Gale’s Infotrac databases (e.g., Academic OneFile, General Reference Center Gold, Health Reference Center, Educator’s Reference Complete, Literature Resource Center, etc.–but not the Science and Business ones yet) have added three interesting things:
1. Translation: You need to search in English, but once you click on an article title, it can then be translated into 11 languages (including Russian, simplified Chinese, Japanese, and Korean). See this example, over on the right. Great for patrons who know enough English to search, but want to read in their own language, or compare articles in two languages.
2. Audio files: Any article can now be played as an audio file (automated voice, but it’s not bad), or downloaded as an MP3 file for later listening. (but you can’t combine the two–i.e., have the article read to you in Russian!)
3. Defininitions: You can highlight any word or phrase (e.g., “global warming”), then click “definition” to get a Webster’s definition and pronunciation.
Talk Time for Tutors 