Sunday, November 28, 2010

Literature Resource Center (Database)

Literature Resource Center (Database), Gale. Accessed through the San Diego Public Library.

Description:
The Literature Resource Center is a database that can be used to find articles over works of literature, authors, and other literary topics. These articles include book reviews, literary criticism, author biographies, diaries and correspondence, and full text selections of poems and short stories. Additionally, there are links to websites, pictures, and audio interviews.

The database provides several options for searches. In the basic search the user can search by person - by or about, name of work, keyword, or all text. There options for limiting results include searching only peer-reviewed sources, selecting the publication date range or century, and selecting the content type or the specific publication. There is also the option to search the whole database or specific resources. The advance search adds the options of searching by language, document type and intended audience. The person search allows the user to search by name or a combination of gender, ethnicity, nationality, place of birth, place of death, date of birth, date of death, century, genre, occupation, literary movement, and subject. The works search allows the user to name or any combination of type, author, publication year, century, original language, author gender, author nationality, author ethnicity, and full text.

Critical Evaluation:
The Literature Resource Center is a great resource for English teachers and students, as well as anyone with an interest in literature. The vast number of search options almost guarantees that users will be able to find the information for which they are searching. The author and works searches are particularly helpful, because they result in all resources associated with either, which is a much more extensive selection than might be found with the basic or even advanced search options. Despite the sheer number of search options, this is a simple database to use. Extensive knowledge of information databases is not needed, as a natural language search can suffice for most topics. If the user does run into trouble, the user guide offers instructions, tips, and a guided tour that are incredibly helpful.

Annotation:
This database provides articles about writers and literature.

Publishing Company Information:
Gale was first established in 1954 Frederick Gale Ruffner. In 1985 it was acquired by the Thomson Corporation and became part of their Learning Division. When the Thomson Corporation decided to sell its Learning Division in 2007, a private consortium purchased it and the name was changed to Cengage Learning. Gale is the primary reference section of Cengage Learning

Gale has more than 600 databases that are available online, as eBooks, in print, and in microform. Gale’s imprints include Macmillan Reference USA, the TAFT group, Greenhaven Press, and Thorndike Press, among others. In addition to providing services to libraries and schools, Gale allows its products to be licensed to other online information services such as Dow Jones, and Looksmart.

Genre:
N/A

Curriculum Ties:
Can be used to find sources for English classes.

Booktalking Ideas:
N/A

Reading Level/Interest Age:
All ages

Challenge Issues:
None

Challenge Defense Ideas:
If there were challenges:
  • Require the challenger to fill out a written challenge form with clear reasons stated and examples given.
  • If not already familiar with the content, become familiar.
  • Refer the challenger to the library's collection policy.
  • Refer the challenger to reputable reviews of the books, as well as reviews by those in the book's target audience.

Reasons for Selection:
Having been an English major and having a particular interest in literary criticism, I found this database to be full of fascinating articles.