In an ongoing effort to expand its reach to the general public, as well as the diving, medical, scientific and educational communities, Divers Alert Network® (DAN®) is announcing two information-sharing initiatives that will make the organization’s magazine, Alert Diver, and the scuba-related content it contains, available on a global level.
The first is a direct outreach program that provides academic libraries complimentary subscriptions to Alert Diver. Sample copies of the redesigned magazine are currently en route to libraries associated with academic institutions known for strong programs in marine biology and related studies. The program will also extend subscriptions to more than 1,000 additional library professionals at universities with programs in environmental studies, medicine and similar disciplines.
“Alert Diver is a source of information that’s useful in a wide variety of academic areas,” said Dennis Liberson, executive chairman of DAN Holdings. “Offering the magazine’s content to libraries associated with academic institutions seemed like a natural fit. Besides, making Alert Diver more accessible may even help spark more interest in scuba diving on college campuses.”
The outreach doesn’t stop there, though. DAN has also partnered with EBSCO, a publishing and integrated information service that combines technology with data to provide the library industry with a suite of more than 300 full-text and secondary research databases covering all subject areas, levels of research and user communities. EBSCO’s databases are present in academic and public libraries in almost every country in the world, including 90% of all English-speaking countries.
“The potential of DAN’s reach through a resource like EBSCO is incalculable,” said Liberson. “To be part of a reference database that is used by over 50,000 libraries around the world exponentially expands accessibility to DAN and the information we provide. Anyone that uses EBSCO’s databases will soon find Alert Diver among the search results when seeking information on scuba diving and diving research, education or medicine.”
Both outreach initiatives reflect DAN’s continuing commitment to the expansion of its mission and its viability as an educational and information resource. Coupled with other recent initiatives such as partnerships with new research affiliates and the improvement of continuing education programs, DAN remains dedicated to providing the “network” on which the diving and medical communities depend.
Alert Diver is one of the dive industry’s leading publications. In addition to its core DAN content on research, education, medicine and dive safety, Alert Diver and its online companion, AlertDiver.com, offer readers content on dive travel, underwater photography, marine ecology and more. Published quarterly, a subscription to Alert Diver is included with every DAN membership.
