Listen Up and Look Smart

ReadSpeaker technology and subject guide searching are now available for our Gale Virtual Reference Library users.

ReadSpeaker allows an entire article to be streamed as audio. With a click of a button, the text from a Gale Virtual Reference Library article can be read aloud via the user’s computer, making it accessible in a new way. These audio segments can also be saved as MP3 files for use on MP3 players for listening at a later time.

Subject Guide searching allows our users to search subjects across our entire Gale Virtual Reference Library collection in addition to the basic full text, keyword and title options.

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Brain Teaser – Mediterranean Islands

 
 Image “Mediterranean Castle under Siege from the Turks”, by Jan Peeters, courtesy of Credo Reference. Find out more about this image here.

We recently had a brainteaser about the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean contains a large number of islands, which are the subject of this new brainteaser. Use Credo Reference if you need help finding the answers.

1. Is Nicosia the capital of Crete, Cyprus or Malta?

2. What is the largest island in the Mediterranean?

3. Name one of the three chief Balearic Islands.

4. Most of the Aegean Islands are part of which country?

5. Are the Corsicans French, Italian or Spanish citizens?

6. Sardegna is the Italian name for which Mediterranean island?

7. On which Greek island was there a 30-meter high bronze statue called a Colossus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which was destroyed in an earthquake?

8. Which republic in the Mediterranean includes the islands of Gozo and Comino?

9. Which island group between Turkey and Crete has a name which means “12 islands”?

10. Which volcano in the Lipari islands is known as the “Lighthouse of the Mediterranean”?

Who is Sonia Sotomayor?

Looking for information to learn more about the latest Supreme Court nominee?  The Virtual Library can help.

Below is a pathfinder for finding magazine and newspaper articles as well as biographical information on Sonia Sotomayor.

• Using Databases A-Z  (our Federate search engine)
     
  • Uncheck Library Catalog (Currently the library does not own any books on Sotomayor)
  • Check the box next to Newspapers & Current Events, Magazines & Journal Articles and People
  • Enter search term Sonia in first search box
  • Enter search term Sotomayor in second search box
  • Click Go

• Results Page
  • Change the Results display mode from Group to Relevancy ranked
    
  • Scroll to view the results

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Younger students (K-6th grade) may want to try this search using the Kids Databases A-Z.
    
  • Uncheck Kids Online Catalog (Currently the library does not own any books on Sotomayor)
  • Check the box next to Newspapers & Magazines, People, and leave Quick Search checked.
  • Enter search term Sonia in first search box
  • Enter search term Sotomayor in second search box
  • Click Go
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Result Page appears
  • Change the Results display mode from Group to Relevancy ranked
    
  • Scroll to view the results

Searching the Deep Web

Experts say search engines such as Yahoo! and Google only pick up about 1% of the information available on the Internet. The rest of that information is considered to be hidden in the deep web, also referred to as the invisible web. So how can you find all the rest of this information? This list – 100 Useful Tips and Tools to Research the Deep Web offers 100 tips and tools to help you get the most out of your Internet searches.

College Saving Guide

Morningstar recently updated some specialized reports in Morningstar Investment Research Center.

Take a look at the completely revised and update College Savings Guide. Not only have they included their annual review of the best and worst 529 College Savings Plans, but also added material about alternative college-funding choices and tips for researching and managing college savings plans.

Even better, Morningstar Investment Research Center now includes data reports on all 529 Savings Plans–more than 80 in all. (Updated annually)

College Savings Guideand the 529 Savings Plans data pages are accessible via the Help & Education area.

In addition, the Quarterly Industry Report for the first quarter of 2009 is now posted to the Industries page.

Their industry experts give their take on the current market situation and provide their outlook on what market trends to expect in the coming months. You will also find the archived industry reports from 2007 and 2008 on the Industries page.