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eBooks: Offer a Fresh Perspective

The library plays a vital role in developing points of view; providing a space for diverse groups of people to pursue curiosity. Many titles on GVRL offer comprehensive coverage on the cultural and historical impact of emerging topics such as, innovating and global industries,  American governance, gender, and much more. Take a look at some … Read more

Take Your Kids To Work Day…Gale Style

On the fourth Thursday of each April, over 37 million Americans at more than 3.5 million workplaces participate in Take Your Kids To Work Day. Yesterday marked the program’s 21st anniversary. If you’re one of those 37 million who brought your child to work yesterday, your day was likely filled with entertaining events uncommon in your usual … Read more

Gale Interactive: Science Takes Home Silver

Congratulations to Gale and CVMedia for winning a silver award in the Motion Graphics/Effects video category for Gale Interactive: Science at this year’s Horizon Interactive Awards.

The Horizon Interactive Awards, now in its 15th season, has become one of the most prestigious awards in the field of interactive and creative media. The competition recognizes, promotes, and awards the best web sites/web site design, interactive, videos, online advertising, print media, and mobile applications. Each year, the Horizon Interactive Awards receives thousands of entries from all over the world and a volunteer panel of industry professionals, from diverse multi-media, graphic design, advertising, and marketing backgrounds, review the entries to determine the work that is to be recognized.

The annual, international competition saw over 1200 entries from around the world including 40 out of 50 US States and 20 countries including: Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Germany, Greenland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Turkey, UK, Ukraine and Uruguay.

Read moreGale Interactive: Science Takes Home Silver

Thank You For Being Awesome

Thanks to everyone who participated in the NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK 2017: EMPOWER SWEEPSTAKES! We loved hearing what empowers librarians from around the nation, such as: Although National Library Week is over, we know your inspiration will never end. The fun doesn’t have to stop either! Free tees will be delivered to sweepstakes winners this week, … Read more

GVRL PD Titles for Administrators to Support Teacher Appreciation Year-round

| By Nicole Albrecht |

A squeaky lunchroom cart is being pushed down the hallway. It is filled with candy snacks and cards, as well as big bowl of chocolate covered strawberries. The principal’s secretary is pushing the cart from classroom to classroom, during instructional time, offering up treats in celebration of National Teacher Appreciation Week. I stare down the hallway watching the cart come my way, thankful I am on my planning period, and though I am grateful for a sweet treat, I am more relieved that this isn’t during my regular scheduled classes. A quick thank you to the secretary and with a chocolate covered strawberry in my hand, I close my classroom door and smirk thinking, “would have been nicer if the principal actually passed these out” and then I thought about what I actually would have wanted from my administration during this “appreciation week.” Chocolate strawberries and candies were not the answer.

During the early month of May, National Teacher Appreciation is the star holiday in front of Memorial Day. For some teachers, it is a week of free lunches, early releases, assemblies, announcements, and student hand-made thank you cards. There are also some teachers who do not have the luxury of such appreciative gifts from their students and administrators—receiving nothing at all. As a former teacher, I have experienced both forms of appreciation from administration and have felt the same about it all: for me, Teacher Appreciation Week was something that should be happening all year, not in the form of chocolate covered strawberries and thank you cards.

So what does a teacher really need from their administration to feel appreciated? Looking back on the last eight years of my teaching career, considering my own needs and the discussions I’ve had with colleagues, I have outlined a few common themes that may help administrators show their teachers they are appreciated year-round:

Read moreGVRL PD Titles for Administrators to Support Teacher Appreciation Year-round

Centennial of the Battle at Vimy Ridge

| By Traci Cothran |

Throughout 2017, Canada is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the WWI Battle at Vimy Ridge (France).  It was a seminal event in Canadian history—a fierce battle against the German forces, which resulted in heavy casualties, including the loss of 3,598 Canadian soldiers and some 20,000 Germans, with tens of thousands more wounded.  Remarkable as it was, this victory against the Germans wasn’t solely a battlefield feat; because the Canadians prevailed where French had failed many times (at an enormous loss of life) and paved the way to Allied victory, the event helped unify Canada, and solidify its independence in the international community.  Commemorative events are planned throughout Canada, as well as in France.

Read moreCentennial of the Battle at Vimy Ridge

The College Blue Book is Highly Recommended

The College Blue Book is a comprehensive guide covering nearly 12,000 institutions of higher learning, occupational and technical schools, and distance learning programs. It includes information on early decision and early action figures, ACT and SAT essay requirements, SAT deadlines, and numbers on wait-listed applicants. The College Blue Book features universities, senior colleges, two-year colleges, and … Read more

How to Participate in National Library Legislative Day from Home

| Originally published by District Dispatch | As library supporters from across the United States prepare to go to Washington, D.C. to participate in National Library Legislative Day, don’t forget that you can participate from home! All week long (May 1-5th), we’re asking library supporters to email, call, and tweet their Members of Congress about federal library … Read more

Daughters Who Make the First Ladies Proud

| By Debra Kirby |

Mother’s Day is less than a month away.  Talking with a colleague and fellow mother recently, we both made the observation that the occasion has become less about honoring our own mothers (who are no longer with us), but about our daughters. Neither of us can recall when that focus changed for us, but we both agreed that we are happy to be mothers of beautiful, accomplished, caring daughters and that we survived the often challenging and sometimes turbulent teen years.

This conversation was fresh in my mind when I volunteered to review and update the overview article for Chelsea Clinton in Gale’s Biography In Context, which naturally led to thoughts of how much more challenging it would be to raise a daughter amidst the often unrelenting coverage of the presidential family. Former First Ladies Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Michelle Obama all successfully raised daughters under these conditions. Here are just a few examples that would make any mother proud:

  • In 2009, outgoing twin first daughters Jenna and Barbara Bush wrote a charming letter to the incoming Obama girls, Sasha and Malia, with heartfelt advice about living in the White House fishbowl.  Eight years later, they wrote a second letter about adjusting to a post-White House life. [Read the article]
  • Chelsea Clinton’s touching speech introducing her mother as the Democratic Presidential candidate at the DNC last summer is high on my list of favorite first daughter examples, but there are many more such moments and accomplishments from which to choose, including her advocacy work on behalf of the Clinton Foundation and other organizations and causes, and of course becoming a parent herself! [View all of the Chelsea Clinton resources available through Biography In Context]

Read moreDaughters Who Make the First Ladies Proud

Running Like a Girl

| By Debra Kirby |

Anyone remember when phrases like “You run like a girl!” were considered insults? Not anymore! I love when power is claimed by turning what is meant to be a negative into a positive. Two recent events are inspiring me right now:

  • My 9-year-old granddaughter has joined her school’s Girls on the Run program, which will culminate in a 5K Run (“Not a race, Nana” says Grace) in June.
  • Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon 50 years ago, ran it again this year – at the age of 70!

Read moreRunning Like a Girl