Database Highlight #8: We've got the Interface for That
Ebscohost, with its academic, public, medical, and school databases, has long been a librarian favorite. However, the members we serve tend to find it intimidating and overwhelming. That’s where Explora comes in. A member-friendly interface, Explora overlays the databases in Ebscohost: Explora for Public Libraries, Explora for Elementary School Student Research, and Explora for Secondary School Student Research.
Ensure student and educator success with EBSCO’s interface for schools and public libraries. Designed to meet the unique needs of its users, Explora supports both student research and classroom instruction with rich, reliable content and easy-to-use functionality. – from the vendor
This week’s open site is another crowd pleaser, Snopes.com. Long known in library circles for its reliable and thorough coverage of urban legends, the modern Snopes goes beyond schoolyards. Here you’ll find reports on celebrity rumors, political fact checking, and news. Don’t worry though, all your favorite legends are still archived and searchable.
Action Steps (pick one or two)
- If you haven’t already, take a peak at one of the Explora interfaces and list one feature you think your library members will appreciate.
- Pick a topic from one of the main categories and list an interesting fact taken from the topic overview.
- What’s your favorite urban legend (clean legends only please!) and is it True or False?
Random stuff for the first 10 respondents!
- Log in to post comments
Comments
From Explora, secondary school: In 2014 Mary Soames, Winston Churchill's last-surviving child, died Saturday of a short illness at her home in Britain, her family said. She was 91. I think user will enjoy all the full text articles.
On Snopes.com I didn't know this, but apparently there was a rumor that Mr. Ed from the TV show was a zebra, not a talking horse. I never heard this rumor. I've seen the show, but he always looked very horse-like to me. Since horses and zebras are different, there were all sorts of elaborate things that supposedly went on to disguise his zebraness. This is false. Mr. Ed is a horse! (you can decide if he really talks).
From Explora, secondary school: In 2014 Mary Soames, Winston Churchill's last-surviving child, died Saturday of a short illness at her home in Britain, her family said. She was 91. I think user will enjoy all the full text articles.
On Snopes.com I didn't know this, but apparently there was a rumor that Mr. Ed from the TV show was a zebra, not a talking horse. I never heard this rumor. I've seen the show, but he always looked very horse-like to me. Since horses and zebras are different, there were all sorts of elaborate things that supposedly went on to disguise his zebraness. This is false. Mr. Ed is a horse! (you can decide if he really talks).
About Mr. Ed I mean, not Mary Soames
Using Explora for Elementary School Student Research, I like that it notes when it is a Primary Source, something we often get asked.
On Arizona - It was the last state within the contiguous United States to join the Union.
Urban Legend - No Way, No Jay
Why does Washington, D.C., have no ‘J’ Street? Legend holds it’s because city designer Pierre L’Enfant bore a grudge against Chief Justice John Jay.
TRUTH The disappointingly mundane explanation is that J Street was likely omitted simply because the letters I and J were often indistinguishable from each other (especially when handwritten), and in 18th century English they were still largely interchangeable. (The 1740 “New General English Dictionary” published in London had a single section for I and J, and the standard identification Thomas Jefferson used on his personal possessions was “T.I.”) Having both an “I” and a “J” street would have been redundant at best and confusing at worst, so “J” ended up as the odd man out.
I didn't know that! I would have guessed a more western state like Washington or Oregon.
In the Explora for Secondary School Students:
The current issues section is especially relevant. Many students come in writing papers on opposing opinions, and it is clear they would be able to get a lot of quality information in this section.
Topic with an interesting fact:
1 in 800 live births will have some form of a cleft palate. (I had NO idea it was so high!)
What’s your favorite urban legend (clean legends only please!) and is it True or False?
Pins and needles are in your Halloween candy and you shouldn't eat it. It's true (http://www.snopes.com/horrors/mayhem/needles.asp) BUT, very rare. So kids, if mom and dad tell you that, they're probably just trying to keep their candy for themselves :D
Did the police in your town ever offer free candy x-rays? I think ours did one year but I don't think very many people went.
Whaaaat? No way! Candy x-rays??? They never did haha.
I remember several years here in OKC where that was offered, (my kids were young, then) that was a sad time that candy had to be x-rayed because of some sick people in the world.