Instructional Presentation Assignment for LIS 702

1. Biography (Gale in Context)
A Reference Guide on Using the Subscription Database for
CPL Users
By: Mary Lee

2. What is Biography (Gale in Context)?
- Online database from publisher Gale that provides biographies of
over half a million international figures throughout history
- Gale, who is part of the Cengage group, is a global provider who
works with libraries and educators to connect patrons and students
with research and learning resources
- Biography Gale in Context is updated regularly to provide the most
up to date information

3. How to Access
- This is a subscription based database that can only be accessed with a Chicago
Public Library card.
- Open an internet browser and go to https://www.chipublib.org/resource/
- Scroll down to “B”.
Click on Biography
(Gale in Context).

4. Will Bring You to CPL Login Page
Enter Library Card
Number and Pin
Don’t have a Library Card? Go to
https://www.chipublib.org/get-a-library-card/
to learn how to get one.

5. Once Logged into CPL Account, you will be linked to
Biography (Gale in Context) Home Page:

6. What Biography (Gale in Context) can do for you?
- Biographies - nationalities, occupations, date of birth, date of
death, etc.
- Related Magazine and News Articles
- Videos, Images, and Audio Files
Use it as a research tool for school papers, or to learn more
about people that interest you!

7. Sample Questions Biography(Gale In Context) can answer:
- Who is Stacey Abrams?
OR
- What female, African American political figures born after 1960
are active in United States politics today?

8. Basic Search
Results:
Type name of person into
search bar.
You can then select
which document, video,
image, etc. you want to
access.

9. Articles for
further reading.
Biography
information
listed.

10. Additional Features
- Cite provides a citation of the page in MLA, APA, Chicago, or Harvard citation
styles. Perfect for works cited pages!
- Send to allows you to email or send this document to Google Drive or OneDrive.
Great for collaboration with other classmates.
- You can type notes and highlight text on the document, which is saved under your
session.
- You can also download, print, or get links directly to this document.
Located on every document page, at
the top right side of the screen

11. How To Search
If you don’t know the name, or
would like to create a list of
people who fit a certain set of
standards, you can select the
“Person Search” tab, and use
the Search Limiters to narrow
down your search.

12. Search Example
Female Gender Selected.
Occupation limited to
Politician.
Ethnicity Limited to African
American.
Date of Birth Limited to
After Jan. 1, 1960

13. Search Example
Three women in the database fit these search limitations.
Results:

14. Browse Example
Orange
“Updated” sign
indicates new
articles have
been added.
Use “Topics” selection bar to
narrow down categories. For
example, you can browse for
people that fall under the category
“British Royalty”

15. Citation
Gale. (2022). Gale In Context: Biography. Gale In Context:Biography

16. Any Questions?
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Contact our Ask a
Librarian service at https://www.chipublib.org/ask-a-librarian/ or call any Chicago
Public Library location during open hours to speak to a librarian.