Well, the first Database Challenge was a success!
Claudette C. of BPL- Avondale Branch won the $30 gift card from Applebees!
I look forward doing it again soon and I really appreciate the great response!
databases
Archived Posts from this Category
May 31, 2008
How would you like to take your sweety (or very best friend) out to dinner for free*?
I thought you might!
Here’s How:
Take my Database Challenge
Click here and look at these 6 screenshots .
Visit www.JCLC.org and access our list of databases under ‘Resources’.
Try to find which database corresponds to each screen image. Notice that I have masked the database names from the screen images- I didn’t want it to be too easy!
The images come from different areas of the databases, not just the homepage. All I want from you are the names of the databases pictured.
Send me an email with your contact info and the database names labeled A-F.
If you have any questions, let me know!
**Important Information:
This Database Challenge is open to staff of public libraries in Jefferson County, AL. One winner will be selected from from all correct submissions.
All submissions must be sent via email to mdevins[at]bham….(you know the rest). Basically, if your answers are correct I’ll put your name in a basket. After June 20th, I’ll have a coworker draw one name.
This Database Challenge will end JUNE 20th at 5pm.
*By “Free” I mean anything under $30.00. The winner will be presented with an Applebee’s Gift Card valued at $30.00.
Thanks! and Happy Searching!
February 3, 2008
Only a few days left until the free EBSCOhost training. For Jefferson County and other local librarie the training will be held Wednesday, February 6th from 9am – 12pm and again from 1pm to 4 pm.
If you haven’t yet registered or if you can’t make it, the training will be held in Jacksonville State University on February 7th and Calhoun Community College on February 8th.
Contact Jodi for more details. If you don’t know how to contact Jodi, then contact me and I’ll get the information to you.
January 26, 2008
PLD Mini-conference
Posted by Michelle under Downloadable Audio, PLD, Training, databases, handoutsLeave a Comment
“Thanks Edith!” for inviting me to present at the PLD Mini-conference in Homewood.
Also, “Thanks!” to all the participants who attended the Database Potpourri session.
I hope you all got something out of it. If you want additional copies of any of the handouts, visit the handouts page of this blog. if you don’t find what you’re looking for send me an email and I’ll get it to you.
December 18, 2007
Parlez vous francais? New and Improved
Posted by Michelle under AVL, Languages, databasesLeave a Comment
I would be the first to tell you- I was sad to see Rosetta Stone pulled from our online resources. Not only was I really planning to learn Spanish one day (eventually) but also we had this great video on YouTube that everyone just loved!
Fortunately the sting was lessoned a bit when I heard we would find something to replace it.
I had my doubts, but so far the new Tell Me More language learning software from Auralog has impressed me.
If you plan to try this out, let me first tell you that it is NOT Rosetta Stone. And I think Auralog prides themselves on that.
Tell Me More is a little more academic in its style and it has more variety in its excersises. The latter I think will appeal to people of different learning styles. There aren’t as many languages available yet, however Auralog plans to expand their collection.
Setting up a free account is easy. Just click the link on our homepage. Within the library you will be taken directly to the site and can click the link to start an account. From home, you will be asked for your name and library card number first. There is no software to download.
Here are the languages offered: German, English, Dutch, Spanish ( Latin America and Spain), French and Italian.
August 5, 2007
I think the JCPLA Staff Development Day went well. I really enjoyed the presentations I attended with MaryAnn Morton and Dolores Hydock. In fact, after listening to Ms. Morton, I was inspired to go home and thank my family for just being my family and then practice silence as I listen to them talk about their day. If you attended that session I’m sure you know what I mean!
I hope everyone who attended felt it was as productive as I thought it was.
If you attended my presentation on the Database Potpourri- Thank You!
All of the handouts from that session are now available on the “handouts” page of this blog.
Also, I did have a winner from my survey contest. Congratulations to Patricia G. at Hoover! She recieved a gift hat filled with office supplies and a JCLC coffee mug. Thanks to everyone who participated!
Coming up in August, I’m looking forward to presenting “Kid Friendly Databases.” The first session will be at Springville Road for the Collection Management meeting on the 15th and the second will be on the 22nd at North Birmingham for the Paraprofessional Meeting.
If you would like to have a session at you branch or location, just let me know. You can reach me through the “contact” page of this blog, through the Regional Library Computer Center, or through my Birmingham Library email.
June 9, 2007
I checked my email this afternoon and was pleased to see this from the AVL mailing list:
AVL is pleased to announce the addition of Europa World Year Book to its
database collection. The Europa World Year Book provides detailed country
surveys containing the latest analytical, statistical, and directory data
available for over 250 countries and territories.
The database includes a comprehensive listing of some 1,700 International
Organizations such as the United Nations, The European Union, the
International Organization for Migration and the World Trade Organization,
and provides details of countries arranged alphabetically from Afghanistan
to Zimbabwe.
For additional information, an Information Sheet and Powerpoint Demo
are available on our Training page. Go to
http://www.avl.lib.al.us/training/index.html
and scroll to the bottom.
May 26, 2007
Take My Survey!
Posted by Michelle under AVL, Downloadable Audio, databases, surveysLeave a Comment
I am having fun experimenting with some of the new tools available on the web. One free tool that I like are some of the online survey applications.
I’ve heard great things about SurveyMonkey.com and Create Survey.com.
This could be a valuable resource in helping me figure out where I need to focus my energies with training for online resources. Please take a moment to fill out my survey. It would be greatly appreciated.
Oh and just to sweeten it a little- survey takers are eligible to win a small prize pack that includes some office/school supplies and a JCLC coffee mug!
If the link does not work, copy and paste this into your browser:
www.createsurvey.com/c/53347-lQ6rSw/
May 26, 2007
Rosetta Stone has been available for Jefferson County library patrons for several months now. Hopefully, you have had the chance to play around with this fun and educational resource. There are 30 languages available to choose from including Arabic, English French, Hebrew, Spanish, Tagalog, and Welsh.
Periodically you may have a patron with questions.
When a patron accesses RosettaStone from home, they will need to know their library card number.
The software will run on Windows 2000 and beyond and Mac OS X.
A Microphone is needed for the voice recognition exercises.
The Rosetta Stone software requires a Shockwave plug-in to be installed on the browser before it will work. This process should begin automatically when the patron tries to access the program for the first time. If not, ask the patron to follow these steps:
- Ask the patron to go ahead and register if they have not already done so or log in with their username and password.
- Click the “First Time Users” tab on the left side of the screen.
- Then click “Install Shockwave plug-in.”
If you attended a training session with me on Rosetta Stone you recieved a copy of the “Quick Start Guide” This is a Rosetta Stone publication and may be accessed on the “My Courses” page after you have logged in to Rosetta Stone.
Try this resource out! You might find that it’s as addictive as a video game. And the next time someone asks “Parle vous France?” You can say “Oui!”
Have fun learning!
May 12, 2007
Britannica Online Public Library Edition is available on the AVL. 
The newly designed main page is a gateway to research tools and timely news articles.
They even have a blog and it is worth checking out. On May 11th, Michael Feldman submitted an entertaining look at Socrates. Other popular authors tackle topics like politics, science, life and art.
I personally like Britannica Daily; it’s a rotating article featurette. On any given day, you’ll find articles covering society and culture, world history, science and technology and sports.
Use the Workspace feature to create a customized page for research project. Store articles, images and other Britannica content in the Workspace and log in to retrieve them later.
