How To Use ERIC
You can take advantage of ERIC resources in several ways. You can access ERIC on the Web, call specific ERIC Clearinghouses or components, or visit a library.
ERIC on the Web
 Visit ERIC Web sites
Conduct searches
Order documents online
Through the Internet, ERIC provides a global audience easy access to a variety of education resources, including the ERIC database, full-text ERIC Digests (short summaries of popular education topics), virtual libraries, lesson plans, parent publications, and reference directories. Internet users can access these and other resources through a system of ERIC-sponsored Web sites. The gateway to these Web sites is the ERIC systemwide Web site, which is sponsored by ACCESS ERIC and is located at http://www.eric.ed.gov/ . You can go to this Web site to find links to all ERIC-sponsored Web sites, the ERIC database, systemwide publications, and much more. This site also features the ERIC slide show, a quick tour of ERIC products and services along with tips on searching the ERIC database.
ERIC offers a variety of specialized Web-based services that can help you find the information you need. Some of these are listed below.
AskERIC
AskERIC is a free, personalized, Internet-based question-answering service for educators and others interested in the theory and practice of education. You can e-mail education questions to askeric@askeric.org. An AskERIC Information Specialist from one of the 16 ERIC Clearinghouses will respond to your questions with citations from the ERIC database and with information about electronic resources such as Web sites and listserv discussion groups. Their typical response time is two business days.
Education Resource Organizations Directory (EROD)
EROD enables Internet users to search more than 4,000 national, regional, and state organizations that provide information and assistance on a broad range of education-related topics. EROD has several searchable fields, including organization title, subject, description, and geographic location.
The Gateway to Educational Materials (GEM)
The GEM project is an online consortium effort to provide educators with quick and easy access to more than than 200 collections of educational materials found on various federal, state, university, nonprofit, and commercial intrnet sites. GEM describes and provides links to more than 15,000 lesson plans, curriculum units, projects, activities, and other educational materials on the Internet. For more information, send an email message to geminfo@geminfo.org.
National Parent Information Network (NPIN)
The purpose of NPIN is to provide information to parents and those who work with parents and to foster the exchange of parenting materials. Visitors to the NPIN Web site will find a variety of resources, including full-text pamphlets, brochures, ERIC Digests, guides, and other materials; reviews, summaries, and abstracts of books; and links to other online parent-related resources.
Virtual Reference Desk (VRD)
VRD meets the information needs of students, educators, parents, and other members of the K-12 community by identifying digital reference services. Also called “Ask-An-Expert” or “AskA” services, digital reference services are Internet-based question-and-answer services that connect users with individuals who possess specialized subject or skill expertise. VRD maintains the AskA Locator Database, provides information on exemplary AskA services, and offers resources to help organizations build and maintain new AskA services.
Call ERIC
Reference and referral services
ERIC search strategy consultation
ERIC Clearinghouse staff respond to requests for information; assist with ERIC searches; conduct workshops; and publish a variety of materials, including reports, summaries, and ERIC Digests. The ERIC Clearinghouses also collect and process materials for inclusion in the ERIC database. For information on a specific education topic, call the appropriate ERIC Clearinghouse or call ACCESS ERIC at 1-800-LET-ERIC (538-3742).
Visit a Library
Conduct searches
View and copy full-text ERIC documents
The ERIC database is available at more than 1,000 university, public, and professional libraries and education resource centers. Most of these locations also maintain an ERIC microfiche collection that can be used to view or copy full-text ERIC documents, and many now offer access to electronic copies of ERIC documents. To locate the nearest ERIC resource collection, call ACCESS ERIC or search the Directory of ERIC Resource Collections online.
 What Is ERIC?
 ERIC Database
This page was updated on Fri Nov 2 19:11:57 GMT 2001 
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