Month: April 2014

Do you keep your library’s business resources hidden?

Who Needs Business School? The Hidden Startup Resources at your Local Library

By Harmony Faust

Samantha Cole, an editorial intern for Fast Company magazine, just gave your library a present—did you accept it graciously and immediately put it to good use? If not, you might be missing out on an opportunity to leverage the gift of free advertising. Keep reading; it’s not too late.

Cole’s article, “Who Needs Business School? The Hidden Startup Resources at your Local Library,” perfectly tells the value story of public libraries and specifically, how you support local entrepreneurs and foster economic growth. Do you ever read or hear something and think to yourself, “I couldn’t have said it better myself!”? This is one of those moments. What Cole has explained about libraries—and how she has explained it—is evidence-based and right on point.

Read moreDo you keep your library’s business resources hidden?

Guest Blog: Making Digital Connections with Patrons

By Naomi Bates, Teacher Librarian, Northwest High School, Justin, TX

In today’s world of academics and reading, libraries are integrating with new technologies through 21st century tools. This trend can be seen not only through eBooks and databases, but also through the unique personality a library can create through publicity and online branding. Savvy librarians are ensuring their virtual presence through curation sites, online posters, infographics, and social media, most of which are free resources.

Read moreGuest Blog: Making Digital Connections with Patrons

Open Casting Call for the 2015 Gale Catalog!

Let’s face it, passion drives everything we do—the choices we make, the jobs we acquire, even how we spend our free time.

We’d like to offer you the opportunity to take your passion and turn it into a real “notice me” opportunity. That’s right; we’re looking for a few shining stars to feature in our upcoming catalog. Not only will you be able to share your passion—and your smiling face—with the world, but you’ll also be put into circulation of over 18,000 copies, literally putting you in front of thousands of librarians, researchers, teachers, administrators, and faculty all across the US and Canada!

Read moreOpen Casting Call for the 2015 Gale Catalog!

In Other News: Shakespeare

By Susan Fishburn

In Other News – Week of April 21

Have your friends and family been talking to you in what sounds like a different language? Maybe it’s because this week we celebrated “Talk Like William Shakespeare Day” on April 23rd. So it’s time to get in the groove, or as Bill would say “It’s timeth to starteth reading!”

Read moreIn Other News: Shakespeare

Featured Partner: ABC-CLIO

An ongoing look at the partner publishers available through GVRL.

By Melissa Rayner

Founded in 1955, ABC-CLIO is named for the Greek muse that inspired history, thus symbolizing the company’s origins in publishing historical literature and bibliographies. Today, ABC-CLIO is a leading publisher of both print and digital materials of reference, contemporary thought, and professional development for academic, school, and public librarians.

Read moreFeatured Partner: ABC-CLIO

Large Print Books Mom Will Love

By Ginny Raye

When I was given this topic, I thought, “Oh, please . . . piece of cake.” I started thinking about the types of books that I love, because, hey, I’m a mom! Then I realized that, even though I love a good steamy romance (probably more than I should), my 91-year-old mother would be less likely to sit down to “50 Shades of Grey” and probably leans more toward Nora Roberts. She absolutely loved the Boonsboro Trilogy that I got her for Christmas last year. And it was in large print. Even better. Oh, there is some steam there, but it’s toned down to a small kitchen fire, unlike the five alarm, burning inferno that is my usual choice. Hmm . . . this assignment suddenly became harder than I thought.

Read moreLarge Print Books Mom Will Love

The Advantages of Springer E-books on Gale Virtual Reference Library

By Michael Arthur

The migration toward e-books has meant many changes for librarians focused on collection development and acquisitions.  The market is booming as publishers move toward offering all or nearly all titles in e-format, and librarians are working hard to stay on top of changes in publishing and procurement models.

Complete publisher packages, subject collections, title-by-title purchasing, demand driven, and evidence based models are among the most utilized methods by which libraries and their patrons are gaining access to e-books.  Selecting purchasing models for e-books are challenging, because—as with any choice—both pros and cons exist. 

Read moreThe Advantages of Springer E-books on Gale Virtual Reference Library

In Other News: Mumps

A look at a current news item through the lens of different titles available on GVRL.

By Michelle Eickmeyer

It’s April 18, 2014 and there are mumps outbreaks in Ohio and New York. Mumps! And both associated with college campuses? (Well, my aunt always said “there is a time and place for everything, and it’s college,” but somehow I never suspected she meant mumps!)

Read moreIn Other News: Mumps

I Can See Clearly Now: Window & Wiper Care

windshield help

By Tracy Junker

April is National Car Care Month and since April showers bring May flowers, it might be a good time to prep your vehicle with some best practices for window and wiper care.

How to check and clean wiper blades
We’ve all been there. It is raining just enough to make a mess of the windshield, but not enough to really clean it. And the wiper blades just make the situation worse!

Read moreI Can See Clearly Now: Window & Wiper Care