@SPL: http://www.stratford.library.on.ca/teens/subtopics/databases.htm#health
SPL has subscribed to a database just for teens, one that can’t be found by Googling. Although its title, “Health and Wellness” would let you think it’s only about nutrition and fitness and hygiene (*yawn*), it actually goes much further than that. Its homepage alone has links for in-depth, honest looks at an A-Z list of teen issues including Friendship and Dating, Skills for School, Work and Life (i.e. managing money), Body Basics, Grief and Loss, Diversity (how to fit in if you’re from another country) and a whole host of others. Each topic is connected to a list of articles that contain links to related subjects, or sub-topics, and it is just as easy to find an article by hitting the quick search bar at the top of each page. There is an alphabetical and a subject list as well, in case you can’t spell “dyscalculia” or just want to browse all the thousands of things teens are going through. At the top of each page is a link to teen hotlines, and a glossary to look up things like “dyscalculia”. Each article can be printed or e-mailed (for more private reading), and comes with complete citation information for project bibliographies (helpful in avoiding accusations of plagiarism). The homepage contains a new poll each week, teen-wellness trivia with accompanying articles, a “personal story” archive about teens and how they have dealt with some pretty horrible things, and even the chance to consult a real-life doctor on-line – confidentiality ensured. Accessible at the library or in the privacy of your own home, Teen Health and Wellness database contains candid, reliable information for just about any teen issue you can think of, and some that you wouldn’t want to. Highly recommended for all teens. Click here to access the Teen Health and Wellness: Real Life, Real Answers database.
The Stratford Public Library has just subscribed to another new database, available exclusively to library card holders (free to all residents of Stratford, West Perth, Perth East and South Perth). It’s The Ancestry Library Edition, the subscription part of the Ancestry.com website, and it provides a more in-depth means of getting at genealogical records and family histories. It contains census and military records, passenger lists, even land and probate records from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and a smattering of other European nations. Searchable fields include one for records, one for photos and maps, and another tab for newspaper stories and similar publications. It is also browsable by location, with clickable maps linked to census records and other data for specific regions, and the database contains the downloadable form to start creating your own family tree. The scanned search results can be viewed with a zoom, downloaded, saved, or e-mailed (in case your family tree is a cross-country family project, say). Search results can also lead to message boards (otherwise hidden and hard to find) for communication with other people looking for the same information – maybe distant cousins! Although it can only be used from within the library (licensing issues - sorry!), it is an ideal, free tool for anyone involved in geneological study, or for anyone wanting to know a bit more about their family history than can be gleaned from the original website.
The Stratford Public Library has just subscribed to a new database, available free of charge, exclusively to library card holders – and since library cards are free to all residents of Stratford, West Perth, Perth East and South Perth, just about anyone can access it. It’s the Small Engine Repair Reference Centre. Got a lawn-mower that won’t start on a Sunday morning but lost the service manual? Get the entire troubleshooting guide before your neighbours finish their morning coffee. How about a Ford tractor that won’t pull? There are service documents for over 70 models, free to download or print. In fact, in each category of small engine – from “generators” and “motorcycles” to “boat motors” and “snow mobiles” – there are subcategories for each brand, and each brand is broken down further by specific model. The model might have a single service document (like the 1992 Kawasaki KLF300 4x4 ATV), or an entire index of part instructions (like the John Deere Model 70 diesel tractor). Users will need the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader loaded onto their computers to read and print the manuals (free to download at get.Adobe.com/reader), but navigation of the website is straightforward, even though it lacks a search bar (check under “Outdoor Power Equipment” for snow-throwers, and not under “Snow Machines”). Manuals for machines newer than 3 or 4 years old may not yet be available, but for anyone with an older tractor, motorcycle or outboard motor, this database will make you very happy campers, and might save some repair bills at the same time. Access the Small Engine Repair Reference Centre only on-line with your library card at www.stratford.library.on.ca/databases.htm#car
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