Delving into Countries with Maps and Cultural Information

With so many internationally minded research projects at Derby Academy, maps and cultural information are quite popular among students and teachers. Fortunately, the library subscribes to
World Geography & Culture Online to support this research need!

World Geography & Culture Online is a database which provides maps for roughly 200 countries. Maps by country feature elevation and the locations of major cities while maps by continent are thematic in nature and highlight economic statistics such as the average annual rate of inflation and economic growth. However, World Geography & Culture Online provides so much more than maps. Each country profile includes overviews of history, environment, weather, government and society. The "People and Culture" section is particularly interesting. For example, on the country profile for Pakistan, I am able to learn of the family life, etiquette, cuisine, holidays, languages and lifestyles of the country.

In addition, the database is useful for comparing up to ten countries. Using a drop-down list, students can choose a statistic for comparison, for example, life expectancy, proceed to choose the countries they would like to compare, and end up with a neat chart they can use for presentations.

Researching People

The Derby Academy Library has many online resources for biographical information found on our Research Resources pages for Middle and Upper Schools as well as Lower School. Here is an outline of several databases which can be used for researching people.

1. World Book Encyclopedia includes World Book Kids (for Grades 1-3), World Book Student (for Grades 4-8) and World Book Advanced for young adults and adults. World Book Kids lists its biographies under "Important People" and then breaks them up into categories such as inventors, explorers, painters and civil rights leaders. Each biography is brief, usually includes an image of the subject and is linked to related encyclopedia articles.

2. Kids InfoBits will be most useful for Grades 3-6. To get to biographies, select "People" and then choose from categories such as political leaders, U.S. presidents and authors. Kids InfoBits gathers articles from encyclopedias, magazines, newspapers and occasionally provides images.

3. Gale Biography in Context is the most extensive source for researching people and is appropriate for Grades 5-8. Biographies are arranged under social reformers, African Americans, Hispanic Americans and contemporary world leaders. Each profile collects articles from encyclopedias, newspapers, magazines, academic journals and selected websites. Profiles also include media such as images, interviews from NPR and other sources, as well as video clips.

Using the library's databases is a great way to quickly find something reliable for an assignment by cutting down on the glut of information we find through online search engines. Explore our databases and let us know what you think!

Mama Steph in the Lower School Library

Derby Academy is excited to welcome Mama Steph to our community. Mama Steph is an accomplished musician. Her performances involve singing, stories and fun designed for the young ones (up to age 5)!

Check out the schedule to find a date that will work for you. All Mama Steph performances at Derby Academy are free and open to the public.

Welcome Derby Community!

Derby Academy Library's mission is to sustain and nourish the curriculum of the school by:

* developing a collection of materials in all formats to support the curriculum for independent study and recreational reading
* planning with teachers to create opportunities for students to become effective users of ideas and information
* providing attractive and friendly facilities that serve as a catalyst for the intellectual life of the school.

This blog will serve as an extension of our mission and will be a space to highlight the love of literature, dedication to research and intellectual life of the Derby community. Stay tuned for future posts on new books available in the library, age appropriate book reviews and recommendations, student input on their favorite books and authors, useful online resources for research projects, and much more!