Businesses without a Web presence are losing out to those who have one. The Internet is a wonderful source of information, and even the Federal Government is there in force. But now, many of the U.S. Government's resources are available on the Web. Government sources were also highlighted. FirstSearch Available Online CD-ROM research databases are not the only products available on the library computer network.
Research databases are also available online via telephone modem dialup and Internet connections.
OCLC is a company that provides cataloging, interlibrary loan, and reference services to libraries all over the world. FirstSearch is being provided free to Illinois libraries for two years by the State Library. Possibly the most helpful database in FirstSearch is WorldCat, which includes almost 40 million books and other materials. ArticleFirst is another helpful database, which indexes over 12,500 journals. Benner librarians are hoping to upgrade FirstSearch by adding more of the 55 databases OCLC has available.