Have to keep it

We've only had this database for a year. It isn't getting widespread use. I thought we might cancel it but I want to give it another year.

There is a monthly report sent with statistics on use of Garden Literature Index. The index is noted on the student survey at the end of each class (for every program not just horticulture). Folks are using the database - just not enough folks.

There are tons of articles in Garden Literature Index. They are helpful for every type of gardener not just the pros!

• It does have full text articles. You can limit your search by clicking on full text.
• It does not have a link to see what publications are used. You can figure that out by doing a search and scrolling through the articles pulled up.

GALILEO

....Databases A-Z

......Jump to G

........Garden Literature Index

The real thing

Researchers thrive on primary resources - the original document and not some interpretation or synopsis or.....but the real thing! Most of us can't get to the primary sources. GALILEO offers us a chance to read the original document.

Annals of American History Online includes the full text of over 2000 primary documents in American history, including historical accounts, speeches, memoirs, poems, editorials, landmark court decisions, and cultural criticism. The resource also has multimedia files, including more than 500 pictures and hundreds of video and audio clips of famous speeches. This chronicle may be explored year by year using a timeline dating from 1493 to 2002, browsed by author or topic, or searched by keyword.

I will admit to some frustration with this database. I'm trying to find primary sources for Martin Luther King - for the celebration on Monday.

• He's not listed by author.
• I didn't find him under Civil Rights leaders.
• I searched under the time period 1961-1968: The Burdens of World power- limited to multimedia and scrolling way down the list found a video clip Civil Rights Leaders: Martin Luther King

It's not intuitive and the search boxes I'm using aren't pulling up what I'm sure must be in there..... if you have any tips on using this database- please share. It looks like it should be chock full of great information but getting it seems to be a problem.

Habla Espanol

There are resources available in GALILEO for those who read in Spanish or would like to practice their Spanish.

One resource is "Enciclopedia Universal en Español database includes more than 47,000 articles and 8,300 photographs and images. The resource also includes a Spanish-language dictionary with more than 65,000 entries. Most articles are brief or of moderate length and discuss people, places, institutions, things, or concepts. Longer articles are divided into separate sections for easier access and more accurate searching. Special features include an atlas that focuses on world countries, maps, and statistics; major world cities; and distribution of languages & religions and also a timelines that outline general history plus art and cultural history. "

When you type spanish in the Find a Database box - 6 specific sources will show up.

The password for home use of GALILEO is available to the citizens of Georgia from your librarian. Some resources noted in this BLOG are only available to NMTC patrons.

Narrowing the field

GALILEO offers so much information. It seems hard to narrow down what you're looking for to a manageable level.

In ProQuest, there is a subset database "Career & Technical Education (a ProQuest database) which contains over 400 titles, all in full text and many in full image, which contain the charts, diagrams, graphs, tables, photos, and other graphics originally published with the text. Subjects include automobile, electronic, and computer technology; the building trades; graphic arts; medicine, nursing, and pharmacy; child care; food service and hotel management; office skills; veterinary technology; retail work; public safety; and other practical studies. "

In bold are program areas offered at NMTC.

GALILEO
...Find a Database box on the front page
....type in Career & Technical Education

What site?

• Faculty recommend a web site that will be helpful for a program.
• Faculty hand out lists of web sites that will be helpful.

Who remembers them?

You can find web sites for some NMTC programs by going to http://del.icio.us/NMTC_Librarian
The web sites are arranged by program area.

It's a growing resource for the programs at NMTC.