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January 29, 2008

EBSCOhost Embraces Visual Learners

Library Journal recently descibed the EBSCO changes to Visual Search. 

To read the entire article: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6526196.html?nid=2671

 

  • Two visual search interfaces for EBSCOhost
  • Boon for visual search learners
  • Results returned as colored blocks or columns

     

    • Posted by meye0539 at 2:34 PM | | Comments (0)

    January 24, 2008

    New Feature on Minnesota Reflections!

    The Minnesota Digital Library is pleased to announce that people may now comment on the images in our “Minnesota Reflections” collection. The MDL designed a wiki site that allows us to provide this resource. Look at a photo, map or document, click on the “comment on this item” and leave your comments.

    We are looking for public support in providing information on the items in our collection and we would like people to ask questions and share stories.

    Here’s what you need to do:

    • Visit Minnesota Reflections ( http://reflections.mndigital.org/ )

    • Search for items you want to view.

    • When you are looking at an individual photo, document or map, you will see a button in the blue menu bar above the image. The button is red with yellow type.

    • Click on that button and you will go to a wiki page. From there, comment as you like on that particular object.

    No registration is required. We do ask people to focus their comments on the item in the collection.

    The Minnesota Digital Library will monitor comments. This is still a prototype service. We are still designing it and answering questions about how to share the information people provide.

    If you have general comments, suggestions or insights to offer regarding the Social Side of Reflections, please send them to Marian Rengel, MDL outreach coordinator (mrrengel@stcloudstate.edu).

    Thanks for helping the MDL with the project and have fun.


    Visit the Minnesota Digital Library’s collection site at http://reflections.mndigital.org/ and our home at http://www.mndigital.org/

    Posted by Jennifer Hootman at 1:04 PM | | Comments (0)

    EBSCO - Outage

    EBSCO is experiencing a power outage, and therefore databases are not working. They hope to be up and running soon.

    Posted by Jennifer Hootman at 12:55 PM | | Comments (0)

    January 16, 2008

    Rollout of new Literature environment November 2007-summer 2008

    New interface for Literature Resource Center
    New cross-searching environment—Literature Resources from Gale
     
    Literature Resource Center customers can migrate their accounts whenever they wish to the new interface released in November 2007. We are continuing to support the older interface at least until July 2008 as many customers do not want to make the change until the end of the current school year.
     
    You can enable or disable the new interface using our administration module, ITconfig.  Once logged into ITconfig, select “Locations” and you will see an option titled “Enable Gale Virtual Reference Library 4.0”.
     
    Customers can also request the change by contacting Technical Support at Gale.TechnicalSupport@cengage.com
     
    If you would like to trial the new interface first, contact your Gale sales representative directly or at 1-800-877-4253 (press 2) to set up a free trial.
     
    Highlights of the new interface include:
     
    • Enhanced “findability.” Searching by author name has always been an LRC strength—but now you get excellent results searching by title or topic, right from the Basic Search screen. Improved subject indexing and a complete restructuring of our content get LRC users to premium content with a single click, and a new approach to tabbed results helps them go straight to exactly the type of content they need.
     
    • Great new tools. 
      • Browsable search indexes
      • Search by or within journal or reference title
      • Multiple options for sorting, filtering and searching within results
      • Easy bookmarking
      • Guided Tour accessible from the tool bar
      • “How to Cite” feature generates MLA and APA citations and supports EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks and Reference Manager
     
    • New cross-searching environment
      • As always, Scribner Writers Series and Twayne’s Authors Online can be integrated as modules of Literature Resource Center
      • “Literature Resources from Gale” cross-searches Literature Resource Center with LitFinder, the MLA International Bibliography, or both.
      • Customers with LRC and either LitFinder or MLA can cross-search a custom GVRL collection
      • New tools and features for MLA searches
      • More cross-searching options to come in 2008

    Posted by meye0539 at 1:52 PM | | Comments (0)

    January 3, 2008

    EBSCOHost News: Visual Search, Image Quick View

    Check out the new EBSCOHost features!

    • Visual Search
      EBSCO has changed their visual searching. When you click on the VISUAL SEARCH tab, a short tutorial automatically plays on the opening page. Take a few seconds to see how this new feature works.

       

      For further help, download EBSCO documention:

      EBSCOhost Visual Search Help Sheet - Block Style Result List


      EBSCOhost Visual Search Help Sheet - Columns Style Result List

    • Image Quick View
      You can now see thumbnail images in an article citation (provided the article contains images). To enable this new feature, go to the PREFERENCES link at the top right-hand side of the page. In the DISPLAY OPTIONS menu, look for "Show Image Thumbnails". Click the ON radio button.

     

    To see other new EBSCOHost features, click on the the NEW FEATURES link at the top right-hand side of the page.

    Posted by meye0539 at 12:22 PM | | Comments (0)

    January 2, 2008

    ELM makes the list of Reference Websites

    This little-known website is an extraordinary online resource." stated the blurb on ELM in the most recent issue (Jan 2008) of the MPLS/ St. Paul magazine!  The Electronic Library for Minnesota (ELM) was the only reference website listed in the article "Guide to Weird, Wacky Wonderful Local Websites" (p 186).  Let's make ELM more than just a "little-known website" this year!  For training or promotional materials contact the MINITEX Reference Services department at 1-800-462-5348.

    Posted by meye0539 at 11:13 AM | | Comments (0)