SIRS Discoverer Deluxe Reference Database Now Offered through AcessMichigan
Thousands of elementary school children in the state of Michigan recently gained access to SIRS Discoverer Deluxe, a fun, informative reference database for kids used in schools and libraries around the world. SIRS Discoverer Deluxe is available through AccessMichigan, a collaborative project of all types of Michigan libraries that provides Michigan residents with equitable and easy-to-use electronic information resources.
"AccessMichigan is thrilled with the addition of SIRS Discoverer to the organization's K-9 databases," said AccessMichigan Director Ruth Dukelow. "Now AccessMichigan is able to provide high-quality, full-text information for school children in the lower elementary school grades."
According to Dukelow, comments from librarians and educators about the children's database have been positive. "Everyone loves SIRS Discoverer when we do training on it," Dukelow explained. "Educators like the fact that young children who have not yet learned to type can easily click through topics and find information with the Subject Tree Search. They also find the Spotlight of the Month feature and the Notable People category particularly useful for classroom assignments."
A committee of 40 school media specialists and public library staff selected the SIRS database for the K-9 full-text database project, which is funded by the Michigan Department of Education. AccessMichigan's online information resources are available to all Michigan public, private, charter and parochial schools as well as public, academic and special libraries.
Hailed by educators for its visual appeal and educational value, SIRS Discoverer Deluxe contains thousands of articles and graphics from more than 1,200 domestic and international sources. The database is designed to develop research, reading, writing, language and computer skills among young researchers, and contains three reading and comprehension levels: Easy (grades 1-4), Moderate (grades 5-7) and Challenging (grade 8 and beyond).
