[LM_NET] HIT Gale or Proquest

["P. Porter Gonzales High School" <texasgrad92@YAHOO.COM>]

Here is the majority of what I recieved.  I tried to
leave out names.  THanks so much for all your help.
Tricia


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If your school needs the literature module, Gale is a
good way to get
that and some magazine and newspaper articles.
 I think EBSCO would provide more full-text magazines
and newspapers
than the other two products.

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I prefer Gale because the kids love it and use it.
The package I have
is Opposing Viewpoints coupled with Student REsources
center.  The kids
seem to learn how to use it effectively much more
easily than ProQuest.

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I have always had Proquest and think it's great.
However, Gale is a
great publisher of reference. When I did have the Gale
database it
included the reference sources within the database.
Since, in NYC we received
them free, if I had a choice and Gale includes their
in print sources
as part of the bundle, I would choose Gale.
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I have galenet, I like it since it covers Lit, Sci,
History etc.  It is
great for Lit Crit.  I used to use Proquest for
articles, however I
found
that Galenet was geared towards the curriculum.  It is
great when doing
lessons and you wanted an overview of a topic.  My
public library has
Proquest and I get articles from them.

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I would definitely go with Gale.  I do have both, but
Gale seems to
reach a wider audience.  Often my more advanced and
computer savvy
students will to Proquest, but usually begin with
Gale.  Also, Gale is
available in packages whereas Gale is a one-shot deal
that has many
modules.


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I did Gale last year and wasn't happy with the number
of abstracts vs actual articles.  I ma having better
luck with Proquest.  My 7th & 8th graders appear to be
having more success between eLibrary, Proquest Gold
and SIRS (which has the Webfinder as well).  I haven't
tried the SIRS Challenge quest, which arrives monthly
by email but I will try to get my teachers to use it
in the classroom for bonus points, etc
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If you have to choose between these 2 databases, I
would suggest the
Gale
Online databases. Its literary criticisms are very
popular with our
high
schools.
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I subscribe to both (along with Britannica) and
they're great.  I don't
know
if I could choose just one!  What kinds of research do
your students do
most?
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I like both. One thing about ProQuest: The databases
included eLibrary, ProQuest databases, including a
literature database, and the SIRS databases. All are
owned by Big Chalk. Gale includes the Scribner and
Twayne as well as all the excellent literary critical
series...If your LangArts Dept is big on literary
research, I'd keep that in mind.
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Gale is invaluable for literary research -- all those
great criticisms.
Informe Spanish language is great for foreign language
students.
Professional journals are great for teachers seeking
higher degrees.

I've been a ProQuest subscriber for over 20 years --
when they were UMI
and
only produced microfiche.  We have ProQuest, eLibrary,
SIRS, and
ProQuest
Platinum online databases.  eLibrary is especially
great for pictures,
as
our technology dept. has google images blocked.  Also,
the students can
check exactly the formats they want to search --
magazines, newspapers,
pictures, maps, etc.  They like that.

There is some duplication of resources between Gale
and ProQuest. I
would
try to look at who will be the most frequent users and
try to choose
the one
that will best meet the overall demands.

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I love Proquest.  If you are getting SIRS and
e-library together, you are set for just about any
research possible.  We have both and the students
hardly use Gale
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WE were on TLC and picked Gale, cause kids were kind
of used to it.
However
a bunche more in the area picked DTK (0r whatever the
acronym)  They
seem to
be adding stuff as it goes along, and Gale does not
seem to be doing
that.
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I chose the Thompson Gale because at the time it had
the Student
Resource Center Literature and our senior English
papers were a literary
criticism paper.  It is very easy to use and the
information is timely and
of good quality.
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=====
"Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read.  One does not love 
breathing."
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Patricia A. Porter, Library Media Specialist

Gonzales High School

1801 Sarah DeWitt Drive

Gonzales, Texas 78629

830-672-7535




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