With change as the only constant in the digital world, two major challenges are clear. First, while the Library's new electronic resources are all web based, they present students and faculty alike with differing interfaces and navigational options. Even the experienced researcher may be daunted when faced with so much variation. A second challenge will be to foster the evaluation skills that have, in fact, always been needed, but seem even more imperative as so many research choices evolve. Successful research will depend upon valid decisions being made concerning the best resources to use for a particular search, and the legitimacy and completeness of the information itself once found. The Library will do everything necessary to help make its electronic resources as easy for students to use as possible, but these information literacy issues implicate all of us who are involved in the education process.

The Library invites all faculty and staff to become a part of this process by investigating its electronic resources and letting us know your comments about them. Suggest them to students who might benefit from using them. Ask for Library support either through personalized explorations with one of our faculty or special class presentations. Most of the electronic products now available can be accessed from office workstations and Internet labs throughout the campus. Faculty may also request a proxy server account from the Office of Library Services to have at-home access.

Here follows a description of the databases newly made available. Others are scheduled for release in January. Access to these databases may be made through the LaGuardia Library Web Site at http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/library or through the CUNY Office of Library Services Home Page at http://libraries.cuny.edu. The LaGuardia Library Web Site will include additional access to those titles which are offered under a local subscription. Local subscriptions will not be made available to proxy server account holders, and will only be accessible through on-campus work stations.