So why do we pay for them?

     Recently, I have found myself in a bit of a quandary when it comes to accessing the electronic resources that the district subscribes to.  Were it not for the librarians in the building would anyone really use WorldBook Online?  How about Marshall Cavendish Digital?  Oh, wait, you don't even know what the second one is?  Hmmm, maybe that is due to the fact that you are a "Google'er" or a faithful disciple of Wikipedia?  Don't get me wrong, both of these sites have their positives.  But when doing research on a topic for an academic presentation, they make your life a lot more difficult to cite and ensure credibility.  My main question is, why is the district not "forcing" these resources on teachers?  All that seems to ever happen is during the "Motivation and Engagement" seminars the district will trot someone out there who tells you how wonderful these sites are and then you never hear about them until the next August.  Am I the only one who feels that this is both a waste of our tax dollars and extremely ineffective?  I went to a training this year on one of our databases where I was the only person in the room!  Does that mean that all teachers in the county feel confident to use our databases?  I think not, I've worked with many a teacher who doesn't even know how to get onto their schools' library webpage where these resources can be accessed!  I don't blame the teacher here because they have enough on their plates; but at the same time shouldn't they be inquiring about these resources they have been hearing about each August?  The beauty of these sites is how easy they make researching for students.  So, why wouldn't everyone be using them?  If we are here to promote how much of a 21st century district we are, then why are we still letting our students and teachers use what is essentially an almanac for research papers?  Because its just easier, that's why.  We as adults have become too comfortable in our usage of Google to ever stop using it; I myself must admit that whenever I need a fast answer that's where I go.  However, if you re-read that last sentence carefully, you'll see that I only use it when I need a quick answer.  When I do research now, my first place to go is the BCMS library webpage where I can find peer-reviewed resources that also provide a pre-made citation.  After all, why wouldn't I?