January/February 2017 Volume 61 | No 1

switch between reading levels at any time without changing the
look or the feel of the page. This means that the content can be
selected at Student level but read at the Junior level — making the
content accessible to all users. For younger users, information is
provided in concise and simpler language, while more extensive
and in-depth information is provided to older students.
The resource not only provides challenging extensions for
excelling students but it has also been designed to support
those with reading difficulties as well as those with English
as an additional language, thus making the completion of
homework assignments and working on special projects
that much easier.
Helpful features
Text to speech
Select the ‘Listen’ icon and the ‘Read Aloud’ feature will
be activated. This will help make the information easier to
understand — very useful for struggling readers and those with
English as an additional language (EAL).
Double-click dictionary
Simply double-click on any word to see a quick definition. A full
definition is also available.
Audio
Click on the audio icon to hear a pronunciation of the word.
Spotlights
Spotlights are microsites which focus on curriculum topics or
calendar dates and events and are produced on a regular basis
for primary school children. Each Spotlight features an article
on the chosen subject as well as activities such as a crossword,
word search and colouring pages.
Study Guides
Study Guides are microsites which are produced on a quarterly
basis for children in secondary school. They focus on a particular
topic and a theme such as ‘Essay writing’ and will include tips
on creating outlines and how to write a thesis statement.
Translate
Google Translator enables translation of article content into
one of 52 different languages, benefiting EAL students and
encouraging parental engagement.
Britannica Library also functions as an online guide by
recommending and endorsing the web’s best sites related to
search topics. As the Internet expands exponentially at a daily
rate, so too does the need for guidance on which information
is reliable.
Britannica’s partnership with Western Cape libraries is part
of the company’s global effort to make knowledge available
worldwide through convenient and affordable state-wide,
province-wide and country-wide adoptions. Britannica’s
agreements with national and local governments include the
Egyptian Knowledge Bank; Qatar Foundation; The Icelandic
Ministry of Education; The Welsh Government; the Brazilian
Ministry of Education; and many US states.
We at the Western Cape Library Service are very excited
about the product as this is the first e-resource that is available
to rural libraries. We would like to thank our Department for
making the budget available to buy Britannica Library.
For further information, please contact Tandi Engelbrecht:
tandie@jacklinenterprises.com
Corli Jooste is the marketing manager of Jacklin Enterprises
Kaapse Bibliotekaris Januarie/Februarie 2017
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