Wait, what? Databases are hardly new. In fact, some folks feel their day has come and gone, thanks to the ever-blossoming resources available on the free web. So why are they part of a course on Library 2.0?
Well, for starters, database vendors have been incredibly responsive to the changing times. Many of them have upgraded their products and services to include features like RSS feeds and the ability to share information on social networks. For seconds, the quality of information in subscription databases often still trumps what's out there on the free web, especially when it comes to full-text journal holdings.
But, you might reply, our patrons aren't USING databases! They're Googling!They certainly are, and any attempts to put that particular horse back in the barn would be futile. However, Google and research databases are chocolate cream pie and apples, respectively. And while chocolate cream pie appears more attractive than apples, a steady diet of nothing but pie will make you sick, fat, and unhappy. Our patrons still need apples!
In my opinion, our three-pronged task as information professionals in the 2.0 age is to:
a) educate ourselves about the products to which we subscribe
b) make informed decisions about which products are best for our patrons, and which 2.0 database enhancements are useful.
c) use 2.0 technologies and services to spread the word about the superior information and service library databases can provide.
Now, granted, as the EREC chair, I'm a touch biased on that point. I'm hoping this week's task and comments will start an excellent countywide conversation about our databases and how we can use and promote them most effectively.
But enough philosophizing!
Your official task this week (Thing #9) is to choose 3 databases from the Find Articles page , play with them, and discuss your results in a comment below. Please make an effort to choose databases with which you are not familiar, and notice any 2.0 technologies that may be present within the databases. For more links, video clips and inspiration, see also Week 6 of the 23 Things Wiki.
[NOTE: I know some libraries have private subscriptions that are for their cardholders only. Please try to avoid these, as it's possible that not everybody in the group will have access to them. Exceptions can be made for products you have that you THINK everybody should have, and want to brag on!]
Happy searching...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Looked at Biography & Genealogy. Looked at Biography Resource Center, Dartclix, and the Ancestry Library. Found the latter especiaaly helpful in light of patron interest.
ReplyDeleteLooked at Biography Genealogy. Looked at Biography Resource Center, Dartclix, and the Ancestry Library. Found the latter especially helpful in light of patron interest.
ReplyDeleteMarc/Wilkinsburg
I went to read the articles listed on the 23 Things wiki for week 6. I could not however, find the article by Thomas Frey using the link that you posted. Is there a better link somewhere?
ReplyDeleteWhitney
Northland
This was a great week. I explored Library Catalogs and spent a lot of time on the Library of Congress web site as well as the Access PA. In Books and Reading, I was fascinated by Novelist, a fiction database that allows lookup by subject. I tried mystery and was overwhelmed! The third I tried was Music and Film which is really great. The Internet Movie Database is very good for finding reviews and a list of 250 top movies. This will be good for my Netflix list!
ReplyDeleteLinda Scott at Penn Hills Library
Whitney, so much for perfection - it worked last week! Back to the drawing board, and thanks for pointing it out.
ReplyDeleteLAV
Fixed...*crosses fingers*
ReplyDeleteLAV
Lots of databases to peruse. I chose three, but will want to go back and look at more. Enjoyed the Novelist site lookingat the award winners and book discussion guides that would be helpful with book groups. Also really like the Oxford music on line to find obscure info on a musician who is not well-known. Also visited the Oxford reference and looked at the quotation source. Would be helpful in finding quotation for a specific topic. The subject reference is easy to use with lots and lots of info. JB Northland
ReplyDeleteI read the articles listed on the 23 Things wiki for week 6 and watched the video on what to do when the libray is closed.
ReplyDeleteSpent time looking at the science and technology databases - Predicasts Promt and looking up mining in Mongolia. My daughter is interested in the effects of arsenic in the water in Mongolia due to mining. Next, I looked at the databases in the History Resource Center: World. Again I looked up Mongolia and chose the section about Aimag. It is a section in the SE part of Mongolia. I liked that the information included: Source Citations, Document #'s and Further Readings.
I enjoyed exploring databases that I have not used for awhile.
Lynn Hahn
Bethel Park Public Library
I'm fairly knowledgable about databases, having graduated from Pitt not to long ago (and they make you do a lot of work with databases...) however, it's always nice to have a bit of a refresher course. I chose three kids databases as I work in the children's department. I chose to look at: Facts for Learning, EBSCOhost Animals, and Searchasaurus.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Facts for Learning and Searchasauras as they had interfaces that are easy to navigate and would gain kid's approval. EBSCOhost, however, was a sour disappointment (as usual). It had a boring interface and wasn't easy to understand or navigate. It's interesting to note that Searchasauras is made by EBSCOhost...I guess they can't be perfect all the time. :-)
Dani Thomas
Shaler North Hills Library
I could spend way too much time on NoveLIST, it is my new favorite. I also searched the Library of Congress, in particular the Great Depression. Also checked out the Job and Career site and the State of Pa.
ReplyDeleteShirley/Wilkinsburg
In EBSCO Image Collection, I found a color picture of the Tower of Babel. From Business & Company Resource Center, a profile of a health foods company. From Science Resource Center, a photo of bacteria.
ReplyDeleteJoe/Wilkinsburg
I love it "the Tower of Babel" and you at some point someone will ask you for it. I am glad to hear you all are searching for fun things and enjoying the results. I used to work with a reference librarian who knew so much that she was like sitting next to my own personal database. With these databases we all have access to these great resources!
ReplyDeleteBy searching EBSCO animals, I discovered that not only are there 32 different kinds of lemurs, none of them are nearly as cute as King Julian. I also peaked into the Pittsburgh Post Gazette database that I was excited to know existed, esp. for our patrons, and found out that some goof thought that ex-Pittsburgh Pirate Damaso Marte was one of our most ridiculous trades...who even remembers that guy? Finally, Testing & Ed Reference Center was something I wasn't familiar with and after playing around with it I found a great new resource for when I inevitably end up taking the GRE's (also great help with PRAXIS, GED and AP exams, all hot topics with our patrons).
ReplyDeleteMegan Helfrich
Bayne Library
Looked at MAS Online Plus, Book Collection:
ReplyDeleteNonfiction, and Classical Music Online. The first two sites have lexile numbers which teachers often request. I really enjoyed the
Classical Music database. I listened to Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F Major- great sound quality. I was a bit disappointed that my first choice- Oscar Levant was not in database.
Amy/East Liberty
I looked at African American Experience and found it fascinating to be able to find images! I also looked at the testing and Education Reference Center and Sirs discover. This was a fun week and I am actually with time permitting going to look at more databases that I am not very familiar with.
ReplyDeleteChecked out AP Multimedia Archive and found some good shots of the Stanley Cup Finals (ones not in our local paper). Also checked out the cool "Offbeat Gallery" in the historical archives and found wonderful images there, including funny "hair ironing." explored Cyndi's List, listed as a resource in the Genealogy section. And last but not least, I accessed Mango Languages which was super easy to use.
ReplyDeleteShannon/Mt. Lebanon
I really enjoyed this weeks assignment. Although I have helped patrons with databases in the past, I must say I had never just taken time to actually delve into many of them just to see what all they included.
ReplyDeleteI especially liked the Opposing Viewpoint Resource Center. It really gives you food
for thought and promotes flexibiity in the thinking process.
I made the mistake of commenting to my husband concerning the Business & Finance section. Forty-five minutes later I was able to get possession of the computer back from him in order to finish my assignment. The Morningstar section sure beats those little paper sections we used to receive through the mail and replace in the huge black binder.
I thought the fact that the BBB had a blog included was great. Sometimes the best information is actually word-of-mouth info.
Maureen - Jefferson Hills
So many databases, so little time. I really enjoyed this assignment and would love to keep browsing all day. Today however I checked out the CIA World Fact Book which shows all the current flags of the world among other things.
ReplyDeleteI also looked at Facts for Learning since I have a child entering 5th grad next year. And I also found the Testing and Education database very interesting and potentially quite useful at our library.
Diane
Bayne Library
crap. i just spen 35 minutes expounding on my experience with databases, but when i went to post my comments they didnt work. now i'm gonna have to start all over. its midnight and the only time i have to do this. so TTFN
ReplyDeletepeter
bayne
bellevue
ok. i decided to do a shortened version of my epic report from databaseland.
ReplyDeleteIMDB.Videos and movies to watch.info on tv, movies actorscrew, plot etc. i was able to view the orig Night of the Living Dead.There was also a link to internet archive of moving images. this had animation,forgein films,sportsopen source material to view or download.
oxford music online dictionary. search for artist type of music or music period. read bios,descriptions of various music movement histroy with sample music slips. also gallery af music related images.
info trac. i was able to locate an article about the TRACO window company from pgh entering into a joint venture with a company in china to make inexpensive energy saving windows.
power library's mid school facts for learning. did a search on jane goodall. reference links for encylopedias,almanacs,magazine and weekly reader articles with a text to speech function which is pretty cool.last but not least MAS online plus did a search for an article from PCmagazine from jan 2009. located and able to view and save to folder or send to email, which i did and was able to open in Rich Text Format and pdf with accompanying graphics.article about best tech news blogs. all in all very informative and helpful to me and ultimately to the patrons of all ages we serve. its good to be able to introduce them to the potential of cyberlibrary while mainting our human touc in dealing with questions that do turn out to have answers.
peace out
peter
andrew bayne
bellevue,pa
i just re red my comments and not to be misconstrued . the line that reads"actorscrew"
ReplyDeleteshould obviously be "actors,crew" obviously.
must go sleep brain is tired.
night all
peter
bayne
bellevue
Bonjour! Comment allez-vous?
ReplyDeleteThat's all the French I'v learned so far, but Mango is my favorite flavor of ice at Rita's and this is my new favorite database to tell people about. The library card really is a ticket to the world.
When I give talks in the library (or outside the library) about the Business specific databases I always take a minute or two to walk the audience through the list of databases. So much value from a free piece of plastic smaller than a 3 x 5 index card.
S.B. 850 must fail.
This weeks lesson provided a good opportunity to explore some of the databases I had never tried. I searched for Hunt glass on Kovels, liver cancer (actually a patron question) on Consumer Health Complete, and brushed up on my rusty French on Mango. Also, I think using videos to introduce patrons to databases would be a great idea.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Upper St. Clair
1. kelley blue book tells me that my car is now worth diddly squat (that's in american dollars, which are also worth diddly squat).
ReplyDelete2. ebsco animals says that marbled cats live in sumatra and have 3-4 kittens at a time.
3. history resource center does not like typos, so "firebonging of dresden" does not get nearly as many results as "firebombing of dresden," even though it is much more amusing.
amy, film and audio, clp, etc.
Week 6 - Tried Literature Resource Center
ReplyDelete(aboriginal Australia - one hit - Marty Doddd)
Lit Finder
(26th century BC - one title - we don't have)
(22nd century BC - two titles - have both)
Historical Resource Center
(Dardanelles - 27 hits; Dardanelles and World War I - 10 hits)
Oxford Reference Online
(Pictorialism - three titles - have all three)
These can be useful jumping off points if you need some inspiration/enlightenment to get started.
Chloe
Main
I explored Oxford Music Online which is a publication of Oxford University Press and focuses on Opera and Jazz music dictionaries and biographies. I had to use their help page to figure out their home page and what to do where in order to browse the biographies. As with most OUP products the visuals were very nice.
ReplyDeleteI also checked out the Smithsonian Global Sound for Libraries database. This is very cool as it allows you to listen to sound files and browse at the same time.
The third database I tried was Newspaper Source. I don't like EBSCO's interface, but I gave their Visual Search a try since I haven't done it before. I did like the results for a casual search although I did not return as many results as I expected. I didn't know if that was a function of the visual search interface or if it would be the same in the other.
I love databases. I use NoveList all the time as well as the health databases and it was fun to explore a few that I don't usually use. I do think that most users (that I encounter at the PC Center anyway) would have a great deal of trouble negotiating a database on their own. Maybe not IMDB (I'm a big fan) but certainly the EBSCO products.
Tanya (Digital Resources--Main)
Yesterday I looked at Reference USA, The Grove Dictionary of Art, and the Auto Repair Reference Center. I was surpried to find out that the art dictionary did not have any library or web 2.0 features, especially since it contains images. The auto database was surprisingly easy to navigate, but I could see how novice database users could struggle to find the information that they need. Finally, I found out how useful the Reference USA database is. As I searched the business profiles, I realized that I could offer the database as an alternatice source to a certain patron who always has trouble finding information thorugh the yellow pages.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun finding new information sources to share!
Whitney
Northland
Week 6
ReplyDelete1. ebscoanimals -african gray parrots live as long as I am old.
2. galegroup - Rush Limbaugh. saved to rss feed and not sure that worked for me.
3. for my young grandchildren - found neat data base site - Kids Search K-5. When I have timel, I want to go back to social bookmarking to save to home computers.
OK, so maybe it's semantics or maybe I'm unclear as to the definition of a "database". Reading through Beth's introduction to databases for this week's 23 Things, it sounds like databases are products that are available through vendors and subscriptions. Is everything on the "Find Articles page" truly a database? (This does not mean it's not a great way to direct our customers to wonderful information.) In the most unfortunate scenario of reduced state funding, it's the databases that we subscribe to that will be lost. The EBSCO databases (e.g. Business Premier, Animals, Masterfile) have prominent 2.0 technology features, such as RSS feeds direct from the search results and the ability to quickly add a bookmark to delicious or share an item on facebook. Unfortunately, while the Gale databases (e.g. Science Resource Center, Opposing Viewpoints, History Resource Center) have great content, I did not see as much 2.0 technology. The infomark seems like it should be a bookmark, but either I don't understand it or I couldn't get it to do what I thought it was supposed to do. And I didn't see the capability for RSS feeds. My experience has been that customers love databases once they understand them.
ReplyDeleteSince days of being a school librarian, I have always kept a copy of the Access PA Power Library pamphlet available. However, since I do almost nothing that requires material of academic depth or quality, I have very few occasions when I need to use the any of the various databases. It was nice to be reminded of their existence.
ReplyDeletePage B
I really liked the Post-Gazette News Bank database - it's much easier to search than their own website and I like that it's also organized by what page in the physical paper that it appeared.
ReplyDeleteThe National Geographic website seems helpful and useful. It has a lot of audio and video content, but didn't seem to have anything like RSS feeds (presumably because they want you to buy their products).
The History Reference Center seemed mostly like a traditional database (and I'm not the biggest fan of the EBSCO interface), including article citations without links to full-text, which personally I find much less useful.
I looked at several databases, but my absolute favorite of the bunch was the CIA's. It's called something like World Factbook, and it's full of the kinds of info that my son, Henry, a huge geography buff (and the PA geography bee champ for '09 -- thank you very much), could spend hours exploring. There's something for everyone there -- younger children, older children, and adults. Plus it's done by the CIA, which just makes it that much more appealing, somehow.
ReplyDeleteR. Glitz / CLP SubPool
I went into the site of Biography & Geneology, something I do quite often. Very interesting site, especially for those who are interested in looking for their ancestors.
ReplyDeleteAnother site I checked out was, Books & Reading.
I went into the Library of Congress site and read about the general information and formation of libraries. I also downloaded a PDF of the library's organizational charts
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias. I visited the site of LISTA which means Library Information Science& Technology, Abstract. It was quite interesting, so many sites to choose from.
Frankie/Wilkinsburg
Just to clarify, there are free web resources available on the Find Articles page - we did mean the subscription databases, though, in terms of checking them out.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I am learning from this whole process is that, even when you think you've been clear enough, you probably haven't! So, thanks for the constant feedback.
LAV
I found this to be a very helpful lesson. More so than some of the others. I am sure I will be using databases more in the future.
ReplyDeleteKathy
USC Library
I looked at Kelly Blue Book, The Library of Congress and Consumer Search. I especially like Novelist and I use it alot. I intend to go and look at some of the others.
ReplyDeleteJoanne - Shaler North Hills Library
I used the Kelly Blue Book, Ancestry and Auto Repair Center. I found all easy to use. I especially like that the Auto Repair Center Site has service bulletins and recalls on vehicles.
ReplyDeleteKathy
Shaler North Hills Library
I have played with 3 additional databases in our "collection." Since I have used most of them before I thought I would let you all in on a database that Joanne (wonderful Shaler person that she is) discovered. Fantastic Fiction. It is from the UK and covers adult and some teen fiction. You can search by author or title, and get a brief plot of their older, current, and future pubs. BUT the best is they are arranged series order. AND they also have suggestions of books that author likes to read, and links to their websites.
ReplyDeleteI use it constantly and just wanted to pass this along to everyone.
Thank you Joanne!!!
Lesle (Beautiful Shaler North Hills Library)
I picked 3 databases to view. All were interesting to browse.
ReplyDelete1. Ref USA
2. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center
3. Grove Dictionary of Art
Ref USA seems to be a handy business source.
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center was informative. I thought it was neat how one can download. It was also interesting to have web sites listed.
Grove Dictionary of Art was resourceful.
Mindy
Monroeville Public Library
It's so cool to see everyone exploring all these great databases!
ReplyDeleteI got what to me seems like an error message while trying to get into the AP Images site - it is asking me for user name and password. That can't be right! I went into Mango and was taking some Polish lessons - that is a great product. Hopefully, it will get the same name recognition as "Rosetta Stone". Great selection by EREC. I also tried PROMT - and searched Pittsburgh Coffee - 2 of my favorite things. It logged me in as "EIN Sharpsburg" while I was sitting at my desk at ACLA - weird. I like how it gives you a Google image search option but it's fun to see what the search brings up and where else it can lead you.
ReplyDeleteMeghan - Carnegie Library McKeesport
ReplyDeleteAs a college student working part time for the library, I've already used a few of the databases for research papers. It's very easy to use.
Week 6 - #2 comment
ReplyDeleteToday I checked out 23things Wiki. I found the Futurist Speaker, Thomas Frey blog really interesting, liked his photos alot. I didn't know if I would get past week 2 in 23things, but now I am hooked on it. It has led me to alot of resources and information that I would never have happened upon, otherwise.
Gloria - Monroeville Public Library
I really liked Consumer Health Complete - I found it relatively easy to navigate, options for viewing articles and info, combination of video clips, etc. Not so impressed with Consumer Search (which isn't really a "database") - very limited information. NoveList is lots of fun - especially when I'm trying to find out what all an author has published - with synopses. CIA World Factbook - intriguing. Newspaper Source threw me into a complicated EBSCO tool - and as a library "patron", I felt like I was required to be an info expert to navigate. I find the web resources much more user friendly than the actual databases. That's sad.
ReplyDelete- Marilyn @ ACLA
I chose Auto Information, Business & Finance, and Education. All had good materials and it was fairly easy to navigate through.
ReplyDeleteJohn
Shaler North Hills Library
I searched LC - had never really done it and don't know when I would need to, but it's amazing all the stuff you can find there! I'm going to get my kids to check it out over summer vacation!
ReplyDeleteAlso checked out Mango, since we've been getting those emails about it. It was very straight-forward to use. Only thing I missed was some sort of introduction to the language and its basic rules. It starts right in on teaching words and phrases. But still neat!
Lastly, I checked out LitFinder, as sometimes we get requests for full texts of poems. Usually easy enough to Google, but this has some commentaries and reviews too. Overall, not as helpful as it once was, and I don't think patrons would choose it over Google.
It was a much less stressful week, though!
Kathy
Sewickley Public Library
Bonjour, I played with the French lessons on Mango Language..fun database. Tried the Grove Music Dictionary for an orchestra leader my husband was talking about..gives alot of information. He will probably like this database. Also, looked at the Kelly Blue Book and Auto Repair, 2 things I have no interest in but have directed patrons to. Noticed on the Cyndi's List that there was a note for RSS. Didn't check this out. Have used and directed patrons to many of these databases, good sources of information. Use Novelist alot for book discussions, and author read alikes.
ReplyDeleteMillie/Andrew Bayne Lib
I visted five or six of the databases. Some of the information I found I had seen before when Googling. I did find an interesting Ancestry database where I found my mother and grandmother. Barbara Upper St. Clair
ReplyDeleteIt has been awhile since I really explored the databases and so this was a great task. I found a couple of new ones that I had not heard of and revisited a few that I have not used in awhile (Novelist). I have to make a habit of using them more frequently in my daily activities both personally and professionally.
ReplyDeleteJen Pickle
CLP-Allegheny
1. Bookflix - A very cool source that pairs video picture books with corresponding nonfiction eBooks. I enjoyed The Dot by Peter Reynolds and learning about the colors of the rainbow. Great source for teachers in the primary grades.
ReplyDelete2. Contemporary Authors - Probably much of the same information that could be found via google or wikipedia, but more concise and from reliable sources. I liked the further readings element.
3. EBSCO Animals - the Indian Flying Fox is not actually a fox, but a bat. With a fox-like face, and a wingspan of close to four feet.
-Jess, Woods Run
I've always searched different databases. I check out some History ,
ReplyDeleteChildren, and Nature. They had good info with them and easy to access
more databases. Lots and lots of FUN FACTS
Alissa-Whitehall Public Library
I had 2 business reference questions this week and the patrons were so impressed with the Business and Co. Resource Center. I was impressed too. There is so much information and so many patrons are not aware that it is available to them from home. The Morning Star was also well received. I went to Master File Premier and clicked on publications, I was happy to know that Background Notes on Countries of the World are all there. No longer do we have to update that huge binder.
ReplyDeleteDiane O. USC Library
I was glad to get this assignmenet because it reminded me what a wealth of databases are available (and I have to admit there are many I have never looked at!). Although I frequently recommend certain databases to patrons, as I said, there are many I have not had occasion to recommend, and even some that I might have recommended if I had been aware of them. A good case in point is the CIA World Fact Book which is one of the ones I looked at for this assignment. Very useful information, similar to what is available in the Statesman's Year Book. I also looked at the Biography Resource Center which is a useful source since we no longer subscribe to Current Biography. I was particularly interested in the Mango database since it is new. I investigated German, and the lessons are nicely structured to start at the beginning and get you speaking immediately. It is also good that there are lessons for ESL speakers.
ReplyDeleteI just now posted a comment without my name...
ReplyDeleteAlthough I like to keep a low profile, I didn't really intend to be completely anonymous--my name is Ruth, and I am at the Mt. Lebanon Library...
I took a look at Book Collection: Non-Fiction, History Reference Center and Mango.
ReplyDeleteBook Collection's pros were RSS and bookmarking options; quick look links and the Cite this article link. The HTML Full-text link for articles was often just a different representation of what was in the citation. I thought this was confusing to the user since he or she would probably expect to find more information by clicking on that link.
I liked the related images and videos that would come up for searches in History Reference Center.
Mango was fun and easy to use. I especially liked the text translator that is available.
I was watching a video clip on Libraries in the News on Today's Show on NBC yesterday. With this weeks's assignment, I felt what a wealth of database the libraries have for public to make use of. The database is useful for all age groups and I enjoyed very much going into Ancestry Library. I also went into Oxford Reference online and played with bilingual dictionaries. The third one I visited was Student Research Center.
ReplyDeleteShylu - Upper St. Clair
Intrigued by others positive comments about mango, my 11 year-old daughter and I went through a Spanish lesson. It was really fun! It did take about 35 minutes to get through the 78 slides...but what a great tool for students as well as others learning ESL or traveling.
ReplyDeleteNext I brushed up on Novelist in just a browsing capacity, instead of to search for other recommendations based on a specific book. I played around with limiting fields and think I could spend endless hours on this database! So many books so little time.
I also tried the Oxford Music dictionary out of curiosity, and found it comprehensive and then searched Ebsco's animals database for info on the Giant Panda. Did you know it has a sixth toe?
Overall, this week just opened my eyes to a number of wonderful resources that I hope to make time to explore, maybe one database a week or something?
I loved play around with the Auto Repair Reference Center -- what a great resource for patrons! Easy to use. I thought Kovel's was great, too. Our print sources are always flying out the door. I really had fun with the Better Business Bureau list, too.
ReplyDeleteNancy@Baldwin
As apparently the sole member of the Ebsco Fan Club, I had to avoid the resource I usually use several times a week. I like a simple, uncluttered interface. I did cheat a bit and check out Ebsco's Consumer Health resource, which isn't as comprehensive as MedlinePlus. But maybe it's a good thing to avoid overwhelming patrons who might already be suffering from various obscure diseases they heard about on the Discovery Health channel.
ReplyDeleteThis was one of my favorite assignments so far, since as a good little front-line soldier, I already use most of the databases and resource links throughout the week. I love Novelist's series-order and readalike tools. I made a cheat sheet for patrons on how to use Mango, which is much simpler to use than other programs I've come across. PROMT was disappointing in calling up only articles from 2004 and earlier on the local company I looked up (Allegheny Ludlum/Teledyne), even though the company recently made Time magazine. An "AP Media Archive" search called up pictures from the Penguins' Stanley Cup win just a few hours ago.How Stuff Works is fascinating as ever, although I'm not sure how "10 Bizarre Ways to Die" falls under the category of how something "works."
The biggest complaint from patrons (and me): Too many clicks.
This was another worthwhile assignment. I explored several of the databases and was impressed with the Allegheny County Bar Association, Testing & Ed Reference Center and the new Mango. There are still many that I have never had a chance to look at yet.
ReplyDeleteJane from Penn Hills
Dartclix looked like it may be a nice compliment to Librarian's Internet Index. MasterFile Premier did bring up 12 full-text articles by a money management person that I like. Didn't find Consumer Search helpful. Thought the pages were too full in general and too full of commercial info in particular, and the reviews are too limited.
ReplyDeleteJude
Main
For this exercise I played with NoveList, Masterfile Premier, and Contemporary Authors. I was impressed with the reliable information that I was able to find- it seemed to be more streamlined and trustworthy than what one might find in Google!
ReplyDeleteSara Beth, Sewickley Library
I’ve had fun with this assignment, though it sure eats time! So much to read and explore! Here are a few of the databases I tried. PPG - Once I figured out I had to click on remote access, I found this a great site! Found an interactive map of farm markets, plus many other interesting articles. Easy searching, fun. Easier than Google news when you know there was a specific article in the PPG. Has RSS feed, other “article tools” - facebook, my space, delicious and more. Liked the way they described the scope of their coverage. Will use this a lot at work. Dartclix - useful, once I understood how to enter the search term. Leave (n:dartclix*), follow it by term in the search box. Didn’t understand the “how do I borrow an item at the top of the page“. I’m assuming everything above the Keyword line does not apply to Dartclix. I plan to use Mango Languages a lot for personal learning. (Have been trying to teach myself Spanish for a couple of years, this should be fun.) Wish there was a better description of their methodology and a course outline. I’m going to check out their website for more info. Masterfile Premier - I do use this a lot at work, but don’t care for the interface. Have in the past found a list of periodicals indexed, but can’t see it now. MAS Online Plus - what is the scope of this? How does it differ from Masterfile Premier? Or MAS Ultra (school edition). MAS Online Plus becomes MAS Ultra - school edition when you click on it. Found PROMPT should have been useful but articles were way out of date.
ReplyDeleteThe first database I choose was the Science Resource Center. I searched Clinical Microbiology since in my former life I worked as a Medical Technologist for almost 30 years. The articles are marked as Basic, Intermediate or Advanced. I also (in my former life and a city girl) worked in research in Agricultural Microbiology and among other things sewed canvas sheep feces bags. We also worked with cows so I had to look up Rumen Microbiology. You can download an mp3 of the article if you wish.
ReplyDeleteNext I went to EBSCO Animals and using the basic search entered Shark as my search term which gave me a list of different sharks. Since I am a visual person I went to visual search and got a listing of sharks in a column. You can select columns or blocks to display you information. I liked columns better. When you click on the name of the shark you get a summary in another column but if you click on more you get the entire article. When I added photographs to my search for sharks I didn’t get any returns. I didn’t like that there were no pictures of the sharks especially since it is geared toward school age children. I guess you have to go to Google images to get the pictures
The last database I went to was Grove Dictionary Music Online and searched the Beatles and Bach. I know totally different genre but they both start with B. You can print or email the information.
I just want to mention that I love NoveList especially the Read-alikes and Recommended Reads. If you haven’t been to that database then check it out.
Susan S Northland
The three databases I looked at were Family Tree Search, Medline Plus, and Kovels.com. When trying to apply the criteria for Library 2.0 I discovered that Kovels connects to RSS but you have to have a newsreader and they give a list of suggestions for choosing one of these. You can also change the size of the print on the Kovel's web site. There are links to manufacturers of products listed by Kovels but there are no pictures of the items that are found, only description and price. This site also displayed different information in boxes, with their name prominently displayed.
ReplyDeleteMedline Plus was fast and you can change the text size.The display was in columns but also in a typical list display mode.
Family "Tree" Search displays in boxes and also provides tools for organizing a family tree chart, but you have to add something called GEDCOM to add to the information they already have about your family.
This was an interesting excercise because you were able to look at the database and evaluate it from the criteria given on 2.0 enhancements.
Sally at Monroeville
I looked at a variety of databases including some I had never used and some that I hadn't used recently. Many of the sites I visited had gotten "facelifts" since I last saw them. Here's some info about 3 of the databases I tinkered with:
ReplyDelete1. NovelList Plus -- I have used NovelList before, but I was interested to see how this new database integrated fiction and nonfiction resources. I especially liked the Grab and Go Booklists and the Discussion Guides. (Web 2.0 features: Allows users to save searches as alerts and get email updates about new search results; Links to various social bookmarking sites to allow users to create persistent links to content)
2. Mango Languages -- This new language learning database had a nice variety of languages to choose from and I liked the quality of the audio, however the lessons seemed a little disjointed. Each lesson had a topic (e.g., eating together, driving directions, etc.), but many of the phrases included in the lesson didn't seem to relate to the topic at hand. (Web 2.0 features: Nothing readily apparent, the site seems pretty self-contained)
3. Newspaper Source -- This EBSCO database included content from an extensive number of publications with lots of options to narrow and broaden searches. (Web 2.0 features: Includes RSS feeds/search alerts; Offers a note-taking option that allows users to annotate articles and save the annotations for later use)
Cathy L. - CLP Library Support Center
I experimented with MAS Ultra - School Edition, Oxford Music Online, and Applied Science and Technology Full-Text, and found good things in all three of them.
ReplyDeleteMAS Ultra: I especialy liked the limits available, including publication and image types; the easily accessible publication list, and the ability to search within the full text of articles.
Oxford Music Online: includes a link to Resources for Librarians, Tools and Resources within the database, an online guided tour through Grove Music Online, and articles that contain examples of music.
Applied Science and Technology: includes an easily accessible, helpful database description, many types of documents and physical descriptions and the ability to limit them, and a journal list.
Deb - CLP Main
One additional comment: MAS Ultra offers RSS for search alerts and journal alerts, using an EBSCO-supported reader. The user must click on publication list to find this, and can also find the instructions required to use it. I didn't find any other signs of Web 2.0 in Oxford Music Online or Applied Science and Technology.
ReplyDeleteDeb - CLP Main
I looked at Ebsco Animals (rather inadvertantly, as I used it on-the-fly while assisting an AskHerePA patron), and since I found the answers to the questions that were asked, I felt good about the database. How's that for objectivity? That being said, I like how it had pictures with the articles, and each article had the basic information I was looking for.
ReplyDeleteI also looked at AutoRepair Reference Center and was impressed with the amount of both vehicle-specific information and general "how cars work" information including a diagram that had a moving target showing you the specific parts you highlight.
Finally, I tried out Mango languages very briefly. Super easy to get started, and a reasonable selection of languages. I can't comment on the quality of the instruction as I didn't make it through a whole lesson.
Natalie -- Mt. Lebanon
PROMT
ReplyDeleteThis is a Gale database for business research. The display is a little boring and I personally didn't find it easy to navigate. They do have a nice variety of business publications that the average library would not have.
Ebsco Animals
I searched for my favorite animal, the penguin, and was a little disappointed in the number of articles. There were only 8. One was a general article about all penguins and the other 7 were about specific penguins, which covers less than half the number of penguin types. Photos would have been nice too, especially since this is for school aged children. It was easy to search though.
Testing and Education Reference Center
As much as I could see of it, this looks like a great tool and I wish I would have known about it sooner. I had lots of people coming in a month ago for SAT books and almost everything was checked out. This would have been a great alternative. The patron would have to register, but they would then be able to take practice tests and read books online.
Tracy
Monroeville Public Library
I searched the Internet Movie Database for best films of the '40 and found a cool list, just in time for a patron who likes old films. Then I searched EBSCO image collection; struck out on pictures of poodles. Must be something to the EBSCO logic that I'm missing. Then I checked out Searchasaurus, an EBSCO kids' site, for stories about Mario Lemieux. Maybe EBSCO could apply some ease of use to their other sites that they've put into Searchasaurus!
ReplyDeleteKate Grannemann
subpool
I had so much fun looking at my 3 databases. I read an article about the first monkeys in space on the National Geographic Database. Then I looked at Opposing Viewpoints and enjoyed an article about Minors having the right to vote. And finally I found out that HowStuffWorks has recipes. Who knew? I loved this assignment, even if it took me a week and a half to complete. It was fun.
ReplyDeleteBarb
CLP Mt. Washington
I tested out Facts For Learning, Auto Repair and Ancestry Library Edition.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised that Facts for Learning Current Events was outdated! I thought it would be a good tool for students to use but the last post was about (Pres.) Obama accepting the Democratic Party’s nomination!
The ARRC – Auto Repair Reference Center – is a useful database but it isn’t as searchable as I would like. I was attempting to figure out why my vehicle’s automatic locks keep malfunctioning but I could not find the information nor could I achieve results when using the search feature. But, this is a great database for people who actually know what they are doing when it comes to fixing vehicles! Now how to get the word out to them that this database is available to them…
The third database I tried was the Ancestry Library. It was really cool. I need more information from my relatives but if I were armed with birth years and such I could do a comprehensive search. The search tools are easy to use and each census link gives a preview box where you can glimpse the information before clicking on it. Very nice time saving device to narrow down your search. The site is clean and not overwhelming. The thing that is alarming about this database is that if you look someone up in the death index, their social security number is provided! Aside from the SSN, it is a really interesting database to play around with.
Next time I get a minute I am going to try out Mango languages. I've heard good things about it. I would like to become more familiar with all of the databases - what great tools!
I checked out Kelly Blue Book, very easy to use even for me. I found Family Search to be interesting and I think it would be informative to the many customers who are doing a family tree. I found my grandparents and their ancestors on this database. I also checked out Auto Repair. Since we do not carry many Chilton's or other auto repair manual books anymore this database could be very helpful.
ReplyDeleteBarb/Carrick
I looked at three databases that I was not familiar with - DartClix, GreenFILE and COIN Career Library. I think DartClix would be difficult to use for the novice database user. Only those with some searching experience would be able to navigate through this tool effectively. When another search is selected, the search defaults to the Access PA catalog. That may confuse some customers. Also, some of the links within the websites did not work. Broken links lead to frustration and perhaps to Google. For children, I would prefer using KidsClick! The search is more user-friendly and the sites are selected by librarians. GreenFILE is a typical database. My search results provided relevant information in a scholarly manner. The last site I tried to access was COIN Career Library. The initial note to scroll down within EBSCOHost to locate this database was very helpful. However, once I got into the database a screen asking for a Site ID and Login appeared with no instructions as to what to put into these fields (Library Card number????) This lesson made me take the time to use databases I have not used before.
ReplyDeleteI had so much fun playing with the databases, I got carried away.
ReplyDeleteAll databases seemed easy to navigate.
The databases I perused: Kovel, Novelist, Kelly Blue Book, Auto Repair, Promt, Medline Plus,the IRS, and more
I only had problems with the Post Gazette Database. I will ask the reference librarian for assistance. We often have patrons who want past obit notices.
Thanks so much.
Eileen/Shaler
I looked at four databases for children- Facts for Learning, Searchasaurus, EBSCO Animals, and SIRS Discover. I looked for information appropriate for a fourth grader and searched "dolphins" on all 3 sites. Facts for Learning was mostly Weekly Reader articles, which were age appropriate but not always too heavy on information. Searchasaurus, which has a very juvenile appearance, brought up articles from major newspapers that were definitely too old or obscure for a fourth grader. I wouldn't use it again. EBSCO Animals was quick and hit on very relevant articles from the Encyclopedia of Animals that were age appropriate. Of them all, however, SIRS Discover was the best: well organized, very easy to use, good informatin, and age appropriate. I especially liked that you could select from newspapers, magazines, images, ency. articles or websites, and the 'Discoverer on the Web' search was very nice for searching for age appropriate websites. This site also has an excellent tutorial on database searching for kids, parents, teachers.
ReplyDeleteOne glitch with it: I couldn't connect to it from Find Articles(it took me to Searchasaurus) and had to go to POWER Library to connect.
I also checked out Mango. Great. I especially like the Translation tool.
Now, two questions: Isn't there a better name for this database file than Find Articles? It
sounds like you'll just be looking for magazine/newspaper articles instead of the wealth of other information available.
And,
On the catalog, under search tips for Find Articles it says
"Simultaneously search all of the libraries' electronic databases". I have seen the word 'simultaneously' used before in connection with Find Articles, but I have never been able to search all databases at once.
All-in-all, great excercise. I'll have to take the time to explore more of these.
Thanks,
Holly/ Mt. Lebanon
I tried several: Novelist, Mango, EBSCO animals, Ancestry and had fun with them all. I have to agree with Lesle, Joanne's recommendation of Fantasticfiction is still one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteCharlie/ Shaler
What a great assignment! I too got carried away and explored a few more databases than required. NoveList was (and still is) awesome! Both Kelly's Blue Book and the Auto Repair Ref Center were very easy to navigate. Kovel's was disappointing (All my searches would have required a fee to read the articles.. even though I had registered. Was this because I had just registered? Or accessing the site from home?). The Literature Resource Center was impressive. I missed the translation part on Mango. I'm eager to go back and try it out. Cathy (Northland)
ReplyDeleteHey out there, I was searching around the power library in AP Images and oxfordartonline. Both had images to browse with thumbnail captions. you could delve deeper into articals. I visited Funk&wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Most databases have files you can save to or email options.
ReplyDeleteMy 3 Databases were “how Stuff Works”, EBSCO Host, and the “Pittsburgh Post-Gazette archives”.
ReplyDeleteIn “How Stuff Works” I discovered that dogs and cats suffer from “jet lag” and that JetBlue is happy to fly your dog or cat, but reservations cannot be booked online. You must telephone JetBlue.
In EBSCO Host I found some great gardening tips for my vegetable garden.
And in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette archives I checked out the fashions during World War II. I love reading old newspapers!
Jo Anne
Northland
I tried several databases, starting with Mango because, as a former translator and instructor of French, I was interested in seeing how the instruction was handled. Very basic and a bit slow, but I think I'll try the other languages. It has good possibilities. Also looked at National Geographic which has some great features for teachers, such as the "puzzle map" and "map of the day". Tried Ebscohost which I still find somewhat unamanageable. Then I went to Novelist to see what is new. I use this quite often in my job because it is very helpful when referring patrons to authors similar to the ones they like. It seemed easier to navigate. Hope to try some other databases in the future.
ReplyDeleteI had fun exploring the databases (even though I did do this assignment a little later than requested :-)! I blogged about what I looked at, but to recap I looked at Mango Language, Library of Congress, NoveList, NoveList K-8, Oxford Reference Online and Bookflix. I plan to look at more too. They are very useful tools, and it's nice to become more familiar with them in order to use them for myself and also to be able to use them to help our patrons and/or to encourage their use of the databases.
ReplyDeleteLisa R., Shaler Library
I'm pretty late with this one - sorry about that! The first database I explored was Dartclix. I thought it was a great idea to have a database of trustworthy websites. However, searching the database could be confusing for people. If you accidentally get rid of the "n:(dartclix*) in the search bar, you'll be searching for everything (mostly books) from the Access PA catalog. I really enjoyed the Opposing Viewpoints database. It has information on a large number of controversial topics and has it separated by its source, such as magazines, academic journals, websites, and more. This would be wonderful for students working on reports! I also took a look at the Testing and Education Reference Center. I've used this one before, but tend to forget about it. It could be very helpful for people that are preparing for some type of standardized test (SATs, GEDs, Praxis, etc.). It gives practice tests, test-taking strategy guides, and links the official websites of these tests.
ReplyDeleteSome of my old favorites are Novelist, for book recommendations, and Contemporary Authors, for finding lists of all the books that a particular author has written.
BrieAnn, Northern Tier
This is really helpful if yo have to do research on any topic! I looked through the law and goverment databases and found interesting articles. I enjoyed searching through consumer guides. I would find it very helpful if I was a research librarian and someone asked a question and asked how to search for it online.
ReplyDeleteMelissa Haas, Carnegie Library-Main
for this I tried Mango Languages, EBSCO Image Collection, and Consumer Health Complete. Mango Languages was fun. It didn't have a lot of what I would call web 2.0 stuff, but it did use Google for its translation tool. I'm really glad we have it--there are some very long waiting lists on the language kits available in the system, and it is so nice to have an online resource. The image collection was fun; I searched for "library" and it never really brings up pictures of libraries, just pictures of people involved with raising money for libraries. You can use an RSS feed for this database, and it looks like EBSCO is adding a notes feature so you can leave notes in your personal searches and store them for reference. In the consumer health database I searched for "effexor xr" and "generic" in all text, hoping to find a comparison study, but there was only a general article about generic drugs.
ReplyDeleteI checked out NoveList. Found some great books for teens. Fact.com lead me to some great information through American Women's History Online. Very helpful for history buffs interested in the role women played in making history. Finally, I checked out Ancestry. I am going to delve into this more once I get some better information about my dad's family members. I hope we are still able to fund these gems of information considering how funding for libraries may be affected by budget cuts and funding formula changes.
ReplyDeleteKim E NPL
I looked at Ancestry On-line, Contempory Authors and the Auto Information sites. I was especially impressed with the auto repair site. I am going to publicize that one because it may help people save money by doing their own repairs.
ReplyDeleteI <3 databases! Caralee Sommerer and I have done several database workshops for early childcare providers over the last year. It's been great fun. I enjoy watching the childcare providers get excited about what they can find on databases :)
ReplyDeleteI feel like I use quite a few databases, so I enjoyed the chance to explore some databases that I don't use for work very often.
Here are my comments:
-Mango - I have been meaning to look at this new database for teaching foreign languages. I was impressed with the format and I look forward to telling customers about this resource :)
-NoveList Plus - I use the K-8 version of NoveList several times a week; however, I have not gotten a chance to look at the one for grownups in quite some time. I enjoyed looking through their Reader's Advisory materials and I will have to remember that they have book display suggestions for families.
-National Geographic - Okay, so this isn't a database. However, I am often frustrated by the lack of good animal information in databases. No one finds obscure animals like kids and elementary school teachers. I've had Sirs Discoverer, Ebsco Animals, and Encyclopedia Brittanica all fail before. So, I was excited to see this website listed along with the science databases :)
-Megan Fogt
CLP - Squirrel Hill
I choose databases that I had never used before and was very impressed with each of them. It made me motivated to explore the databases offered even further. Below are the databases I looked at..
ReplyDelete1. DartClix - a collection of over 18,000 provessionally selected and cataloged websites. This resource has a profile for each website which includes its contents, summary, age range, subject headings, and a link to the website. Very informative!
2. AP Multimedia Archive - this database includes AP images, print graphics, soundbank, and text archives. There is a search feature as well as "the latest" information regarding US news (this week there were lots of pictures of Michael Jackson), International news, sports, and financial news.
3. Student Research Center - this is an all in one research site for students in grades 6 - 12 that includes magazine and newspaper articles, encyclopedia entries, primary sources and images, biographies, radio and TV transcripts, country/state/province reports, maps and film/video. The interface was very user friendly. I will definitly be recommending this database to patrons.
Joy Herrington, Shaler North Hills Library
I looked at Consumer Resources the blue book, Health and Biography and genealogy. These sites were very interesting.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Bayne
I looked at these data bases several weeks ago and am just now making a comment. Who knows why. Anyway I did find it interestig even though it is not something I will use often but have told friends about some of the sites. I went into auto repair and the 3 cars I loked up - nothing. I also looked at mango and novelist for kids interesting but not me. pwk/npl
ReplyDeleteFinally had a chance to do this. Ahem. I chose to look at Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center, Regional Business News, and Mango Languages. I loved Opposing Viewpoints for research on The Big Issues. It had all sorts of views from varying sources and of varying difficulty. The issues I looked at, the sources were fairly recent, also. Regional Business News was a typical Ebsco product. I could type in my keywords and it would find business articles from various geographic areas. (You could presumeably search by geographic area.) Unfortunately, nowhere was there a description of what the point of the database was. Finally, I tried Mango Languages, which was wonderful. I still can't speak any German (I was tired), but my poor boyfriend who was in the same room now knows several sentences!
ReplyDeleteMeg, Northland
I looked at Mango, the new language database. It was easy to register for the site. I liked that there was audio as well a pronunciation popups. You could repeat the audio of a phrase as many times as you wanted to. There was lots of repetition, and lots of lessons.
ReplyDeleteI then looked at Opposing Viewpoints. I liked that you didn't need to register to use the site. Once a topic was chosen the ability to narrow the sourcs down to magazines, academinc journals, primary sources, statistics, and websites was very nice. I liked that it ranked the content level-basic, intermediate, or advanced. And almost everything seemed to be full text, which is always preferable.
Then I looked at Kovels for antique pricing. It took me a little while to realize that this was not one of 'our' databases and I wonder how many customers make that mistake also.
"Ancestry Library" - a powerful tool that no genealogist should be without; "Access PA Database" is highlighting the graphic novel "Beowulf" as ebook of the month: and "Cyndi's List" is a smorgasboard of genealogy website delights.
ReplyDelete--Jackie
CP&A - Main
I first chose EBSCOHost, and searched for great white sharks and clicked on the full text box. I got a number of results in well known publications such as National Geographic and Smithsonian. I like EBSCO for general searching, before one has narrowed down a topic. Also, I like that Northland users can access it remotely.
ReplyDeleteNatalie
Northland Public Library
I also played with Ancestry. I looked up my paternal grandfather and found the 1920 census results. He was about 16 at the time and had 7 siblings: Lena, Katie, Elizabeth, Ernest, Alma, Elwood and Clara (who was written as "Claud" by the Ancestry summary, though you can tell it's Clara in the original document). His parents, Ernest and Sofia (alternately written as Sofa and Sophie) were born in Germany, so Grandpa Harry was in the first generation born here. By the 1930 Census, he'd moved out of the house, and his dad, my great-grandfather, must have died, because he wasn't listed there. We have a lot of patrons using Ancestry here, so getting to know its nooks and crannies always is important.
Finally, I checked out the newest database, Mango. It is so fun and cool. The interface is very easy for users, and it's great having someone pronounce the words as you see them (I'm quite visual in my learning, so I can't just hear the words when I acquire a new language). I chose Japanese because I wanted something different from the usual French/Spanish/German choices. The only criticsm I have is that I would've liked to see the words in Roman script as well as the traditional Japanese. I know that in Japan you're going to see the kanji, but as a Westerner, I need the extra help. However, I overall enjoy Mango and hope it overtakes Rosetta Stone as the go-to for immersion lessons, especially since Rosetta refuses to give library discounts.
I'm a geek and enjoying perusing databases for the fun of it, so it was nice to have a legitimate excuse to do so!
ReplyDeleteFirst I looked at DartClix, under the logic that it was one, to my knowledge, I'd never used before (plus, anything under the heading of "Current Topics and *Controversies*" promises to be interesting). I clicked on the database and was hit with 32,000 results before I'd even entered a search term. After some fiddling to work out how to use the search feature, I ended up at the PBS website "American Experience: Monkey Trial," a (researched, DartClix approved) website on the Scopes Monkey Trial, which I've been fascinted with since high school. The page included background information, commentary on the speeches made by Darrow and Bryan (the two lawyers in the case), and -- this is really fabulously awesome -- a list of songs written about the trial, complete with music sampling. *Music* based on the Scopes Monkey Trial! I cannot tell you how sorry I am I didn't know about this database earlier. Even aside from Scopes Monkey awesomeness, a database with *verified* websites is going to be a phenomenal research tool. If I ever manage to sell some teens on the concept of databases, it's probably going to be with DartClix. ("It's just like using Google! Except with a few more steps! But the information is actually *accurate*!")
Next I tried the Grove Dictionary Music Online, another database which, in retrospect, it seemed odd I had never really used (I like music; you think I would have made a beeline to it). I tried some searches and quickly lost ten minutes engrossed in the last few chapters of a Beethoven biography on the database. Next time one of my teens comes in looking for biographical information on a musician, I'm going to be set!
Last was Mango Language. I didn't spend a large amount of time on it -- just enough to see that I haven't forgotten every single fundamental of Spanish that I learned back in high school -- but I stayed long enough to appreciate some of the features. (I particularly liked the shortcut command of hitting the spacebar for the answer in the quiz questions -- wish I'd had something like that back in high school!)
~~ Pam (Monroeville)
I looked at 3 databases for kids, Facts for Learning, Ebsco Animals and Kids Search. I liked that Facts for Learning has lots of images. There are a few links to websites but most of the content is created by the database vendor.
ReplyDeleteKids Search has visual content, but I couldn't find anything 2.0-related.
Ebsco Animals doesn't have visual content that I could find, and it's pretty much encyclopedia articles.
I think these databases have a greater depth than a website I compared them to: National Geographic for Kids. That site may not cover all the topics the databases do. But Nat Geo for Kids has lots of stuff that kids would want to play with (I would think), movies, ringtones they can download, games, etc. that have an educational intent.
So to summarize, I think databases are great for general knowledge and school projects. But if most of them could also compete with some websites for the fun parts of learning, they would have it all! Bookflix is a fun one, with content like puzzles and web links in addition to watching videos and reading online.
Ann
Lauri Ann West
I encourage customers to use our databases quite often. Usually the same 8 or so though! Today I explored some new ones: Art Full Text (Botticelli and the Birth of Venus). Noticed the RSS Feed. Also checked out GreenFILE and searched straw bale construction. Didn't see a lot of 2.0 stuff there. And the third database was Oxford Music Online for Gregorian Chants. I saw you can sign up to receive site updates...
ReplyDeleteGwen at Sq Hill formerly East Liberty
I looked at Auto Repairs to find recalls on my car. Went very well. Then I looked at Novelist because I haven't used it for nonfiction and nonfic readalikes. Came up with some reasonable choices. Then I went to Magills Medical Guide. I like Medlineplus better.
ReplyDeleteIm finally catching up. This was one of the sessions that I must of passed up for some reason. I looked up Funology, Healthfinder, and Novelist. Funology is for kids, where you can play games and do different activities. It was a great place for kids to go. Healthfinder was good, too. I didnt spend that much time on there. Novelist I enjoy using. When you need to know about different series by a certain author, it really helps you out.
ReplyDeleteKatie B from ACFree
I, too, am finally catching up. I tried 3 databases i had not used before. Oxford Reference is a good general reference source that is easy to search. Users can also click on broad topics to find more information.
ReplyDeleteMorningstar was also easy to use, even for a beginner such as myself. It allows to to look up information on sticks, mutual funds and industries. It provides current market data, but also offers longer-term analysis. There is even a "Help & Education" tab which offers advice and onlines courses about investing.
I was familiar with the Opposing Viewpoints series of books, but had never used the database. This would be ideal for anyone studying a certain issue or preparing to debate it (or anyone who's just curious). The site gives a long list of issues/subjects, with essays presented from both sides, or all sides, of each issue. Each essay includes a bibliography of further readings for those who need or want to do further research.
I used Greenfile; Dartclix (under General Reference)--how librarian-like, an organized view of web sites--I hope to be using that; and Magill's Medical Guide: from home I got something identified as Salem Health, so I'm a bit confused. Anyway the health articles seemed as if they would be helpful. Somewhat technical, but not overly so.
ReplyDeleteEsther
Downtown and Business
I used the databases NoveList, Kovels, and Auto Repair & Reference Center.
ReplyDeleteNoveList - Very helpful, esp. to find all books in a series. Also, the read-alike feature was great!
Kovels - Up-to-date and extensive
Auto Repair & Reference Center - Easy to use. I even managed to find out why my car's right turn signal was blinking out of control.
I needed a new light bulb!! Who knew.....
This week was every helpful.
Kathy B.
Community Library of Allegheny Valley
I used the Auto Repair Refernce Center, which is a bit tricky to navigate, Novelist, which is very good for finding fiction titles, and I also took a look at Morningstar (which I've never used, and am not very familiar with stocks).
ReplyDeleteIan
CLP-Hill District
It really makes a huge difference in the life of your car if you have it taken into a shop for repairs and replacements frequently. I highly recommend it. http://fireplaceandgrillexperts.com/Gas-Inserts/
ReplyDelete