35. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (Database)

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. (Database). San Francisco Public Library @ www.sfpl.org

Summary
(http://www.gale.cengage.com/InContext/viewpoints.htm)

Opposing Viewpoints in Context is the premier online resource covering today’s hottest social issues, from Offshore Drilling to Climate Change, Health Care to Immigration. Opposing Viewpoints in Context helps students research, analyze and organize a broad variety of data for conducting research, completing writing assignments, preparing for debates, creating presentations and more.

In addition to the engaging, streamlined interface and media-rich topic pages, the product's unprecedented collection of content and curriculum-focused tools that help students explore issues from all perspectives include:

• More than 14,000 pro/con viewpoint essays
• 5,000+ topic overviews
• More than 300 primary source documents
• 300 biographies of social activists and reformers
• More than 775 court-case overviews
• 5 million periodical articles
• Nearly 6,000 statistical tables, charts and graphs
• Nearly 70,000 images and a link to Google Image Search
• Thousands of podcasts, including weekly presidential addresses and premier NPR programs
• A national and state curriculum standards search, correlated to the content that allows educators to quickly identify material by grade and discipline

Critical Evaluation
This database is offered by the San Francisco Public Library. In order to access the database, the user must have a library card. The database can be used for research papers, debates, and presentations. The topics are endless so a student would do best approaching it knowing what he or she is looking for. Once the user clicks on a topic, for example "Cloning", a definition of the word or topic is shown with a history of the topic. There are videos, images, and articles that the user can browse and the bibliographic information also given. The amount of resources may be overwhelming for students who aren't used to doing heavy research. The more intellectually gifted student will most likely find the database exciting and fun to browse.

There is also an easy link that allows the user to browse all the issues and topics available in alphabetical order. Another interesting and useful tool is the link to the curriculum standards in the United States, Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales.

The database is an excellent resource for the older teen just finishing high school or in college.

Annotation
Database showing diffferent views on a variety of topics.

About Gale
Gale®, part of Cengage Learning, is a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses. Best known for its accurate and authoritative reference content as well as its intelligent organization of full-text magazine and newspaper articles, the company creates and maintains more than 600 databases that are published online, in print, as eBooks and in microform.

The Gale family of publishing imprints includes such noted reference brands as Macmillan Reference USA™, Charles Scribner's Sons® and Primary Source Media™.

Genre
Database

Curriculum Ties
All

Reading Level/Interest Age
All ages

Challenge Issues
N/A

Why Included in Titles Selected
I wanted to include databases in the blog.

34. Teen Health & Wellness (Database)

Teen Health & Wellness. (Database). Rosen Publishing: San Francisco Public Library @ www.sfpl.org.

Summary
This database offered by San Francisco Public Library has information from experts on diseases, illnesses, disabilities, and alchohol, plus additional information on mental health, friendship, dating, family life, grief, sexuality, and life skills for teens.

Full list of links:
Body Basics
Developmental Disabilities and Disorders
Diseases, Infections, and Conditions
Diversity
Drugs and Alcohol
Eating Disorders
Family Life
Friendship and Dating
Green Living
Grief and Loss
Mind, Mood, and Emotions
Nutrition, Fitness, and Appearance
Safety
Sexuality and Sexual Health
Skills for School, Work, and Life

Critical Evaluation
This is a useful tool for teens of all ages. It can be accessed through the library with a library card number and password. Teens can use it for personal reasons, or for research.

Annotation
Database for teens discussing health and wellness.

About Rosen Publishing
Founded in 1950, Rosen Publishing has a long history of providing high-quality nonfiction books for children and young adults. Early on, Rosen recognized an urgent need for self-help material written specifically for teens. Rosen’s flagship book on venereal disease, the first of its kind for teens, met with acclaim and approval, and marked the beginning of a publishing program for the school and public library communities. Rosen Publishing gained a strong reputation for its sensitive treatment of difficult subjects; accurate, age-appropriate information; and reassuring tone.

Genre
Database

Curriculum Ties
Health Education

Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 13+

Challenge Issues
N/A

Why Included in Titles Selected
I wanted to include a database.

33. Learning Express Library (Database)

Learing Express Library. (Database) Available through San Francisco Public Library @ www.sfpl.org

Summary
Learning Express Library provides online practice tests based on official exams for the SAT, GED, GRE, GMAT, Civil Service Jobs, ASVAB, and more. It is a resource for all ages and offers other services like U.S. Citizenship, information for Spanish speaking users, and all levels of education.

Critical Evaluation
This database is available through the public library. New users must register an account and that is the only negative thing. It can't be accessed with just a library card. Once registered, users have access to all the college prep tests, GED preparation, and job search links.

Reader's Annotation
Online practice tests for teens furthering their education.

Genre
Database

Curriculum Ties
College Prep

Reading Level/Interest Age
All ages

Challenge Issues
N/A

Why Included in Titles Selected
I wanted to include a useful database for the college bound teenager.

32. CollegeSource Online (Database)

CollegeSource Online. (Database). CollegeSource, Inc. Available through San Francisco Public Library @ www.sfpl.org

Summary
This database is accessible with a library card and password. It provides full text college catalogs for 2-Year, 4-Year, and Graduate schools in the United States and other countries. Other resources include:
-Assessment Testing and Preparation
-Associations of Education & Library Professionals
-Career Resources
-College Guides and Planning
-Financial Aid Resources
-State Departments of Education

Critical Evaluation
CollegeSource is a valuable tool in finding schools all over the world. Its great to let college-bound teens know that the choices are limitless as far as education goes. They just need to be prepared and stay on top of their grades. This database has resources to guide them to success.

Annotation
Find information and catalogs for thousands of colleges and universities.

About CollegeSource, Inc.
CollegeSource, Inc. is a small but dynamic company with a mission to serve institutions of higher education and the students who use education to become more employable, engaged citizens. Our current focus is college catalog and institution research tools, primarily in the area of transfer credit evaluation. CollegeSource, Inc. is about making the work of researching college catalogs faster, easier, and cheaper. The result is tremendous time savings for administrators and a better experience for transfer students.

Genre
Database

Curriculum Ties
College Preparation

Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 16+

Challenge Issues
N/A

Why Included in Titles Selected
I wanted to include information for the college bound teenager.