Database Comparison
A senior high school student comes into your library, asking for material on a 19th poet for a paper; an adult wants to know who wrote the book "Julie." Librarians answer these questions everyday. To do so, information professionals rely on two tools commonly found in public and academic libraries: NoveList and PoemFinder. Librarians, both recent library school graduates and seasoned professionals, will want to be familiar with these two readers advisory tools. This paper will discuss the size, coverage, currency, available help, and cost of the two databases. Database structure, indexing practices and printing capabilities, reliability and any available help will be considered.
Novelist is available remotely, as well as onsite at the East Providence Public Library (EPL) http://www.eastprovidencelibrary.com/. The address for NoveList, if accessing it from home is http://www.eastprovidencelibrary.com/searchfromhome.htm It is also available at the Providence Public Library's (PPL) central location on Washington Street, Providence RI. (http://www.provlib.org/elibrary/athome/athome.htm) Novelist is maintained by EBSCO Publishing http://novelst4.epnet.com/novel/default.asp); The homepage for Novelist is http://epnet.com/public/novelist.asp.
Poem Finder is accessible at the Providence Public Library http://www.provlib.org/elibrary/atppl/atppl.htm. This resource is not available remotely. Poem Finder (http://www.poemfinder.com/poemfinder) is a product of Roth Publishing, Inc. http://www.litfinder.com/about.cfm. According to a EBSCO customer service representative, the subscription price for a library serving a population of less then 1000 people would be approximately $1000.00.
Introduction to NoveList
The CARL Corporation established the NoveList database, making it available to libraries in 1994. EBSCO Information Services (http://www.ebsco.com/home/) acquired the database in 1999. The Parent company of EBSCO Information Services, BSCO Industries, maintains it's headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama. Free trials of the database are available at the following web address: http://www.epnet.com/request.asp?dbName=NoveList--Public_Market. (Accessed 12/7/03).
The database covers 1000,00 titles and includes 75,000 full-text reviews. NoveList offers access to materials for readers of all ages form picture books to full-length adult novels. In addition, NoveList also supplies subject headings for the titles included. This allows the searcher to identify fiction material on a subject that is of particular interest to them. The database is searched by author, title, keyword or series. For example, a patron who is interested in World War 1 will be happy to find both fiction and factual material on the subject. A keyword search for WW I fiction retrieved 25 pages of references. There were significantly fewer title for children then for adults in this search. Of these, only a few had been published during the past three years. One example of children's books was A Brave Soldier by Nicholas Debon (2002) for readers in grade 2-5. http://novelst4.epnet.com/novel/detail.asp?resultsetid=R00000045&hitnum=1&title_id=084771&boolean=%28%28TI+%22Brave+Soldier%22%29%29+and+%28RL+1+or+RL+2+or+RL+4+or+RL+8%29+And+%28PT+2%29&natural=&sort=Author&action=TITLE&numresults=1&displaytext=Brave+Soldier (Accessed 12/7/03)
Full-text and Boolean searching are available. While the site notes a copyright date of 2002, (http://novelst3.epnet.com/novel/default.asp), the feature article section includes July 2003 articles. For example see "Coming to Canada: Canadian Immigrant Novels" by Heather Ganshorn, http://novelst3.epnet.com/novel/explore.asp?rd=501124. (Accessed 12/7/03)
The database offers the following features:
Author read-alikes
Full-text reviews from authoritative sources such as Booklist, School Library Journal and Publisher's Weekly.
Feature articles
Book Discussion guides
Book talks
Lexile scores are provided for each title in NoveList. The lexile is used to determine at what grade level given book is most appropriate. Librarians and teachers use lexiles to recommend books to readers that they will be challenged by, but not overwhelmed.
The cost for a one-year subscription to NoveList is $750.00 for in-house use only.
Searching NoveList
I accessed the database through the East Providence Public Library (EPL). Once you have opened the East Providence Public Library homepage (http://www.eastprovidencelibrary.com), select "Search;" then "electronic databases." Select NoveList and enter your patron ID. This brings up the NoveList homepage (http://novelst3.epnet.com/novel/default.asp). The homepage offers general information, options, a personal folder a "Quick Search" by author, title, series or key word and a start button for beginning a search. In addition there were the following four NoveList training options available:
The Learning Center http://novelst4.epnet.com/novel/nlc/Home.htm offers three training options:
1-Minute NoveList http://novelst4.epnet.com/novel/nlc/minute/Minute1_Intro.htm demonstrates a six-step strategy for finding books similar to those written by John Grisham.
NoveList Basics http://novelst4.epnet.com/novel/nlc/basics/Basics1_Intro.htm is a short tutorial that gives an overview of the different types of searches that can be done. It takes you through the steps of searching the database as well as providing printable search aids that can be used by staff as well as patrons. These can be used as an instruction sheet that can be left near the computer terminal or used by the librarian providing individual instruction. I found NoveList Basics is quite helpful for learning the how to use the program.
NoveList for the Power User http://novelst4.epnet.com/novel/nlc/search/Power1_Intro.htm describes more advanced search options, such as Boolean searching, relevancy ranking used by NoveList, and a more in-depth description of the program for experienced searchers.
NoveList News offers links to updates to the website during the previous three months. For example, the August 2003 page includes a new Features for Teachers page includes ideas for the high school English classes, articles about curriculum and standards-based education. I could not find a link to NoveList News In December, 2003. However, the NoveList Learning Center http://novelst4.epnet.com/novel/nlc/Home.htm had a section with links to new features in the program. (Accessed 12/07/03).
NoveList Notes (http://novelst4.epnet.com/novel/explore.asp?rd=590001, accessed 12/07/03) is a monthly e-mail service providing subscribers with samples of how the program has been used by others. These notes offer tips and activities that subscribers can use in their library.
Links to What's New in NoveList for the last three months and "This months Tips and Tidbits" are also available. In addition, book discussion guides are provided from a link on the home page. A link directly to the current month's book discussion is http://novelst3.epnet.com/novel/default.asp. (Accessed 12/07/03). These guides feature adult and young adult titles. including Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury http://novelst3.epnet.com/novel/explore.asp?action=detail&turl=0&rd=501339&title=Book+Discussion+Guide (Accessed 12/07/03). and Ender's Game by Orsen Scott Card http://novelst3.epnet.com/novel/explore.asp?action=detail&turl=0&rd=502612&title=Book+Discussion+Guide (Accessed 12/07/03). (Coincidently, both are on my daughter's summer reading list). Two forthcoming guides are listed: The Reappearance of Sam Webber by Jonathon Scott Faqua http://novelst3.epnet.com/novel/detail.asp?resultsetid=R00000011&hitnum=1&title_id=002657&boolean=%28%28TI+%22Reappearance+of+Sam+Webber%22%29%29+and+%28RL+1+or+RL+2+or+RL+4+or+RL+8%29+And+%28PT+2%29&natural=&sort=Author&action=TITLE&numresults=1&displaytext=The+Reappearance+of+Sam+Webber and Like Sisters on the Homefront by Rita Williams-Garcia. http://novelst3.epnet.com/novel/detail.asp?resultsetid=R00000012&hitnum=1&title_id=081355&boolean=%28%28TI+%22Sisters+on+the+Homefront%22%29%29+and+%28RL+1+or+RL+2+or+RL+4+or+RL+8%29+And+%28PT+2%29&natural=&sort=Author&action=TITLE&numresults=1&displaytext=Sisters+on+the+Homefront (Accessed 12/07/03)
NoveList is available through the Providence Public Library (PPL). Public library patrons can access the database at http://search.epnet.com/cpidlogin.asp?custid=s8482727&profile=novelist from any public library in the state at and also from home. URI students can access the database at http://www.provlib.org/elibrary/athome/athome.htm.
The June, 2003 NoveList featured the top ten fantasy books for youth (http://novelst4.epnet.com/novel/explore.asp?rd=501126), including The Kindling by Jennifer Armstrong (http://novelst4.epnet.com/novel/explore.asp?rd=501126 ), an article on adult novels about Canadian Immigrants (http://novelst4.epnet.com/novel/explore.asp?rd=501124) and a book talk on the children's book MossFlower by Brian Jacques (http://novelst4.epnet.com/novel/explore.asp?rd=501766).
A search on J. K. Rowling produced seven results, including not only the five Harry Potter books, but also Fantastic beats and where to find them and Qudditch Through the Ages. http://novelst4.epnet.com/novel/results.asp?searchtext=Rowling%2C+J.+K.&numresults=10&action=Author
A search on the title Certain Women by Madeline L'Engle produced one record. http://novelst4.epnet.com/novel/detail.asp?resultsetid=R00000014&hitnum=2&title_id=040432&boolean=%28%28TI+%22Certain+Women%22%29%29+and+%28RL+1+or+RL+2+or+RL+4+or+RL+8%29+And+%28PT+2%29&natural=&sort=Author&action=TITLE&numresults=2&displaytext=Certain+Women
The record includes 5 subject headings (David, King of Israel, death, Bible novels, family and Actors and Actresses; three reviews and three web references. As one would expect, credits for the material are listed at the end of the record.
In September, 2003 NoveList added a new feature: "Picture Book Extenders." This feature offers suggestions for using literature in the classroom." For example, the January, 201 issue of NoveList includes Don't forget by Patricia Lakin http://novelst4.epnet.com/novel/detail.asp?view=true&author=Lakin%2C+Patricia&title=Don%27t+Forget).
This easy reader book about the Holocaust is included in the January, 2001 NoveList feature article "The Holocaust in Picture Books" by Heidi Estrin. (http://novelst4.epnet.com/novel/explore.asp?rd=500827). The same issue includes an article by Helen Rosenberg, "Five Great Reasons to use Picture book Songs in your Classroom!" http://novelst4.epnet.com/novel/explore.asp?rd=500828
NoveList offers resources for Academic, as well as public libraries. It is highly recommended in reviews as well as by this author.
POEM FINDER
Introduction to Poem Finder
Another useful resource in many libraries is Poem Finder (http://www.litfinder.com/poemfinder/). Available from ROTH publishing, Inc., Poem Finder is sold as one component of LitFinder (http://www.litfinder.com/). In addition to PoemFinder, LitFinder also includes Story Finder and Essay Finder. Poem Finder was first released in 1991 on a CD ROM in DOS format. Poem Finder was made available on the web in 1997. LitFinder subscription options for public libraries include the following:
1 building/1 user: $600.00
1 building/1-8 users: $850.00
Unlimited Use: $1350.00
Additional Branch: $850.00
For remote access, 30% is added to the base subscription. Information about subscription plans for public, academic and school libraries is available from Roth Publishing at http://www.litfinder.com/faq.cfm#subpricing. Network subscriptions are arranged with the publisher at 175 Great neck Road, Great Neck, NY, 11022, USA. The marketing Director, Kevin J. Moran can be reached toll-free at (800) 899-7684.
About Poem Finder claims that Poem Finder is the "largest, most comprehensive and most current poetry database currently available." http://www.litfinder.com/poemfinder/aboutpoet.cfm?CFID=37329&CFTOKEN=73401078& (Accessed 12/13/03). Freddie Bush Siler, in his review of the database (2001), corroborates this claim. 800,000 poems are represented.
The database contains over four and a half million lines of poetry. Of these, 100,000 are full-text. In addition to being international in scope, the database "covers poetry from antiquity to the present" (Siler). American poetry from Colonial times to the present are represented, as are translations of foreign poetry. Updated daily, Poem Finder offers extensive coverage of numerous anthologies, as well as the complete works of many authors. Current publications indexed in Poem Finder include The New Yorker, Tri-Quarterly and American Poetry Review, and many other current publications. The database can be searched by author; translator; poem title; first and last line of the poem or the title of the book or periodical in which it appears.
Poem Finder offers the following features:
60,000 Full-text poems
650,000 Poem citations and excerpts from current periodicals, as well as anthologies and individual author's works.
Subject Navigator organizes the poetry included in the database according to 9000 specific subject headings.
The Years best Poetry is a collection of poetry published in the current year.
Kids Korner offers material appropriate for young readers, arranged in "Child-friendly" categories, such as 'animals' and 'fun and games.'
Poem Explanations offer analysis of the poems. These are particularly helpful for students completing school assignments.
Author Biographies offer biographical information on each of the authors in the database, thus providing the reader with background that may help them understand the poet and his work more clearly.
Poem Finder has received many positive reviews, including the following:
--- "LitFinder. (Product/Service Evaluation). Booklist 99.5 (2002). http://web6.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark/411/222/38443052w6/purl=rc2_ITOF_1_Lit+Finder_2002+to+2002_&dyn=sig!15?sw_aep=ripl1
Quinn, Mary Ellen. "Poem Finder on the Web" Booklist 95.18 (1999) : 1732. http://web6.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark/411/222/38443052w6/purl=rc1_ITOF_0_A54882500&dyn=13!xrn_1_0_A54882500?sw_aep=ripl1
Siler, Freddie Bush "The Advisor reviews Poem Finder" The Charleston Advisor, 2.3 (2001). http://0-www.charlestonco.com.helin.uri.edu/review.cfm?id=61&CFID=4678857&CFTOKEN=84357244
Searching Poem Finder
I searched Poem Finder (http://www.litfinder.com/) at the Providence Public Library (http://www.provlib.org/elibrary/atppl/atppl.htm). There are five ways to search the database: Basic Search, Advanced Search, Subject Navigator, the Year's Best Poetry and Kids Korner. Basic search allows you to select a poem's title, author, subject, translator or translation date. The text of a poem can be sought, as can the first line, last line, explanation and original language. Poems can be searched by genre and poetic form, as well as by the author's gender or nationality. The database can be searched by a poem's date or timeline.
Basic Search
To perform a basic search, the patron enters a word or phrase in the text box on the Poem Finder search screen. An author search on Emily Dickinson found 1000 entries (www.litfinder.com/poemfinder/search_engine.cfm?requesttimeout=goo&CFID=2612496&CFTOKEN=5064561). Results included poems about the author as well as those written by Ms. Dickinson. For example the poem Emily Dickinson, I think of you was retrieved. The entry listed two references where the poem can be found in print:
Bradely, Anthony (ED.) Contemporary Irish Poetry, p. 282.
Coghill, Sheila and Thom Tammaro, eds. On the Life and Works of Emily Dickinson. p58. (www.litfinder.com/poemfinder/poem.cfm?STERM=Emily Dickinson (Accessed 30 October 2003).
Advanced Search
An advanced search using only one term (Dickinson, Emily) yielded 998 results. www.litfinder.com/poemfinder/search_engine.cfm?requesttimeout=900&CFID=2612496&CFTOKEN=5064561 (Accessed 12/23/03). While the program will tell you how many results were found in the search it does not number the results. As a result the searcher does not have a record of how many citations have been reviewed or haw many more need to be looked at. The poem I'm Nobody, Who Are You by Emily Dickinson on the fourth page of search results. www.litfinder/poem.cfm?STerm=DICKINSON%2%EMILY&id=2612496&CFTOKEN=506456&id=156325 (Accessed 12/23/03).
Records in Poem Finder include a link to an brief commentary on the poem. Students may find these explanations useful as a place to start when researching a poem or poet for a school assignment. For instance, an explanation on the poem I'm Nobody, Who Are You by Emily Dickinson stated that the author is concerned with the contrast between individuality and society's expectation that people maintain the status quo. She laments people's tendency to belittle others in an effort to elevate oneself. Ms. Dickinson would suggest that a nobody is somebody. Entries include biographical information, poem explanations and critiques. References to books with additional poetry or information about the poet are listed. While the basic search yielded 1000 results, searching "Emily Dickinson" as a subject in Subject Navigator (see below for more information on Subject Navigator) produced 119 results. Inverting the author's name (i.e.: Dickinson, Emily) produced no records. www.litfinder.com/poemfinder/search_engine.cfm?CFID=2612496&CFTOKEN=5064561&search_area_1 (Accessed 12/23/03).
I conducted an advanced title search on Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost. To do so, I entered the title in the <search for> window, selected "poem title" in the <search in> field, then selected the "and" operator. I entered "Frost, Robert" in the second search window and selected "Poem Author" for the search field. The third field I entered was "Poem Explanation." There were 6 results from this search, including a copy of the text itself and explanations of the poem. www.litfinder.com/poemfinder.com/poemfinder/poem_expl.cfm?STerm=STOPPING%2OWOODS%20SNOWY%20EVENING (Accessed 12/23/03).
However, not all records lead directly to Frost's poem. False hits included Behind Chatham's Market, which is referred to as "an urban version of Frost's poem www.litfinder.com/poemfinder/poem.expl.cfm and Wynken, Blynken and Nod by Eugene Field www.litfinder.com/poemfinder.com/poemfinder/poem_expl.cfm?STerm=STOPPING%2OWOODS%20SNOWY%20EVENING. (Accessed 12/23/03). Other than the fact that both authors were alive during the same time period, I saw no connection between Wynken, Blynken and Nod and Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening. Records in both the basic and advanced search options may include a link to an explanation of the poem, written by someone other than the poet. Poem explanations offer the opportunity to discuss the poet's meaning. In the classroom, these can be used to encourage critical thinking skills as students discuss whether they agree or disagree with a commentator's interpretation of the poem. http://www.poemfinder.com/poemfinder/search_engine.cfm?requesttimeout=900&CFID=258044&CFTOKEN=2133136 (Accessed 12/23/03).
Subject Navigator assigns each poem to one of ten categories. The categories are the human condition; people; nature; religion; places and Geography; society; science and social science; history; the arts; and the family. These are particularly useful for elementary school students as the subjects often mirror classroom and homework assignments. The students selects the icon reflecting the area of study desired and is presented with several subcategories. These are further divided into total of 9,500 distinct subject headings. For example, to use Subject Navigator to find poems on the topic "Providence, RI," I selected the category "Places and Geography." Of the choices presented, I selected "Cities, States & Regions/US," then "Providence, RI." Five records matched my search:
Roger Williams by Sarah Helen Power Whitman
Canonicus and Roger Williams (Anonymous)
A November Landscape by Sarah Helen Power Whitman
The Engineer's Signal by Frances Bret Harte
The Weathercock on Our Street by Albert Gorton Greene
www.poemfinder.com/poemfinder/search_engine.cfm?CFID=258044&CFTOKEN=26133136&search_area_1=Subject&Search_Term_1=PROVIDENCE%2C%20RHODE%20ISLAND&go=1 (Accessed 12/13/03).
I selected the first record, a poem about Roger Williams by Sarah Helen Power Whitman. www.litfinder.com/poemfinder/reference.cfm?poem_id=698156&refid=2612469&CFTOKEN=5064561. (Accessed 12/13/03).
The author's name, nationality and birth and death dates are listed, along with two subject headings: Providence, RI and Roger Williams. The timeline listed is the 19th century. The full text of the poem is given followed by a reference to the source: Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth (Ed.). Poems of America: New England. 2 Volumes in 1.vol 2 page 212. (http://www.litfinder.com/ The title is a link to its full bibliographic information with a list of poems included in the source. (Accessed 12/13/03).
The results for the second poem, Canonicus and Roger Williams were similar to the first: title, author, the subject headings Providence, RI and Roger Williams, and the poem. The Source for this entry was Stevenson, Burton Egbert Poems of American History. page 73. www.litfinder.com/poemfinder/reference.cfm?poem_id=655784&refid=1464&CFID=2612496&CFTOKEN=5064561 (Accessed 12/13/03).
Both books cited are available at the Central Providence Public Library on Washington Street. (http://www.provlib.org/). For a basic subject search on Robert Frost there were 26 records. Records from this search included not only poems and other writing by Frost, such as Sand and Dunes, but also poems about Frost as well as critiques of Frost's work. Some items are available in full-text, as indicated by a bold capital T before the record. www.litfinder.com/poemfinder/search_engine.cfm?CFID=2612496&CFTOKEN=5064561. (Accessed 12/13/03).
Year's Best Poetry www.litfinder.com/poemfinder/ybp.cfm?CFID=2612469&CFTOKEN=5064561 This feature was added to Poem Finder in 1998. Each year Poem Finder staff select material for an anthology of poems published during that specific year which they consider to be exemplary. The Year's Best Poetry is viewed by selecting "The Year Years Best Poetry" link and selecting a year between 1998 and the year just past (i.e.: 2002). As my daughter is studying biology this year, the 2002 entry caught my eye. I Never Understood Biology tells of a student's response to the heart as seen in studied in science class versus the heart as the place where feelings live. http://www.poemfinder.com/poemfinder/poem.cfm?CFID=258044&CFTOKEN=26133136&id=27476 (Accessed 12/13/03).
Kids Korner http://www.poemfinder.com/poemfinder/subject_search_kk.cfm?CFID=258044&CFTOKEN=26133136 (Accessed 12/13/03) organizes poetry written for children into fourteen subject areas, from "fun and games" to "life and death." Each category is further subdivided. For example, an entry under people and places was Pocahontas. http://www.poemfinder.com/poemfinder/subject_search_kk.cfm?CFID=258044&CFTOKEN=26133136&Step1=9&Step2=650&StartRow=1&Search_Area_1=kk&Search_Term_1=POCAHONTAS%20%281595%2D1617%29 (Accessed 12/13/03). A poem written by William Makepeace Thackery provides, in addition to the poem text, lists two subject headings: Children's Poetry and Native Americans and Pocahontas and the poem genre: Children's poetry. http://www.poemfinder.com/poemfinder/poem.cfm?CFID=258044&CFTOKEN=26133136&id=622881 (Accessed 12/13/03)
The nationality, profession, birth and death dates of the poet are also listed. The time period for this poem is 19th century. Three references for the poem are provided, as is a link to other poems by the author. http://www.poemfinder.com/poemfinder/Other_poems.cfm?CFID=258044&CFTOKEN=26133136&id=56044 (Accessed 12/13/03).
Explanations
For students and others who would like to know what the poet intended his writing to mean Poem Finder offers a poem explanation option. To read about a poem's meaning, the searcher uses an advanced search, entering the search terms and criteria in the first few fields. The following example will illustrate
Search for "Stopping by the Woods on a snowy evening".
Select an option for the Search in field "Poem Title".
Specify a search operator by selecting the corresponding radio button: and, or, not.
Enter a second term in the second Search in field. "Frost"
Select a Search in field Poem Author.
Select a search operator by choosing one of the radio buttons: and, or, not.
Enter a term "Stopping by the Woods on a snowy evening" in the next search for field.
Select an option for the Search in field Poem Explanation.
Select Go (or select Start Over to begin a new search).
Six records were retrieved. All were listed as explanations of the poem being cited. Of these, One was for Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, two were other Robert Frost poems: Neither Out Far Nor In Deep, and Out, Out. The remaining records were Behind Chatham's Supermarket by Jim Daniels, Wynken, Blynken and Nod by Eugene Field and The Smiling Mouth by Charles D'Orlean. The explanation of the Daniels' poem draws a comparison between Behind Chatham's Supermarket and Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening, suggesting that Daniels can be read as an urban version of Frost. http://www.poemfinder.com/poemfinder/search_engine.cfm?requesttimeout=900&CFID=258044&CFTOKEN=26133136 (Accessed 12/07/03)
Biographies
Each record in the database includes, in addition to the poem, brief information about the author, including birth and death dates, nationality and professions. Many records offer a link to more complete biographical information. The brief record for Robert Frost states that he was born in 1874 and died in 1963. He was an American writer, educator and farmer. The full biography tells the reader that Frost was born in San Francisco, but moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts after his father died. The article is full of interesting information about the author that may be of interest to fans of Robert Frost's poetry, students working on school assignments or others generally interested in poetry. While the biographies are brief, they provide useful information. http://www.poemfinder.com/poemfinder/poet.cfm?CFID=258044&CFTOKEN=26133136&id=18999 (Accessed 12/07/03).
Summary and Conclusion
Both NoveList and PoemFinder provide interesting and informative material that can be enjoyed by a variety of audiences. Both have been recommended for use in public and academic libraries. After a careful evaluation of patron needs and library resources, I will consider purchasing subscriptions for both databases for the public library where I work in the future.