Sunday 25 January 2009

Sunday January 25th, 2009 My Giant Search

The Sleeping Giant is an impressive sight. According to First Nations legend, he is Nanabijou, Spirit of the Great Sea Water, who turned to stone when the secret of a silver mine was divulged. The treasures of the mine have been inaccessible since then.

There is a similar cache of treasure at your Library, which is also found by way of the Sleeping Giant, however it is easy to find!

This treasure is our Virtual Collection of online databases, which contain reliable information which you won’t find anywhere else on the internet. To find this valuable resource, go to our Web site – www.tbpl.ca – and click on “Virtual Collection”. On the next page you’ll see a picture of the Sleeping Giant – click on it to access “My Giant Search”.

There is also a link to a tutorial, or short demonstration, on that page. Take a look at it for some insider tips.

You can do a “My Giant Search” from any computer that has internet access. If you’re doing your search from outside of a Library branch, you’ll need to type in your Library Card number and PIN. Please call us if you have any trouble with this step.

Once you have been verified as a Library member, you’ll see a simple search box, and a list of subjects you can choose from.

This is where your treasure hunt begins! In this case, however, the treasure is not difficult to find at all. The databases that you’ll be searching include articles, photos, diagrams and video clips from thousands of magazines (like McLeans, Time and People), journals (like the New England Journal of Medicine and Consumer Reports), newspapers and other news sources. They also provide access to complete books and encyclopedias, including car repair manuals. One database, the Naxos Music Library, lets you search for and listen to over 75,000 pieces of music. This treasure is all online and all available 24/7.

You can do a Basic search, by Keyword, Title or Author, or an Advanced search using more search terms and other options.

From the list of search results you can choose the ones you’re interested in and read them online immediately. You can also mark items to print, save or email.

The next time you have any kind of research to undertake – whether you’re looking for a new furnace, need to fix your car, or do your English homework – try a “My Giant Search” and you’ll be sure to find some useful information you will treasure.

Joanna Aegard, Head of Virtual Library Services

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