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NOVEL Databases Your Name Your School Date A workshop for elementary school teachers and administrators This product was supported by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES School Library System. Welcome Please introduce yourself and share one goal you have for this workshop. You will learn… To successfully access NOVEL databases To choose specific databases for your information need To use special features to narrow and refine their searches The benefits of accessing online databases The differences between the Internet/Google and NOVEL databases Workshop Agenda Part One (30 minutes) Welcome and Introductions The NOVEL Databases What do they contain? Differences between online databases and Google/ Internet What are these databases? Types of Resources and Information Who are we and what do we want to learn? Why isn’t Google good for all my information needs? Part Two (60 minutes) Hands-on Exploration Investigation of Searching Features How do I find what I looking for? What’s special about these databases? Wrap-Up How can NOVEL resources support my teaching and learning? Have you ever wondered? How can I find reliable health information? Where can my students find information on why volcanoes erupt or what a tsunami is? Where can I find good primary sources for my unit on the Civil War? NOVEL The New York State Online Virtual Electronic Library NOVEL Databases An electronic collection of books, e-journals, full-text magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias, and other databases licensed on a statewide basis for free public access through local libraries and remote locations such as home, school, and office A source of high-quality, reliable, up-to-date information available only through licensing/subscription (not available free on the Internet). Levels the playing field for all New Yorkers by permitting individuals to share access to the same resources regardless of economic, geographic, or physical circumstances. NOVEL Databases Business & Company Resources Center — global business information including over 300,000 company profiles, Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) — contains full-text entries found in nine searchable online reference titles focusing on health and history. These reference titles include Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer, Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders, Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health, American Revolution Reference Library, American Civil War Reference Library, Major Acts of Congress, and History Behind the Headlines. General Science Collection — provides information on all aspects of the scientific world and offers full-text coverage for more than 60 of the most popular science publications. Health and Wellness Resource Center — a source for both medical care professionals and consumers concerning important current health information. full text of over 650 journals and many reference services Informé Revistas en Español — specifically designed to meet the research needs of Spanish speaking Users; 40 full text Spanish language and bilingual magazine journals, reports and maps; a total of over 75,000 articles are updated daily. InfoTrac Custom Newspapers — offers over 150 full text newspapers including New York State newspapers and the New York Times full text for the current year. InfoTrac Junior — especially designed for junior high and middle schools. It features hundreds of titles most critical to school libraries and the curriculum. This database includes hundreds of full text newspaper articles from the Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service and more than 300 full color Rand McNally maps. . National Newspaper Index — provides indexing (1977—present) of America’s top five newspapers; the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post. Primary Search via Searchasaurus—designed specifically for the young researcher, it contains full text for more than 60 popular, elementary school magazines. All full text articles are assigned a reading level. It also features 30 full text student reference books, including Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia and the American Heritage Dictionary. An image collection contains over 100,000 photos, maps and flags in addition to full text access to the Encyclopedia of Animals. Topic Search — This current events database allows researchers to explore social, political and economic issues, scientific discoveries and other topics. There is full text for over 64,000 articles and more than 3,000 diverse sources, including international and regional newspapers. Twayne’s Author Series — features the content of over 600 books that comprise three print series— United States Authors, English Authors and World Authors. This series is devoted to literary critical interpretation and discussion for readers ranging from high school students through college and above. MasterFILE Select — contains full text for nearly 750 periodicals covering general reference, business, health, education, general science, multicultural issues and much more. This resource also includes full text for more than 1,200 pamphlets, 40 reference books, 6,900 Magill Book Reviews and includes Essential Documents in American History—U.S. Constitution, Speeches and more. Your students are researching penguins. They have thought about what they want to know and have developed questions to research. Let’s start with Primary Search… Primary Search via Searchasaurus Designed specifically for the young researcher, it contains full text for more than 60 popular, elementary school magazines. All full text articles are assigned a reading level. It features 30 full text student reference books, including Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia and the American Heritage Dictionary. An image collection contains over 100,000 photos, maps and flags in addition to full text access to the Encyclopedia of Animals. Let’s look at another database InfoTrac Junior — especially designed for junior high and middle schools. It features hundreds of titles most critical to school libraries and the curriculum. This database includes hundreds of full text newspaper articles from the Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service and more than 300 full color Rand McNally maps Choose which type of information you want How to Access NOVEL Databases IMPORTANT: Type in the local information on how to access NOVEL databases via public and/or school libraries including the URL, IDs and Passwords Reminder: The access information is on the NOVEL brochure you received as a handout Part 2: Hands-on First, let’s do a search together in Primary Search via Searchasaurus. We are 4th graders researching the planet Jupiter and we want to know how it compares to the other planets as to size, composition, surface temperature, unique features, distance from the earth, etc. We have lots of questions so we need some good articles that we can understand. Log onto NOVEL home page with school password, and click on EBSCOhost. Click on “Primary Search via Searchasaurus.” Click on the “Primary Search” island Type “planets and Jupiter” into the dialogue box Limit the Lexile Reading Level (below) Select 620-910 for the average fourth grade reader Click on the box beside “Please only find full text articles” Click the red “Search” icon Now it’s your turn to search… Before you start searching first take a minute to think about… What are my questions on this topic? What are my keywords? Which database will most likely have the information I need? What special features does this database have? Final questions to ask… What have I learned in searching this database? How can I use these resources with students? Be prepared to share your search experience Compare to a Google search Go to Google http://www.google.com Type in your search terms Compare the “hits” in Google to what your found in the NOVEL databases Is the information authoritative? Can you identify the author? Is it age appropriate for your students? Be ready to share your findings What’s the difference between Google and the NOVEL databases? Internet Anyone can publish – no evaluation Is free to everyone Is targeted to adults Uses key words Cannot limit by reading level NOVEL Databases Contains up-to-date, reliable information -- magazines, newspapers, and encyclopedia articles…– authoritative sources Is free to NYS citizens Has specially designed searching screens and databases for children and young adults Uses key words and controlled vocabulary (subject headings) to help uses find what they want Some databases can be limited by reading level Wrap-Up What curriculum units are best to integrate NOVEL Databases? What challenges exist? What are the next steps? What you have learned To successfully access NOVEL databases To choose specific databases for your information need To use special features to narrow and refine their searches The benefits of accessing online databases The differences between the Internet/Google and NOVEL databases Thank-You! Email me with your questions (add your email address here)