Keeping It Fresh – Learning Resources for Teachers

Loretta loves teaching sixth grade science. In fact, she’s been teaching for more than 25 years and hopes to stay in theResources for School Teachers at Public Librariesclassroom for another 20 years. Students are drawn to her high energy and creative approach to teaching. But, as she likes to tell her incredulous students, “The Interweb wasn’t even invented when I got my teaching degree!” To keep her skills and knowledge fresh, she reads the latest journals and attends conferences. But she’s always looking for other resources to learn more about new techniques and approaches.

Loretta and many other teachers are on the hunt for professional development resources to support their lifelong learning in the field of education. Now you can provide them with easy-to-use electronic resources that give them instant access to content that will support their professional development.

Consider supporting teachers with resources that can help guide their development and enhance their teaching skills.

Read moreKeeping It Fresh – Learning Resources for Teachers

Now Available: Enhanced Experience of GVRL, InfoTrac, and In Context

Today,enhancementsreleased toGVRLand all resources within theInfoTracandIn Contextfamilies (including thePowerSearchplatform) will increase accessibility for those with disabilities like low vision or blindness, improve usability for desktop and mobile researchers, and create a common user experience across some of our most popular resources.

Enhancements at a Glance

Read moreNow Available: Enhanced Experience of GVRL, InfoTrac, and In Context

GVRL Pleases Patrons, Young and Old, in Santa Clara County Library District

GVRL eBook Success Story

Lora Cokolat is a Collection Development and Reading Librarian for the Santa Clara County Library District, working in the District’s Services and Support Center in

Campbell, California. Lora purchases e-books, DVDs, book club kits, and e-magazines to support patrons who use the district’s seven libraries and two bookmobiles. Part of the District’s mission is to provide diverse resources on a wide variety of subjects and viewpoints, and to help people use those resources — a task right up the alley ofGVRLeBooks.

“We are committed to offering a variety of subject areas, topics, and viewpoints,” says Lora. “Providing electronic versions of reference sources can be more cost effective than print copies at multiple locations.”

Read moreGVRL Pleases Patrons, Young and Old, in Santa Clara County Library District

Stand Back: Heroes (No Villains) Land in Your Library for Summer

Children's Summer Reading Program YA

Do you remember the glorious childhood feeling of the last day of school? Walking out of your classroom with your face to the sun, eager to explore a whole summer of swimming, biking, and…reading! Wait, reading?

Studies show that children who don’t read or who read rarely over the summer stagnate or decline in their reading skills. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Consider these studies:

Read moreStand Back: Heroes (No Villains) Land in Your Library for Summer

If You’re Reading this Blog, Thank a Techie

eBooks for Techies

Technology-savvy people are the explorers and gladiators of our great Information Age. Without them, we’d have no blogs, our phones wouldn’t be smart, and none of us would be able to look up the name of that actress we always forget from you-know-that-one-show in a few keystrokes. The Techie’s thirst for knowledge – whether budding young techies or adult tech users – is boundless.

Read moreIf You’re Reading this Blog, Thank a Techie

It’s Always Time to Love Thy Own Heart

By Jacqueline Longe

This winter has seen record lows with artic freezes, seas turned red by the blood of 21 Egyptians, a measles outbreak, viable threats of terrorism in malls across America, and a whole host of other things to make even the warmest of hearts turn cold.

Despite reason for melancholy, there is focus on one matter that we can all rally around—heart health. Though the leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide is heart disease, this month facing such a fact and doing something about it on a personal level is a step toward optimum health. That warms the heart.

Read moreIt’s Always Time to Love Thy Own Heart

The Research Habits of Public Library Users:
Are You Meeting Their Needs?

Consumer behavior studies, industry stats and eBook usage reports reveal what people want from their libraries, how and what they’re researching, and what libraries are doing to meet the growing (yes, growing!) demand for credible, cross-searchable nonfiction eBook content.

  • More than half of today’s public library users say they visit the library to research topics of interest1—and what’s of interest is often history, self-help, cooking, health and fitness, business and careers, hobbies, general reference, how-to and DIY projects.2
  • In fact, “to do research and use reference materials” is second only to quality time with grandkids (aw!) as a reason for increased library time—ranking higher than borrowing books and using computers.3

Other than databases, nonfiction eBooks are a primary resource libraries use to meet the needs of these researchers. Today, 95% of libraries offer eBooks, 26% of which are nonfiction.4

We know that research matters to today’s public library users, and we know that libraries are expert in selecting the content they need—so the reports and studies should be all good, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

Read moreThe Research Habits of Public Library Users:
Are You Meeting Their Needs?

Wanderlust Lives! Where in the World Will Your Patrons Go?

By Tina Creguer

Okay, so maybe the Wizard of Oz’s Dorothy has a point: there’s no place like home. But, for many people, there’s nothing more invigorating than being on the open road and exploring new places.

According to the U.S. Travel Association, Americans took 2.1 billion person-trips* in 2013 for both leisure and business. That’s a whole lot of travel! 78% of those trips were for leisure purposes; 22% for business. The association also reports that trip planning sources have shifted over the last several years, with social media and mobile devices being used more often.

With members of your community looking to electronic resources to support their travel planning, what resources do you provide to support their need for adventure and exploration?

Read moreWanderlust Lives! Where in the World Will Your Patrons Go?

Library Directors Need Information, Too! Support Your Library’s Growth

卡拉在他受顾客r library. As the new library director, she leads monthly meetings for key community members, networks with local business leaders, and responds personally to patron concerns – promptly. And even though she only has a few reference desk rotations a month, people ask for her, because they know she will provide great servigvrlladyce…and know where to find what they need. But Carla is concerned about keeping her knowledge and skills fresh – whether it’s about new collection development strategies or upcoming IT advancements that will affect how the library leverages its MARC records. She recently hit the 15-year anniversary of library school graduation, and she’d like to be sure she has all the knowledge she needs to keep her library as a vital community resource…and continue her career advancement.

Library directors who want to avoid the “cobblers’ children” syndrome (failing to support their own learning and development because they’re focused on supporting others’) can do so easily, with resources we’ve pulled together to meet you and your colleagues’ needs.

Read moreLibrary Directors Need Information, Too! Support Your Library’s Growth

Winners Never Quit: Winning Biz Resources Keep Delivering

Outstanding Business Reference Resources 2014

By Tina Creguer

Football coach Vince Lombardi’s popular axiom “Winners never quit, and quitters never win” applies to more than just sports. For libraries, it applies to award-winning business resources that keep delivering quality content with ongoing, persistent access, available 24/7.

Four Gale business eBooks were recently honored as2014 Outstanding Business Reference Resources, a listing of 10 titles selected by the RUSA’s BRASS Business Reference Sources Committee. Two Gale titles were deemed “outstanding”; two titles, “notable.” Honored and humbled by these designations, we share this list with you:

Read moreWinners Never Quit: Winning Biz Resources Keep Delivering