The KY Virtual Library is an invaluable tool for finding articles and primary sources for use in your classroom, but with so much to offer it can be a little intimidating to use. So, for the next few weeks I will be going through different aspects of the site to show you the different features.
Step One: Choose “Middle School Students” under the “Students” heading on the left side of the KYVL homepage, and the following screen should appear.
#1
After clicking on this icon, enter your topic in the search box at the top. Then, the best part of the Student Research Center is that by scrolling down you can limit your search with the option to choose the reading level of the articles!
“Lexile Reading Level” is a scale similar to AR that determines the difficulty of a piece of writing. By highlighting “850-1100 (Grade 6 to Grade 8)” you eliminate the articles that may be too technical for your students.
Don’t forget to check the “Full Text” box before scrolling back up and clicking “Search.”
#2
NoveList is an excellent place to start if you are looking for a novel to use in class that meets curriculum content. There is a how-to video on the right-hand side of the home screen that introduces the program and gives a great overview of the features. Take a moment and check it out!
#3
Kids Search is a Visual Search Engine for finding articles, etc. However, this tool is unique in that it features a Dictionary, an Encyclopedia, and an Images Search Engine. This would be a great place to have the students start the research process.
#4
The Grolier Online Passport provides access to 4 different online encyclopedias: Encyclopedia Americana, Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, The New Book of Knowledge, and Amazing Animals of the World.
You can search all four encyclopedias at the same time or use them individually.
I found the Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia to be especially interesting. It features an events calendar that provides reasons for celebrating every day with articles and lesson plans. There is also a searchable timeline. If you are looking for literature for classroom use, exploring this site will be time well-spent.
#5
ProQuest is very similar to EBSCO Host in that it is a searchable database for articles. The range of magazines, journals, and periodicals available is quite impressive! And, I found this program easier to use than EBSCO Host.
#6
WorldCat connects you to library collections throughout the country and makes suggestions for books, articles, sound recordings, internet resources, images, and maps.
Use this resource when searching for library-approved internet resources on different topics. Simply search for your topic and click the Internet tab!
One last thing… KY Virtual Library works automatically while on the school server, but at home you have to use a password.
Please contact the public library for this information. (684-0211)
