MeL Databases Notes

• Click on MeL logo on any page to return to the MeL Home Page.
• The search page format and capabilities are set by db vendor.
• Oct 2007 the access was renewed until 2010.
• Test & Tutorials will take you directly to LearningExpress Library.
• MeL Gateways: Vetted websites by Michigan Library librarians

InfoTrac Student 9-12 (Gale Reference)

• “Title List” shows every publication available
• Search: International Space Station
• Lexile #: reading level. lower is easier to read.
• Can email to self. Lots of citation options available
• Subject Guide Search: based on LoC subjects, subdivisions available.
• Publication Search tab: find specific issues of the magazines. (ex. People)

Gale Virtual Reference Library (Gale Reference)

• Looks like InfoT student search because both owned by Gale
• Search for Italy
• Tremendous amount of information
• All encyclopedia searches.

Main MeL Screen

• scroll down to MORE
• Michigan Online Resources for Educators.
• Social Studies–>Holocaust–>Link out to sites specifically for educators.
• search box to left will search all. try algebra

Sirs Renaissance (a Proquest DB)

• Humanity and arts? db primarily
• search anime
• tabs at top show type of reference
• many ways to sort
• search anime
• any tagged articles would show up on the Sirs Ren My Research link
• Educator resources link: How to articles (Write a research paper)
• Literary Corner: A guide to the curricular study of prominent authors in major literary periods and regions. Need a British author before 1800? Look here.
• Spotlight On: A monthly compilation of a topic

Learning Express Library

• Practice tests
• must have a user account
• left hand side shows available tests
• timed exams have a countdown time (ACT)
• Not sure how to remove scored tests in my account
• test prep eBooks are available for students and parents

NetLibrary

• ebooks
• science experiments search
• 1 book at a time may be checked out.
• has a speaking dictionary available. (squawk)
• marking: right click on page in viewing pane and you can add to favorites with notes. this requires you to login so you’ll need an account.
• auto logoff after 20 minutes
• 466 complete idiot guides
• regular searches
• can check out multiple books at a time.
• Need to “close item” to check in a book.

Health & Wellness Resource Center

• Gale medical encyclopedias
• Diseases & Conditions. Search & browse for conditions (acne)
• Alternative Medicine:
• Drugs & Remedies: Physician’s Desk Reference DB
• Directory: Type in topic and get a list of organizations that support that topic.
• Trusted Sites: Sites vetted as legitimate by db vendor
• Health Assessment: Find out how long you have to live.

What Do I Read Next?

• Search Chris Crutcher
• Contains links to books by same author
• Gives suggestions for similar books by other authors.
• Custom Search: Ever need a book by an Iowa author? Defaults to all ages. Can uncheck age groupings before searching.
• Custom Search: Need a book with a character named Taylor for a girl named Taylor
• Help Me Find a Book: More terms limits hits.
• Genre search: Narrow search very quickly, “Gentle Reads” narrows to clean reads that few would find objectionable. Need post apocalyptic fantasy stories? Find them here.
• Award Winners: An archive list of various award presenting groups. Librarian picks. Expert picks come from large organizations. No need to create your own booklist. Find NY Best Seller’s in a particular year.
• Novelist is another MeL databases that is “better” in presenter’s opinion.

www.librarything.com

• off on a tangent
• social networking site about books.
• Remember a book about a redhead with a magical necklace?
• offers searchable tags and can mash up tags too.

Novelist

• Prettier than What do I read next.
• RSS feed for author entries. Will ask to renew every 30 days.
• Search: Stephenie Meyer
• Subject Area: Find Similar Books. This is what makes Novelist better than What Do I Read Next (WDIRN)
• Doesn’t do character searches or genre searches like WDIRN
• Click the Add when you find a book you want to look at later.
• Advanced Search: Lets you choose culture, nationality, gender and race of author’s.
• Some books link directly to MeLCat for check out.
• Author Series: Someone like Nora Roberts with multiple series.
• Teens–>Book Discussion Guides: Gives summaries of books.
• Teens–>Recommended Reads: Topical lists compiled by librarians.

www.kdl.org

• What’s Next link: Our What’s Next?: Books In Series™ database helps you search series fiction.  A series is two or more books linked by character(s), settings, or other common traits.

Sirs Discoverer

• Geared to lower levels than Sirs Renaissance.
• Maps of the World link gives many current and historical maps.
• Educator’s Resources is
• Every Browse links has a Careers link to articles on careers associated with that topic.
• Current topics

Filed under: WWW Browsing