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  news @ the  Library


In this Issue: SEARCH ENGINE NEWS
  and Teens Vote for Favorite Book

1. IMSA 21st Century Information Fluency:

The IMSA 21st Century Information Fluency Team has introduced its new Search Wizard, featuring the nation's most popular search engine and new instructional enhancements. The Internet search tool uses the Google Public Service Search to bring results from today's most widely used search engine. But the real news is the instructional features.

∙       Common advanced search parameters with mouse-over explanations of what each parameter does and when you might use it.

∙       Links to expanded explanations of search tips and recommended MicroModules for deep dives into concepts.

∙       A visual display of your custom search query. As you type in the advanced search boxes, the actual Google search formula is being created before your eyes!

According to the IMSA press release, Search Wizard still delivers one stop shopping for searchers with tabs at the top of the page to help common search tasks such as Spell Check, Thesaurus Lookup, Evaluation Template, Citation Template, Internet Safety, FAQs and other Helpful Tips. The old search Wizard will be maintained until March 31st and then retired. Start using the new Search Wizard now by going to: http://21cif.imsa.edu/locate

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2. Google Scholar 

Google is beta testing a new search engine called Google Scholar. Designed to enable a search specifically for scholarly literature, including peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, abstracts and technical reports from all broad areas of research. For Google Scholar, go to: http://scholar.google.com

This may have some potential for educators and libraries. Google Scholar may be one way librarians can steer students towards quality online information.

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3.  New ERIC Website and Search Interface.

A new ERIC website was debuted in September. The new site provides users with increased search capabilities utilizing simple, streamlined retrieval methods to access the existing ERIC bibliographic database (1966-2004). The website provides users with the capability to save and rerun searches using the My ERIC personalization feature.

In October, ERIC introduced free full-text non-journal ERIC resources. These materials include more than 105,000 full-text documents authorized for electronic ERIC distribution during 1993-July 2004, previously sold through E*Subscribe from the ERIC Document Reproduction Service (EDRS). EDRS closed operations on September 30, 2004. This month, December, ERIC adds new bibliographic records and full-text journal and non-journal resources published in 2004. Newly indexed materials that are not available free-of-charge will be made accessible through database links to commercial sources. ERIC will continue to add features and enhancements to the system in the coming months. To view the new ERIC site go to:

http://www.eric.ed.gov

 

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  4. BOOKS AND  READING

Teens Vote for Favorite YA Book.  Teen readers across the country voted Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as their favorite book to take the #1 spot on the annual Teens' Top        Ten (TTT), sponsored by, The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). TTT is a part of YALSA's YA Galley Project, which facilitates access to advance copies of young adult books to national teen voting groups. Five teen voting groups, appointed by YALSA's YA Galley Committee as official Teens' Top Ten readers, evaluated books that were published from November 2003 to October 2004, and created a list of 44 nominations for the best new books for young adults. Teen voters across the country then cast ballots for their three favorites, creating 2004 Teens' Top Ten booklist of the best new books for young adults. TTT is coordinated by YALSA's YA Galley Committee whose members include Paulette Goodman, Kennedy Junior High School, Lisle.

Top Ten:

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling (Scholastic, 2003) Fantasy.

2. Eragon by Christopher Paolini (Knopf, 2003) Fantasy.

3. Pirates! by Celia Rees (Bloomsbury, 2003) Historical Fiction.

4. Trickster's Choice by Tamora Pierce (Random House, 2003) Fantasy.

5  Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (Chicken House/Scholastic, 2003) Fantasy.

6. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (Delacorte, 2004) Supernatural.

7. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (Bloomsbury, 2003) Fantasy.

8. Princess in Pink by Meg Cabot (HarperCollins, 2004) Realistic.

9. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler (Candlewick, 2003) Realistic.

10. Curse of the Blue Tattoo by L.A. Meyer (Harcourt, 2004) Historical Fiction.

 

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