Databases

POWER Library Has More Than You Think

Look I love Libby, let’s be clear about that, it is a brilliant resource for so many great reads. But I also have a confession to make… it doesn’t always have EVERYTHING I need. *GASP* I know. I will pause for you to compose yourself.

*DRAMATIC PAUSE FOR EFFECT*

BUT – just because Libby may not offer a book does not meant the library does not have it. We may OF COURSE have a physical copy (please come see us in person we miss you) but we may also have that eBook you need RIGHT NOW via one of the last places you may think to look. The State Library’s POWER Library!!!

POWER is a very underused brilliant offering that I have found often has those sneaky eBooks that Libby just does not offer. And it has an easy way to find all of their eBook offerings in one place!

I get it you are saying… surely you must be joking, Libby has everything I need!

Well, let me give you an example. I just bought a new house and I am looking for an easy to care for lawn. And do you know what one of the easiest to care for lawns is? Moss. Well, when I go to see about how to care for moss gardens this is what Libby had to say for itself.

Libby, sweetheart, no – not even remotely what I needed.

So, I went to the ever handy POWER Library E-Book Collection and did the same search and HUZZAH!

POWER, I appreciate you.

So, now all I had to do is click on the “Electronic Location” link and… TA-DA!

Okay, I know that doesn’t look very exciting but it is what I needed and was looking for – so it was a success!

What I am trying to say is that the library DOES have that eBook or resource you are looking for electronically it just may not always be on Libby. Give POWER a chance and see everything that the State has wonderfully bestowed upon us.

Drop us a message or shoot your message to the State librarians via POWER’s chat function, someone is always willing to help you find the resource you need even when it isn’t where you think.

-Adrianne, Northland Public Library

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Kids InfoBits and Accessibility

One of the greatest tools we have to offer children is the Kids InfoBits database. You might already know it for its wide subject base and ability to adjust the reading levels of its content, making it an invaluable tool for any elementary-age student, but it’s also built with a number of features that make it accessible to everyone:

  • You can have the text of the article read aloud by selecting the speaker icon at the top of the page. This function means the website is instantly accessible to anyone whose reading skills aren’t quite advanced enough to read it on their own. It also makes this a valuable tool for new readers: they can play the audio while reading, leading to higher word recognition and comprehension of the sentences.
  • Adjustable text size makes the content available to anyone with visual impairments, and increases readability on a variety of screens. For younger readers who are used to seeing text nice and big, the text can be adjusted to be more familiar.
  • Display options can be customized. The background color can be changed, and, most importantly, so can the text. There are only four font options, but one is Open Dyslexic, a font that’s easier for people with dyslexia to read. On top of different fonts, you can also adjust the spacing of each line, letter, and word.
  • Articles can be translated to a variety of languages. You can also change your interface language, so the entire website will be presented to you in your chosen language. The importance of that is obvious, but I’ve got an additional benefit: for libraries with limited collections of books in languages other than English, this is a really useful tool. Kids InfoBits provides hours of readable content for kids who are learning a second language (and, of course, for anyone learning English as a second language).

With all of these features, Kids InfoBits is not only a great reference source, but an excellent companion to your early reader and international languages collections.

-Jaime @ Penn Hills Library

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New databases, bird flu, and you! 

Bird flu! It’s in the news.  

Maybe your patrons are wondering about it. Maybe they’ve already transformed into giant chickens themselves! That’s what bird flu does right? I read that somewhere on the internet.  

Just kidding! When I go looking for information online, I start with library databases. I love Wikipedia dearly, but sometimes it will lead me astray. Just look at this link! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_Flu. 

Luckily for me, POWER Library has provided two new databases that can help with health information and much more: Health and Wellness and Academic OneFile Select, both from our pals at Gale. As with other Gale products, they look almost the same but contain different information aimed at different audiences. 

Health and Wellness contains full-text articles from medical publications and reference works, but also from more popular, general media outlets with a focus on health information that is approachable for a general audience. Here are the results for a search for “bird flu” with a publication date limiter of the “past month.” 

Notice that it leads with four audio clips from various NPR programs. Health and Wellness is for a general audience looking for reliable information that doesn’t get too deep into medical jargon. 

However, if your patrons do want jargon, we now have Academic OneFile Select! 

This resource is geared toward students, researchers, and curriculum-based learners. It provides access to full text articles across many disciplines, not just health, as well as also vocational/technical training material for students who are studying the trades. A nice complement to BlueCareer! 

But back to the chickens. If I do the same search for “bird flu” with that “past month” time limiter, I get results that may not be appropriate for a lay audience but will definitely help with a college student’s research. 

These new resources provide information for a variety of different types of patrons and are now live on the eLibrary website. Check them out! 

-Mary, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh 

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Snow = Car Trouble = Auto Repair Source

Read more about the article Snow = Car Trouble = Auto Repair Source

Let’s be honest the weather lately has left much to be desired – in the Pittsburgh area when it snows you will inevitably need to repair your car. It is the law of the cosmos or something. Fear not though because we have a great resource to help you and your car get through this wintery season – Auto Repair Source! Simply log into Auto Repair Source with your library card number, and the world of car repair and maintenance is right at your fingertips. You will need to enter the appropriate year, make, model, and engine information to get to the pages you need but I believe in you! You can make this repair happen (I hope)!

Ugh.. winter why?

Okay I get it – you looked at the specs and it is all another language to you. No judgement and no worries! Auto Repair Source also offers parts and labor estimates. And don’t worry if the mechanic is speaking another language too you can pull up diagrams and image that you can zoom in on and also print if you need. Winter won’t win this one – the library has you and your car’s back!

~Winter Has Come, But Not Won~

-Adrianne, Northland Public Library

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