Reference Challenge - Week #4 - SIRS Issues Researcher and Discoverer

Oh, looky! I'm behind.....again. :(

Oh well, onward and forward.

SIRS Discoverer

1. Armadillos are some pretty stellar animals, do not get me wrong. However, I will do something else instead. How about beta fish? I just got one here at the library, and I would like to know more about it.

Ok, no dice. Let's try this again. Hmmmm, how about the elephant?

Yay! I have results! Actually, quite a few, and I will admit I am quite taken with the icons that indicate what the article/entry contains. Very handy. The color coding is nice as well, but I really like the indicators. However, I do wish that you could narrow down your search results by licking the different indicators, so that you could only view articles that pictures, or were a certain level.



Nice reference, but not user friendly to easily narrow down your search.

I do like how the item description does include descriptors to help you see what you item contains for a quick guide.

2. Ooh! Pick a country. Which one, which one? I also really, REALLY want to go to Iceland, so let's choose that. This is perfect for some basic information on the country, with helpful stats, the flag, populations, etc. Honestly, its like looking at a legit version of the Iceland page on Wikipedia. I had no idea about this! This is actually pretty cool. It's so easy to run a quick Google search for these base facts, but you always run the risk of the credibility of the article. It's not so bogged down with information for kids, doesn't get into too much depth of detail, and is perfect for an elementary age search of the country. Very nice!

As for the maps, I love maps. No, no. I don't think you understand. I LOVE MAPS! I have knobs on furniture that are maps (thank you Hobby Lobby). Even more so, I love historical maps! The knowledge that is contained in them is great. All the interesting facts and landscapes and roads/rivers/lakes/cities that once existed but have not been eliminated or built over and are just GONE makes me yearn to see what it was once like. Ok, where's my TARDIS? So, of course, due to this love of historical maps, I managed to wander my way through the World History maps. AWESOME! Again, I narrowed the multitudes of maps down to Iceland, and found a few. But, there is a gem in there that shows the Norse settlements around 1000 AD!!! That is amazing. Imagine, you have a class or a lesson on historical settlements, and this resource has it! How great is that. You need to find Norse expansion? Check! This has it. Need to see language maps across Africa? Check! Yay! I am in map heaven!

I'm a youth librarian. I always need craft ideas. Always. I decided to wander down the activities and crafts section, narrowed it down to art projects, and viola! So. Many. Ideas! I love it. It's one thing to wander around Pinterest or blogs and see some great ideas, but they don't always give you a walk-through, or details on how to do it, or such. This has articles that contain all that information! There might not always a be a picture or an example of the craft, but what a great resource!

SIRS Issues Researcher

1. For my leading issue (I won't refer to it as an issue, because I honestly feel that it shouldn't be an issue), I went with the topic of same-sex marriages. This is something I feel very firmly and strongly on. I have some opinions on this matter, but I will spare you them today. Just know that I feel that everyone should have the same rights to be happy as everyone else. I support same-sex marriage.

I really like the layout of the page, and how the topic is broken down, with both pros and cons with articles and resources that support both sides of the discussion. I really liked going into the area of discussions on a global scale, and seeing news articles discussing same-sex marriage around the world. The topic of the Sochi Olympics was very prevalent, as it should be.

The statistics section was very interesting as well. Some great charts and graphs on the topic.

(The fact that all your source material is right there, is pretty freaking stellar!)

2. I love history, and look! They have a section on historical maps! Ok, I can't resist. I spotted this:

"Library Acquires 1507 Waldseemuller Map"

Do you know how awesome this map is? Granted, this article is from 2001, and sadly, you can't see a high-res image of the map, but you can see it, and teh fact that it is existence is amazing. A great news article goes along with it, how it is the ONLY copy of the map in existence, and it is now in the Library of Congress collection. This map is so significant because it if the the first map (ever) to label America as "America"

What a great resource, not just for high-school students, but for anybody.