College Scholarships Subscription Database

6.  College Scholarships Subscription Database Review

Type: Subscription Database Review (Scholarships)
Link: http://www.collegescholarships.org/
Ages: 15+

Overview: This website is good for high school aged teenagers who want to find scholarships that will pay for college based on various merits. This organization lists thousands of scholarships for high school students applying for college. They are scholarships from all over the nation.

Critical Evaluation: The library should add this to the online collection, as part of a link on the public library site for Young Adults.  The website is easy to use, however, students should be aware of the ads that can be deceptive and also have links for scholarships.  . These are sometimes located at the bottom or right side of the page and have scholarship links in blue block shapes.  Be careful and wary of these links because half are legitimate sites, but the other half want you to buy their 'information' for scholarships.

The useful portion of the website has some good links and information regarding scholarships.  No matter what your criteria, the user is able to look for scholarships based on Subject, by State or by Type.  Most of the useful links are located on the left side of the website so they are easy to locate.  

Booktalking Ideas: An idea for a book talk would be to highlight free money that students can receive if they spend some time applying for these scholarships.

Challenge Issues:

• None

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Be familiar with the themes in the material and how they relate to young adults today.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.

Points of View Reference Center Subscription

25. Points of View Reference Center Subscription Review

Type: Subscription Database
Title: Points of View Reference Center
Ages: 15 and up

Summary: A full-text database designed to provide students with a series of essays that present multiple sides of a current issue. The database provides more than 280 topics, each with an overview (objective background/description), point (argument), counterpoint (opposing argument), and Critical Thinking Guide.

Critical Evaluation: This subscription is very unique because it provides the type of information that you don't find in your standard textbooks.  What teens will really take advantage is the hot topic issues in the United States today. Topics like Immigration, Abortion, Citizens Rights, Foreign Policy, and Religion.  By providing essays that provide both sides of the argument, students can learn the facts and make their own choices in life on where they stand.

This subscription can specifically help high school students who usually have to pick a hot topic issue and argue for a certain position. These essays can help students point them in the right direction and expand their knowledge on all these topics.

Challenge Issues:

• None

Challenge Ideas: 

• Be familiar with the themes in the material and how they relate to young adults today.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.

Science Online Subscription Database

14. Science Online Subscription Database

Type: Subscription Database

Title: Science Online
Link: http://www.fofweb.com.sdplproxy.sandiego.gov/Science/default.asp
Ages: 15 and up

Reader's Annotation: Need research for your science project? Visit the Science Online Database for articles experiments and other great resources. 

Summary:  For students and teachers.  This database has printable diagrams, definitions, biographies, experiments, timelines, and essays in specific subject areas such as earth science, biology, chemistry, weather and more.

Critical Evaluation: This is a great resources for students who need help in their science projects or are working on a research paper in the subject of science, ecology and conservation. Also, this free resource can also help students learn the different science topics because of the different diagrams and definitions provided.  Sample topics include Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Forensic Science, Marine Science, Mathematics, Physics, Space and Astronomy, and Weather and Culture. The database is really easy to use, and students will get a lot of use from this, rather than going to Google and trying to look up information on their own through unreliable sources.

Challenge Issues:

• None

Challenge Ideas:

• Science Subscriptions are a much needed resources for teenagers.
• Be familiar with the themes in the material and how they relate to young adults today.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.  

Academic Search Complete Database

35. Academic Search Complete Subscription Database Review

Type: Subscription Database

Name: Academic Search Complete - EBSCO Host

Ages: 12 and up

Reader's Annotation: Need help finding academic journals? Use the Academic Search Complete Database to help you finish your school homework.

Summary: The world's most valuable and comprehensive scholarly, multi-disciplinary full-text database, with more than 8,500 full-text periodicals, including more than 7,300 peer-reviewed journals.

Critical Evaluation: This database is great for teenagers to use, because it has a lot of useful academic journals that students can use for their own research projects.  This subscription will be good for students because most colleges and universities subscribe to this database. Getting students familiar with this database will get them ready for researching once they go towards the next academic level. 

What makes this database better than others is that viewers are able to see the actual journal article in PDF form and instantly.  Also, they have good search results options in order to refine a search.  Items like limiting the results by magazines, journal articles, book reviews, trade publications or newspapers.  

Challenge Issues: None

Challenge Defense Ideas: 

• This full-text database is great for students who are writing a research paper and need quality references.
• Be familiar with the themes in the book and how they relate to children today.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.

Edmodo Subscription Review

Edmodo.com About Page

33. Edmodo.com Subscription Review

Type: Subscription Review
Title: Edmodo
Link: http://www.edmodo.com
Ages: 12 and up

Reader's Annotation: Join over 34 million teachers and students safely connecting in online classrooms, collaborating on assignments, discovering new resources, and more!

Summary: This website is similar to a social networking site in that students and kids can communicate online and post about school homework, messages, and links.  It's purely online and many teachers use it.

Critical Evaluation: This free online social networking site is very useful for teachers to stay connected with students in and outside the classroom.  Teachers can post deadlines and assignments on the calendar, and each student has the ability to post to an assignment or status update.

What I like about this useful tool, is that Librarians can become relevant and have a bigger online social presence.  By creating their own online account, Librarians can assign summer reading during the long summer and post on the student's accounts.  They can also measure performance on a given assignment or by having students read a certain amount of books.  It's also very kid friendly and easy to use.

Challenge Issues:

• Students need to be reading not networking online.
• Money should be spent on books not on subscriptions.

Challenge Defense Ideas: 

• Be familiar with the themes in the material and how they relate to young adults today.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.  

Edmodo.com Features Page

World Book Encyclopedia

15.  World Book Info Finder Encyclopedia Subscription Database

Type: Subscription Database

Link: http://www.worldbook.com

Ages: 12 and up

Summary: This is the online encyclopedia that features millions of entries for United States and world history.  This encyclopedia has been printed since 1922 and is considered to be the #1 encyclopedia in the United States. The subscription version features is viewable in the library for free in the library, or at home if patrons have a library card.   

This is the online equivalent to the print encyclopedia, including a general encyclopedia, a Spanish encyclopedia, a Kids version of the encyclopedia, and an Advanced version with additional content. This database is the Public Library edition.

Critical Analysis: Whats great about this quick reference is that it features a ton of information.  Most libraries do pay for this subscription, but it would be in the best interests of your patrons to keep paying for it due to the access of information that they will receive from it.  

To buy this collection may be pricey, but the online version would highly used by teenagers if properly marketed in the library.  At home, patrons are able to use this database by inputting the library card and pin number and have access to the reference material.   

Challenge Issues: 

• Encyclopedias are old and are not good reference material. 
• Libraries should spend money on non-fiction books of various topics for teenagers. 

Challenge Defense Ideas: 

• Encyclopedias provide fast access to information. 
• Encyclopedias are a good resource for those that are leaning English as a second language. 
• Be familiar with the themes in the book and how they relate to children today.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.