In Other News: The Congressional Medal of Honor

A look at a current news item through the lens of different titles available on GVRL.

By Michelle Eickmeyer

On June 19, 2013, Corporal William Carpenter became the 15th recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for service in Iraq or Afghanistan.  It is the highest honor the United States government can bestow on a member of the armed forces.

Winston Churchill once said “never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few,” and the Congressional Medal of Honor is just one small, yet significant, way to honor those who have given much.

Read moreIn Other News: The Congressional Medal of Honor

Viva Free Access to Las Vegas Travel Guides

ALA Annual 2014 in Las Vegas

The ALA program (as always) is jam-packed with famous keynote authors and actors, hundreds of sessions addressing all the hot topics facing the library world today, and a hall full of exhibitors who are pulling out all the stops to bring the glitz and glory of Vegas to the tradeshow floor. It’s almost too much excitement for one attendee to bear.

And yet, outside the walls of the Las Vegas Convention Center and various hotel meeting rooms, there is an entire city bustling with activity 24/7. Since you’ll be short on free time (and maybe energy), you’ll want to make sure you’re making the most of every minute.

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Upgraded User-Focused Interface for Literature Criticism Online

Literature Criticism Online library resource

“The interface is as attractive as its capabilities are impressive.” Charleston Advisor

We listened to your students and researchers and have launched a new and updated interface with added functionality for  Literature Criticism Online (LCO).

Since this new interface first launched as an optional upgrade last summer, many libraries have enjoyed the benefits of the new platform. Based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers and users, as of July 7, all libraries who have purchased LCO will be upgraded to the new experience.

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Improved Search Tools and Results for Business Insights

Business Insights Essentials and Global

Gale’s Business Insights: Essentials and Business Insights: Global provide the tools that entrepreneurs and business professionals need to help their businesses adapt and thrive, and that business students need to remain aware of emerging trends. On June 20, these resources become even easier to use with new enhancements:

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Improved Article Recommendation Comes to In Context

IN Context library resource research

The Gale In Context family of online solutions makes information discovery engaging, simple and fun. On July 2, the In Context experience will become even better with a new article recommendation feature, unique to Gale!

When a user is reading a reference article within any of the In Context resources listed below, this new feature highlights terms within the entry, and links those terms to additional relevant reference articles within the resource. Clicking on the link to related articles opens a separate tab or window containing the new content. Typically, related subjects or articles are found in sidebar navigation or require the user to execute separate queries. By embedding these related foundational articles throughout the reading experience, researchers can use this new tool to:

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Mobile-Optimized Access to InfoTrac and PowerSearch Now Available

Academic Onefile Infotrac mobile

Gale is pleased to announce the mobile optimization of all 57 InfoTrac resources, available June 19. The PowerSearch platform has also been optimized and can be used to  deliver an ideal mobile research experience for InfoTrac resources, as well as GVRL eBooks and In Context content.

Mobile optimization minimizes the user’s need to resize, pan or scroll while reading and navigating. Using responsive design technology, Gale’s mobile interface automatically displays when users access any InfoTrac resource from their smartphone, whether they click into these resources directly through a library’s website, or through Gale’s free Access My Library app. No set up is required by libraries to enable this mobile display on smartphones.

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The New GVRL: Online eBook Browsing and More

Gale Virtual Reference Library GVRL

While uptake on eBooks has been phenomenally fast around the world, many users still long to see book content displayed in a traditional book format. Readers like the sense of “place” they experience on the printed page, the comfort of a familiar layout, and the reading breaks afforded by page turns.

The book-like online reading experience is prevalent across popular reading platforms, and user expectations have now translated to research eBooks as well.

Read moreThe New GVRL: Online eBook Browsing and More

How a Librarian’s InfoTrac Search Improved Her Son’s Recovery

Medical Periodicals for libraries

By Dana Guerra

This testimonial was submitted to Gale from an InfoTrac user a few years back. The lives of this researcher and her family were changed forever as a result of having access to periodical content from Gale through her library.

“I want to tell  you “my story” and how much I LOVE InfoTrac! Last May, my 18-year-old son had a motorcycle accident and severely fractured his left clavicle. After two visits to local specialists and surgeons, I was disappointed by their prognosis…one said do nothing even though my son’s bones were bayoneted, almost poking through his skin; and the other said he should have surgery with a hip graft and 5” metal plate with six screws. This would leave a huge scar, his one arm would be shortened and he would most likely have back pain in his forties. …as a medical librarian, I said to myself, “I wonder what InfoTrac could tell me?

Read moreHow a Librarian’s InfoTrac Search Improved Her Son’s Recovery