August 14, 2017

In late July, Gale staff made some updates to the Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) database. For details and screenshots, read this Gale blog post.

Three Biggest Changes

• The View eBook option is improved and is more like viewing the print edition of a book, as compared to the default text view in the database.  
  
      
      
• The Topic Finder feature is now available in GVRL. It’s a visual way to explore search results. The option is available at the top of the Advanced Search page and in the column on the right on any page that displays search results. This Gale tip sheet has more about the Topic Finder. Note that the screenshots in the tip sheet are from an InfoTrac database, but Topic Finder works the same in GVRL.
  
               
• These reading level indicators about eBook content are now available in GVRL: Lexile, Guided Reading Levels/Fountas & Pinnell, and Accelerated Reader. The reading levels can be used as limiters on the Advanced Search page. Please note that not all eBooks in GVRL have assigned reading levels. It depends on whether publishers have determined reading levels. Gale is working with publishing partners to add known reading levels. If a reading level is available for an eBook, it will display in three places.
  
  
  • On the search results page, under a book’s title, next to the colored icon indicating content level
    
        
    
    
  • On the About This Publication page (further down the page)
    
        
    
    
  • At the top of a document page, seen by hovering over the colored icon that indicates content level
    
        
    
    
  • Learn more about reading and content levels in GVRL by clicking on the More menu at the top of the page => Help => All Help Topics => Reading and Content Levels.

Practice Time

Try finding the reading level of this GVRL eBook, What is Animal Behavior?, from the following three places:

• list of search results
• While you’re on the search results page, scroll to the bottom and explore the Topic Finder (bottom right). The default view is Tiles. Try Wheel to see the difference.
• on the book’s About This Publication page
• on this document page
• While you’re at it, click on the View eBook icon to see how that view differs from the default text view. 
  
  

GVRL Access Point

One GVRL access point is the elementary or secondary Find Information page on OSLIS.

If you have questions, please ask.

Thanks,
Jen

Jennifer Maurer
School Library Consultant
State Library of Oregon