LM_NET: Library Media Networking
- Subject: HIT: Elem. Online Databases
- From: "Connie Sullivan, Media Specialist" <sullivjc@clarkston.k12.mi.us>
- Date: Tue, 25 May 1999 09:49:24 -0400
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Thanks to all who responded. A couple of people requested this, so here
goes. This is my first HIT.
I am in a high school, but I just had a demo for the online World Book
and I
was very impressed, and it was not expensive.
We subscribe to UMI Proquest for all our periodicals and World Book for
an
encyclopedia database. I love Proquest for periodicals. Its easy to
use
and has very complete coverage. They are also deepening their archive
database so that eventually it will include primary source materials.
We
chose World Book for the encyclopedia database because it has a good
interface and it tends to be the first encyclopedia set the students
reach
for. You might want to also take a look at Elecrtic Library. It is a
very
nice combined database including periodicals, maps, books and
encyclopedia
articles.
We have been using SIRS and Worldbook for the past few years in our
elem.
school. Actually I prefer the CD apprach as this gives kids independent
access to these reference resources. Our kids do not have independent
WWW
access. That takes a teacher log on and password. I love SIRS
Discoverer
as an introduction to electronic searching. The one hitch is kids begin
to want to print out total articles rather than reading for relevant
info
and using the notepad features to print selected info.
Our schools love Sirs Discover.
Before you shell out the bucks, take a look at what's available for free
through AccessMichigan. I just set our school up with Electronic Library
and
Infotrac for Kids for FREE through them. If you want to see how it works
on
our end, check out our website at http://www.bccs.org (go to the media
center site from there). We also subscribe to Grolier Online, which our
kids
really use a lot and find to be a very powerful tool. I have looked into
World Book and I might switch at some point, although we have print
World
Book and CD-ROM World Book, so I do like that variety of the Grolier
sites.
They offer three encyclopedias for the price of one. I think it cost out
school (400 kids, K-8) about $500 for this year, which was well worth
it.
Book Report just had a good article about that subject in the last
issue, I think. Their conclusion was that UMI Proquest was the best if
you
didn't have to consider money and SIRS the best with money considered,
followed closely by Electric Library. We have Proquest and will soon
have
SIRS. WorldBook is essential - we have moved from the CD version to the
online version and are very pleased with it. We had a Scholastic
We use Electric Library in our Middle School and they offer a Primary
edition
as well which is very reasonable -- You really should take a look at it,
it's
very current and includes a remarkable array of sources including tv and
radio transcripts.
Grolier's on-line encyclopedia and Primary Proquest would be my choices.
Connie, we use Electric Library for our school and have been pleased
with it.
Electric Library has an online database for the elementary level. You
can
get a free trial. We liked it, thought it was very easy to use. The
elementary version is pretty reasonably priced too.
No need to buy on line data bases. They are free to Michigan schools
through Access Michigan. Right now ELibrary Elementary is available and
Primary Tom (it has a new name). Sirs Discoverer is supposed to be added
by fall. All this is free through the next school year, at least. The
URL is http://www.mlc.lib.mi.us/resources/accmich/k6.htm.
I reviewed Sirs Adventurer and liked it - I thought being able to choose
the
reading level was a plus and the graphics were good. Proquest also was
a
good one, with wonderful graphics. Our system is going with EBSCO - it
was
okay; however, I think it's a budget problem and they're cheaper.
--
Connie Sullivan, Media Specialist
Pine Knob Elementary School
6020 Sashabaw Road
Clarkston, MI 48346
sullivjc@clarkston.k12.mi.us
Phone:(248)625-1583
FAX: (248)620-3297
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<HTML>
<I>Thanks to all who responded. A couple of people requested this,
so here goes. This is my first HIT.</I>
<P>I am in a high school, but I just had a demo for the online World Book
and I
<BR>was very impressed, and it was not expensive.
<P>We subscribe to UMI Proquest for all our periodicals and World Book
for an
<BR>encyclopedia database. I love Proquest for periodicals.
Its easy to use
<BR>and has very complete coverage. They are also deepening their
archive
<BR>database so that eventually it will include primary source materials.
We
<BR>chose World Book for the encyclopedia database because it has a good
<BR>interface and it tends to be the first encyclopedia set the students
reach
<BR>for. You might want to also take a look at Elecrtic Library.
It is a very
<BR>nice combined database including periodicals, maps, books and encyclopedia
<BR>articles.
<P>We have been using SIRS and Worldbook for the past few years in our
elem.
<BR>school. Actually I prefer the CD apprach as this gives kids independent
<BR>access to these reference resources. Our kids do not have independent
WWW
<BR>access. That takes a teacher log on and password. I love
SIRS Discoverer
<BR>as an introduction to electronic searching. The one hitch is
kids begin
<BR>to want to print out total articles rather than reading for relevant
info
<BR>and using the notepad features to print selected info.
<P>Our schools love Sirs Discover.
<P>Before you shell out the bucks, take a look at what's available for
free
<BR>through AccessMichigan. I just set our school up with Electronic Library
and
<BR>Infotrac for Kids for FREE through them. If you want to see how it
works on
<BR>our end, check out our website at <A
HREF="http://www.bccs.org">http://www.bccs.org</A> (go to the media
<BR>center site from there). We also subscribe to Grolier Online, which
our kids
<BR>really use a lot and find to be a very powerful tool. I have looked
into
<BR>World Book and I might switch at some point, although we have print
World
<BR>Book and CD-ROM World Book, so I do like that variety of the Grolier
sites.
<BR>They offer three encyclopedias for the price of one. I think it cost
out
<BR>school (400 kids, K-8) about $500 for this year, which was well worth
it.
<P>Book Report just had a good article about that subject in the last
<BR>issue, I think. Their conclusion was that UMI Proquest was the
best if you
<BR>didn't have to consider money and SIRS the best with money considered,
<BR>followed closely by Electric Library. We have Proquest and will
soon have
<BR>SIRS. WorldBook is essential - we have moved from the CD version
to the
<BR>online version and are very pleased with it. We had a Scholastic
<P>We use Electric Library in our Middle School and they offer a Primary
<BR>edition
<BR>as well which is very reasonable -- You really should take a look at
it,
<BR>it's
<BR>very current and includes a remarkable array of sources including tv
and
<BR>radio transcripts.
<P>Grolier's on-line encyclopedia and Primary Proquest would be my choices.
<P>Connie, we use Electric Library for our school and have been pleased
<BR>with it.
<P>Electric Library has an online database for the elementary level.
You can
<BR>get a free trial. We liked it, thought it was very easy to use.
The
<BR>elementary version is pretty reasonably priced too.
<P>No need to buy on line data bases. They are free to Michigan schools
<BR>through Access Michigan. Right now ELibrary Elementary is available
and
<BR>Primary Tom (it has a new name). Sirs Discoverer is supposed to be
added
<BR>by fall. All this is free through the next school year, at least.
The
<BR>URL is <A
HREF="http://www.mlc.lib.mi.us/resources/accmich/k6.htm">http://www.mlc.lib.mi.us/resources/accmich/k6.htm</A>.
<P>I reviewed Sirs Adventurer and liked it - I thought being able to choose
the
<BR>reading level was a plus and the graphics were good. Proquest
also was a
<BR>good one, with wonderful graphics. Our system is going with EBSCO
- it was
<BR>okay; however, I think it's a budget problem and they're cheaper.
<P>--
<BR>Connie Sullivan, Media Specialist
<BR>Pine Knob Elementary School
<BR>6020 Sashabaw Road
<BR>Clarkston, MI 48346
<BR>sullivjc@clarkston.k12.mi.us
<BR>Phone:(248)625-1583
<BR>FAX: (248)620-3297
<BR> </HTML>
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