NoveList Plus is my favorite database on Marvel so far!  It is easy to use with lots of useful information.  This will be very useful in our library.  Patrons frequently ask for author recommendations similar to their tried and true authors.  Sometime I tell them to type in "If you like (author's name)" on an internet search site, which gives them some suggestions, but this gives them so many more details.  One feature I like is that it suggests which of the author's books you should start with if you are new to this author.  I will definitely use this site frequently.

Okay, I have just copied and pasted last week's post which I thought I had succussfully posted to my blog, but apparently not.  Although I have been impressed with all that is on Marvel, I have found the blog to be a pain in the neck!

I never realized Marvel had a hobbies and crafts section before.  I have already shared that fact with one other person.  I spent quite a lot of time looking at the variety of hobbies represented there.  Although there appears to be a wealth of information there, I wish there was an easier way to preview what you are going to find in each article.  For instance, if I am looking for a new quilt pattern, I like to be able to glance at a lot of pictures until one catches my eye.  But, with this, I have to click on the article, wait for it to come up, then find out if I like it, before going on to another.  I don't see it replacing actual quilt magazines and books any time soon, but I could be wrong!
I was really surprised to find that the hobbies and crafts site included ourdoor activities like fishing and hiking.  I read a very interesting article from Backpacker Magazine which is funny, because our library gets a subscription to that magazine and I never read it because I didn't think it would be of interest to me.  (I like to hike, but not read about hiking. :)

I will definitely recommend this site to patrons to check out, even though I do not personally prefer it to physical magazines.  Obviously it puts a lot more material at your fingertips that you would not have otherwise.

Frustration level mounting

Okay, I am really starting to feel like a failure.  Although I was successful in responding to one person's post, I have not been able to respond to a second.  I noticed that Andrea had the same problem with looking up obituaries that I had.  I wrote a response to her and tried to post it.  I had to prove that I was not a robot in order to post, but apparently I do not pass the human being test.  I tried five times, but was unable to prove that I am indeed flesh and blood.

Maine Newsstand

I have been trying (rather unsuccessfully) to use Maine Newsstand to search for obituaries since we often have patrons ask us for help finding obituaries and I thought that this site would make it easier.  However, I have started by searching for people that I knew the death dates for and that I knew which paper their obituaries were printed in, just so that I would be sure of the results the first time I tried it.  However, it keeps saying there are 0 results.  What am I doing wrong?  Although I am not a computer wizz, I have done plenty of successful searches on the web.

I have been checking out Britanica Online.  It is an excellent resource.  I love some of the features such as the sample citations at the bottom which allow you to choose MLA, Chicago Style, etc.  I also found it very convenient that you can get immediate definitions by double clicking on words.

I am wondering if there is a place that tells you how recently an article has been updated.  How long does it usually take for recent news events to be added?

Checking out Marvel

I have been checking out what is available in Marvel.  As I checked out several different topics, I came accross the Economic Census under Business and Economy.  I am curious as to why 2002 is the most recent census.  The site says a census is done every 5 years.  Who keeps the Marvel sites current?

I also checked out Contemporary Authors.  This is a very interesting site and should be helpful as I research books for future book orders.

Another site I found particularly helpful was a health site for consumers.  As I was looking up information on ALS I thought how useful this site would have been when my mother was diagnosed a few years ago and I was desperately trying to find out more about the disease.  I will definitely keep this site in mind for when patrons have healthcare questions.

I am looking forward to finding out what other wonderful sites I have been missing out on.