At WiLS, we want to bring valuable information to our library partners, including information about the missions and big ideas of the vendors they may already do business with. Each month, WiLS interviews a vendor partner in order to bridge the gap and open the door to valuable collaborations. This month, we are delighted to share insights from Rosalie Tanner, Digital Services Consultant – Academic Division for Infobase Learning.
Tell us about your company’s background.
Infobase is a company focused on providing cloud-based educational resources to the academic market. Product formats include streaming video, research databases, and eBooks under such well-known names as Facts On File, Films On Demand, Bloom’s Literature, and World Almanac®. With thousands of titles and numerous award winners, Infobase provides students, librarians, and educators with authoritative, reliable resources supporting the curriculum across a wide variety of subject areas from history, science, and literature to careers, health, and social issues. For more than 70 years, Infobase has been a trusted name in reference publishing—and that reputation extends to our wide array of online reference products.
Why do you, personally, choose to work with libraries?
As a little girl growing up in Nova Scotia, Canada I was always encouraged to read and I was only allowed to watch one hour of TV per day. My father was a minister and our family moved to four different locations and schools before I left for University. We lived in rural areas where the libraries were small with limited resources so I always looked forward to the bookmobile that came twice a month. The first time I went to a large library I was overwhelmed with what was available. The library staff were always interested in helping me find what I wanted and always knew more than I did about everything! So I always had a great respect for the library.
I didn’t initially choose to work with libraries but the month I started working in higher education and spending time talking to librarians my appreciation started to grow. I often tell my librarians, “I never knew how hard librarians worked back when I was in school.” Today I have come to value the partnership librarians have with the institution and the students they support. It seems to me that the collaboration with the library specialists who processes a wealth of knowledge and are trained to provide up-to-date content is priceless to anyone who takes the time to ask.
What do you like to know about the libraries you work with? What helps you better understand their needs?
I want to find out as much as possible about the specific needs and requirements of each library so that I can provide the best product recommendations as well as to strengthen the overall library/vendor experience. Understanding how you promote and share the digital resources to faculty and students helps me qualify what you are looking for. I want to know as much as possible about how your library team interacts and supports the various departments on campus, as well as faculty and student needs. Additionally, asking questions about what is essential both today, and in the future is important to Infobase’s ability to provide the most relevant and up-to-date resources. We want our libraries to share their ideas. The better the communication we have with the library the better we can satisfy the library’s requirements as a vendor.
What big ideas are being worked on at your company? What problems are being solved?
Infobase is always looking at the challenges that educators face in integrating content into libraries and classrooms in ways that patrons can truly find useful and that serve the libraries’ mission to serve as a gateway for both educators and students. Currently, we are looking at ways of integrating other elements of the library’s collection, such as locally hosted video and even web video content, into the Films on Demand universe to further leverage the tools that our users want and need.
How can librarians become partners in product or training development?
Librarians can play a vital role in two ways. First, we encourage librarians to join our focus groups. Your feedback on what your hearing from your instructors and students is vital in building a stronger resource for everyone. Secondly, we would love to have joint panel discussions and webinars covering relevant topics (i.e. subscription vs. PDA models for streaming video).
Do you have anything else you’d like to share here?
I have been working with the education community in the State of Wisconsin for many years. Our goal is to share our exciting content and services with every librarian and student we can reach. Thank you WiLS for working with us and providing this added opportunity to partner with your member libraries.