Learning Resources | News

Texas State Library To Provide Research Database Access for All Public Schools

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 05/13/14

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) has inked a deal to gain online access to research databases and an e-book collection for every public school library in the state.

TSLAC partnered with Gale on the deal, which will make the resources available to more than 5 million students at 9,000 elementary, middle and high schools beginning June 15. The research databases "include multimedia, periodical and reference content on a wide range of topics," according to a news release, and will be available to students on mobile devices via the company's AccessMyLibrary app.

Databases available as part of the agreement include:

• Kids InfoBits;
• National Geographic Kids;
• Educator's Reference Complete;
• Student Resource Center Junior;
• Infotrac Newsstand;
• Student Resources in Context;
• Opposing Viewpoints in Context;
• Literature Resource Center;
• Scribner Writers Online;
• Twayne's Authors Online;
• Gale Virtual Reference Library;
• Academic OneFile;
• General OneFile;
• Health and Wellness Resource Center;
• GREENR; and
• Informe.

Gale will also partner with TSLAC to provide training and support materials to school librarians to help students get the most out of the resources.

For the first year, access will be free to the districts. After that, districts will be required to pay 22 cents per each student to maintain their access.

"The Texas State Library and Archives Commission is very glad to be able to partner with Gale Cengage to offer Texas K-12 students and faculty this rich collection of online information resources," said Mark Smith, director and state librarian at TSLAC, in a prepared statement.

More information about the deal is available at tsl.texas.gov.