Before I began this exercise, I knew from my dabbling that MARVEL was an important resource that I should know more about. What most surprised me was the breadth and depth of MARVEL. Perhaps it is these very qualities which make it so unknown and under-appreciated. To be honest, even after going through the tutorials and the discovery exercises, I am still intimidated by MARVEL.
Telling someone to "log on to MARVEL" is not a very helpful suggestion. Guidance and teaching are essential if a patron is to become a MARVEL maven.With that in mind, I have three MARVEL goals for 2013.
1. Other than putting more shortcuts on the PA computers (to the Britannica, etc.), I will hold a "discovery" session for my board members. They are my best community ambassadors and can spread the word about this wonderful resource that is there for the taking for all Maine residents. Ultimately, I would like to entice one or two of them to teach small groups of our patrons about MARVEL.
2. One of my monthly newspaper articles will highlight MARVEL.
3. Rather than "googling" a question, I will use MARVEL to look for at least one answer each week. This will force me to use what I have learned and, I hope, make me more proficient with MARVEL. If I am more comfortable and adept with the databases and searches, I should be better equipped to teach my patrons about MARVEL and the world of information that lies at all our fingertips.
I began this process because I thought I "should." As the weeks went by I found myself really enjoying the exercises and the actual learning process. I believe this is an incredibly powerful, efficient way for all of us to improve our "professionalism." I feel that those of us who don't have degrees in library science have been given a wonderful opportunity to "up our game" and help our patrons in this fast-changing world of information and digital literacy. Thank you to all who worked so hard to make this continuing education opportunity possible.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
EbscoHOST and eBooks
EbscoHOST
I am going to be doing a talk for a community weight-loss program and need to research the latest information on portion control and how it relates to obesity. I choose HealthSource—Consumer Edition for my search. When browsing the publications that are in this database, I am overwhelmed—there is everything from WHO reports to Prevention Magazine to scholarly journals. I do a basic search and come up with a wealth of articles. The one that is most promising is: “Keeping Portions in Proportion” in the following journal:
Harvard Women's Health Watch; Nov2007, Vol. 15 Issue 3, p1-3, 3p, 1 Black and White Photograph, 1 Chart
While not as current as I would like, it is a high-quality, full text article. On my next search I will put in date parameters to find more current information.
I looked at several other blogs. I learned a few tips about searching in Academic Search Complete. I am now paying more attention to all the items on the search page. Careful reading is essential and it will be important to tell patrons that slow, careful consideration is needed when setting up a search.
eBooks
I decide to search for information about Uruguay
When I search for “constitution day” I get the “Historical Dictionary of Taiwan.” Clearly, I need to refine the search. When I add “U.S.
Representing Popular Sovereignty : The Constitution in American Political CultureFull Text Available By: Levin, Daniel Lessard. In: SUNY Series, American Constitutionalism. State University of New York
Constitution in Congress : The Federalist Period 1789-1801Full Text Available By: Currie, David P. Edition: [Pbk. ed., 1999]. University of Chicago
When I search for “western history” and Nebraska Nebraska
Mountains We Have Crossed : Diaries and Letters of the Oregon Mission, 1838Full Text Available By: Smith, Sarah Gilbert White; Smith, Asa Bowen; Drury, Clifford Merrill; Lewis, Bonnie Sue. University of Nebraska
Overland Journey from New York to San Francisco in the Summer of 1859Full Text Available By: Greeley, Horace. University of Nebraska
One of the books is a biography of Abraham Lincoln; a more obscure title is “Grand Illusion: The Prussianization of the Chilean Army.” Who knew?
Overall, I am not overly impressed with the sources available in the eBooks. However, without further investigation and exploration it is really too soon to dismiss this resource. And, without saying, the quality (or lack therof) of my searches may well have a lot to do with the somewhat comical search results.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Learning Express
While I think the tutorial on the MSL site is very good, I did glaze over a bit when listening to the differences between setting up an account from home or in a library. That being said,the actual setting up of an account is easy and should be for most people.
I decided to try the GRE math exam. I thought it was all very straight-forward. I liked being able to monitor my use of time by looking at the countdown "clock" on the upper right side of the page. The screens are clean and easy to read. Being able to test myself at my desk, in my own home, was pleasant. The diagnostics and summary of the test results are very good. Being able to look at the answers and explanations is helpful and compliments the learning that is supposed to be taking place. (I'm not sure how much I want to brush up on my geometry at this point.)
In the "Job Search and Workplace Skills" center, I added the Business Writing I course. The course is very basic and chops the writing process into its elemental steps. For anyone who has never been exposed to the writing process, this would be a helpful course. Being able to go at one's own pace is a definite plus for this program. I also like how each exercise is saved and a final "product" is created from the completion of each step. I found this reinforced my desire to continue. My reservation about this course is the level of reading required. The program assumes a very high reading ability. Based on my observations, I think this could be a problem for some.
I selected an eBook for vocabulary improvement. I was disappointed. It is merely a collection of 501 multiple choice sentences, looking for the best word to complete the sentence. The answers are provided with a definition for the correct answer. I think this is a test not an eBook. I expected more reading about how to improve one's vocabulary, an explanation of word roots, etc. I also find scrolling down pages an unenjoyable way to "read." But then, I am one of the dinosaurs yet to succumb to an eReader.
I decided to try the GRE math exam. I thought it was all very straight-forward. I liked being able to monitor my use of time by looking at the countdown "clock" on the upper right side of the page. The screens are clean and easy to read. Being able to test myself at my desk, in my own home, was pleasant. The diagnostics and summary of the test results are very good. Being able to look at the answers and explanations is helpful and compliments the learning that is supposed to be taking place. (I'm not sure how much I want to brush up on my geometry at this point.)
In the "Job Search and Workplace Skills" center, I added the Business Writing I course. The course is very basic and chops the writing process into its elemental steps. For anyone who has never been exposed to the writing process, this would be a helpful course. Being able to go at one's own pace is a definite plus for this program. I also like how each exercise is saved and a final "product" is created from the completion of each step. I found this reinforced my desire to continue. My reservation about this course is the level of reading required. The program assumes a very high reading ability. Based on my observations, I think this could be a problem for some.
I selected an eBook for vocabulary improvement. I was disappointed. It is merely a collection of 501 multiple choice sentences, looking for the best word to complete the sentence. The answers are provided with a definition for the correct answer. I think this is a test not an eBook. I expected more reading about how to improve one's vocabulary, an explanation of word roots, etc. I also find scrolling down pages an unenjoyable way to "read." But then, I am one of the dinosaurs yet to succumb to an eReader.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Ancestry
I thought it would be easy to find evidence of my marriage
in Maine. I was mistaken. I wasn’t surprised, assuming that a small town in
Maine may not have reported the marriage of an out-of-stater. I decided to
change the details of my search, using my birthday and place of birth. Again,
there is no evidence of my birth. I tried searching using my parents’ names and
still found nothing. Perhaps being born in a territory rather than a state
makes a difference. I changed that—still no hit. Frustrated, I give up.
Finding my grandfather in the 1900 census is much easier
even though I have much less information. I only enter his name and place of
birth (I remember the town incorrectly but the state is correct). I am given
several “relevant” choices but I
remember my great-grandmother’s first name so know which record to go to. The handwritten
census report is difficult to read—but I find my grandfather (1 year old in
1900) and his siblings and parents in the census ledger. The manner in which
the original record is displayed—right in the middle of the page—simplifies the
search.
Going to Photos and Maps and looking at Maine, I discovered
that there are few maps for the years I select. In fact, there is one image for
each of the years I select from the list. One is of the Eagle Lake area, the
other is a state map of Maine. When I go to the photos, I decide to look at
Civil War images. There are in fact many photos of soldiers from Maine. I don’t
know if any of my Maine ancestors fought in the Civil War but decide to search
for information. I don’t find any matches. The photos are compelling. I wish I
had more time to look at more of them.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Consumer Health Resources
Week 7
Health Source--Consumer Edition
In looking at the publications in this database, I noticed that many of them are not peer-reviewed. Many are magazines that one would find at the check-out in the grocery store. Immediately I question the scientific integrity of these sources. That being said, I searched for "diabetes" and went to an article in "Diabetes (0-929661-16-8)", a publication of Medletter Associates with some kind of link to Johns Hopkins medicine.
I read "What is Diabetes," dated January 2011, one of the more recent articles based on the sort by "descending date. I read the article and concluded that it is written at much to high a lexile level for most people. In addition, the language was dense and there were no graphics to help explain the information. The one illustration showed the location of the pancreas in the body but did little to illuminate the relationship between insulin and glucose in the blood stream and cells. I have a pretty decent medical vocabulary, so I didn't need to consult a medical dictionary but I think many would. However, I doubt few would make use of the medical dictionary because another window has to be opened to get to it. With my internet connection it was so slow that I gave up.
Medline Plus
This is a very user-friendly site. The most commonly searched topics are asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and vitamin D. (I figure there are lots of people wondering if they need vitamin D supplements now that the hours of sun light are diminishing.) The information for drugs and supplements is basically what is in the product inserts. However, I do think that the language has been simplified and the organization is such, that FAQ's can be answered by clicking on the hyperlinks at the top of the page.
The information on diabetes is much more accessible. It is clearly written and displayed. It is organized in a logical manner. I clicked on one of the diabetes videos and it was excellent, with colorful graphics that enhanced understanding. Without a doubt, a patron would feel as if his concerns/questions has been answered. If not, he could always rewatch the video or watch a different one.
Finally, I know that the sources of information referenced on Medline Plus are the most reliable in the US., i.e. NIH, Mayo Clinic, National Library of Medicine, etc. I currently have a poster on display with the health books which directs patrons to Medline Plus for current, reliable health information. Even small, "poor" libraries can get patrons quality health information with Medline Plus. A link to Medline Plus on our public access computers should be an easy convenience for us to add for our patrons.
Health Source--Consumer Edition
In looking at the publications in this database, I noticed that many of them are not peer-reviewed. Many are magazines that one would find at the check-out in the grocery store. Immediately I question the scientific integrity of these sources. That being said, I searched for "diabetes" and went to an article in "Diabetes (0-929661-16-8)", a publication of Medletter Associates with some kind of link to Johns Hopkins medicine.
I read "What is Diabetes," dated January 2011, one of the more recent articles based on the sort by "descending date. I read the article and concluded that it is written at much to high a lexile level for most people. In addition, the language was dense and there were no graphics to help explain the information. The one illustration showed the location of the pancreas in the body but did little to illuminate the relationship between insulin and glucose in the blood stream and cells. I have a pretty decent medical vocabulary, so I didn't need to consult a medical dictionary but I think many would. However, I doubt few would make use of the medical dictionary because another window has to be opened to get to it. With my internet connection it was so slow that I gave up.
Medline Plus
This is a very user-friendly site. The most commonly searched topics are asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and vitamin D. (I figure there are lots of people wondering if they need vitamin D supplements now that the hours of sun light are diminishing.) The information for drugs and supplements is basically what is in the product inserts. However, I do think that the language has been simplified and the organization is such, that FAQ's can be answered by clicking on the hyperlinks at the top of the page.
The information on diabetes is much more accessible. It is clearly written and displayed. It is organized in a logical manner. I clicked on one of the diabetes videos and it was excellent, with colorful graphics that enhanced understanding. Without a doubt, a patron would feel as if his concerns/questions has been answered. If not, he could always rewatch the video or watch a different one.
Finally, I know that the sources of information referenced on Medline Plus are the most reliable in the US., i.e. NIH, Mayo Clinic, National Library of Medicine, etc. I currently have a poster on display with the health books which directs patrons to Medline Plus for current, reliable health information. Even small, "poor" libraries can get patrons quality health information with Medline Plus. A link to Medline Plus on our public access computers should be an easy convenience for us to add for our patrons.
Business Resources
Week VI
Business Source Complete
In my search for "FM Radio," I noticed the following:
The types of sources include trade and academic journals, newspapers, magazines, and product reviews. I clicked on the "Company Information" on the right of the screen and found this fascinating. A list of FM stations and companies appeared, with basic information as to location and annual revenues. I clicked on News Corps.because its revenues ($33Billion) were the most eye-popping. Drilling down, I could look at basic financials, products, whether it is a publicly traded company, ownership and management, etc. This was quick and informative and were I in the market for a partner, job, stock, etc. it would be a good place to start.
In using the visual search option, I found the "graphic" component very interesting. However, I concluded that the search terms used would have to be very specific to find the desired information. "FM Radio" was too broad a topic. When I narrowed it by "Public" FM Radio I got more of what I was looking for without having to guess which "box" to select.
EconLit
In doing my search for resources for small businesses, I noted that most of the articles are from academic journals or government reports. I decided to do a search that added the term "fisheries" to see what kind of information I might find for a young lobsterman. To be honest, I didn't find anything that would be remotely pertinent, useful, or at a reading level that would be engaging. I tried advanced search, as well as changing from Boolean to the other choices and the results became more and more bizarre. When I got a hit from a Croatian journal, I gave up and moved on to look for information about the EPA and small business. Again, I didn't find much that would be germaine to someone wanting to avoid EPA entanglements or trying to understand their regulations.
When searching for items pertaining to tax policy and small business, I got 21 hits. The first article was in the journal "Small Business Economics" and explores "Can State Tax Policies Be Used to Promote Entrepreneurial Activity?" This article would certainly be of interest to a policy wonk, but for the small business trying to figure out whether or not to locate in Hancock County, Maine it might be of little value.
I admit that my inability to find the kinds of articles I was looking for may be due to my poor search skills, but I think that mine are probably better than the average person's. I've concluded that this database might be more geared towards the academic than the practical, particularly since most of the articles I found were from academic journals.
Regional Business News
I selected Bain Capital as my nationally known company. With 1,942 results, I scrolled down until I found an article about a northeastern US company. I clicked on an article about a Pennsylvania concern, 4Moms. The article outlined why Bain had just given it an infusion of $20M. I learned that to make the most of this tool, it is important to click on the "full text" box. What I particularly like about this database is the option of having the article read aloud! Having a choice of 3 accents for the reader makes it entertaining. I recommend the Australian accent for anyone having a dull day.
For my Maine company, I selected Hannaford Bros. I read a full-text article about the LEED certification of the Augusta store. I had a harder time finding regional information about the industry, in general. I was successful in locating articles about Hannaford in the various regions of the country where it has stores. It was only through doing this search that I discovered that Hannaford has closed stores in North Carolina and wants to sell the remaining properties.
Value Line
Of interest to me was that I couldn't get to Value Line from the EBSCO Host site. I had to go back into MARVEL and get to Value Line from the alphabetic listing. When we lived in Iowa, I was one of those people who went to the library and stood in line to use one of 2 Value Line books. I would make sure I had all my questions written out so that I could search as quickly as possible in my allotted 20 minutes.
Reading the discovery exercise questions, I expected to find much of the information I would normally look for to be locked or abbreviated. However, I didn't find this to be the case. Once I familiarized myself with how to search for information on particular stocks, I found everything I could possibly need to evaluate individual stock performance, as well as industry-specific information. Even though I have a very poor internet connection at home, I didn't encounter any problems with Value Line. Not many people must know about this resource, as I didn't have any delays in using it. In fact, it was as speedy as anything today. I smiled when reading the Value Line pages...the online version is as blurry and the type is as small as it is in paper. The good part is that the "pages" don't smell musty.
Wall Street Journal
Business Source Complete
In my search for "FM Radio," I noticed the following:
The types of sources include trade and academic journals, newspapers, magazines, and product reviews. I clicked on the "Company Information" on the right of the screen and found this fascinating. A list of FM stations and companies appeared, with basic information as to location and annual revenues. I clicked on News Corps.because its revenues ($33Billion) were the most eye-popping. Drilling down, I could look at basic financials, products, whether it is a publicly traded company, ownership and management, etc. This was quick and informative and were I in the market for a partner, job, stock, etc. it would be a good place to start.
In using the visual search option, I found the "graphic" component very interesting. However, I concluded that the search terms used would have to be very specific to find the desired information. "FM Radio" was too broad a topic. When I narrowed it by "Public" FM Radio I got more of what I was looking for without having to guess which "box" to select.
EconLit
In doing my search for resources for small businesses, I noted that most of the articles are from academic journals or government reports. I decided to do a search that added the term "fisheries" to see what kind of information I might find for a young lobsterman. To be honest, I didn't find anything that would be remotely pertinent, useful, or at a reading level that would be engaging. I tried advanced search, as well as changing from Boolean to the other choices and the results became more and more bizarre. When I got a hit from a Croatian journal, I gave up and moved on to look for information about the EPA and small business. Again, I didn't find much that would be germaine to someone wanting to avoid EPA entanglements or trying to understand their regulations.
When searching for items pertaining to tax policy and small business, I got 21 hits. The first article was in the journal "Small Business Economics" and explores "Can State Tax Policies Be Used to Promote Entrepreneurial Activity?" This article would certainly be of interest to a policy wonk, but for the small business trying to figure out whether or not to locate in Hancock County, Maine it might be of little value.
I admit that my inability to find the kinds of articles I was looking for may be due to my poor search skills, but I think that mine are probably better than the average person's. I've concluded that this database might be more geared towards the academic than the practical, particularly since most of the articles I found were from academic journals.
Regional Business News
I selected Bain Capital as my nationally known company. With 1,942 results, I scrolled down until I found an article about a northeastern US company. I clicked on an article about a Pennsylvania concern, 4Moms. The article outlined why Bain had just given it an infusion of $20M. I learned that to make the most of this tool, it is important to click on the "full text" box. What I particularly like about this database is the option of having the article read aloud! Having a choice of 3 accents for the reader makes it entertaining. I recommend the Australian accent for anyone having a dull day.
For my Maine company, I selected Hannaford Bros. I read a full-text article about the LEED certification of the Augusta store. I had a harder time finding regional information about the industry, in general. I was successful in locating articles about Hannaford in the various regions of the country where it has stores. It was only through doing this search that I discovered that Hannaford has closed stores in North Carolina and wants to sell the remaining properties.
Value Line
Of interest to me was that I couldn't get to Value Line from the EBSCO Host site. I had to go back into MARVEL and get to Value Line from the alphabetic listing. When we lived in Iowa, I was one of those people who went to the library and stood in line to use one of 2 Value Line books. I would make sure I had all my questions written out so that I could search as quickly as possible in my allotted 20 minutes.
Reading the discovery exercise questions, I expected to find much of the information I would normally look for to be locked or abbreviated. However, I didn't find this to be the case. Once I familiarized myself with how to search for information on particular stocks, I found everything I could possibly need to evaluate individual stock performance, as well as industry-specific information. Even though I have a very poor internet connection at home, I didn't encounter any problems with Value Line. Not many people must know about this resource, as I didn't have any delays in using it. In fact, it was as speedy as anything today. I smiled when reading the Value Line pages...the online version is as blurry and the type is as small as it is in paper. The good part is that the "pages" don't smell musty.
Wall Street Journal
I found this to be the easiest resource studied this week. I used the terms “small business” and “health care” and got 120 articles.
The suggested limiters are very helpful, including: health insurance, fines and
penalties, employees, etc. I created an alert for “health insurance: and “penalties.”
Having already looked at the Proquest site and other newspapers, I found using
the Wall Street Journal site very similar. This is a great resource for those
who want a decidedly conservative view of business challenges and concerns
today.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
NoveList
Week V
I used the search term "Maisie Dobbs" to look for my series. Up popped the list of novels by Jacqueline Winspear, in order from first to last written, having been sorted by "volume." Of course, sorting by "date ascending" gives the same result for this series.
Having looked at all the views, I think the "grid" view is best for showing readers the results on a computer. The book covers are very enticing. I also think I might use this view to help me when I'm trying to come up with an idea for a book display. Looking at Maisie in grid form makes me think I could put together a table of books with women in cool hats. Now all I need is a clever title for the display.
But, I digress...the other views will be handy for printing out lists for a reader who doesn't feel comfortable using a computer. I particularly like the "detailed" view as it answers the common question, "What is this series about?" If, after reading these descriptions, the reader doesn't think the series is quite what she had in mind, then she can explore the read-alikes to the right of the screen. The "title" view will be good for the patron who has been reading the series in no particular order and who wants to see what she has yet to read. If/when patrons have learned how to use Novelist from home, they can easily create their own lists and bring these with them to assist their browsing at the library.
The steps outlined in question 2 are very familiar to me as I do this frequently for patrons who are looking for "something good to read" or "I liked this, what else have you got like it." After I do the search described, patron and I then look at the results and check the shelves for books. I also keep a file, alphabetized by our more popular authors, with printed read alikes. I find this very helpful when my patron and I are discussing what he/she would like to read next, as it gives the patron many more options than I could possibly remember.
I have also found it effective to post read alikes for wildly popular authors--think Stieg Larsson or Kathryn Stockett. In a small library such as ours, where we only purchase one copy of a title, patrons sometimes can't take home the book for which they came. Using the read alikes has helped me achieve my personal goal of never letting a patron leave without a book--whether the one originally desired or something new. Patrons have been very appreciative of these lists. In fact, my summer patrons have commented that they like this "personal" service they get at our library. I believe it is this level of service (it couldn't be our library's gobsmacking view) that keeps them coming back in spite of the fact that many have e-readers and don't "need" the library.
Over the past couple of years I have used NoveList (Plus) quite extensively. Every time I log in I find another nifty tool. I regularly refer to its book reviews; I search the awards lists and the book group lists. I use these to guide readers to books in our collection. If I had more time, I would use it even more to design displays, etc. I would love to hold small group sessions to teach my patrons about this powerful, fun tool they have at their fingertips, for free, at home.
Succinctly, I think NoveList is the bomb, a highly addictive one at that!
I used the search term "Maisie Dobbs" to look for my series. Up popped the list of novels by Jacqueline Winspear, in order from first to last written, having been sorted by "volume." Of course, sorting by "date ascending" gives the same result for this series.
Having looked at all the views, I think the "grid" view is best for showing readers the results on a computer. The book covers are very enticing. I also think I might use this view to help me when I'm trying to come up with an idea for a book display. Looking at Maisie in grid form makes me think I could put together a table of books with women in cool hats. Now all I need is a clever title for the display.
But, I digress...the other views will be handy for printing out lists for a reader who doesn't feel comfortable using a computer. I particularly like the "detailed" view as it answers the common question, "What is this series about?" If, after reading these descriptions, the reader doesn't think the series is quite what she had in mind, then she can explore the read-alikes to the right of the screen. The "title" view will be good for the patron who has been reading the series in no particular order and who wants to see what she has yet to read. If/when patrons have learned how to use Novelist from home, they can easily create their own lists and bring these with them to assist their browsing at the library.
The steps outlined in question 2 are very familiar to me as I do this frequently for patrons who are looking for "something good to read" or "I liked this, what else have you got like it." After I do the search described, patron and I then look at the results and check the shelves for books. I also keep a file, alphabetized by our more popular authors, with printed read alikes. I find this very helpful when my patron and I are discussing what he/she would like to read next, as it gives the patron many more options than I could possibly remember.
I have also found it effective to post read alikes for wildly popular authors--think Stieg Larsson or Kathryn Stockett. In a small library such as ours, where we only purchase one copy of a title, patrons sometimes can't take home the book for which they came. Using the read alikes has helped me achieve my personal goal of never letting a patron leave without a book--whether the one originally desired or something new. Patrons have been very appreciative of these lists. In fact, my summer patrons have commented that they like this "personal" service they get at our library. I believe it is this level of service (it couldn't be our library's gobsmacking view) that keeps them coming back in spite of the fact that many have e-readers and don't "need" the library.
Over the past couple of years I have used NoveList (Plus) quite extensively. Every time I log in I find another nifty tool. I regularly refer to its book reviews; I search the awards lists and the book group lists. I use these to guide readers to books in our collection. If I had more time, I would use it even more to design displays, etc. I would love to hold small group sessions to teach my patrons about this powerful, fun tool they have at their fingertips, for free, at home.
Succinctly, I think NoveList is the bomb, a highly addictive one at that!
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