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New TexShare Database "Customized Gateway" Program Receives 50th Library Participant The Texas State Library reaches a milestone in its efforts to make the TexShare Databases more easily accessible to Texas library patrons. The new "Customized Gateway" program launched in mid-May has received its 50th participant, the Downs-Jones Library of Huston-Tillotson College. Soon, patrons of this library will type in a customized Web address and, along with a login and password, access the comprehensive menu of 60 databases available through the TexShare Program. In addition, the library's page is personalized, with the library's name, address, and a direct e-mail link to its reference staff included. "Customized Gateways" is a service TexShare offers to fulfill the needs of small- and medium-sized libraries that want to provide their patrons with access to the TexShare Databases from their homes or offices, as well as from workstations inside the library. These libraries are also able to track the usage statistics for these gateway pages. For some libraries, such as Schulenburg Public Library, the Customized Gateway is the only Web page they have on the Internet. "This page provides our library with a Web presence," said Cindi Lytle, Head Librarian of Schulenburg Public Library. "It also lets our patrons know about an extra service that our library provides." Most academic libraries and many of the larger public libraries are able to "authenticate" their patrons by having them key in their library card numbers, but many libraries in Texas don't have the technology or expertise to do this on their own. "Some Libraries can't just put up links to these resources on their own web sites," explained Jay Velgos, Technical Operations Specialist of the State Library's Resource Sharing Division. "We saw a real need to help these libraries extend these services to their patrons." All that's required for a library to sign up for a Custom Gateway is for them to fill out a short form and agree to provide support or reference help to their own patrons using the TexShare Databases. Libraries interested in signing up for a Customized Gateway page should contact the technology consultant at their Library System office or the TexShare Program office at [EMAIL PROTECTED] The special login and password is necessary because TexShare's licenses with the eight database vendors - such as EBSCO, GaleGroup, and Grolier - permit use by resident patrons of Texas libraries, but not to those living out of the state or out of the country. "Our challenge is to ensure that patrons from Paris, Texas are permitted into the system, but patrons from Paris, France are blocked," says Jay Velgos. Michael Avila Public Information Specialist Library Resource Sharing Texas State Library and Archives Commission [EMAIL PROTECTED] 512-936-4274 http://www.tsl.state.tx.us --------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Include in body: unsubscribe ctls-l For information on CTLS-L please visit: http://www.ctls.net/document/ctls-l.htm
