Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all
Gentle Reader blog followers!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Challenge Wrap Up
I reviewed my blog posts from this Challenge, and it is difficult for me to pinpoint a specific discovery that was my biggest. There were so many "aha!" moments for me.
This whole experience has been invaluable to me, and I'm enjoying sharing it with our patrons so much! My recent "Electronic Resources Challenge in Action" post is just one example of the times I have introduced a patron to our "e-sources." This would not have been possible without my involvement in the Challenge. It has made me a better helper, and has boosted my confidence in fielding reference questions.
I will continue to use my new-found skills to help our patrons. And I know from experience that you can teach an old(er) dog (that's me) new tricks. So I will encourage our patrons who may not feel very e-savvy to try some of the databases. It was empowering for me, and can be for others, too.
Many, many thanks to Jane and Julie for all of your work in making this challenge possible. Thank you, Jane, for commenting so promptly on my posts and for always being positive, informative, and encouraging. This is my 38th post! Yikes! Does that make me high-maintenance?
I will continue to use my new-found skills to help our patrons. And I know from experience that you can teach an old(er) dog (that's me) new tricks. So I will encourage our patrons who may not feel very e-savvy to try some of the databases. It was empowering for me, and can be for others, too.
Many, many thanks to Jane and Julie for all of your work in making this challenge possible. Thank you, Jane, for commenting so promptly on my posts and for always being positive, informative, and encouraging. This is my 38th post! Yikes! Does that make me high-maintenance?
Sunday, March 20, 2011
HeritageQuest and Sanborn Maps
The census information seems to be the same as that available in the AncestryLibrary site. This is the most useful part, in my opinion. A person could spend hours and hours searching here.
I searched Yellowstone National Park in the Serial Set. Documents included Congressional action regarding settlement of claims, pensions, etc.
PERSI (Periodical Source Index) Periodicals option could be very helpful, but you need to know what you are looking for since there are so many periodicals to chose from.
The full-text books option is really outstanding, providing information from sources that would otherwise be difficult to locate and obtain a copy.
Sanborn Maps is a neat site. I was born in what we call the "old hospital" in Brookings. The map shows that, at one time, it was called Wesley Hospital. The building is now known as West Hall on the SDSU campus.
Again, I could spend hours playing on these sites. I can definitely see a practical application for our patrons using Sanborn Maps.
I searched Yellowstone National Park in the Serial Set. Documents included Congressional action regarding settlement of claims, pensions, etc.
PERSI (Periodical Source Index) Periodicals option could be very helpful, but you need to know what you are looking for since there are so many periodicals to chose from.
The full-text books option is really outstanding, providing information from sources that would otherwise be difficult to locate and obtain a copy.
Sanborn Maps is a neat site. I was born in what we call the "old hospital" in Brookings. The map shows that, at one time, it was called Wesley Hospital. The building is now known as West Hall on the SDSU campus.
Again, I could spend hours playing on these sites. I can definitely see a practical application for our patrons using Sanborn Maps.
AncestryLibrary
Well, that was interesting. Apparently mine is not an uncommon name. I'm not even the youngest one in the nation. The U.S. Public Records Index did list my addresses, going back 26 years, when I was living in Washington, D.C.
Searching South Dakota, the U.S. Phone and Address Directories 1993-2002 contains correct information for that time period. The "View Neighbors" option is interesting. Since the time of these records, one elderly neighbor has passed away. The other three women listed have since married and have different last names now. I sold my house last summer, so the U.S. Public Records Index still shows my old address.
I found my paternal grandfather and grandmother's marriage license, but the last name was spelled Hays instead of Hayes. I found it my searching my granmother's maiden name. They were married in Jasper County, Indiana. The date corresponds with the information my father gave to me. Their last name was also misspelled in the 1900 United States Federal Census. This tells me that I need to check alternate spellings as I search these records.
In searching the "Photos and Maps" tab, I found a 1917 map of South Dakota in the New Encyclopedic Atlas and Gazetteer of the World. Also found interesting historical information in the 1915 Ideal Atlas. This would be a useful resource for learners interested in our state's history and geography.
The Library of Congress Photo Collection 1840-2000 is really interesting, especially the old sterographs. It's cool that there is a printer-friendly option which include citation information. I also found the same photograph of a harvest scene near Brookings that I used in my OIASter post.
This is just way too much fun!!!! I'm trying a two week free trial of Ancestry.com so I can play with this some more at home.
We do have a patron that just loves to use AncestryLibrary in our computer lab. She said she's been doing genealogy work for many years, since before the advent of AncestryLibrary. This makes her work so much easier.
OK, now I can go home and finish the HeritageQuest and Sanborn Maps part of this lesson.
Searching South Dakota, the U.S. Phone and Address Directories 1993-2002 contains correct information for that time period. The "View Neighbors" option is interesting. Since the time of these records, one elderly neighbor has passed away. The other three women listed have since married and have different last names now. I sold my house last summer, so the U.S. Public Records Index still shows my old address.
I found my paternal grandfather and grandmother's marriage license, but the last name was spelled Hays instead of Hayes. I found it my searching my granmother's maiden name. They were married in Jasper County, Indiana. The date corresponds with the information my father gave to me. Their last name was also misspelled in the 1900 United States Federal Census. This tells me that I need to check alternate spellings as I search these records.
In searching the "Photos and Maps" tab, I found a 1917 map of South Dakota in the New Encyclopedic Atlas and Gazetteer of the World. Also found interesting historical information in the 1915 Ideal Atlas. This would be a useful resource for learners interested in our state's history and geography.
The Library of Congress Photo Collection 1840-2000 is really interesting, especially the old sterographs. It's cool that there is a printer-friendly option which include citation information. I also found the same photograph of a harvest scene near Brookings that I used in my OIASter post.
This is just way too much fun!!!! I'm trying a two week free trial of Ancestry.com so I can play with this some more at home.
We do have a patron that just loves to use AncestryLibrary in our computer lab. She said she's been doing genealogy work for many years, since before the advent of AncestryLibrary. This makes her work so much easier.
OK, now I can go home and finish the HeritageQuest and Sanborn Maps part of this lesson.
More CAMIO
I also love the work of Jessie Wilcox Smith, but only found one result on CAMIO. Isn't this a wonderful drawing!
Title She and Eleanor Would Sit
Description Provenance: Charles Scribner's Sons, NYC
Creator jessie wilcox smith
Creator smith, jessie W.
Museum Carnegie Museum of Art
Contributors Carnegie Museum of Art Andrew Carnegie Fund
Beginning Date nobr 1903 /nobr
Ending Date 1903
Date 1903
Type Drawings and Watercolors
Format (Medium) charcoal on cardboard
Format (Extent) 13 3/4 x 20 in. (34.9 x 50.8 cm)
Identifier 1000187
Rights Image © 2007 Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh
CAMIO continued
I did a search for works by Norman Rockwell. I really liked the "Compare" option, and the slide show option.
Title Man Varnishing Doll's Bed for Little Girl
Creator norman rockwell, North American, American, 1894-1978
Museum Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York, USA. 1995:13.6 Gift of the Management, Associates and Shareholders of Pratt & Lambert United, 1995
Beginning Date nobr 1910 /nobr
Ending Date 1930
Date ca. 1920 (circa)
Type Paintings
Format (Medium) oil on canvas
Format (Extent) 30 x 32 3/4"
Identifier CAMIO: AKAG.1995:13.6
Rights Licensed for non-commercial, educational use. http://www.albrightknox.org/rights.html
CAMIO - Catalog of Art Museum Images Online
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston Massachusetts houses 18 silver items created by Paul Revere. The Sons of Liberty Bowl is very interesting, but I had difficulty reading the complete inscription. There was an order/bill of sale included with one of the teapots he created. That helps in establishing the provenance of the item.
"Sioux" search yielded 63 works. These include photographs, paintings, jewelry, textiles and utilitarian objects. I noticed that a number of paintings were held by the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington D.C. I realized that they might not all be on public display, but our patrons could use CAMIO to locate some artwork they might try to see on a trip to our nation's capitol, or to other major cities.
I was listening to Minnesota Public Radio on the way to the library this afternoon. They were airing musical compositions based on the frescos of Piero della Franseca. So I searched his name in CAMIO. Six of his paintings were available to view, including The Crucifixion, which was the basis of the first musical piece I listened to on the radio. Although I think the version of the Crucifixion referred to was part of a fresco in a Basilica in Tuscany, and the item on CAMIO was a painting donated by John D. Rockefeller to The Fricke Collection in New York. Pretty neat to be able to go to this resource, though.
"Sioux" search yielded 63 works. These include photographs, paintings, jewelry, textiles and utilitarian objects. I noticed that a number of paintings were held by the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington D.C. I realized that they might not all be on public display, but our patrons could use CAMIO to locate some artwork they might try to see on a trip to our nation's capitol, or to other major cities.
I was listening to Minnesota Public Radio on the way to the library this afternoon. They were airing musical compositions based on the frescos of Piero della Franseca. So I searched his name in CAMIO. Six of his paintings were available to view, including The Crucifixion, which was the basis of the first musical piece I listened to on the radio. Although I think the version of the Crucifixion referred to was part of a fresco in a Basilica in Tuscany, and the item on CAMIO was a painting donated by John D. Rockefeller to The Fricke Collection in New York. Pretty neat to be able to go to this resource, though.
ArchiveGrid continued
Helene Hanff is a favorite author of mine. One of her more familiar works is 84 Charing Cross Road. I was pleased to find four hits from the Online Archives of California which referred to her writing (The Riddle of Mary Murray) and adapting (Jane Austin's Emma and Pride and Prejudice, and J.M. Barrie's The Little Minister) scripts for the NBC Matinee Theatre in the 1950s. Located in the Special Collections of the Young Research Library at UCLA.
"Helene M. Hanff, 1916-1997, author and playwright, wrote television scripts in the 1950s, American history books for children in the 1960s, and other books in the 1970s and 1980s. Her best known work was 84, Charing Cross Road, published in 1970, which was drawn from her correspondence with Frank P. Doel of Marks & Co. in London, Booksellers. She later did a monthly broadcast for the BBC from 1978 to 1985."
The Columbia University Library's collection includes Box 1: Correspondence, manuscripts, clippings, & books about Hanff; Box 2: Books by and about Hanff & plaque; Box 3: Books by Hanff.
This would be fun to play with at greater length.
"Helene M. Hanff, 1916-1997, author and playwright, wrote television scripts in the 1950s, American history books for children in the 1960s, and other books in the 1970s and 1980s. Her best known work was 84, Charing Cross Road, published in 1970, which was drawn from her correspondence with Frank P. Doel of Marks & Co. in London, Booksellers. She later did a monthly broadcast for the BBC from 1978 to 1985."
The Columbia University Library's collection includes Box 1: Correspondence, manuscripts, clippings, & books about Hanff; Box 2: Books by and about Hanff & plaque; Box 3: Books by Hanff.
This would be fun to play with at greater length.
Lesson 8 ArchiveGrid
"Sitting Bull, also known as Tatanka Iyotake or Tatanka Iyotanka or Ta-Tanka I-Yotan, was a Native American shaman and leader of the Hunpapa Sioux. He fought against the Crow Indians and was wounded in battle on several occasions. Sitting Bull greatly opposed the encroachment of the white men. He led Sioux and Cheyenne warriors against U.S. soldiers of the 7th Cavalry at the battle of Little Bighorn. After the battle, in which many were killed, Sitting Bull led his tribe into Canada, where they lived until surrendering to U.S. forces. After his capture he toured with Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. Sitting Bull was killed while resisting arrest for his unwillingness to abandon the traditions of the ritual Ghost Dance, which had been outlawed."
The autograph card and envelope are part of Cornell University Library's Native American Collection.
The autograph card and envelope are part of Cornell University Library's Native American Collection.
Electronic Resources Challenge in Action!
On Friday, I had a real-life opportunity to share what I've learned during the Electronic Resources Challenge. The experience was really gratifying, and confirmed the many benefits of this Challenge.
A young man (mid- to late-20s) was asking for information about patents. We located several appropriate books on NetLibrary, and set up an account for the patron. He was extremely pleased. "This is so cool." Then I was able to show him the other databases with business-related content that were available free of charge. We toured a couple of them, and he was very excited. "I had no idea all this was here." I noticed that he was holding one of the German language course CD Roms from our collection. He said he hopes to retire in Germany. I was then able to introduce him to the Mango Languages site that is available for his use. "Awesome!" He was really jazzed about all of these electronic options. In fact, he said "This is so great! I could just hug you!" (He didn't.) :-)
So, kudos to the South Dakota State Library Challenge Team! Thanks for offering this great challenge and allowing me to understand and share this "awesome" information with our patrons.
P.S. I am a bit behind on Lessons 8 and 9 because I have to do them at the library, rather than at home, where I've done the previous lessons. I think I can access a library computer this afternoon and get to work.
A young man (mid- to late-20s) was asking for information about patents. We located several appropriate books on NetLibrary, and set up an account for the patron. He was extremely pleased. "This is so cool." Then I was able to show him the other databases with business-related content that were available free of charge. We toured a couple of them, and he was very excited. "I had no idea all this was here." I noticed that he was holding one of the German language course CD Roms from our collection. He said he hopes to retire in Germany. I was then able to introduce him to the Mango Languages site that is available for his use. "Awesome!" He was really jazzed about all of these electronic options. In fact, he said "This is so great! I could just hug you!" (He didn't.) :-)
So, kudos to the South Dakota State Library Challenge Team! Thanks for offering this great challenge and allowing me to understand and share this "awesome" information with our patrons.
P.S. I am a bit behind on Lessons 8 and 9 because I have to do them at the library, rather than at home, where I've done the previous lessons. I think I can access a library computer this afternoon and get to work.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
OAIster - continued
I typed Brookings, South Dakota in as the keyword on OAIster, and found this photo of a harvest scene near Brookings. It's from the Denver Public Library. This type of thing could be very useful for researchers.
Also found some NASA photographs of the area near Brookings, dated 1985 and 2001.
Overall impression of this tool: Neato!
OAIster
Good heavens. The SD Dental Society and Board of Examiners are a busy lot. Which begs the question, who besides their members would be even remotely interested in this information? Is there a way to sort these results, or search them more quickly? I did select the access link on one of their listings, and Dental Cosmos contained an article from 1913 about the occupational diseases of dentistry.
I did find a reference to a photo that appeared in Minnesota Reflections. It is thought to (possibly) be a school house in South Dakota circa 1908. The photo features a log shanty with a woman (teacher?) and seven boys standing outside.
Tried to access a letter from Sinclair Lewis to Marcella Powers, but there was an error on the page when I clicked the access link.
I found a 1914 report from the Department of Commerce entitled Census of Manufactures for South Dakota. That was kind of interesting. FirstSearch apparently times you out after 15 minutes.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Lesson 7 - WorldCat
Wow! Just clicked the drop down menu to see other ways to search. Very specific. I'm not sure what some of these refer to. Musical composition phrase? There are several "phrase" options. What does "phrase" mean in this context?
Selected title phrase, limited to books, for A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. 1151 libraries have the book, including Brookings Public Library. BPL is the top library when I click the link. Apparently BPL owns at least two different copies, since #7 on the list also indicates BPL.
Wouldn't the call number be FIC Smith? In Class Descriptors, the Dewey classification shown is FIC. There are also some LCCNs for this item.
Betty Smith also wrote Joy in the Morning, Tomorrow Will Be Better and Maggie-Now. She also has a play included in The Best One-Act Plays of 1945.
Clicked on subject "poor families - fiction". Got 1165 results in English. That option would be handy in helping patrons find more information on a subject or find read-alikes.
When I clicked Home, I was on the FirstSearch screen that allowed me to search in 13 different databases. Like I always say, serendipity is the spice of life!
And I did remember to click Exit when I was finished.
Selected title phrase, limited to books, for A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. 1151 libraries have the book, including Brookings Public Library. BPL is the top library when I click the link. Apparently BPL owns at least two different copies, since #7 on the list also indicates BPL.
Wouldn't the call number be FIC Smith? In Class Descriptors, the Dewey classification shown is FIC. There are also some LCCNs for this item.
Betty Smith also wrote Joy in the Morning, Tomorrow Will Be Better and Maggie-Now. She also has a play included in The Best One-Act Plays of 1945.
Clicked on subject "poor families - fiction". Got 1165 results in English. That option would be handy in helping patrons find more information on a subject or find read-alikes.
When I clicked Home, I was on the FirstSearch screen that allowed me to search in 13 different databases. Like I always say, serendipity is the spice of life!
And I did remember to click Exit when I was finished.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
NetLibrary - Western History
Searched "Western History" and Nebraska publishers and got 12 results. Searched under Oklahoma publishers and got 33 results.
These results could point the learner in several directions for topics. The books cover military history, biographies, Native American history, even national parks. I was particularly interested in a book entitled Indian Place Names: Their Origin, Evolution and Meanings. That connects history and culture and geography.
These results could point the learner in several directions for topics. The books cover military history, biographies, Native American history, even national parks. I was particularly interested in a book entitled Indian Place Names: Their Origin, Evolution and Meanings. That connects history and culture and geography.
NetLibrary - Constitution Day
How old are the students, and do they want information about the celebration of Constitution Day, or about the Constitution as a whole?
According to Representing Popular Sovereignty: The Constitution in American Political Culture, Congress changed Constitution Day to Citizenship Day in 1952. This was intended to change the focus of the holiday from the history of the document to the duties of the American people. That's about all I found directly referring to Constitution Day. It is still celebrated today, so the 1952 change was apparently reversed or changed again at some point.
There were a number of books about the United States Constitution. I don't know how old these students are, but I think the books on the Constitution might get into more detail than the students would be looking for. The avaiable books seem to focus on the details and interpretation of the Constitution, rather than on the production of the document. I guess I am missing something here.
According to Representing Popular Sovereignty: The Constitution in American Political Culture, Congress changed Constitution Day to Citizenship Day in 1952. This was intended to change the focus of the holiday from the history of the document to the duties of the American people. That's about all I found directly referring to Constitution Day. It is still celebrated today, so the 1952 change was apparently reversed or changed again at some point.
There were a number of books about the United States Constitution. I don't know how old these students are, but I think the books on the Constitution might get into more detail than the students would be looking for. The avaiable books seem to focus on the details and interpretation of the Constitution, rather than on the production of the document. I guess I am missing something here.
Lesson 6 - NetLibrary
I watched the introductory videos for NetLibrary. They were helpful. I have had a NetLibrary account for a few years, but have previously only accessed titles through our library's online catalog. Going directly into NetLibrary seems simpler. I did a search for the terms voluntary simplicity and frugality. There were many more results when I searched using Full-Text, compared to searching using Keyword. I narrowed the results down further by typing "voluntary simplicity" in quotation marks. A search for "simple living" brought broader results.
In recognition of Women's History Month, I did search for women's suffrage. There were several results, so I played with the program for a while. Somewhere along the line there was a tab for Knowledge Builders, or something like that. It let me search in encyclopedias or by using a browers. When I tried to get back to it again, I couldn't find it. Puzzling.
I even found a LEGO book with projects in it. I'm sure that would appeal to some of our patrons.
In recognition of Women's History Month, I did search for women's suffrage. There were several results, so I played with the program for a while. Somewhere along the line there was a tab for Knowledge Builders, or something like that. It let me search in encyclopedias or by using a browers. When I tried to get back to it again, I couldn't find it. Puzzling.
I even found a LEGO book with projects in it. I'm sure that would appeal to some of our patrons.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Basic Search Part 2
In conjunction with his Febrary 12 birthday and Presidents' Day, I did a basic search for information about Abraham Lincoln. The search produced multiple results, which could help a learner decide which segment of Lincoln's life he or she would like to investigate further. There were also plenty of drawings or photos to enhance the learner's assignment.
Basic Search in Gale Virtual Reference Library
Patron inquiry: I'm going to start kidney dialysis, and I want to know what's going to happen
A search for the term "dialysis, kidney" yielded several results. The most appropriate seemed to be two nearly-identical articles, one from The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine and the other from The Gale Encylcopedia of Nursing and Allied Health. Although each article cited a different author, the content was virtually identical. Both provided information about the purpose and types of kidney dialysis, along with necessary precautions, aftercare, and risks.
These articles would provide good basic information for the patron, and perhaps better prepare him to ask questions of his medical care providers.
Weird computer pronunciation of "hemodialysis" with the ReadSpeaker option, but otherwise helpful.
Lesson 5 - Gale Virtual Reference Library
I selected Literature and Its Times from the Literature category. I'm currently reading some of Nathanael West's work, and searched for some details. Literature and Its Times did not yield any results. A broader search led to a brief mention of two of West's novels in an entry about literature in the Dictionary of American History.
I tried a second search in Literature and Its Times, this time searching for information about Louisa May Alcott, since I'm also currently reading her biography. This search led to an entry about Little Women. It did include a helpful section about Events in History at the Time of the Novel.
It seems to me that the literature resources would be helpful to a student trying to decide on a topic for a paper. The student could do a search on Gale and then decide which topics were covered in sufficient detail for his or her intended project.
I also looked up some information in The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. This provided concise, printable overviews of a variety of medical conditions.
I tried a second search in Literature and Its Times, this time searching for information about Louisa May Alcott, since I'm also currently reading her biography. This search led to an entry about Little Women. It did include a helpful section about Events in History at the Time of the Novel.
It seems to me that the literature resources would be helpful to a student trying to decide on a topic for a paper. The student could do a search on Gale and then decide which topics were covered in sufficient detail for his or her intended project.
I also looked up some information in The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. This provided concise, printable overviews of a variety of medical conditions.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Lesson 4 - Proquest Publications
This part of the assignment was actually fun from the start. By the time I got to this part, I was feeling much more positive about the whole Proquest experience.
I searched for several different topics and was pleasantly surprised to discover how many common, and not-so-common, publications were available. I also found some blogs included in my searches. I would not necessarily view them as reference material, but they did point me in the direction of additional research ideas.
As with everything else in this challenge, I need to play with this component some more. But I look forward to sharing it with our patrons. I'm sure that the hard-core researchers will take to it much more quickly than I did.
I searched for several different topics and was pleasantly surprised to discover how many common, and not-so-common, publications were available. I also found some blogs included in my searches. I would not necessarily view them as reference material, but they did point me in the direction of additional research ideas.
As with everything else in this challenge, I need to play with this component some more. But I look forward to sharing it with our patrons. I'm sure that the hard-core researchers will take to it much more quickly than I did.
Lesson 4 - Proquest
This has been the most challenging part of the Challenge for me so far. I have literally spent hours playing with Proquest, trying to understand it. I think the light bulb finally came on this evening.
Proquest is very "unencyclopedic." I just made up that word, for lack of a better term. In other words, it's very different from the previous sites I've used during this Challenge. And it's been a very long time since I have had to write a research paper.
First, I tried going in cold, and entering keywords. Didn't really understand the results I was getting. Seemed like the text articles I was finding were all book reviews. Began thinking "Why would I ever want to use this????" Today I talked to our Adult Services Librarian, Nita, and asked her that very question. Nita is very smart and very nice and VERY patient with me. She is also younger than I am, and I believe her brain to be much more nimble than mine.
Nita helped me see the value of Proquest as a research tool, and how it would be of value to someone doing research. It is a step up from the range of the World Book and SIRS sites. OK, that makes sense.
I did take time to read through the User Guide, which helped some. But mostly I sat down this afternoon and evening and played with the site. It took me a while, but I learned to find helpful information. I searched a bunch of different topics, in order to better understand the scope and limitations of a Proquest search.
My main observation: I think it would be difficult (or frustrating) for a patron to use Proquest for the first time without some guidance from someone who has previously worked with it.
I really enjoyed Filia's post on her blog. It's great to read about her enthusiasm for Proquest. I think she had a much better vision of its potential than I initially did.
Proquest is very "unencyclopedic." I just made up that word, for lack of a better term. In other words, it's very different from the previous sites I've used during this Challenge. And it's been a very long time since I have had to write a research paper.
First, I tried going in cold, and entering keywords. Didn't really understand the results I was getting. Seemed like the text articles I was finding were all book reviews. Began thinking "Why would I ever want to use this????" Today I talked to our Adult Services Librarian, Nita, and asked her that very question. Nita is very smart and very nice and VERY patient with me. She is also younger than I am, and I believe her brain to be much more nimble than mine.
Nita helped me see the value of Proquest as a research tool, and how it would be of value to someone doing research. It is a step up from the range of the World Book and SIRS sites. OK, that makes sense.
I did take time to read through the User Guide, which helped some. But mostly I sat down this afternoon and evening and played with the site. It took me a while, but I learned to find helpful information. I searched a bunch of different topics, in order to better understand the scope and limitations of a Proquest search.
My main observation: I think it would be difficult (or frustrating) for a patron to use Proquest for the first time without some guidance from someone who has previously worked with it.
I really enjoyed Filia's post on her blog. It's great to read about her enthusiasm for Proquest. I think she had a much better vision of its potential than I initially did.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
SIRS Issues Researcher
My goodness. I had no idea such a resource existed. I wish I had known about it when a teen patron was asking for resources for a speech about lowering the drinking age. This would have been perfect.
The Timeline feature helps learners understand the history and background of an issue. The Global Impact and Statistics features are downright nifty. And the Note Organizer would really aid learners in putting their ideas in order.
The Groups option allows learners to consider various topics within a range of issues, such as Environment and Science, or Health, Drugs and Wellness.
I wonder if students who participate in forensics know about this resource? I wish I'd had access to it when I was in high school.
Curriculum Pathfinders: Oh for neat! I selected Fine Arts, Theatre and found a link to the Internet Broadway Database for a list of current shows. There was also information about Kabuki Theatre in Japan, as well as theatre in Victorian England. This is so intensely cool!
The Timeline feature helps learners understand the history and background of an issue. The Global Impact and Statistics features are downright nifty. And the Note Organizer would really aid learners in putting their ideas in order.
The Groups option allows learners to consider various topics within a range of issues, such as Environment and Science, or Health, Drugs and Wellness.
I wonder if students who participate in forensics know about this resource? I wish I'd had access to it when I was in high school.
Curriculum Pathfinders: Oh for neat! I selected Fine Arts, Theatre and found a link to the Internet Broadway Database for a list of current shows. There was also information about Kabuki Theatre in Japan, as well as theatre in Victorian England. This is so intensely cool!
SIRS Discoverer Database Features
Oh fun, fun, fun! The featured Drama interactive for Skills Discoverer was "Do Your Own Shakespeare." How on Earth can people be so creative in designing these things??? And the smARTkids interactive for art was really packed with information too.
The Biographies entry I selected on Abraham Lincoln had numerous, brief paragraphs about Lincoln's life. It would serve as a great starting point for students, suggesting more specific matters of interest to pursue.
I like the uniform format of the Country Facts entries. It would help learners compare and contrast more easily. (Although the World Book feature that lets you compare two entries side by side is even more handy.)
The various Maps of the World options are great. The numerous historical maps are helpful, and I like the outline maps for use as a learning tool.
The Biographies entry I selected on Abraham Lincoln had numerous, brief paragraphs about Lincoln's life. It would serve as a great starting point for students, suggesting more specific matters of interest to pursue.
I like the uniform format of the Country Facts entries. It would help learners compare and contrast more easily. (Although the World Book feature that lets you compare two entries side by side is even more handy.)
The various Maps of the World options are great. The numerous historical maps are helpful, and I like the outline maps for use as a learning tool.
SIRS Discoverer - Armadillos
How do you cut and paste in this thing? I wanted to divide my latest post into two parts, then lost the second part after I cut it.
Anyway, I did a Keyword Search for armadillos. Then I played with the results list, sorting by reference, date, and Lexile. There was a lot of concise information contained in the Summary lines of each entry. Armadillos, or 'dillos as they are also called, are interesting creatures.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Red Fox Sounds
I did some more research on the sounds red foxes make. I found several entries on YouTube. My interest comes from watching a LOT of BBC productions on PBS. During many outdoor, night scenes, I would hear a strange animal sound or call, and wondered if it might be either a peacock or a fox. Perhaps fellow BBC afficiandos have had this same experience. My investigation today reveals that it is the sound of a vixen barking. "Mystery" solved. :-)
Job Search and Workplace Skills
I had never heard of TOEIC (Test of English in International Communication) before. This would also be helpful to ESL students, in addition to TOEFL test prep.
I did have to go to another online source to find out what the acronyms TOEFL and TOEIC stand for, so unless the patron has already heard of these tests, further explanation would be necessary.
The Job Search and Workplace Skills tab revealed some great resources. It covers not only the "paper" part of the process (resumes and letters), but the "people skills" part as well. I can think of specific patrons who would benefit from this resource. I am eager to share it with them.
I selected the Vocabulary and Spelling Course. The self-assessment at the beginning is helpful. As with other aspects of Learning Express, this is very user-friendly and not intimidating. I also like the Notebook feature which is provided.
The Search Smart and Get Ahead ebook is terrific. I plan to read through it more thoroughly later, as I work to improve my cyber literacy.
This whole process is really nifty! (Do I date myself with that adjective?) I can't wait to explore more, and share with our patrons.
I did have to go to another online source to find out what the acronyms TOEFL and TOEIC stand for, so unless the patron has already heard of these tests, further explanation would be necessary.
The Job Search and Workplace Skills tab revealed some great resources. It covers not only the "paper" part of the process (resumes and letters), but the "people skills" part as well. I can think of specific patrons who would benefit from this resource. I am eager to share it with them.
I selected the Vocabulary and Spelling Course. The self-assessment at the beginning is helpful. As with other aspects of Learning Express, this is very user-friendly and not intimidating. I also like the Notebook feature which is provided.
The Search Smart and Get Ahead ebook is terrific. I plan to read through it more thoroughly later, as I work to improve my cyber literacy.
This whole process is really nifty! (Do I date myself with that adjective?) I can't wait to explore more, and share with our patrons.
Learning Express Practice Tests
I completed the 4th grade Math Practice Test (Algebraic Thinking and Patterns) and was pleased to find that I remembered enough to get all of the answers correct.
I also took part of the high school Vocabulary and Spelling Practice test, and answered the questions correctly. It's been many years since I've had to answer questions like these. The experience was empowering. I think the fact that it was a multiple choice test gave me confidence. I plan to play with this some more, and flex some more mental muscles.
I hope that most patrons would also find the experience positive, and non-threatening. It's good to know that your answers are private, and that you are provided with an explanation of the correct answer.
I also took part of the high school Vocabulary and Spelling Practice test, and answered the questions correctly. It's been many years since I've had to answer questions like these. The experience was empowering. I think the fact that it was a multiple choice test gave me confidence. I plan to play with this some more, and flex some more mental muscles.
I hope that most patrons would also find the experience positive, and non-threatening. It's good to know that your answers are private, and that you are provided with an explanation of the correct answer.
Lesson 2 - Learning Express Library
I have recommended Learning Express to patrons in the past, mostly for those interested in ACT or SAT prep resources. I did not realize that Learning Express also provided so much information for adults. It's good to know that there is another resource for adults engaged in a job search, or those wanting to polish their rusty math skills.
We have many international patrons who want information on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam. We have books available, but the patrons often want to study them for more than the four week (or eight weeks with renewal) circulation period. The Learning Express option is great! I can't wait to recommend it.
We have many international patrons who want information on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam. We have books available, but the patrons often want to study them for more than the four week (or eight weeks with renewal) circulation period. The Learning Express option is great! I can't wait to recommend it.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
World Book Foreign Language Edition - French
The French edition did not provide me with as many visual clues as the Spanish version did. I also speak very, very little French. Navigating was more difficult in that regard.
This edition could help non-French speakers with reading fluency, but I did not find a read-aloud feature.
This edition could help non-French speakers with reading fluency, but I did not find a read-aloud feature.
World Book Foreign Language Edition - Spanish
When I did the exercise for the World Book Kids edition, I learned that the Spanish word for fox is "zorro." So I looked that up. The article appears to be a translated version is the English entry.
I liked the Mundo de Animales feature, where I could view pictures of birds and animals, and also test my limited Spanish vocabulary by seeing which words I recognized.
We do have native Spanish speakers who use our computer lab, so this may be of help to them in their learning. It might also help reinforce learning for non-Spanish speakers who are learning the language.
Listening to the article on zorros rojas, it was neat to be able to control the speed of the reading. For learners who learn best by hearing, this would be a great advantage. I am a visual learner, so it helps me to read and identify the words while I listen.
I liked the Mundo de Animales feature, where I could view pictures of birds and animals, and also test my limited Spanish vocabulary by seeing which words I recognized.
We do have native Spanish speakers who use our computer lab, so this may be of help to them in their learning. It might also help reinforce learning for non-Spanish speakers who are learning the language.
Listening to the article on zorros rojas, it was neat to be able to control the speed of the reading. For learners who learn best by hearing, this would be a great advantage. I am a visual learner, so it helps me to read and identify the words while I listen.
World Book Online Reference Center - Russia
The Online Reference Center provided an extensive article about Russian government, people, way of life, climate, the arts, history, and the economy. There were a tremendous number of sub-categories available. Learners can research as broadly or as specifically as they please.
I am curious about the "freshness" of this information. The citation information lists today's date, but it is not possible to find out when the entry was last updated. Or am I missing something?
I did discover a Research Skills link at the end of the Related Information page. That, as well as the Writing Skills and Speaking Skills articles could also be helpful to learners.
I am curious about the "freshness" of this information. The citation information lists today's date, but it is not possible to find out when the entry was last updated. Or am I missing something?
I did discover a Research Skills link at the end of the Related Information page. That, as well as the Writing Skills and Speaking Skills articles could also be helpful to learners.
World Book Online Info Finder - Giraffe
Here I did find info about the sounds the giraffe makes. "A giraffe seldom uses its voice, although it can utter a variety of soft sounds."
The Info Finder format provides a greater amount of information, maps, pictures and even video on this subject.
The citation information at the bottom of the article is really helpful. We frequently get citation questions from students (and parents) whose teachers require citations in their work.
The Info Finder format provides a greater amount of information, maps, pictures and even video on this subject.
The citation information at the bottom of the article is really helpful. We frequently get citation questions from students (and parents) whose teachers require citations in their work.
World Book Online Kids - Giraffe
Giraffes live south of the Sahara desert in Africa. They require areas with trees and bushes from which they eat leaves, twigs and fruit, although they can go without water for many weeks.
They usually sleep standing up.
World Book Discover - American Government
The translation feature would seem very helpful, although the Greek is all Greek to me. :-) For ESL users and new readers, I think the "double click a word to define it" feature would prove very helpful, as would the read-along option.
I selected an article on the New Deal. One option allowed me to view a draft of a radio address. Neat!
The "For more information, see these articles" option at the bottom of the page would help learners expand the scope of their research.
I selected an article on the New Deal. One option allowed me to view a draft of a radio address. Neat!
The "For more information, see these articles" option at the bottom of the page would help learners expand the scope of their research.
World Book Advanced (grades 9-12+) England
Still waiting for my search to download . . .
OK, that's better. Using the word "England" for my search, the first encyclopedia article was about the country. Most of the subsequent articles referred to New England.
The Primary Sources and E-books options are interesting, and would be helpful to patrons seeking in-depth research of the country's history. I think that the encyclopedia articles would be more helpful to patrons looking for general information about the nation.
The Sounds option is sort of fun. I got to listen to a few lines of Shakespeare, along with an English jig.
OK, that's better. Using the word "England" for my search, the first encyclopedia article was about the country. Most of the subsequent articles referred to New England.
The Primary Sources and E-books options are interesting, and would be helpful to patrons seeking in-depth research of the country's history. I think that the encyclopedia articles would be more helpful to patrons looking for general information about the nation.
The Sounds option is sort of fun. I got to listen to a few lines of Shakespeare, along with an English jig.
World Book Student (grades 5-9) Red Fox
At this level, the information was more detailed, but I only found one article in my search. I had no success investigating animal sounds in this site.
The Back in Time articles are interesting, but none referenced the subject that I searched.
The Back in Time articles are interesting, but none referenced the subject that I searched.
World Book Kids (Grades K-5) Red Fox
The site was really slow to load, but provided helpful, basic information about the red fox. I am looking for specific information about the sounds they make, so will look further. I was interested to learn that the red fox may be found in wooded areas of some cities, in addition to farmland and forests.
Welcome to the Gentle Reader Blog
I invite you to join me on my journey into cyber literacy. I am looking forward to the Electronic Resources Challenge. I'm already feeling empowered by creating this blog!
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