NOVEL Databases Your Name Your School Date A presentation for middle 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

Agenda  Welcome and Introductions Who are we and what do we want to learn?  The NOVEL Databases What are these databases?  Types of Resources and Information What do they contain?  Wrap-Up How can I use NOVEL databases with my students?

Have you ever wondered?  How can I find reliable health information?  Where can my students find information on why immigrants come to the United States or who were the prominent leaders of the civil rights movement ?  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 beginning a research project on rocks. They have thought about what they want to know and have developed questions to research. Let’s start with InfoTrac Junior Edition K-12…

InfoTrac Junior  This database is specially 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.

Since the term “rocks” is too broad, it provides a listing of sub-headings and the type of information available to help students narrow down their search.

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. Let’s look at another database

How does NOVEL compare to searching on Google?

What’s the difference between Google and the NOVEL databases? Internet  Anyone can publish – not necessarily authoritative  Is free to everyone  For the most part, it 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

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

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

Wrap-Up  What curriculum units are best to integrate NOVEL Databases?  What challenges exist?  What are the next steps?

Go home and try this yourself: Hand-outs to help you search NOVEL  You are a 7 th grade student learning about African American literature. You have chosen to research the author, Langston Hughes. (Hint: Check out the Twayne Authors Series)  You are an 8 th grade student and you would like to find out some information on the about world relief efforts to help victims of the most recent tsunami. (Hint: Look in Topic Search)  You are researching the culture of the Plains Indians, specifically the role of women. (Hint: Look in InfoTrac/Junior Edition K-12

Thank-You! me with your questions (add your address here)