Take Control! Finance Books on GVRL

Posted on March 10, 2016

Original article published in Library Journal on February 3, 2016

Many patrons are interested in gaining control over their personal finances. They want to learn about budgeting, taxes, and how to invest wisely. Some are actively seeking the best ways to dig out of dire financial straits but lack the funds to seek professional assistance. Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) offers a wide range of reference material that can guide library users through processes such as estate planning, investing for the future, learning about tax incentives to start a small business, or rebuilding or improving a poor credit score. No matter their fiscal situation, patrons will find what they need in GVRL. Check out some of the below titles!

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Getting to Know the Business of Business

Posted on March 4, 2016

By Tina Creguer

  • Jamie is a new marketing manager for her company. She needs to find detailed information on companies in her field and get up to speed quickly about the competition.
  • Ali is graduating with his MBA with a concentration in finance in seven months. He doesn’t want to wait too long to identify potential employers. He’d like to begin to pinpoint companies in the industries that interest him most.
  • George, a veteran business analyst, has been asked to conduct a full review of a few key competitors’ revenue and forecasted growth for the president to use in an upcoming board meeting.
  • Jorge is a high school student doing a project on Fortune 500 companies in his state. He’d like to find out when the companies were founded, what they make, and where they operate.

In every case, there’s one resource that can connect patrons to the information they seek: Ward’s Business Directory.

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Encyclopedia of Prescription Drugs: a “Comprehensive” and “Very Useful” Resource

Posted on March 2, 2016

Looking for consumer friendly information on the most commonly used prescription drugs? For all your questions regarding prescription drugs, turn to The Gale Encyclopedia of Prescription Drugs. Organized alphabetically and by drug class, this “comprehensive” resource includes in-depth information about each drug, such as classification, purpose, recommended dosage, side effects, and interactions.

In February, Booklist reviewed the Encyclopedia. Read what they had to say!

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Keep the Little Deuce Coupe Running Strong

April is National Car Care Month and America has a serious love affair with cars. According to The World Bank, there are 786 motor vehicles per 1,000 people in the US – the highest ratio in the world. The birthplace of mass automobile manufacturing remains its stronghold. And for a large number of car-owners, maintaining and servicing their own vehicle is part of the fun; for others, it’s a necessity.

For patrons looking for do-it-yourself auto repair and maintenance information, you can’t beat the venerable Chilton’s repair manuals. Car-lovers have depended on these sources for dependable, up-to-date information since Kaisers roared down the street. Today auto enthusiasts of all skill levels can access auto repair information in ChiltonLibrary, the continually updated online resource.

ChiltonLibrary provides access to repair, maintenance, and service information on cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs, with videos, photos, and animations, step-by-step procedures, and other in-demand features. Recent product enhancements include:

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Media Is Ubiquitous…So How Do You Find the Right Ones?

line of folded newspapers

Posted on February 26, 2016

By Tina Creguer

24-hour news cycles.  News radio, news reels, news websites.  Hard news that breaks via social media.  Some say that media has created information overload on all channels of communication – the internet, TV, radio, podcasts,…you name it.

Media just ain’t what it used to be.

So, given the exponential growth of media sources in the Information Age, when people need to connect with broadcast media and publications—the ones that are really appropriate to them, where do they begin?

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The Encyclopedia of Senior Health Deemed an “Essential Resource”

Posted on February 24, 2016

Did you know that families – not health care professionals – provide 80% to 90% of care for the elderly, and about 75% of all care-givers are women. – Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide

 For all your questions regarding senior health, turn to The Gale Encyclopedia of Senior Health: A Guide for Seniors and their Caregivers. Featuring more than 650 entries on a variety of issues related to aging, including diseases, treatment, rehabilitation, preventative lifestyle choices, and community caregiving options. Available in print and eBook.

In February, Booklist reviewed the Encyclopedia. Read what they had to say!

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DK Eyewitness Travel Top Architectural Cities for 2016

Posted on February 23, 2016

Originally Posted by Helena Smith, DK Eyewitness Travel Blog

Steeped in history, effortlessly stylish, loud, or lavish – a city’s architectural highlights build its very character. From New York City’s geometric skyscrapers to the ancient wonders of Rome, discover some of DK’s Eyewitness Travel top cities for 2016 one fascinating building at a time.

Below are just the top three.

Read moreDK Eyewitness Travel Top Architectural Cities for 2016

Built by Association, Part II – Making (Local) Connections, Joining Forces

Posted on February 19, 2016

By Tina Creguer

Lizette is managing director of a non-profit organization focused on preventing prescription drug overdose – a growing health problem sweeping the nation and a particular problem in her county.  They have programs in hand ready to implement, but they lack funding and volunteers to make it happen.  She wonders if there are resources and groups close by with a shared interest that may be interested in joining forces on this topic.  But she’s not sure how to connect with them.

With Gale’s Encyclopedia of Associations: Regional, State and Local (RSL), Lizette can pinpoint valuable information for appropriate state, regional, and local groups from a comprehensive list of nearly 95,000 non-profit organizations in the US.  She can discover not only names and addresses, but get background information such as purpose, activities, conferences, membership dues, and much more.

Read moreBuilt by Association, Part II – Making (Local) Connections, Joining Forces

The Ever-changing State of Literary Criticism

Posted on February 18, 2016

By Larry Trudeau

I was recently reviewing an entry on Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations for an upcoming volume of Nineteenth Century Literary Criticism (NCLC), and was surprised—delighted, really—to see that we were including two reviews of the novel from 1861, the year it was published in book form.

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Built by Association – Making Connections, Joining Forces

Posted on February 12, 2016

By Tina Creguer

Pop quiz. Are these organizations real or made up?

  • 1904 World’s Fair Association
  • Medieval Academy of America
  • National Clogging Organization
  • National Space Club
  • American Association of Independent Music (A2IM)

Read moreBuilt by Association – Making Connections, Joining Forces