Wrap-UP

I did the Electric Resources Challenge earlier this year and have reviewed several of the resources during this Institute version.  I would have to say that my favorite resource is still the Learning Express Library.  I was able to spread the word about it a little at a Career Fair at the local high school last month.  I hope to make our community more aware of it in the future by writing an article for the local paper and by promoting its many offerings to those who come in requesting help with resumes, test preparation, etc... in the future.  I really think folks will be impressed with what we have to offer at Learning Express.

I know this is a minor thing, but I really did enjoy playing around on the interactive maps in the World Book lesson.  I recently joined the local Search and Rescue and have been brushing up on my map reading skills and learning to use the GPS.  So, it was fun to use the interactive maps and not just view the area from above, but also be able to view panoramic shots of certain areas along the main roads.

I have been a little disappointed to discover that I can't find information on AncestryLibrary as easily as I would hope to.  Today, I was trying to assist someone who sent a research request from the website with information about her great-grandfather.  Even when I would enter the exact date of birth and death and location where he had lived, my top results would still be for a different Thomas Callahan with a different date of birth/death and a different state than I had mentioned.  I cannot figure out why it doesn't limit the results more efficiently.  I know I must be doing something wrong, but I can't figure it out.

I plan to use information from World Book and SIRS Discoverer when planning for Storytime.  I can also direct students to these resources when they are conducting research for papers.  If the students are older, I will also direct them to ProQuest.  I think they will be impressed to see that these resources not only provide information, but also provide citation guidance. 

I hope to broaden my experience with the Electronic Resources as time goes on.  I'm excited to learn how to use them more effectively in our class this summer in order to help fill the information needs of our patrons/guests.