March 29, 2010

One way to keep up with your professional reading is to set up journal alerts for your favorite publications that are included in the Gale databases.  Or, show teachers and administrators how to do the same.

I set up one for School Library Journal, and the alert that was sent contains links to 5 stories in the current issue and a link to the complete list of SLJ’s offerings via Gale.  Since the latter is in reverse chronological order, the list of results starts with all of the articles for the most current issue. 

To set up a journal alert, you do not need to have a personal Gale account.  However, to manage alerts – like change preferences – you do need one.

How to Set Up Journal Alerts
Access any Gale database that uses the InfoTrac interface:  InfoTrac Student, General OneFile, etc.
Click on Browse Publications in the orange toolbar.
Search for a publication in the Find Title box on the left.
Click on the name of the journal once it appears under Publication Title in the center of the screen.
Click on the Search Alert/RSS Feed logo in the top right of the screen (orange box w/ white sound waves).
Add your information in the box that pops up (email address, etc.) and click on Save.
You should receive an alert once the newest issue of your selected journal has been added to Gale.
Want to set up a personal Gale account?  From any InfoTrac interface, click on LOGIN at the very top right and then click on “New User? Click here to set up an account.”  For a tutorial, click on Toolbox (near LOGIN at top of page) and then on Named User Tutorial.

Thanks,
Jen