Friday, May 23, 2014

EBSCOhost network upgrades

On Friday, May 30, 2014, EBSCO databases and services may be intermittently unavailable while network upgrades are performed. The service window is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM CST. You may experience intermittent access to EBSCOhost products and services for the duration of the service window, which is scheduled to end at 10:00 PM CST.

Monday, May 5, 2014

Using ALLDATA to Repair & Check Out Cars

ALLDATA, the automotive repair database, is not just for car repair.  The database can be very useful in making a vehicle purchase. (Note: ALLDATA can only be accessed in the Library.) After selecting the Research tab at www.slcl.org, proceed to databases A-Z, then ALLDATA under A.  The database requires the user to choose the year, make and model of the vehicle.  Assume that a user is deciding between a 2013 BMW 320i Sedan and a 2013 Lexus ES 350, both entry-level luxury cars.

Once they select the vehicles, they will see Technical Service Bulletins (TSB), as a link on the left hand side.  These are sent from the manufacturer to dealers, indicating repair items.  For the BMW, there are 43 items, 22 listed as being of consumer interest.  For the Lexus, there are 22 items, with 2 listed as being of consumer interest.  The database user can read the entire bulletin and see what repairs are recommended.

For those wanting to make their own repairs, ALLDATA provides a menu of vehicle areas, such as accessories, body & frame, and wipe & washer systems.  The user can make a component selection, find repair information, and even find the parts (including OEM part # and cost) and estimated labor for the repair.  The database provides diagrams and repair steps.

For those comparing cars and repairing them, ALLDATA is an invaluable resource.

--Harry C., Reference

Thursday, May 1, 2014

EBSCOhost databases [RESOLVED]

We are having access issues with our EBSCOhost databases. It has been reported to our vendor. At this time, there is no ETA for resolution. This post will be updated when everything is back in working order. Thank you for your patience!