Carrie Willis, Author at Gale Blog: Library & Educator News | K12, Academic & Public

New Reports and Enhancements to DemographicsNow

July 10, 2015June 30, 2015

DemographicsNow Public Library Business Resource

Posted on June 30, 2015

Both DemographicsNow! and DemographicsNow! Business and People have new tools and new EZ reporting great for start-ups and small business.

Enhancements to DemographicsNow include the following:

New EZ Report: Sizing Your Market— Calculates the market size based on geography selections and expenditure variables to see which local areas may have a need for a certain type of business.
- User inputs up to 25 geographies and a customized Census Area Projections and Estimates (CAPE) variable tree with current year estimates and 5 year projections.
- The output report contains:
  - Bar chart comparing the average expenditure ($) of user selected geographies
  - Number of households in the geography
  - Average expenditure per household
  - Market Size
- Users can now save and upload report templates with custom variables.
- Users can edit report titles that display on the preview screen and the downloaded version of a custom report.
- Link to CAPE variables spreadsheet.
- Thematic coloring default turned off.

Another Take on Summer Reading and Gale Resources

February 26, 2018June 19, 2015

By Tanisha Howard-Hall

As a Customer Success Manager, I’m always eager to see what types of programing and promotions public libraries have going on. Summer reading is no exception!

For Teens

Brentwood Public Library in Tennessee is offering ACT Boot Camps for teens this summer! The boot camp gives a jump start

Top Library Leaders Share Their Thoughts: Turning the Page

July 10, 2015June 15, 2015

By Misty Jones

For libraries to remain relevant and effective, we need to define ourselves and set a direction and identity. At the heart of setting this direction is remembering our core services, while adapting to our evolving internal and external environment. It means remaining open to new opportunities not yet envisioned, but still remaining true to ourselves and what we represent. By establishing a brand, libraries can identify themselves and their importance and relevance to their community.

New Titles Added to the InfoTrac Collections in May 2015

June 11, 2015

Posted on June 11, 2015

The titles below have been recently added and can be located in the mentioned InfoTrac product using Basic or Advanced Search forms. Titles can be found via Browse Publications within two weeks. For complete coverage information please see the product title lists.

Announcing Audio Component in ChiltonLibrary

June 11, 2015June 10, 2015

Posted on June 10, 2015

ReadSpeaker text-to-speech technology is now available in the Repair and Bulletin/Recalls sections of ChiltonLibrary. ReadSpeaker® is the worldwide leader in online text to speech and its functionality lets users hear the article read out loud, as the words spoken are highlighted on the screen.

Ferguson Municipal Public Library Named 2015 Library of the Year

May 23, 2018June 9, 2015

By Kristina Massari

Ferguson Municipal Public Library of Ferguson, MO has been named the 2015 Library of the Year by Library Journal magazine and Gale, a part of Cengage Learning. The small suburban library rose above the chaos and stepped up to provide sanctuary and resources for all in a community in crisis, and remained steadfast to that call over months of duress. The library leadership’s modest “it’s what we do” stance resonated worldwide through social media and news coverage. It placed libraries in the center of the solution, and created a model for other libraries in communities experiencing strife.

Library of the Year is a prestigious recognition that goes to a public library that profoundly demonstrates service to community, creativity, leadership and innovation in developing community programs. Nominated by over 100 U.S. library leaders, Ferguson Municipal Public Library was recognized for its outstanding commitment to service and its extraordinary role as community anchor.

GVRL Partner Publisher: DK

February 26, 2018June 9, 2015

DK (formerly Dorling Kindersley) is the choice of librarians, parents, children and general readers worldwide. From animal facts to travel guides to gardening, DK is renowned for its distinctive, highly visual books that educate and entertain.

Currently available titles like The Science Book , Crochet, and Small Space Garden Ideas appeal to people of all ages and offer ideal summer reading or summer researching of activities.

Readers Advisory: Books for Tweens

June 17, 2015June 2, 2015

By Mary Kelly and Holly Hibner

“Tween” is that age group somewhere between child and teen, roughly 4^th through 7^th grade. It is a time of dramatic change: physical, emotional, and mental. These kids have personalities, opinions, talents, and imaginations. They care about things. It is a spectacular age for reading because they have vocabularies and comprehension rates that can handle more intricate storytelling.

Embedding Your Library in the Community: How to Overcome Obstacles and Lead Transformational Change

August 12, 2019May 31, 2015

By Steven V. Potter, Director and CEO at Mid-Continent Public Library

What happens when your strategic plan blocks attempts at innovative programs?
One of the most innovative and community-changing programs I have seen in several years is Career Online High School. The immediate impact of this program at the early-adopting libraries was stunning to me. Clearly, a program like Career Online High School provides a very meaningful answer to that tired old question, “Since everyone has a Kindle, do we still need libraries?”

When I saw Career Online High School, I was amazed but unhappy.I know our strategic plan. I know our key performance indicators. I know our demographics and needs. I know Career Online High School does not easily align into our strategic direction, but I also know we have a diverse population and there are people in our community who could use this program. So that’s the end of the story, right? Not so fast! A program like Career Online High School can be a great opportunity to create a partnership with another organization.

Josephine Community Libraries: Providing Real Community Value

June 12, 2015May 29, 2015

By Kate Dwyer

Josephine Community Libraries (JCL) increased its Gale database usage by 230% over previous years. By using public presentations with a ‘how to’ delivery style, JCL’s librarians are able to meet people where they are on topics they care about.

Under the umbrella of The Expanding Opportunities Program, funded by A Library Services and Technology Act, the mission of the program is to increase information literacy in Josephine County, Oregon, in the areas of employability, education, and entrepreneurship. The grant provides a full-time staff member to educate community members about the modern library available at their fingertips.