If you haven’t recently looked up a book on the Northside Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), formerly known as “WebCat,” you’re in for a pleasant surprise.  WebCat has been replaced by “iBistro.” iBistro also displays book jackets, has summaries, and provides reviews of library books.

Disappointed that the book you wanted isn’t available right now?  iBistro can direct you to books like the one you wanted or to books by the same author. You never have to leave a library empty handed! 

Younger readers will love the “Find It Fast” feature, which displays pictures of topics.  Just a few clicks on pictures (i.e. animals, then dogs) and those younger readers will find the perfect book. 

     Fifth grade students at John Glenn Elementary School are drawing their own conclusions!  After receiving research project assignments on particular musical instruments, students were introduced to an internet site sponsored by the New York Philharmonic, the World Book Online database, and to a nearby bookshelf full of related library books.  While all students thoroughly enjoyed exploring the New York Philharmonic Kidszone site and they used the library books to aid them in their research, they discovered that nothing made the same impression as did the World Book Online database!  “It’s all right here, exclaimed one student, and it’s so fast!”

   Locke Hill Elementary students from Ms. Ramirez’s third-grade class used the Gale Databases to research biographies of entrepreneurs. Students quickly learned that using a database to retrieve information is faster, more reliable, and easier to understand than information found using the search toolbar on the Internet. 

   Third graders at Michael Elementary have found the World Book Online and the Britannica Elementary to be great sources of information for their research about the sun and the solar system.  Students researched and used the information they found to make a variety of projects displaying their newly gained knowledge of the sun and the planets.

Mr. Cheatman’s 8th grade English classes at Connally Middle School recently conducted research on current issues in today’s news.  Topics researched were stem cells, cloning, video games vs. exercise, and the role of the media in people’s lives.  After students performed their research they used the information to create a persuasive essay either opposing the issue or supporting it.  Students found numerous articles to support their thesis using the following databases: ProQuest, Gale Databases, and EBSCO.

  TeachingBooks.net is available for all teachers, students, and employees, as well as for home use.  It focuses on books and authors through carefully selected Internet sites. An elementary webinar is scheduled for February 20, 21, 27, and 28 at 3:00-4:00.  Librarians and CITs may schedule their teachers to participate in any of the sessions. 

The first half of the session will be the webinar presented by TeachingBooks.net and the second half will be lab hands-on time for the participants.  For additional information, please contact Jana Knezek, Director of Library Services.

  EBSCO has updated the look of its graphic interface called Visual Search.  Within the Visual Search interface users may choose from either the Block style or Column style.  Each style offers users the ability to see the results grouped, sorted, or filtered in different ways. Before or after initiating a search in EBSCOhost, Kids Search, Searchasaurus, or Student Research Center, users may select options in order to view the results.

• Group Results – by Subject or Publication Name
• Sort Results – by Date or by Relevance
• Filter Results by Date – see articles from newest to oldest by moving the Date Range slider
• Display Style – switch back and forth between Blocks and Columns styles

To preview an article, click the title within the result.  An abstract will appear on the Summary screen to the right.  By clicking on the More link the full article will be displayed.  Articles may then be saved to a folder, printed, or emailed for future use.

To learn more visit: http://support.epnet.com/training/tutorials.php

(last item listed under EBSCOhost tutorials)