Spotlight On World Book Advanced

World Book Advanced is the digital version of the big encyclopedia sets we used in the days before Google. Instead of pulling the A book off the shelf to look up information about the Artic, you can search World Book Advanced. You can also find media clips for various topics that would not be available in our print encyclopedias.  

World Book Advanced can give you reliable answers to those random Google questions, like “how much would I weigh on the moon?” World Book Advanced is also helpful for gaining background information on historical events, animals, geography, famous people (past and present), literature, music, and so much more. If you don’t know where to begin when researching your topic, try looking it up in World Book Advanced first. After reading some encyclopedia entries, you can narrow your topic or find additional ideas related to your topic. A basic search will bring up encyclopedia entries, back in time pieces, images, as well as other media like graphs, tables, and videos.  

The homepage of World Book Advanced has options to look up current events, showcased events based on the background images, and access to their research and resources. You may want to check out some of the research and resources options like behind the headlines which explains in more detail major news stories or pathfinders which give lists or primary and secondary sources on a particular topic. If you are looking to increase your knowledge for trivia, you might try the interactive maps, today in history, or compare places. Although these options may not be as helpful for in depth research, they will definitely be beneficial for background information gathering.  

You can access World Book Advanced through the library’s Databases, E-Books, and Media quick link; scroll until you find World Book Advanced or use the letter filters to speed the process. You will also find World Book Advanced listed on the Additional Resources tab of many of our Research Guides.  

Spotlight On Transparent Language Online

Want to learn a foreign language or need help studying for your French test? Transparent Language Online may be just the database for you. In order to use Transparent Language Online, you will need to create a free account. This can be completed when you first open the Transparent Language Online database link. You can find the link for Transparent Language Online through clicking on the library’s Database, E-Books, and Media quick link, then scroll until you find Transparent Language Online or use the letter filters to speed your search.  

After you have your free account, you can start learning. Choose a language and dialect (if applicable) to learn, and Transparent Language Online will set up a learning pathway for you. Your dashboard has your new lessons, vocabulary tracker, practice games and activities, and a goal tracker. You can use the practice games anytime you want to refresh your memory and brush up on your skills. Add new vocabulary to your vocabulary tracker to maintain motivation. Set content learning time goals to stay on track with your learning.  

KidSpeak is another Transparent Language Online option geared for children that immerse children in a foreign language. In KidSpeak, users play games and solve puzzles in the language of their choice while also learning common phrases typically used to express their needs. Each traditional lesson includes vocabulary practice, in which you listen to a native speaker and then say and read the words yourself. Various activities such as matching, recitation, multiple choice and flash cards are used to reinforce learning.  

Transparent Language Online has over 100 languages to choose from and learn. You can also download a mobile app for iPhone or Androids and learn on the go. So, what are you waiting for? Check out Transparent Language Online and start learning!

Spotlight on Respondus

Respondus is a program intended to prevent online cheating on tests. The library computers are equipped with Respondus so that students can use this lockdown browser for testing.

Here’s how to use Respondus on a library desktop computer:

• Respondus is installed on the desktops of all the library’s computers. It looks like a padlock.
• After signing onto a library computer, students should double-click on the padlock.
• The window which opens looks like an Explorer or Firefox window, and prompts them to login to Canvas.
• Once they have logged in to Canvas, they can then take their quiz or test.

Spotlight On Career Prep Database

Union’s Vocatio Center is a great resource for career help, but did you know we also have a database that can help, too? Peterson’s Career Prep or Career Prep has information on different jobs, job recommendations based on your personality, and tools for creating a resume.  

Career Prep requires you to create a free account that you can continue using after you leave Union. After completing a few assessments about personality, work habits, values, etc., Career Prep gives you job fields and specific job recommendations based on your assessment scores. Filter the results for those that strongly match your personality and get insight into what the job really is.  

Getting ready to graduate or applying for a job? Use Career Prep’s resume builder to easily create a shareable resume. Add your experiences into the resume builder and let it do the formatting for you. Career Prep allows you to download your resume or get a shareable link to share with potential employers or on job applications. Career Prep saves your information, so as your experience changes, simply upload the new information. Career Prep can also help you write a cover letter both through cover letter templates and writing tips.  

Additional information about the job application process, finding a career, landing the job, and thriving in your new position are available in the advice portion of Career Prep.  

You can access Career Prep by visiting the library Database, E-Books, and Media Quick Link, then searching for Career Prep. 

Spotlight On “Artstor”

Artstor is a digital library of approximately 550,000 images in the areas of art, architecture, the humanities, and social sciences. This database is powered by ITHAKA, who also curate JSTOR. If you’re looking for examples of art history, modern art, or images of galleries, Artstor is a great place to start.

Use the “Browse” option to find architecture drawings, art collections from various colleges, and archival materials. Universities such as Yale, Cornell, and Dartmouth all have collections available to view and study through Artstor. You can even see some students’ theses and capstones on Artstor.

You can access Artstor by using our library’s online Database list.

Spotlight On “Sage Premier Collection”

When looking for articles for research, Sage Premier Collection is a database that can be very helpful to students. This database provides articles in the fields of health sciences, material sciences and engineering, social sciences and humanities, and life and biomedical sciences.  So, while it doesn’t provide information from a broad range of disciplines, it still gives plenty of options in which to find articles.

One unique trait about Sage is that users can browse through the list of journals held within the Sage database and by discipline. Although searching for information this way may take longer, the list of journals is readily available from the home page.

Users can conduct a search just by typing in keywords in the single search bar.   They can also conduct an advanced search by clicking on “advanced search” under the search bar and using the appropriate limiters as needed. Searching this way allows users to search all Sage journals for information related to the users’ keywords.

Users can access this database by clicking on the “Databases, Ebooks, and Media”  link from the library’s home page.

Spotlight On “The Chronicle Of Higher Education”

The Chronicle of Higher Education is an online publication that carries articles about college enrollment, teaching tactics in large classrooms, salaries of tenured employees and university presidents, and other news related to higher ed. Many professors and education professionals use this newspaper to keep up with other colleges around the country. While you can see some of The Chronicle’s articles online for free, others require a subscription. That’s where the library comes in.

To access The Chronicle of Higher Education, or any other online magazine that we subscribe to:

1. Go to the library website.
2. Type in “The Chronicle of Higher Education” in the search bar.
3. Click one of the links to view it online. Different databases, like Academic Search Complete, will provide access to The Chronicle of Higher Education.
4. If you are off campus, you will be prompted to enter in your Union credentials. If there is trouble in accessing the link after that, then try a different link or email Stephen Mount at smount@uu.edu for help.

Spotlight On “Academic Search Complete”

Academic Search Complete, an EBSCO-hosted database, is a general database that the Union Library subscribes to. We call it a general database because you can find articles from many different subject areas, including sciences, mathematics, and humanities. Since this is an EBSCO database, you will find the search features and look of the site like many other databases. EBSCO allows you to search more than one database at a time. This is a nice feature because it makes your research more efficient.

Academic Search Complete starts you with an advanced search, which means you can use multiple search terms (topics or words to describe your topic). Academic Search Complete lets you filter results using date ranges, document type, location, publication, etc. You will also want to note the filters for full text (which makes sure you pull up full articles) and scholarly peer-reviewed articles (reviewed by an expert in the field). Many professors want peer-reviewed articles, so this filter can save you time and energy when searching.

I often recommend Academic Search Complete due to its simple interface and the numerous filters. Academic Search Complete pulls up results based on relevance; it also highlights your search terms within the record, so you know why that article was included in the results list. I also like being able to search in more than one database at the same time. There are some other great features in Academic Search Complete that a Research Coach would love to show you for improving your own research efforts.

Academic Search Complete is found on many of the research guides, but can also be accessed by going to the Databases, E-Books, and Media quick link on the library’s homepage. The databases are listed alphabetically- scroll until you see Academic Search Complete.

Spotlight On “The Atlantic”

The Atlantic is a popular online magazine that covers the latest news and cultural phenomenons around the world, with a particular focus on the U.S. Some articles of The Atlantic are not accessible to viewers who don’t have a subscription or who have used up their free articles for the month. However, the library provides Union students and employees with access to The Atlantic through the database Gale Popular Magazines.

To access The Atlantic:

1. Go to the library website: www.uu.edu/library.
2. Click on the “Databases, E-Books, & Media” link under Quick Links.
3. Scroll down the alphabetical list until you find Popular Magazines. Click the link.
4. Once you are in the Popular Magazines database, click “Publication Search” on the bottom right of the home page.
5. Choose the option to “List All Publications.”
6. Scroll down the alphabetical list until you see The Atlantic. Click that link, and then you will be able to see articles from The Atlantic by their publication dates.

Spotlight On “Opposing Viewpoints In Context”

One of the many databases that the Union library has access to is Opposing Viewpoints in Context. This database is provided by Gale, which is part of the Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL).

The home page of Opposing Viewpoints in Context gives users a chance to search for information by entering search terms into the search bar. However, users can explore various topics before researching by scrolling down a bit to see many different areas of interest. These areas allow users to see which research is available in an area of interest and explore various topics.

Information comes to users in a variety of sources, which include: academic journals, newspaper and/or magazine articles, reference materials, videos, and others. But what is most unique about this database is that it provides viewpoint essays for users to read that give information about a topic from both sides of the argument.

Students can access Opposing Viewpoints in Context by scrolling down the list of databases found by clicking the “Databases, E-Books, and Media” link on the library’s home page. Students will be prompted to sign in with their Union password and username if accessing the database off campus.

Happy researching!