Announcing Audio Component in ChiltonLibrary

Chilton Auto Repair Library Resource

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.

Read moreAnnouncing Audio Component in ChiltonLibrary

Ferguson Municipal Public Library Named 2015 Library of the Year

Ferguson Public Library

By Kristina Massari 

loyFerguson 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.

Read moreFerguson Municipal Public Library Named 2015 Library of the Year

GVRL Partner Publisher: DK

DK eBooks

DK (formerly Dorling Kindersley) is the choice of librarians, parents, children and general readers worldwideStep-by-step guide. 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.

Read moreGVRL Partner Publisher: DK

Readers Advisory: Books for Tweens

By Mary Kelly and Holly Hibner

“Tween” is that age group somewhere between child and teen, roughly 4th through 7th 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.

Read moreReaders Advisory: Books for Tweens

Product Update: Gale’s In Context

Posted on June 1, 2015

Take a look at the latest content recently added to some of your favorite In Context databases:

Biography in Context launched 11 new people portals including:

  • Trevor Noah, the successor to Jon Stewart as host of “The Daily Show”
  • Juliette Gordon Low (1860-1927), founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA
  • Tony Robbins, self-help guru and motivational speaker

Read moreProduct Update: Gale’s In Context

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

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.

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

Josephine Community Libraries: Providing Real Community Value

P1280371By 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.

Read moreJosephine Community Libraries: Providing Real Community Value

Retirees: Learning, Rediscovering…Living the Dream

They’ve worked hard. They’ve raised kids, saved, and made sacrifices. Now, with long-awaited free time, they want to pursue new interests and rediscover old ones. Today’s retirees are keen to make the most of their non-working years.

But the more than 13% of the US population aged 65 or older (and that percentage expected to balloon in the next five years)1 is the group least likely to have visited the library in the last year.2 Public libraries have their work cut out to serve the needs of this age group. Luckily, Gale has resources that can attract and support seniors’ thirst for discovery.

Read moreRetirees: Learning, Rediscovering…Living the Dream

Summer Reading Programs and Your Gale Resources

By Anne Nagrant and Vanessa Craig

Summer and reading go hand in hand. From books for the beach to bestselling paperbacks, adults take advantage of longer days and vacation time. Children are encouraged to read for fun and to combat the “summer slide.” Public library summer reading programs provide fun motivation for both adults and young people to read, read, read.

Read moreSummer Reading Programs and Your Gale Resources