Encyclopaedia Britannica Added to K-12 Database Package
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission is pleased
to announce Encyclopaedia Britannica as the online encyclopedia
addition to the K-12 database package available for the public
school library community and funded by TEA’s technology
allotment budget.
Members of a Transition Task Force subcommittee, whose roster
includes professional members from the K-12 library community,
Barry Bishop, JoAnn Van Schaik, Susan Touchstone, Carolyn
McCown, Laura Alfaro, and Russlene Waukechon (see http://www.texshare.edu/k12/ttf_roster_2005_12.html),
selected the Encyclopaedia Britannica based on content and
interface evaluations in addition to comments from the K-12
school library community made during statewide trials. The
Britannica Online School Edition includes search screens customizable
for each grade level, or all the content from each section
can be searched at once to see results for students at every
level. Encyclopaedia Britannica contains content for high
school students and up, while Compton’s Encyclopedia
is for middle school students and up and Britannica Elementary
is for elementary students and up.
Public school libraries can explore and use the Encyclopedia
Britannica at http://www.texshare.edu/programs/k12dbtrials/
(send e-mail to databases@tsl.state.tx.us
for login and password information) until December
1, 2007.
If you participated in the K-12 Database Trials last month, please note that the login and password are the same.
After December 1, the encyclopedia
will be part of the K-12 database package. After this date,
public school libraries that have activated their databases
account will be able to access the online encyclopedia.
Features of the Encyclopaedia Britannica package includes:
- Britannica Online School Edition (Britannica Elementary
Encyclopedia, Compton's Encyclopedia by Britannica, Encyclopaedia
Britannica, Britannica Concise Encyclopedia). Includes Index,
A-Z Browse, Subject Browse, World Atlas, Timelines, and
Video Browse.
- Britannica Spanish-language Resources (Enciclopedia Juvenil,
Enciclopedia Universal en Espanol).
- Britannica Global Reference Center (Encyclopaedia Britannica
Online Japan, Britannica Online Korea, Britannica Chinese
Pocket Encyclopedia, Encyclopaedia Universalis French).
- Britannica will also provide a strong training program
and support for Texas curriculum (TEKS).
- Britannica includes over 34,000 photos, illustrations,
maps and other images; over 3,300 video and media pieces;
a dictionary with audio pronunciations; and over 500 student
learning materials and teacher resources for all levels.
Libraries that have not yet activated their database account
can do so by completing and returning the form located at
http://web.esc20.net/k12databases/activation.htm
Specific information on enrollment procedures, training opportunities,
and other announcements will be shared on the TexShare, TEA,
and the TLC electronic mailing lists. Information will also
be available on the TexShare, TEA and ESC 20 Web sites at:
If you want to know if your library qualifies for the database
program, please read the K-12 Public School Library Online
Databases Fact Sheet available at http://www.texshare.edu/k12/factsheet.2007-09-26.doc
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