acs publications

Today I looked at ACS Publications. Acs Publications is a database full of peer-reviewed journals in the chemical and related science fields. The site itself is layed out very nicely and is very user frienldy. Users can right away view an alphabetical Journal list that list all journals included in the database. There is also a book section that users must subscribe to. Once the users finds a journal enrty they are interested in, they can click the full view button and view the entire article very easily. There is also a folder system, a download citation option and even a order reprints button. Once you are on a specific journals main page you have many options of different ways to view the journal. Users can view past entries as well as current issues. There is also a multimedia option where patrons can view any multi-media put out by the journal...like podcasts and image galleries. Users can also browse through the journal. Most viewed issues, Author index, current issues, and cover art galleries are a few options users can browse through. I have no background in science or chemistry so this site was a little over my head as far as the reading goes but actaully navigating the site was no problem. I think it is user friendly and could be very useful for people interested in that kind of thing...not me :)

LION

Today I looked at Literature Online. For some reason I am having to write this blog completely over because the Blogger Site had an Error. fuuuunnn.....anyway This database is a huge collection of Literary works including drama, prose, and poetry. I think the easiest way to get started on LION is to go to the site map. This page shows users their many search options. It is a great jumping off point. Users can search authors, texts, and reference and criticism just to name a few. Once a user decides what they want to search they can click one of the options and the site takes them to a search bar page. I personally think the search process in the database is a little overwhelming. There are so many search bars and options to narrow or broaden your search. Users can choose author nationality, genre, Literary movement and much more. There also is a bowse option where users can view a list of authors or topics. this may be a little easier to navigate. Once users find something they are interested in the resource is pulled up on the first page. I thought this was really nice. There is no need for extra clicking or waiting for a document to open in another window, it is imediately available. There is a marked list option. it works a lot like a folder system other than there is no need to log in to use it. It just saves all your marked works in a list for future viewing. The only real draw back I saw about this site was just how much information is returned at each search. It can be a little tough to navigate. Other than that i think it is a pretty good database.

Biography Reference Center

Today I looked at the Biography Reference Center Database. The database is exactly what the title suggests. Its a huge collection of biographies on anyone important from Amelia Earhart to Peyton Manning. This databse works by users typing in a specific persons name and then the database brings up biographies on that person for the user to look at. One thing I thought was nice about this database is while some people only have one biography for users to read most have more than one by different authors. This gives the user more than one source and possibly more information if one author left out something that another may have included. The site offers links to the biographies as well as citations that are already done for the user. Like many other databases Biography Reference Center offers a folder system. There is also a direct link to a "search other database collections" link. This link takes you to a site that offers other databases patrons may be interested in cross referencing. Off to the side of every biography the sub-sections of the written work are broken down. That way if a patron is wating to learn more about stephenie meyer concerning The Twilight Saga, the user can look through the subsection listing and click the one that intrests them. That way they dont have to read the entire biography just to find specific information. Many Biographies offer links to the persons personal website which may be handy for some users. There is a hint section offered that allows patrons to select different languages, view as pdf, and also read tutorials teaching them how to broaden or narrow their search. I think this database is easy to use and could be very helpful to patrons.

Teacher Tube

Today I am blogging about Teacher Tube. I think this website is really neat. This site is a compilation of educational videos for teachers, videos helping to teach teachers how to use certian equipment or programs as well as videos that teachers can show their classes...like a video on Julius Ceasar for Comp II classes. There is also a document section. I thought this section was really helpful because teachers can downlaod worksheet, powerpoints and information sheets to use in their classrooms. I found a complete slide show on the human reproductive system. There is also a resourse section where teachers can chose grade or subject and get tons of printable material for their students. I found some second grade material like printable worksheets and halloween color/craft projects. They offer lesson plans and vocabulary lessons. I can see how this site could be useful to students having to create lesson plans for their education classes. One down side to this site is that it seems like anyone can downlaod things to the database. So users may come across songs, like "Rollin' On Swangaz" in the audio section...i am not really sure what "Swangaz" are but it doesn't sound very educational to me. Also in the photo section there were quite a few personal photos that users had downloaded. Nothing inappropriate but nothing that pertained to education. All in all though I think this is a useful database and something that could really be benefitial to education students.

Points Of View Reference Center

Today I looked at Points of View Reference Center. So far this is my favorite database. I remember having to write a point of view essay for comp II, this database would have really come in handy then. The database is exactly what the title suggests it is. Users can find a large selection of differing view points on many hot topic issues as well as other issues that they may be interesting in. Right now bullying in shools is a huge issue. I looked up articles on the issue and found great sources on the subject. One article's point of view is that admin should focus on the bully. The next article talked about how administration should focus on teaching victims how to deal with bullies. I also looked up somethings that were interesting to me. Like epidurals...I found out a lot of helpful information and the pros and cons of the procedure. I think this database could be really helpful not only to patrons writing papers but to anyone needing information to make a decision, like whether or not to get an epidural. The site offers citations as well as getting started guides like essay outline how to's. You can also pick the type of resourse you are shown. You can choose articles, newspapers, periodicals, and even radio and television transcripts. Like many other databases this one also offers a folder system and and export option. The site is very easy to use and also VERY helpful!

Lynda.com

Today I researched Lynda.com. It took me a few minutes and reading the "about us" section to figure out what the database was about but alas! i figured it out! :) Lynda.com is a database that provides online tutorial videos that teach users how to use different technology relatated things. Tutorial subjects range from how to use facebook to adobe and everything in between. Most of the subject I didn't even know what they were (why I should spend more time on Lynda) but the few that I did recongnize were very informative and could be extremely halpful for someone who just switched from a pc to mac for instance. Some of the videos i could not access because i am not subscribed to the database. Thats the only downer about this database. the more in depth videos require that you be subscribed. If you have no plans of subscribing this database is great for learning what a program is, maybe not all the ins and outs of the program but Lynda.com without subscription will definately get you started. I think this database could be extremely helpful, and watching a video beats reading a how to manual any day!!!

Encyclopedia Britannica

Today I researched Encyclopedia Britannica. I think this database is the best one i have looked at so far! In some of my Gen Ed. classes i remember having to find an article to write about. The writing part was easy for me but actually finding an article that was worth writing about was a complete different story. This database is great for just that. Its a collection of articles or blogs rather that are intellectual and chosen individually for this database. The database is really manageable meaning any student could easily access it and find just what they are looking for, and if they aren't sure what they are looking for it would also be great for getting some inspiration. It covers topics from Fashion week to Emotional Robots to Declining Great American Cities. It has a search option and it also has a great homepage that offers links to Top catagories and top authors. It includes videos in some of its articles which i thought was pretty neat. You can share posts that you are interested in on social networks like facebook and stumbleupon. I think it is a pretty interesting database and it seems to have something for everyone.

Annual Review

tonight i looked at the Annual Review Database under the pharmacy link. When I read about it, I thought it sounded like a pretty cool database. Its basically a collection of scientific, critical reviews for 40 different scientific dicsiplines, like biomedicine, economics and physical sciences. The reviews are written by leading scientists in each field. When i searched i entered mental health into the search bar. The site brought up many results. There are ways to narrow your search by adding key words or excluding other words. you can pull up a pdf of the review or there is a full view option but you have to subscribe to it or pay a $20 fee to view the article. I am not sure if this is suppose to be the way it works or if maybe our subscription has run out.!?! The link does give you article information and the author. I suppose it could get a patron started in the right direction or maybe we hold the actaul journals that are being reviewed and they could look at them on their own. it sounds like it could be a really cool site...if i could get all the way into it.