Alexander Street Press issue [resolved]

From Alexander Street Press:

Alexander Street Press is currently experiencing an unexpected downtime for our online products. Our IT team is working to resolve the issue as soon as possible. We do apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. 

ReferenceUSA Fall Webcast Schedule

Are you interested in learning more about ReferenceUSA? The following webcasts, offered by ReferenceUSA, are designed to help you get a deeper understanding of how to be effective and efficient when using the resource. To register for any session date, follow the link, select your time zone and complete the form. You will then receive meeting coordinates and confirmation by email. Attendees will need an internet connection and a phone line to participate in the webcast.

We recommend starting with Search Essentials to lay down a good foundation before proceeding to the other offerings that again will either enhance the search experience (Big Data –Mapping & Data Visualization) or specific to an area of interest (Start, Manage & Grow Your Business,Uncover the Hidden Jobs Market). 

ReferenceUSA Search Essentials [Click to register]
Date: Fridays (October, November, December)
Time: 11:00 AM (1 hour)

Designed for anyone new to using the database, this hour-long session will cover all the basics of getting started with ReferenceUSA. This is also a great opportunity for current users to learn some new tips, tricks and techniques.

Uncovering the Hidden Job Market [Click to register]
Date: Wednesdays (October, November, December)
Time: 2:00 PM (1 hour)

Attendees will learn how to use ReferenceUSA as part of their Career Searching Strategy. Included will be information on the importance of having accurate information for applications and resumes, creating engaging cover letters, assembling a network of references and referrers, finding key persons at a business to act as mentors, building datasets of potential employers based on skill set, work history and preferences as well as how to prepare for interviews and interactions through thorough research.

Start, Manage & Grow! Your Business [Click to register]
Date: Mondays (October, November, December)
Time: 2:00 PM (1 hour)

Entrepreneurs and business owners will learn how to use ReferenceUSA to find the mission critical information necessary to start, manage and grow a business. 

Topics include: 
• name Search for Business
• locate hard to find vendors, both locally and nationally
• locate subject manager experts and professional services
• find investors, venture capitalists and angels
• network with other businesses in your area or in your industry
• develop relationships with related business for co-branding opportunities
• understand community demographics
• survey locations for expansion
• conduct competitive analysis
• plan delivery routes and service areas

• source new employees

ReferenceUSA Big Data [Click to register]
Date: Alternating Tuesdays (starting 22 October, November, December)
Time: 2:00 PM (1 hour)

Data Visualization is the next BIG thing in data. Going beyond static lists of information, 
ReferenceUSA can help you ‘visualize’ data elements on a map. Great for understanding how locations relate to each other or seeing densities within a specific area, the ReferenceUSA mapping tools give you a new and powerful way to better understand the landscape. Learn how to build a map to display results and how to manipulate the mapping tools to your advantage.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch [ProQuest]

To access the St. Louis Post-Dispatch through our ProQuest Newsstand database, go to www.slcl.org and click on Research. Then either click on the News, Sports & Weather Subject Guide or locate the resource under the Databases A-Z tool. Click on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch [ProQuest] link. The interface is very similar to the Historical St. Louis Post-Dispatch through ProQuest Newsstand. 

When you access the database the main page is set up for a Basic Search where you can search for name and/or subject.  To limit the search down to a time frame or other variables, use the Advanced Search feature which can be accessed by clicking the link under the Basic Search box. Unfortunately, the Advanced and Obituaries tabs under the ProQuest Newsstand heading toward the top of the screen will search the entire ProQuest database and will not be limited to the St Louis Post-Dispatch. 

The Advanced Search has a couple of interesting features. Users can limit down by company/organization, person, location and NAICS codes.  However, when you refine your search with these limiters it will search for the terms tagged under these subject headings. Keep in mind that even though these search limitations may seem beneficial that since the search is limited to terms in these subject headings, important articles may be excluded. Searching by NAICS codes is a convenient way to conduct industry research for the St. 
Louis area. Once you have found your article you have all the same options to export as you did in NewsBank including print, email, save and citation. 

--Tiffany D., Reference

ProQuest Newsstand Access Issue [Resolved]

We are having access issues with our ProQuest Newsstand subscription which includes the Historical New York Times, Historical St. Louis Post-Dispatch and current St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It has been reported to the vendor and this post will be updated again when access has been restored.  Sorry for the inconvenience!

Term Paper Help Part 5--CQ Researcher, the Lifesaver

For students in a time crunch, an efficient summary of facts can be a lifesaver.  The CQ Researcher offers well-written summaries of current issues, with extensive footnotes to primary sources, including graphs and photos.  The current featured report is entitled "Government Surveillance:  Is government spying on Americans excessive?"  This thorough account provides an overview of the issue, a chronology of events, and pro and con discussions by a former high-ranking official with the Department of Homeland Security and a privacy lawyer. This article, published in August 2013, offers everything to become conversant in the subject, in a neat package.

There is a comprehensive list of topics, from agriculture to world conflict.  The user can also browse reports, search pro/con by topic and take a video tour of the database.  What is especially impressive are the bibliographies, which list books, articles and primary sources, with hyperlinks to the sources and a brief commentary on the usefulness of the source.

This outstanding database should be in every student's short list of resources.

--Harry C., Reference

Are You Prepared?

September is National Preparedness Month.  Ask yourself these questions.  What would you do if you or someone you know experienced a disaster? How would you communicate with your family? What about food, water, money? Is your child’s school ready and what is their plan? How can you help during a disaster?

This website offers suggestions and preventative steps ranging from what to do before, during, and after a disaster to building a disaster kit.  It includes checklists, financial preparedness, videos, cell phone usage tips, and situational advice on different types of emergencies.

Ready.gov covers information about the needs of seniors, young children, and even what to do about pets.  In addition, children can learn from the games and receive a certificate for graduating from Readiness U!

This is a website you can access from our Research link by selecting Emergency Preparedness from the subject list. Ready.gov comes in several languages and is a great resource for guidance on how you can prepare for an emergency.

--Cindy M., Thornhill and Oakbend