By Nancy Golz, CCL-EAR Committee Chair

New DEI Databases Comparison Review

The CCL-EAR committee is continuing our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion with a comparative review of diversity focused databases. This new DEI database review which is available on the CCL-EAR website examines four databases that focus on the experiences and voices of diverse groups of individuals who have historically been dismissed or ignored because of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or other social identities. Access to this type of information will be especially important as California Community College libraries seek to offer balanced and diverse collections that support the curriculum and the information needs of students as they take classes for the new Ethnic Studies graduation requirement. The new review addresses the content and coverage of each database, and includes information about affordability, usability, vendor support, interoperability, usage tracking, privacy, and accessibility. 

This following databases by well know library vendors are included in the review:

• Gale OneFile Diversity Studies
• EBSCO Diversity Source
• ProQuest Diversity Collection
• ABC-CLIO / Bloomsbury The American Mosaic (Academic) series. 

Some of the main differences among the databases are the breadth and depth of topics, overlap with general databases, and pricing. We hope that this carefully researched review by the CCL-EAR committee will help you to make thoughtful and informed decisions when selecting the best DEI databases for your students.

CCL-EAR Wants to Hear from You!

One way that CCL-EAR engages with accessibility, privacy, and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) is by vetting products in reviews, flagging problems, and advocating on behalf of community college libraries with vendors. CCL-EAR will be sending out a brief survey to hear about your experience with databases regarding accessibility, privacy, and DEI. We are also interested in which databases that you would like the CCL-EAR committee to review, and any suggestions that you might have for upcoming electronic resources related webinars, like the panel that CCL-EAR recently hosted regarding e-book purchasing. We hope that you will take a few minutes to respond to the brief survey to let us know how CCL-EAR can support you in the important work that you do.

Dr. Nancy Golz
CCL-EAR, Chair
Faculty Librarian
Merced College
nancy.golz@mccd.edu