Gale Virtual Reference Library, Available through the Michigan eLibrary (http://www.mel.org). Grades 8-12.

This database is a useful tool for middle and high school students looking for concise, encyclopedia-style articles on particular topics. The search bar does not offer a very targeted search: users are better off picking a reference work themselves (they can select one after choosing a subject area from a menu on the left – subjects range from “Biography” to “Environment” to “Nation and World”) and searching within that work. Because of this, this database is a more effective tool for students who already know what they are looking for, as reference works are not particularly conducive to browsing (although each work is broken down by its table of contents, allowing users to peruse the work if they so desire – or easily access its user’s guide). The articles themselves are school-worthy sources that could easily be used in homework or projects, and the works included cover a wide variety of topics. Reference works such as Contemporary Black Biography or Women in World History could even prove useful in the classroom. Unfortunately the dryness of the interface and the lack of ease in searching do not make the database a very appealing one to teenage students. ( )