MISSION VIEJO : College Library Gets Computer System

For the first time, Saddleback College students will be able to gain instant access to more than 5,000 news articles on social issues through a new computer system in the college library.

The program, called the Social Issues Resource Series, cost about $2,800 and was donated by the Saddleback College Friends of the Library.

News articles are stored on compact discs and can either be viewed on a computer screen or in printed form.

Students can also bring their own computer disks and make copies of the articles, said Susan Corum, dean of the college’s Learning Resources Division.

“This is state-of-the-art technology,” Corum said. “It is just so much faster and easier than anything we’ve ever had before. It’s very user-friendly and an instant way of accessing information in the social sciences.”

Among the subjects that students can research using the system are the environment, youth, crime, the Third World, women, ethics, health and education.

“Students can get very specific,” Corum said. “They can enter one or two keywords and come up with a list of articles quickly. The beauty of it is the speed with which it works.”

New articles will be added to the database each year, Corum said.