Trial Access to IRIS Database of Funding Opportunities

University Libraries has set up a trial for the IRIS Database of funding opportunities, which is administered by the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

• The IRIS home page is available:  http://www.library.illinois.edu/iris/
• The actual search page is available:  http://iris.library.uiuc.edu/~iris/search.html

Please take a look at this resource and let me know what you think!  Please note:  the trial ends Friday, February 18, so this is a very short trial.  Check out other databases on trial via the University Libraries website:  http://www.lib.vt.edu/find/trials.html

Spring 2011 Resource Trials

At this point in the semester, University Libraries has three databases and an e-book collection on trial.  Per usual, these trials will allow you access to these resources while we're "trying them out."  Most of them go through the middle of February (2/18); although none of them contain HNFE-specific information, you may want to check them out and let us know what you think.  Be sure to log in to Off Campus Sign In, just as you would for a regular database, if you're interested in checking them out:

African American Study Center from Oxford
Access via our trials page:  http://www.lib.vt.edu/find/articles-databases/current-trials.html

American National Biography Online from Oxford
Access via our trials page:  http://www.lib.vt.edu/find/articles-databases/current-trials.html

Linguistic Bibliography Online from Oxford
Access via our trials page:  http://www.lib.vt.edu/find/articles-databases/current-trials.html

Palgrave Connect E-books from Palgrave Macmillan
Access via the Palgrave Connect page:  http://www.palgraveconnect.com/pc/browse/jumpStartResults

Again, if you are at all interested in these resources, your feedback is appreciated!

Image from blog.only2clicks.com

Database trial: Sage Research Methods Online

Until December 31, VT Libraries has trial access to Sage Research Methods Online.  A full description of the database, and VT's trial, can be found here.  Essentially, this database represents a great reference tool, housing over 1400 qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods topics and terms.  Some of the popular features of the database include a methods map (a visualization tool that can be used to discover relationships between methods, discover new methods, and find related content), faceted search tools, and videos that explain research methods concepts like incorporating real-time online interviews into research design and designing qualitative research projects.  Check it out, and let us know what you think!

Contact Bruce Pencek or me with feedback on this database.

Trial Access to NBC News Archives on Demand

Newman Library frequently tries out databases and other electronic resources, just to see how relevant and appropriate they may or may not be for the VT community; we offer the resources to the community, and invite comments and opinions.  On this blog, I will highlight any trials that HNFE may be interested in weighing in on, the first of which is the NBC News Archives on Demand.


NBC News Archives includes over 10,000 video clips, historic newsreels, images, photographs, articles, and primary source documents.  There are 30 broad collections, each encompassing hundreds of topics.  Collections that may be of special interest to HNFE include:  Health & Wellness, Environmental Sciences, Psychology, and other interdisciplinary news items.  While the information offered in this resource is definitely more popular than scholarly, it offers an interesting perspective on 20th century trends and news reporting, supplementing scholarly material relating to the same topics.

The database trial is currently accessible through IP addresses associated with Virginia Tech, so trying the database on campus would be the easiest way to use it.  Trial access is through 10/23/2010, and you can send comments, questions, and other feedback directly to me via email (millerrk at vt dot edu) or the comment form on the right side of this blog.  If you have recommendations for other databases or resources that you'd like to try out like this, just let me know!