Britannica Online Academic Edition

Britannica Online Academic Edition
Provided By:  Britanica Encyclopedia, Inc.

Genre: Database

Annotation/Teaser:  This an online reference source for those young adults seeking information.  It is an accurate and trustworthy database that provides information for a wide variety of topics and themes.

Overview:  Britannica Online Academic Edition is an online reference source for information seekers of all ages.  It is best suited for young adults between the ages of 12-18 and provides a wide variety of information on lots of topics and themes.  There are many features that print encyclopedias do not contain.  For example, an atlas, news, and multimedia are just a few of its wonderful features.  There is a direct link on the homepage to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus, as well as numerous ways to search for information.

Critical Evaluation:  Britannica Online is a subscription based encyclopedia but it is well worth the money.  There is a wide range of topics and themes covered in this encyclopedia.  While this online encyclopedia would be ideal for initial research but would not be good for in-depth research.  Experts keep the information updated and accurate.  This is one thing that Britannica brags about on their website.  "“Unmatched Accuracy and Unique Perspectives: Written by Nobel laureates, historians, curators, professors, and other notable experts, the Encyclopedia Britannica articles are trusted resources with balanced, global perspectives and unique insights that users will not find anywhere else.”  A user would not need any kind of training because it is simple to use.  However, in the library a person would have to have a library card to be able to log in and use it.  One of the best features of this encyclopedia is that the user can click on any word twice and it will pull up the definition of the word. 

Curriculum Ties:  Fits into all curriculum

Book Talk Ideas:   N/A

Controversial Issues:  N/A

Defense: 
There are no apparent challenge issues in this book.  If it were to be challenged I would do the following: 

*I will keep the library's selection policy on hand and memorized with a good understanding  of the standards and policies to show that the selection meets the standards. 

*I will keep good and bad reviews (both electronic and print) and make sure they are from reliable and respected sources such as School of Library Journal, Booklist, and YALSA. I will have copies of these reviews to give away. 

*I will confirm the library's position to provide intellectual freedom as stated in the Library Bill of Rights and keep a copy of this.

*I will keep a written rationale to justify the reasons this material is included in the collection, such as educational significance and curriculum ties.

*I will be respectful and calm and practice "active listening".

*I will make sure I read the material and are very familiar with it.

   

* I will keep a reconsideration form on file in the event that my other strategies don't work. 

Why I Chose This Database:  This database is one of the top sources for information.  It is appropriate for all ages and many great features to help with information seeking.  It is also updated often.