Databases - Why create accounts with database publishers?

Do you spend a lot of time in library databases? If so, consider creating an account on some of your favorites.

Many database publishers will give you an option to create an account. This can be helpful in a variety of ways:

• Saving articles-of-interest. You can set aside articles to a folder. Sometimes you do not need an account to do this, but you must retrieve your articles before you leave the database, or they are lost (Hope the electricity doesn't go out, or the computer doesn't lock up!) If you're logged in to your account, the articles will still be available next time you log in!
• Saving favorite searches. If you are often looking for the same type of article, then you can save searches for future use. This is helpful when your search is very elaborate, and difficult to repeat.
• E-mail notification of new search results. This is even more helpful than the item above. Not only can you save your searches, but you can also create an e-mail alert to notify of new articles matching your saved search!
• E-mail notification of new journal/magazine issue. If you have a favorite journal, magazine, or newspaper that is available in a library database, you can set up an alert which lets you know when a new issue is available.

(Most of these things apply to article databases, but it's always worth checking for options like this in any electronic resource.)

For more information, please check out my Slideshow, which shows you some of the options available in various databases.

Social bookmarking - Diigo

One of my favorite type of web 2.0 tools is social bookmarking. These are accounts that let you save your favorite websites as bookmarks to an online account. The social aspect of this comes from the ability to make "friends" with other users. You are now able to share your favorites with friends with similar interests. You also are able to discover new, interesting web sites through your network of bookmark friends!

I didn't originally join up for the social aspects. I just wanted an online place to save bookmarks and access them from anywhere (home, office, on-the-road...) Now, I'm also discovering neat new resources through my Diigo "friends" and the groups that I've joined.

The link below will take you to some web sites that can help you learn more about DIIGO!

My Diigo Bookmarking bookmarks!

How I'm using DIIGO:

• Easy/convenient way of storing my favorite personal and professional web sites. (I can mark web sites as private if I don't want anybody seeing my links to Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan fiction. Oops - secret's out!)
• Join groups, such as "Teacher-Librarians" to learn more about websites that other teaching librarians are using.
• Collect resources that I can share with students in different subject areas.
• Easily share groups of web sites with others (like the link that I created above).

Features that are interesting, but which I haven't used a lot, yet.

• Saving a web page. Let's say that you go to CNN.com, and you see a funny error on the web page. You know that this will be gone when they catch the error, or just change to a newer headline. A bookmark will only take you to the most current version of the web page, but you can take a picture of the page and have proof of what you saw!
• Highlighting text and inserting comments
• "Read later" - this marks pages that you intend to read more completely, but don't have time at the moment.
• Educator tools - educators can upgrade to an educator account. This allows you to create temporary accounts and groups for your students.
  

How to share, without bugging everybody so much!

So, I'm always having random thoughts, or learning about something neat and wanting to put the thought out there! What better way than a blog? I could send out e-mails several times per day, but you know what happens to people who do that? They become annoying and get IGNORED! So, I think I'll go this route. Those who are interested are welcome to read my blog. I can always refer back to entries and send links to those who are interested 6 months later. And - who knows what other amazing things will come of this.

This is purely focused on professional interests, so I think that those who would benefit from it would be other librarians and faculty. Well, if you're just interested in neat information resources, it might be handy for you, too! So, bear with me as I get this off and running!