This document provides an overview of databases available through the school library. It discusses how students can access databases from school or remotely with login credentials. Examples of elementary databases described include World Book Encyclopedia, Grolier Encyclopedia, SIRS Discoverer for general reference, CultureGrams for information about countries and cultures, and Gale PowerSearch which includes magazines, newspapers and reference books. The document demonstrates how to search and navigate some of these databases.

1. LOVE YOUR LIBRARY
DATABASES:
INVENTORS BIOGRAPHY
PROJECT
Ms. Doyle, Librarian

2. Image attribution: http://www.flickr.com/photos/galant/3268338756/sizes/l/in/photostream/
School pays for access
– has info you can’t
get free on the web
Edited/fact checked,
so often more reliable
than websites
Often include
citations!
Other ideas?

3. How to Find the Databases
Go to your school’s website
Hover over Library

4. How to Find the Databases
Click “Library & Electronic Resources”

5. How to Find the Databases

6. DO YOU NEED A
USERNAME/PASSWORD?
Not if you’re at school
YES, if you are not at school
Get a bookmark from me
today or from your school
library

7. ELEMENTARY DATABASES
 World Book & Grolier encyclopedias
 SIRS Discoverer – general reference
 Culturegrams – information about states,
countries, and cultures
 Gale PowerSearch – magazine &
newspapers, reference books, and more
 Opposing Viewpoints (in Gale
PowerSearch) – controversial issues, pro-
con arguments

8. ENCYCLOPEDIAS
World Book & Grolier

9. WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA

10. WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA

11. WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA
Search # 1
Search # 2
Which search would work better? Why?
Talk to your neighbor for 30 seconds to decide.

12. ENCYCLOPEDIAS:
 Have you used World Book or Grolier
online? (thumbs up or down)
 Would you find in-depth information?
 Would you find opinions about a topic?
 Would you find newspaper and magazine
articles?
Raise your hand:
 Can you think of a question that an online
encyclopedia would answer well?

13. WORLD BOOK: INVENTORS

14. WORLD BOOK: INVENTORS

15. WORLD BOOK: INVENTORS

16. WORLD BOOK: INVENTORS

17. GROLIER ENCYCLOPEDIA

18. SIRS DISCOVERER
General Reference

19. DISCOVERER

20. DISCOVERER

22. DISCOVERER

23. WHAT DATABASE WILL YOU TRY?
 Take one minute to talk to your neighbor to
decide:
What database will you try
first?
What words will you use to
search?
What questions do you still
have about databases?

24. IF WE HAVE TIME

25. CULTUREGRAMS

26. HAVE YOU USED CULTUREGRAMS?
 Thumbs up for yes
 Thumbs sideways for maybe
 Thumbs down for no
What kind of information would you
expect to find here?

27. GALE POWERSEARCH

28. GALE POWERSEARCH

29. GALE POWERSEARCH – BOOK
RESULTS

30. GALE POWERSEARCH
Magazine and newspaper
articles
Online reference books
Scholarly journals
What kind of research
would you do using
Powersearch?

31. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
Thank you!