Slides from a Manchester Metropolitan University Library session on speed databasing based on a presentation from LILAC 2018 on Librarian Matchmakers. https://figshare.com/articles/Librarian_Matchmakers_Using_Speed_Dating_to_Introduce_Students_to_Library_Databases/6189167

1. SPEED
DATABASING
Introducing students to
multiple resources in one go…

2. Purpose
• Gives students a chance to interact with multiple databases or
resources, without demonstrating them all.
• Reminds students that there are multiple sources of
information and encourages comparisons.
• Encourages exploration and discovery.
• Students can identify their “go to,” favourite databases.
• Engaging, playful and largely self-directed (with some
structure).
• Encourages students to make notes about the resources they
have been using – gives them a takeaway.
• Can be done in pairs, to encourage peer learning.
• Also use the profiles for social media and other marketing.

3. Mechanics
• At the first bell, students had three minutes to review the first profile,
search in the databases, and take notes.
• At the next bell, students had a minute to wrap up, then move on to
the next database.
• The process repeated until the end of the class.
• Students completed a follow-up homework assignment:
• Answer specific questions about their favourite database
• Create an original profile for another database – they didn’t do during the
class.

4. Over to you chuck…
On the bell, open the
envelope and take out
a profile and read it.
Using your iPad,
navigate to the
resource signposted
in your profile and
have a play.
Use the questions on
your scorecard and
reflect on the
database.
On the sound of the
bell, rate your
database, place your
profile back into the
envelope and move
onto the next profile.

5. Lessons & limitations
Lessons
• Five minutes is the ideal amount of time to read the profile and explore the database.
• Allow time in-between the switch to take notes, reset the machines, stretch.
• Rather than having people move, have them remain at one station.
• Provide example searches
Limitations
• Could be overwhelming if you’re new to databases.
• Prior knowledge, instruction or explanations required.
• Works better if students have access to PCs or mobile devices.
• Some students will like the format, others will not.
• Speed Databasing does not address search techniques, but database awareness and
mechanics.

6. The end…

7. Library Search
Profile
• Name: Library Search
• Age: I’m ancient and modern. My oldest
record is from 1520. My newest record is
from 2018. New content sources are
added every week and content updated
daily.
• Location: International
• Background: Where to begin! I have
journal articles, ebooks and books,
newspapers, data sets, patents,
dissertations and more.
• Physical description: Simple, but
effective, easy to use interface with full-
text and citation only (i.e. titles and
abstracts) content.
• Interests: Where do I begin: Biology,
Chemistry, Business, Health, Education,
Media, Film, Sociology, Engineering, need I go on…
• You’d be surprised to know: I am a
database in my own right, with my
own index and everything. I don’t
hook up with others and search their
content live – I’m just not like that.
• My ideal vacation: A discovery centre.
• In search of: Anyone with a pulse –
I’m not fussy.

8. NHS Evidence
Profile
• Name: NHS Evidence
• Age: I’m current and my out of date
material is culled periodically.
• Location: Mostly UK, but I
occasionally like to travel.
• Background: Mixed – a bit of
everything. I harvest records from
high quality, publically available
databases and websites.
• Physical description: A single search
bar with plenty of filters for good
times and more.
• Interests: clinical or medically
informed decisions.
• You’d be surprised to know: Most
of my results are freely available.
Only some of me is restricted to
authorised persons only (via
Athens Access).
• My ideal vacation: Somewhere
sterile and clinical.
• In search of: LTR, DTE, NS, DDF
Long term relationship; down to earth; non-smoking; drug and disease free.

9. Cochrane
Profile
• Name: Cochrane Library
• Age: 12 issues per year, each issue being
finalised on the last day of each calendar
month. Superseded or dated reviews are
withdrawn or replaced.
• Location: International
• Background: Scientific
• Physical description: A simple and complex
search interface, with Mesh headings
providing access to systematic and evidence
based reviews. I help summarise the best
health evidence from research to help you
make informed choices about treatment.
• Interests: Any aspect of health
• You’d be surprised to know: I’m
actually made up of seven different
databases.
• My ideal vacation: I’m a serious
database; I don’t take holidays.
• In search of: people who want
rigorous, systematic evidence to
support their clinical and medical
decision making - doctors or nurses,
patients or carers, researchers or
funders.

10. CINAHL
Profile
• Name: CINAHL
• Age: 1976 to present
• Location: International
• Background: Clinical, Health
Physical description: I have 70
full text journals and 1322
journals with searchable cited
references.
• Interests: Health care, nursing,
physiotherapy, social care
• You’d be surprised to know: There are
different versions of CINAHL.
Manchester Met has one version and
the NHS has a different version.
• My ideal vacation: A federated search
engine.
• In search of: As I’m an index
(providing links out to other material),
I can be a bit awkward at times, so
someone with patience and
persistence.

11. Anatomy TV
Profile
• Name: Anatomy TV…growl
• Age: The birth of modern humans
• Location: On and off campus,
including iPad via Safari.
• Background: I have many layers.
• Physical description: Online 3D
human anatomy educational
resource. The most
comprehensive, accurate and
detailed 3D models of the human
body.
• Interests: Health, Physiotherapy,
Nursing, Exercise Science, Sport,
Speech and Language
• You’d be surprised to know: I see
dead people - I have access to moving
cadavers.
• My ideal vacation: A trip down
memory lane – also known as
hippocampus, the neocortex and the
amygdala.
• In search of: Someone who doesn’t
mind pictures of my insides.