NOVELNY
Databases
Your Name
Your School
Date
A presentation for middle school teachers and administrators
This product was supported by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of
Museum and Library Services. Southern Westchester BOCES School Library System.
Welcome
Please introduce yourself and
share one goal you have for
this workshop.
You will learn…
To successfully access NOVELNY databases
 To choose specific databases for your
information need
 To use special features to narrow and refine
their searches
 The benefits of accessing online databases

Agenda

Welcome and Introductions


The NOVELNY Databases


What are these databases?
Types of Resources and Information


Who are we and what do we want to learn?
What do they contain?
Wrap-Up

How can I use NOVELNY databases with my
students?
Have you ever wondered?

How can I find reliable health information?

Where can my students find information on why
immigrants come to the United States or who
were the prominent leaders of the civil rights
movement ?

Where can I find good primary sources for my
unit on the Civil War?
NOVELNY
The New York State
Online Virtual
Electronic Library
NOVELNY Databases

An electronic collection of books, e-journals, full-text
magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias, and other
databases licensed on a statewide basis for free public
access through local libraries and remote locations such
as home, school, and office


A source of high-quality, reliable, up-to-date information available
only through licensing/subscription (not available free on the
Internet).
Levels the playing field for all New Yorkers by permitting
individuals to share access to the same resources regardless of
economic, geographic, or physical circumstances.
NOVELNY Databases
Business & Company Resources Center —
global business information including over 300,000 company
profiles,
 Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) —
contains full-text entries found in nine searchable
online reference titles focusing on health and history.

These reference titles include Gale Encyclopedia of
Alternative Medicine, Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer, Gale
Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders, Gale Encyclopedia of
Medicine, Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health,
American Revolution Reference Library, American Civil War
Reference Library, Major Acts of Congress, and History
Behind the Headlines.
General Science Collection —
provides information on all aspects of the scientific
world and offers full-text coverage for more than 60 of
the most popular science publications.

Health and Wellness Resource Center — a source
for both medical care professionals and consumers
concerning important current health information.
full text of over 650 journals and many reference services

Informé Revistas en Español — specifically
designed to meet the research needs of Spanish speaking
Users; 40 full text Spanish language
and bilingual magazine journals, reports and
maps; a total of over 75,000 articles are updated daily.

InfoTrac Custom Newspapers — offers over 150
full text newspapers including New York State
newspapers and the New York Times full text for the
current year.

InfoTrac Junior — especially designed for junior
high and middle schools. It features hundreds of titles
most critical to school libraries and the curriculum.
This database includes hundreds of full text newspaper
articles from the Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service and
more than 300 full color Rand McNally maps.

.
National Newspaper Index — provides indexing
(1977—present) of America’s top five newspapers;
the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science
Monitor, Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post.

Primary Search via Searchasaurus—designed
specifically for the young researcher, it contains full
text for more than 60 popular, elementary school
magazines. All full text articles are assigned a reading
level. It also features 30 full text student reference
books, including Funk & Wagnals Encyclopedia and the
American Heritage Dictionary. An image collection
contains over 100,000 photos, maps and flags in
addition to full text access to the Encyclopedia of
Animals.

Topic Search — This current events database allows
researchers to explore social, political and economic
issues, scientific discoveries and other topics. There is
full text for over 64,000 articles and more than 3,000
diverse sources, including international and regional
newspapers.

Twayne’s Author Series — features the content of
over 600 books that comprise three print series—
United States Authors, English Authors and World
Authors. This series is devoted to literary critical
interpretation and discussion for readers ranging from
high school students through college and above.

MasterFILE Select — contains full text for nearly
750 periodicals covering general reference, business,
health, education, general science, multicultural issues
and much more. This resource also includes full text
for more than 1,200 pamphlets, 40 reference books,
6,900 Magill Book Reviews and includes Essential
Documents in American History—U.S. Constitution,
Speeches and more.

Your students are beginning a research project on
rocks. They have thought about what they want
to know and have developed questions to
research.
Let’s start with InfoTrac Junior Edition K-12…
InfoTrac Junior
This database is specially designed for junior
high and middle schools. It features hundreds of
titles most critical to school libraries and the
curriculum.
This database includes hundreds of full text
newspaper articles from the Knight-Ridder/
Tribune News Service and more than 300 full
color Rand McNally maps.

Since the term “rocks” is
too broad, it provides a
listing of sub-headings
and the type of
information available to
help students narrow
down their search.
Let’s look at another database
Informé Revistas en Español — specifically
designed to meet the research needs of Spanish
speaking users; 40 full text Spanish language
and bilingual magazine journals, reports and
maps; a total of over 75,000 articles are updated daily.
How does NOVELNY
compare to searching on
Google?
What’s the difference between Google
and the NOVELNY databases?
Internet
 Anyone can publish
– not necessarily authoritative

Is free to everyone
For the most part, it is targeted to
adults

Uses key words

Cannot limit by reading level

NOVELNY Databases
 Contains up-to-date, reliable
information -- magazines,
newspapers, and encyclopedia
articles…– authoritative sources
 Is free to NYS citizens
 Has specially designed searching
screens and databases for
children and young adults
 Uses key words and controlled
vocabulary (subject headings) to
help uses find what they want
 Some databases can be limited by
reading level
How to Access NOVELNY Databases
IMPORTANT: Type in the local information on how to
access NOVELNY databases via public and/or school
libraries including the URL, IDs and Passwords
Reminder: The access information is on the NOVELNY brochure
you received as a handout
What you have learned
To successfully access NOVELNY
databases
 To choose specific databases for your
information need
 To use special features to narrow and
refine their searches
 The benefits of accessing online
databases

Wrap-Up
What curriculum units are best to integrate
NOVELNY Databases?
 What challenges exist?
 What are the next steps?

Go home and try this yourself:
Hand-outs to help you search NOVELNY



You are a 7th grade student learning about African
American literature. You have chosen to research the
author, Langston Hughes. (Hint: Check out the Twayne
Authors Series)
You are an 8th grade student and you would like to find
out some information on the about world relief efforts to
help victims of the most recent tsunami. (Hint: Look in
Topic Search)
You are researching the culture of the Plains Indians,
specifically the role of women. (Hint: Look in
InfoTrac/Junior Edition K-12
Thank-You!
Email me with your
questions (add your email address here)