Meet Users Where They Are

Posted December 31, 2015

By Lemma Shomali, Senior Product Manager, Databases, Gale

Students today are digital natives and undisputed power users of Google. Most are never far from their mobile devices, and they use them to look up everything from movie listings to music lyrics. But they also use them for completing homework and doing research. The key to connecting young researchers to trustworthy, relevant content is ensuring that it appears in their workflow. Google is a comfortable, highly used pathway in most students’ study routine. Gale is a Google for Education Partner, which means users can sign in to their library’s Gale content with their Google account credentials and share, save, and download articles to Google Drive, and Docs.

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Midwinter ALA: Where You Want To Be

Posted Jan. 3, 2016

By Tina Creguer

ALA Midwinter takes place in Boston this year.  And, if the past is any indication, that means cold weather, high attendance, and energetic participation.  As you prepare for your trip, we have some thoughts about getting where you need to be and how to enjoy being there.

While you’re there – explore partnerships

Take the time to learn about new partnerships and developments that can support your library’s goals.  As a Google for Education partner, Gale now brings both innovative features and authoritative content into your patron’s workflow. Stop by our booth (#1405) to learn how users can sign in to share, download, and save your Gale content to their Google Drive and Docs applications using their Google credentials (including Gmail) without having to remember a separate password.  It’s the promise of connectivity fully realized.

If you’d like to learn more about innovative ways to analyze usage and understand the impact of discovery on retrieval stats, join the Gale Technical Solutions Team for a roundtable on usage.  You’ll learn how outside systems affect usage and explore the future of usage—both collection and reporting.  It takes place:

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Broward Libraries to Offer Online High School Diplomas

Posted on December 30, 2015; originally posted in the Sun Sentinel on December 29, 2015. 

By Brittany Shammas, Sun Sentinel

Broward County library to offer free, online high school diplomas to adults

Broward County adults who do not have high school diplomas will be able to get them – and some career training – through an online program launching at the public library.

Funded by the state for the first time this year, Career Online High School offers accredited high school degrees and career certificates. Enrolled students take all their courses online with the support of an academic coach.

The Broward County Library system is one of 11 in the state to pilot the program. It will provide full scholarships for 75 county residents to complete their degrees and certificates through the program, which normally would normally cost about $1,300.

“There are a lot of reasons people don’t complete their high school diplomas,” said Vonda Ward Byrant, learning services coordinator for the library system. “We want to give them a second chance.”

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Partnerships are So Essential… They Define Us as a Community

Josephine Community Library Oregon

katebyline

We can all agree that community partnerships strengthen the library’s outreach. Executing this tenet is easier said than done.
Regardless, libraries must take the initiative and collaborate with community stakeholders to fill unmet needs, extend their reach, and create positive outcomes. For Josephine Community Libraries, Inc. (OR), the first step was building a sound infrastructure of support, rather than simply creating another new program.

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Don’t Silence Michigan Librarians

EveryLibrary advocacy for public libraries

Posted on December 22, 2015

via EveryLibrary

The Michigan House and Senate pulled a fast one last week and Governor Snyder needs to do the right thing for libraries, schools, and parks by Vetoing SB 571. If SB 571 becomes law, librarians would be sent to jail for sharing factual information about elections with their communities. Library boards would be fined thousands of dollars of sending out a newsletter if it shares information about what is on your local ballot. We need honest and transparent elections.

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How to Get and Hold Student’s Attention

Posted on December 18, 2015

By Megan McCarthy

We’ve all heard the saying, “information is power.” That being said, sometimes too much information makes you feel powerless. Take for example, my experience making lasagna. I needed a good recipe for lasagna one night. So, I googled “great lasagna recipes.” I got 247 great lasagna recipe posts. Completely overwhelmed by the amount of information, I quickly closed my computer and ordered pizza. The lasagna would have to wait for another night.

The same is true in the classroom. Students and teachers can be completely overwhelmed by the amount of information available today. Finding the right balance for success can be tricky. If teachers overload their students, they are likely to shut down. If they pick the wrong subject matter or use the wrong content, students can lose interest. That’s why CLiC (Classroom in Context) is such a valuable tool in the classroom.

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ECCO the World, and Why…

Published on December 18, 2015

Gale’s Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO) recently celebrated its 14th anniversary on December 4th and it got me to thinking.  Most commonly, the conversations surrounding the 18th century point to the major stories or developments of the American Revolution, French Revolution, and Industrial Revolution. For example, the industrialization of the world and manufacturing of powered, special-purpose machinery, factories, and mass production.  Others might think about the American Revolution’s Boston Tea Party or the Battle of Bunker Hill, for instance.  But what about the moments that lead up to these events?

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If You’ve Got your Health….

Posted on December 17, 2015

Note to librarians:  if you have this title, you may want to share this blog post with your patrons.  (Be sure to link it to your GVRL collection.)  And if you want to learn more about this title, access a free trial today!

Help patrons maintain good health, with essential information about nutrition, exercise, mental health, and even medical insurance.

Live long and prosper: Health information for you
If you’re interested in health information, you’re not alone.  In 2008, health news was the 8th biggest subject in the national news, comprising 3.6% of all coverage, according to the Pew Research Center – more than three times the amount of coverage for education or transportation.  Whether it’s learning more about healthy eating option, good exercise programs, maintaining or pursuing good mental health, and evaluating medical insurance programs – the demand for trustworthy information is great.

Resources for the health conscious or those who strive to be
To support your interest in reliable health information, now the library provides free access to a great resource:  Life & Career Skills: Health & Wellness.

Read moreIf You’ve Got your Health….

Product Updates for Literature Resources

Posted on December 17, 2015

On December 21st, Literature Resources Center, LitFinder, and MLA International Bibliography will fully transition to a mobile-responsive interface, with enhanced features. The outstanding content remains the same, as well as the ways you search. Here are the exciting changes coming to your library:

  • Google Drive Integration: After authentication, users can seamlessly login with their Google Apps for Education account to access tools like Google Drive and Docs Learn more
  • New Look and Feel: Modern design with high-quality and easy-to-use toolset
  • Mobile Responsive Design: Optimized for all screen sizes, regardless of device
  • Improved Navigation: Content featured in prime locations with toolbars and filters on the right
  • Enhanced Accessibility: High-contrast banners and improved tool buttons make web content easier to locate

No Action Required: If your library has yet to upgrade to the new experience, an automatic migration will take place on December 21st. If your library took advantage of an early migration, we hope you are enjoying your new experience!

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New Titles Added to the InfoTrac Collections in November 2015

Posted on December 16, 2015

The titles below have been recently added and can be located in the 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.

Academic OneFile

  • Best Cities for Successful Aging (Milken Institute)
  • 2013 Global Opportunity Index: Attracting Foreign Investment (Milken Institute)
  • Archaeology International (Ubiquity Press Ltd.) 2048-4194 Peer-reviewed
  • Capital Markets in Developing Countries: The State of Play (Milken Institute)
  • Checkup Time: Chronic Disease and Wellness in America (Milken Institute)
  • CNN Wire (Spanish) (CNN Newsource Sales, Inc.)
  • Corrosion Reviews (Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG) 0334-6005 Peer-reviewed

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