A look at a current news item through the lens of different titles available on GVRL.
By Michelle Eickmeyer
If there are two things Americans love, it’s traditions and barbecues. Oh, and days off of work. Ah, Labor Day.
Guest Blog: A school library within a global community
Klaudia Janek, IB Teacher-Librarian, International Academy, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Working in an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, as a school librarian, presents the opportunity to focus on a more global perspective and to have set expectations when it comes to research and information literacy.
Read moreGuest Blog: A school library within a global community
Featured Publisher: ABDO Publishing
An ongoing look at partner publishers available through GVRL
By Geoff Schwartz
ABDO Publishing Company (ABDO) is a leading educational publisher of books and digital resources for today’s libraries and schools. For more than 25 years, ABDO has strived to provide the best in reading and research for children and young adults.
Gale is proud to carry ABDO’s educational nonfiction eBooks for grades 5-12. They contain high-quality text features including a table of contents, a glossary, an index, timelines, maps, diagrams, sidebars, full-color photos and captions, primary source materials, and more. Each book is leveled using grade-appropriate language to promote reading success, and is designed to be visually appealing and interesting to children and young adult readers.
Featured Publisher: ReferencePoint Press
An ongoing look at partner publishers available through GVRL
By Geoff Schwartz
Established in 2006, ReferencePoint Press is an independent educational publishing house focused on high-quality series nonfiction for students and researchers in grades 6-12.
The 19th Century Nitty-Gritty: An Entirely New Blog Series
By Melissa Rayner
Does dealing with modern technology give you a headache? Have you ever felt like maybe you were born in the wrong century? Do you long for the days of Austen, Bronte, and Dickens?
Welcome home.
That’s right! This is the first in an entirely new blog series, a series that celebrates everybody’s–Right? Everybody’s!–favorite century, the 19th. But, alas, there is a catch…
We’ll be using modern technology to facilitate our journey back in time. Worry not, though. That part is easy, thanks to our favorite digital resources, Nineteenth Century Collections Online, Smithsonian Collections Online, and even a few special guest resources you’ll meet later down the road.
What’s more, we’ll do all the heavy lifting for you and deliver our findings in a neat and pretty blog post, along with a fancy list of references in case you’d like to check them out for yourself.
The best news? We’ll be hosting this journey back through time each and every Wednesday, right here on the Gale Blog. So put on your petticoat or hitch up your britches, this incredible time travel opportunity starts right now.
Read moreThe 19th Century Nitty-Gritty: An Entirely New Blog Series
Data-Driven Marketing: Know Your Community
By Gerry Sawchuk
It’s impossible to attend a conference or read a library magazine today without hearing about data-driven decision making, big data, and measuring outcomes. Amidst the increasing “noise” around any trending topic, it can be hard to determine what it means for you and what tools are available to help gather and analyze data—here are some details to help you get started.
Do Analytics Really Matter?
“Big data” and “analytics” are buzzwords for good reason. Businesses in other industries have relied heavily on consumer demographics and data analysis for years. Research shows that businesses that leverage data analytics have stronger financial performance, are able to make better decisions more quickly, and are more likely to execute those decisions as intended.
Why does this matter to you? Libraries are not businesses, right? Many libraries are understandably sensitive to being compared to for-profit businesses. Consider for a moment though, that as a library, your products are the content and services you provide, and that your customers are your patrons. Profit aside, libraries have much to gain by leveraging data to retain and grow customers. Quite simply, there is an opportunity to be better positioned to meet the needs of your patrons.
Product Updates: New In Context content for 09/01/14
Gale is continually updating and adding new content to our In Context products, ensuring that they offer timely, authoritative, useful information. The items below were added or updated during the week of September 1st, 2014.
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Featured Publisher: Mitchell Lane Publishers
An ongoing look at partner publishers available through GVRL
By Geoff Schwartz
Mitchell Lane Publishers, Inc. is owned and operated by former teacher and reading specialist, Barbara Mitchell.
In Other News: the ice bucket challenge
A look at a current news item through the lens of different titles available on GVRL.
By Michelle Eickmeyer
A quick poll of my friends yields the following: zero people thought about ALS during the month of June. Better than 90% of them have laughed at someone they know dousing themselves with cold water.
Partner Interview: Barbara Ferry of the National Geographic Society
What makes working for National Geographic a fulfilling experience and why should you be excited to add National Geographic Virtual Library to your collection? Find out straight from the source. Recently, we had the pleasure of interviewing Barbara Ferry, the Director of the Library & Archives at National Geographic Society. Check out this quick bio to learn more about her professional accomplishments–and, then, it’s on to the interview!
Read morePartner Interview: Barbara Ferry of the National Geographic Society