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Amelia Earhart – Mystery Solved?

| By Mark Mikula |

History is a dynamic field of study. New discoveries and ongoing research often provide opportunities to learn new facts about the people and events that have shaped our world. One of American history’s long-standing mysteries regards the fate of the storied aviator Amelia Earhart, whose plane went missing in 1937 during her attempt to circumnavigate the world with navigator Fred Noonan. Various theories regarding her disappearance have been put forward, but a few years ago, a photograph was discovered in the National Archives that is being analyzed to determine whether its subjects include both Earhart and Noonan on one of the Marshall Islands. If their likenesses can be confirmed, it will add credence to speculation that Earhart and Noonan survived after their plane went down.

The photo was found by an enthusiastic former government employee who was investigating the aviator’s disappearance. Its discovery demonstrates that careful examination of physical evidence can result in a more complete picture of the world we inhabit regardless of one’s level of experience.

Read more about current efforts to solve the mystery >>

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The Macmillan Interdisciplinary Handbooks: Religion Series Receives Phenomenal Reviews

Having difficulty supporting patrons’ grasp of religion and nonbelief? The Macmillan Interdisciplinary Handbooks: Religion Series provides readers with a deeper understanding of religion and alternatives to religion with 10 volumes using film, literature, art, and other lenses for an innovative approach to introducing the field.

Ready to support the study of religion in your university or library? Start with a few reviews published in the American Reference Books Annual, spring 2017 edition:

Religion: Beyond Religion

“Due to its breadth of coverage and the depth of research upon which it is based, this is an important addition to the literature of both religion and nonbelief. Thus, it is an essential purchase for any library that seeks to acquire materials related to the study of religion, for academic libraries that support religion majors, and for all seminary libraries.”

—Gregory A. Crawford

Religion: Embodied Religion

“This volume is a very strong entry into the series. Questions and information on religious experience and how gender, desire, and embodiment are interpreted, celebrated, abhorred, and justified are well represented in this compendium of scholarly works. This book will be well suited for researchers and scholars of history, sociology, theology, and global studies. Highly recommended.”

—Janis Minshull

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Libraries Mean More than Business

We know libraries mean business. But in a lot of ways, the public library means more than just business. When it comes to career advice, personal fulfillment, health, and even parenting, you are an indispensable resource to your patrons. That’s why we’ve recently partnered with The American Management Association (AMACOM) to provide coverage on subjects … Read more

Exploring Central Park by Foot and by Mouse

| By Debra Kirby |

After spending five days in New York City, much of it in and around Central Park, I decided to give my tired feet a rest and engage in some online exploration in honor of National Parks and Recreation Month, which has been celebrated in the United States during the month of July since 1985.

I already knew that Central Park was designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Detroit’s Belle Isle Park—where I spent many childhood weekends, picnicking with my family and wading through the mucky sand of the beaches of the Detroit River. But there was so much more to discover, so I jumped into U.S. History In Context and learned:

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Register Today! Driving Decisions with Data Webinar

Is Your Library Measuring Up? How can you ensure your library’s goals and initiatives support households in your community? It can be tricky, but with Analytics On Demand, you can add value to your library’s existing data and unlock key insights about your community. Join us, and American Libraries, July 24th for a free episode … Read more

Gale and Book Aid International: A Shared Mission for Empowerment

| By Jessica Edwards |

Although I spend most of my time working for the Gale International Marketing team, I’m also a Publisher Ambassador for the charity Book Aid International. After touring the Cengage warehouse last year and learning about operational processes, including the scrapping of books, I was inspired to research ways of extending the lives of books marked for pulping. I consequently came across Book Aid International, a long-established charity who ship new books from UK publishers out to sub-Saharan Africa, and was immediately impressed with the value and scale of their work.

The charity not only accepts book donations, but establishes librarian training programmes and funds refurbishments at partner libraries in sub-Saharan Africa and the occupied Palestinian territories. Some of these libraries are in communities with a very limited access to books such as refugee camps, prisons, and slums, others are in hospitals or universities where resources are extremely dated. Book Aid International works with some of the largest UK publishers, and all the books shipped abroad are new. In 2016, they sent over a million books. They also work with local publishers to source books in local languages.

It can be hard to appreciate quite how desperate the need is, but a few particularly powerful stories go some way towards demonstrating. The Menelik II Referral Hospital in Ethiopia is a hospital with no internet connection, and therefore no online resources. Thus, the library is vital for medical staff to access the up-to-date information they require. Nearly all the books in the hospital library are provided by Book Aid International. Samuel’s story in the video below is also a powerful indication of how the work of Book Aid International helps individuals pull themselves out of poverty. The video also outlines the charity’s many achievements over the last year.

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Gale Courses Classroom Goes Mobile

With the June 14 session, 7 additional foreign language courses have been added to Gale Courses. To date, 235 courses have launched on the new platform. Students who enroll in these classes will experience an enhanced classroom interface which includes: Mobile responsive design Modern, intuitive features More options to engage with content The new platform will roll out … Read more

Mastering Workflow: Connecting Learners to Your Library

As digital demands continue to rise, the emphasis on creating a seamless workflow becomes all the more important: eliminating multiple logins, developing efficiencies in how materials are prepared and distributed, and building a collaborative environment with students and peers are all essential to today’s educators. Gale is proud to announce additional authentication options with single … Read more

Introducing: The Dashboard

A new tool has been added to Analytics On Demand. It’s called the dashboard. What is the Dashboard? The Analytics On Demand dashboard gives users the ability to transform patron data and drill down into rich visuals. Best of all, once the three apps needed for the dashboard output are acquired by the library, it’s no … Read more

Celebrate World Oceans Day

| By Debra Kirby |

Did you know that World Oceans Day is celebrated June 8 each year and that it was officially recognized by the United Nations in December of 2008? Or that the Canadian government first proposed the idea at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992?

Each year World Oceans Day events are organized around a different theme, with this year’s focus on “plastic pollution prevention and cleaning the ocean of marine litter.” http://www.worldoceansday.org/

Even if you don’t live near an ocean, or are not planning to participate in an event on June 8, there are many things you can do to make a difference. Since all of Earth’s waterways are connected, what affects your local stream, river, or lake also eventually makes its way to the oceans. Here are a few easy things anyone can do throughout the year:

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