May 29, 2020

Hi Folks, 

Today the Gale K-5 database called Kids InfoBits transitioned to Gale In Context: Elementary, and the elementary-level Find Information page on OSLIS has been updated. As shared earlier this month and explained in a Gale blog post, the purpose of the change was to align the database name and interface more closely with the In Context suite of databases, making the Gale experience more uniform across the grade levels. Access this article about octopuses to explore. (If prompted for a password, use the password portion of your Gale login.)   

Users can still search three ways – clicking through a topic tree (with a mix of pictures and text), search, or advanced search. And, the same tools are still available, though they are concentrated on the top right of the screen and top right of the article – Get Link (formerly called Bookmark), Send To (save in Google Drive, etc.), Highlights and Notes, Listen (machine-read audio), Translate (into 40 languages), and more. 

Here are a few new features and resources:

• Hover over reading levels or click on the Article Info icon to see Lexile levels.
• As in other In Context databases, you can browse topic pages. Each topic page starts with an overview article selected by a Gale editor and includes resources sorted by content types. Explore this topic page about allergies as an example.
• At the bottom of the database homepage, click on Educator Resources to get to tutorials and more.
• This 3-minute video provides a quick overview for educators. 

Here’s where to find the new database icon. Also, Gale is offering a webinar on June 2^nd at 11:30 am Pacific. Library staff and educators are welcome to participate. Can’t make it? Check for a recording a few days after the webinar.    

Please share this information with elementary teachers. 

Thanks,
Jen

Jennifer Maurer
School Library Consultant
State Library of Oregon