SIRS DISCOVERER
SIRS® Discoverer® is a multidisciplinary database specifically designed for elementary and middle school learners, researchers, and educators covering curriculum areas such as current events, history, health, language arts, math, science, social studies, and technology. All newspaper, magazine, and reference content is 100% full text, editorially-selected and indexed from over 2,200 reliable, high-quality domestic and international sources. The collection includes integrated educational Websites and reference materials such as the Compton’s by Britannica encyclopedia and DK Eyewitness books.
Special features include: animal facts, country facts and maps, current events, pro/con leading issues, and science fair explorer. The ‘science fair explorer’ is one of my favorite features. It allows you to select an area of the house and it will provide science experiments based off of the supplies you would find in that room/area. I’ve also been using the ‘country facts and map’ feature a lot for our Passport Pals program where we learn about different countries and cultures.
SIRS® Discoverer® is a great supplement for Youth Services Librarians to use when planning STEM programs, providing homework help, and hosting writing workshops. It should be recommended to parents, students, teachers, and homeschool families. You can access this resource at home, outside the library, using your library card number.
– Leslie Paulovich, Robinson Township Library