Make sure your research is complete with verified sources. Databases are collections of trustworthy information about a single theme. For example, the InfoTrac Custom Newspaper database focuses on full-text coverage of over 100 newspapers in the U.S. and worldwide. Heritage Quest Online can help you find information about people and places from more than 1.9 million genealogy and local history articles.
You might ask why you cannot use any or every result that your search engine returns. (aka Google or Yahoo) Three very good reasons: 1) everything on the web isn't reliable. Wouldn't you rather have your 4th grader browsing through the Searchasaurus, a kid-friendly database specifically for elementary school children? 2) Everything on the web isn't free. It takes time and judgment to look at a website, determine if its content is good, its sources knowledgeable, and its links and references updated and working. In good databases, people are paid salaries to make sure all this is done well. 3) Everything on the web isn't easy to find. Have you ever tried to find something on Google and had thousands of returns? Or none at all? It might be easy to find the American Diabetes Association but maybe not so simple when you're holding three different kinds of prescription bottles in your hand and wondering how they'll interact. (Tip, try TexShare Database Consumer Health Complete, in English or Spanish.)
It is very tempting to use an ordinary Internet search or wikipedia for your research, but these sources are not verified. How frustrating to spend your time and energy on a paper, and find out your information is not correct. When you need the real deal in your research and want some of the best online tools available, use your local public library's access to the Texas State Library's TexShare databases.
All it takes is a user name and password that can be issued to you from your public library. Some of the great databases included through the Pittsburg Camp County Public Library include Ebsco’s Masterfile Premier, Student Research Center, Kids Search and Enhanced Business Search. There is Academic Search Premier, Military and Government Collection, Newspaper Source, Religion and Philosophy Collection, Psychology and Behavioral Science Collection, Vocational and Career Collection, Business Source Complete, Regional Business News, Bibliography of Native North Americans, World History Collection, Alt Health Watch, Ebsco Consumer Health Complete, Contemporary Authors, and 20th Century Poetry Collections.
You can also use Netlibrary to check out your ebooks to read online. This is an excellent tool for researching a few pages within a book. There are thousands of titles available on Netlibrary's online service.
Call the library; ask what you need to do to get started, and point your browsers to http://libraryoftexas.org. Log in, click on TexShare Database Menu and start your research. This service can be used in the library or at your home. Take advantage of all your public library has to offer you.
Remember to come by the library on Thursday mornings from 9am until 11am for “Coffee with the Friends”. For information about the Friends of the Library Group, or the Pittsburg-Camp County Public library, please call 903-856-3302 or email pccpl@sbcglobal.net. Stop by and check it out at 613 Quitman Street, Pittsburg, TX 75686.
Pittsburg-Camp County Public Library
Monday, March 23, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Library Corner March 5, 2009
This week we have discussed signs you should not have to post in public places and some signs we are grateful that are posted. Some are funny, some are not, but these are just a few to get the conversation started.
“Turn off your cell phone” falls into both categories. We should all know to turn off (or put on silent) cell phones for church, funerals, speaking engagements, weddings, public meetings, the library, school, etc. We also know that as much as we use our cell phones, it becomes an extension of us, and we are grateful for those reminders.
These same places should not have to post a sign to ‘use your indoor voice.’ And we should all know not to share our private and intimate relationships by letting the entire building overhear your cell phone conversation with or about your sweetie while you are not using your indoor voice.
One sign that should not have to be posted in public is to ‘pull your pants up in the back or your shirt down in the back to avoid embarrassing situations’. Invariably, the person who needs this sign is nearly always sitting at a public computer in the library (in my line of sight). We do not need to know your personal
business, including the color of your underwear. Thank you for covering up.
New non-fiction books are: “The Complete Idiot's Guide To Creating A Website” by Paul McFedries; “The African American Experience In Cyberspace: A Resource Guide To The Best Websites On Black Culture And History” by Abdul Alkalimat; “Uncommon: Finding Your Path To Significance” by Tony Dungy; “Guilty: Liberal "Victims" And Their Assault On America” by Ann H. Coulter; “The Big Rich: The Rise And Fall Of The Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes” by Bryan Burrough; “The Green Wedding Guide: Creating A Celebration That's Elegant And Ethical” by Valerie Edmunds; “The Everything Green Wedding Book: Plan An Elegant, Affordable, Earth-Friendly Wedding” by Wenona Napolitano; “Prevention 2008 Shortcuts To Big Weight Loss: Slim Your Belly, Butt, And Thighs--And Get Fit Twice As Fast” by Chris Freytag; and “What's Age Got To Do With It?: Living Your Healthiest And Happiest Life” by Robin McGraw.
New fiction books include: “Best African American Fiction” no author; “Black Ops” by W.E.B. Griffin; “The Associate” by John Grisham; “Basketball Jones” by E. Lynn Harris; “Heart And Soul” by Maeve Binchy; “Fire And Ice” by Julie Garwood; “Stepping Into Sunlight” by Sharon Hinck; “This Side Of Heaven” by Karen Kingsbury; “Running Hot” by Jayne Ann Krentz; and “The Second Opinion” by Michael Palmer.
For more information, renewals, reserves, or to submit memorials, please contact the Public Library at 613 Quitman Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686, 903-856-3302 or email us at pccpl@sbcglobal.net.
“Turn off your cell phone” falls into both categories. We should all know to turn off (or put on silent) cell phones for church, funerals, speaking engagements, weddings, public meetings, the library, school, etc. We also know that as much as we use our cell phones, it becomes an extension of us, and we are grateful for those reminders.
These same places should not have to post a sign to ‘use your indoor voice.’ And we should all know not to share our private and intimate relationships by letting the entire building overhear your cell phone conversation with or about your sweetie while you are not using your indoor voice.
One sign that should not have to be posted in public is to ‘pull your pants up in the back or your shirt down in the back to avoid embarrassing situations’. Invariably, the person who needs this sign is nearly always sitting at a public computer in the library (in my line of sight). We do not need to know your personal
business, including the color of your underwear. Thank you for covering up.
New non-fiction books are: “The Complete Idiot's Guide To Creating A Website” by Paul McFedries; “The African American Experience In Cyberspace: A Resource Guide To The Best Websites On Black Culture And History” by Abdul Alkalimat; “Uncommon: Finding Your Path To Significance” by Tony Dungy; “Guilty: Liberal "Victims" And Their Assault On America” by Ann H. Coulter; “The Big Rich: The Rise And Fall Of The Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes” by Bryan Burrough; “The Green Wedding Guide: Creating A Celebration That's Elegant And Ethical” by Valerie Edmunds; “The Everything Green Wedding Book: Plan An Elegant, Affordable, Earth-Friendly Wedding” by Wenona Napolitano; “Prevention 2008 Shortcuts To Big Weight Loss: Slim Your Belly, Butt, And Thighs--And Get Fit Twice As Fast” by Chris Freytag; and “What's Age Got To Do With It?: Living Your Healthiest And Happiest Life” by Robin McGraw.
New fiction books include: “Best African American Fiction” no author; “Black Ops” by W.E.B. Griffin; “The Associate” by John Grisham; “Basketball Jones” by E. Lynn Harris; “Heart And Soul” by Maeve Binchy; “Fire And Ice” by Julie Garwood; “Stepping Into Sunlight” by Sharon Hinck; “This Side Of Heaven” by Karen Kingsbury; “Running Hot” by Jayne Ann Krentz; and “The Second Opinion” by Michael Palmer.
For more information, renewals, reserves, or to submit memorials, please contact the Public Library at 613 Quitman Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686, 903-856-3302 or email us at pccpl@sbcglobal.net.
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