education and informational needs of “middle school and the first two years of high school”. The OVRC directly targets the research needs of this age group.
• Section 7.C.2 - the Young Adult Non-fiction collection will “provide information on a wide variety of topics of particular interest to young adults. These topics include dating, sexuality, puberty…and vocational guidance.” Included in the OVRC is the series “Teen Decisions”. This series provides up-to-date information on the above topics.
• Online access to information provides consistent multi-user access, while print information cannot meet peak demands. Providing this level of access is outlined in section 7.B.4: “The basic purpose of the Children’s Reference collection is to provide quick and consistently available access to information for both the general public and the Youth Services staff.”