The Distant Librarian mentioned oSkope. The Distant Librarian asked "Would a display like this make it more "fun" to use the library catalogue? "
oSkope is self described as "a search assistant with a highly intuitive visual interface. oSkope lets you browse quickly through a large number of images and preview information with minimal paging. Selected items can be saved by registered users. In its beta version, oSkope allows to search for products and images on popular web services like Amazon, Ebay, YouTube or Flickr. More services will be added soon."
I'm playing with it- on this Friday morning it seems to take awhile but it is pulling pictures. I selected Amazon- figuring I'd find books and videos. I did a search for "Roald Dahl" once without quotes, once with. Didn't seem to make a difference.
It pulled up some interesting tumblers and moisturizer. I couldn't figure out what the tie was to Mr. Dahl. I do like the book covers and the way the cursor makes the picture jump out with a box of information next to it.
For me this is a "visual search" using pictures to define/describe what I'm looking for. Will it replace my use of WorldCat or my local catalog?
Not likely in its present incarnation though it definitely is a visual search for those who think the cover helps describe the content.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
How far is it?
The first question when planning a trip is followed by "how long will it take to get there"? The road maps distributed at Welcome Stations can help answer the first question but the second question is usually a guess. Travel time variables are like the weather- changing!
Once you get to your destination, the local Chamber usually has a local map that helps you figure out how to get around the community.
Comparing road maps can be a fun activity before a trip. Noting the new roads, being reminded of back roads that just might be quicker because they are less congested.
How can you get older local maps to be able to compare the changes in the area?
In GALILEO the Sanborn® Fire Insurance Maps for Georgia Towns and Cities, 1884-1922 consists of 4,445 maps by the Sanborn Map Company depicting commercial, industrial, and residential areas for 133 municipalities. There are maps for small towns that you might not find a map for today!
Go to the Sanborn maps, type in the city you're interested in and look at the number of maps that are retrieved. Searching for Americus retrieved 70 hits. The first four referred to Albany but then you see Americus from 1885.
Comparing maps is a lesson in urban growth.
You can get the password for home use of GALILEO from your Georgia librarian!
Once you get to your destination, the local Chamber usually has a local map that helps you figure out how to get around the community.
Comparing road maps can be a fun activity before a trip. Noting the new roads, being reminded of back roads that just might be quicker because they are less congested.
How can you get older local maps to be able to compare the changes in the area?
In GALILEO the Sanborn® Fire Insurance Maps for Georgia Towns and Cities, 1884-1922 consists of 4,445 maps by the Sanborn Map Company depicting commercial, industrial, and residential areas for 133 municipalities. There are maps for small towns that you might not find a map for today!
Go to the Sanborn maps, type in the city you're interested in and look at the number of maps that are retrieved. Searching for Americus retrieved 70 hits. The first four referred to Albany but then you see Americus from 1885.
Comparing maps is a lesson in urban growth.
You can get the password for home use of GALILEO from your Georgia librarian!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
How do you remember?
Yesterday was a day of remembering and honoring those who died when we were attacked.
What did you do to remember 9/11?
I used the new search function in GALILEO Beta to pull up articles about 9/11. How nice to easily limit my search and to add Newspaper Source, Google, and Google Scholar.
What popped out is the way Google and Google Scholar display results - so random. The contrast with Academic Search Premier and Research Library might convince students that the subscription databases actually make it easier to find timely articles.
I noticed the Print Results, Save Results, and best of all E-mail Results at the top of the search results. I don't remember that from the "old" GALILEO. It could be I'm looking more closely because it's Beta. I like that I can e-mail the results to myself or my study group.
Go test out the Beta GALILEO scholar. It's a work in progress. The items available now are pretty impressive. When it rolls out as complete I think you'll be blown away!
The password for home use of GALILEO is available from your Georgia librarian.
What did you do to remember 9/11?
I used the new search function in GALILEO Beta to pull up articles about 9/11. How nice to easily limit my search and to add Newspaper Source, Google, and Google Scholar.
What popped out is the way Google and Google Scholar display results - so random. The contrast with Academic Search Premier and Research Library might convince students that the subscription databases actually make it easier to find timely articles.
I noticed the Print Results, Save Results, and best of all E-mail Results at the top of the search results. I don't remember that from the "old" GALILEO. It could be I'm looking more closely because it's Beta. I like that I can e-mail the results to myself or my study group.
Go test out the Beta GALILEO scholar. It's a work in progress. The items available now are pretty impressive. When it rolls out as complete I think you'll be blown away!
The password for home use of GALILEO is available from your Georgia librarian.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
E- books
You know you want to access a book, not just an article, on-line from home. How do you find an electronic book?
Karen Minton at GALILEO sent an e-mail noting : " E-Books Index, an OCLC FirstSearch database, has been added to GALILEO database menus.
E-Books Index includes records for more than 450,000 eBooks that have been cataloged by OCLC member libraries, including titles available from NetLibrary and other providers."
I did a search, limiting the results to NetLibrary because that's what NMTC has purchased and voila - I can open up the title right there. A third access point to the electronic book collection. The two other access points are NetLibrary and our catalog.
If you see a title you'd like to use but it's not part of our library collection - look for a print edition and order it through interlibrary loan or if you're willing to drive to the owning library's location and use their computers you can access the title online.
As the sayings go "all roads lead to Rome" or "there are many ways to skin a cat".
Get the password to use GALILEO at home from your Georgia librarian.
Karen Minton at GALILEO sent an e-mail noting : " E-Books Index, an OCLC FirstSearch database, has been added to GALILEO database menus.
E-Books Index includes records for more than 450,000 eBooks that have been cataloged by OCLC member libraries, including titles available from NetLibrary and other providers."
I did a search, limiting the results to NetLibrary because that's what NMTC has purchased and voila - I can open up the title right there. A third access point to the electronic book collection. The two other access points are NetLibrary and our catalog.
If you see a title you'd like to use but it's not part of our library collection - look for a print edition and order it through interlibrary loan or if you're willing to drive to the owning library's location and use their computers you can access the title online.
As the sayings go "all roads lead to Rome" or "there are many ways to skin a cat".
Get the password to use GALILEO at home from your Georgia librarian.
A dillar, a dollar, a ten o'clock scholar
That childrens rhyme ran through my head as I scrolled through the GALILEO Scholar Beta site and ran across the Google Scholar link. It's on the complete list for an individual search as well as the list of databases one can select to search.
I have heard that Google Scholar will pull up materials from proprietary databases (like those done by Ebsco and ProQuest) but you can't access the articles because you don't have access to the subscription. I wonder if because I'm going through GALILEO, I'll be able to get to the article...I doubt it because I'm not "in" GALILEO (no GALILEO banner)
Testing, testing....
I used the phrase "time warp trio" in Academic Search Complete by Ebsco and in Google Scholar. They pulled up very different items. Hmm..
Back arrowing out of Google Scholar returns me to GALILEO .
Handy to have.
I have heard that Google Scholar will pull up materials from proprietary databases (like those done by Ebsco and ProQuest) but you can't access the articles because you don't have access to the subscription. I wonder if because I'm going through GALILEO, I'll be able to get to the article...I doubt it because I'm not "in" GALILEO (no GALILEO banner)
Testing, testing....
I used the phrase "time warp trio" in Academic Search Complete by Ebsco and in Google Scholar. They pulled up very different items. Hmm..
Back arrowing out of Google Scholar returns me to GALILEO .
Handy to have.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Exploring
Have you tried the Beta version of GALILEO Academic?
When you log on to our portion of GALILEO Academic, there is a lovely bright orange link to the beta version.
Beta means - not finished yet, testing, trying it out, making sure everything works. The more complete GALILEO will go into production in December.
That gives us 3 months to play, explore, look carefully and let the folks at GALILEO know what we think.
They can't do everything we might wish but they can do a lot- if we just let them know what works well as we're searching for information.
When I got up this morning I did a little looking around. I like that the Search feature highlights the "Try These First" with the big boys Ebsco and ProQuest along with the Encyclopedia Britannica.
A little history : When Quick Search was implemented, folks complained that they couldn't limit the quick search to their favorite ProQuest or Ebsco databases from the home page (these two were prominently displayed as options on the home page pre Quick Search).
This new search feature seems to have answered that concern! See, they are listening.
Go and explore- if you find something you like- tell them. If you find something you wish were a bit different - tell them.
And no, I don't work for GALILEO but I do treasure it as a fantastic resource. Georgians have no idea how fortunate they are to have this available to them.
Get the current password for home use of GALILEO from your Georgia librarian.
When you log on to our portion of GALILEO Academic, there is a lovely bright orange link to the beta version.
Beta means - not finished yet, testing, trying it out, making sure everything works. The more complete GALILEO will go into production in December.
That gives us 3 months to play, explore, look carefully and let the folks at GALILEO know what we think.
They can't do everything we might wish but they can do a lot- if we just let them know what works well as we're searching for information.
When I got up this morning I did a little looking around. I like that the Search feature highlights the "Try These First" with the big boys Ebsco and ProQuest along with the Encyclopedia Britannica.
A little history : When Quick Search was implemented, folks complained that they couldn't limit the quick search to their favorite ProQuest or Ebsco databases from the home page (these two were prominently displayed as options on the home page pre Quick Search).
This new search feature seems to have answered that concern! See, they are listening.
Go and explore- if you find something you like- tell them. If you find something you wish were a bit different - tell them.
And no, I don't work for GALILEO but I do treasure it as a fantastic resource. Georgians have no idea how fortunate they are to have this available to them.
Get the current password for home use of GALILEO from your Georgia librarian.
Just like Christmas
Waiting, anticipating, wishing, waiting some more, will the day ever arrive? Some have been waiting for the "new" and "improved" GALILEO to be unveiled.
The wait is over. The scholar interface is here.Wow! The look is intuitive. The color is cool and crisp. I've only been able to play for a few minutes but so far so good.
Look at the search tab- the "Try These First" includes the Encyclopedia Britannica (which is todays spotlighted database). That's very helpful if you're not positive you know the basics about your topic. Going to the Encyclopedia can build your foundation of working knowledge.
Oh boy! I'm going to explore today! I hope you will too.
You will need the current password to use GALILEO at home. Ask your Georgia librarian for the password.
The wait is over. The scholar interface is here.Wow! The look is intuitive. The color is cool and crisp. I've only been able to play for a few minutes but so far so good.
Look at the search tab- the "Try These First" includes the Encyclopedia Britannica (which is todays spotlighted database). That's very helpful if you're not positive you know the basics about your topic. Going to the Encyclopedia can build your foundation of working knowledge.
Oh boy! I'm going to explore today! I hope you will too.
You will need the current password to use GALILEO at home. Ask your Georgia librarian for the password.
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