August 16, 2018

Hi, 

As part of the new Gale contract that started on August 1^st, we have access to two additional databases. Please become familiar with them and help promote them.

Books & Authors is a readers’ advisory tool that includes plot summaries, reading recommendations for similar titles, and searchable information on genre, characters, subjects, and time period. It leverages Gale’s award-winning What Do I Read Next? collection and is ideal for students, reading groups, and book clubs. 

• Audience level is elementary and up. I added it to the elementary and secondary Find Information pages on OSLIS.  
• Video tutorials (a few minutes each)
• Recorded webinar (40 minutes)

LitFinder provides access to a broad span of literary works and secondary-source materials covering world literature and authors throughout history. It includes more than 150,000 full-text poems and over 800,000 poetry citations, as well as short stories, speeches, and plays. The resource also includes biographies, work summaries, photographs, and a glossary. Users can browse works by thousands of subjects, themes, genres, and movements. If your library subscribes to Literature Resource Center, you may be able to integrate resources from both products. Contact your Gale sales rep for more information. 

• Audience level is high school and up, but it could be used by middle school, too. I added it to the secondary Find Information page on OSLIS.  
• Video tutorials (brief; about Gale tools and not about product itself)
• Recorded webinar (30 minutes)
• Scavenger hunt, Poets Corner (answers) 

More Training Options

Check Gale’s webinar calendar to see if they have any webinars about these two databases. None are scheduled for August. 

At the OASL Fall Conference, there will be a Gale session for secondary and one for elementary. The Gale trainer will cover the new databases and more. All library staff, licensed and paraprofessional, are welcome to attend the conference, which will be at Wilsonville High School on October 12^th and 13^th. 

Questions? Please ask..  

Thanks,
Jen

Jennifer Maurer
School Library Consultant
State Library of Oregon