Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers is a non-fiction book I recently read about factors associated with and contributing to high levels of success among individuals. I was able to find the book on a number of library websites, usually related to universities that provide information through LibGuides. When comparing some databases, similarities could be seen and included the general information of the multiple editions of the books, the contents of the work, background and other resources regarding the author, and access to the book via the university’s website. However, there were also a number of differences among these databases. First, certain databases provided additional or similar content based on shared subjects, fields of study, or other factors. Second, certain databases allow for comments by readers or those who have accessed the library. Third, certain databases even allowed previews of the book.
Despite the differences, all databases were able to provide a descriptive summary of the book’s contents and subjects. The subjects of Gladwell’s Outliers include success and successful people (Villanova University, n.d.). Features such as similar works, other works by the author, reviews, and preview access also made certain sites more approachable and useful. Overall, the databases were different in their interfaces but were all easily navigated and provided adequate information. What I found most useful about these databases was the option to view similar items and to search literature and research by theme. While all libraries had their own collections of works that fell under certain themes, there were still substantial bodies of work for the subjects that I searched. As such, A-Z databases and systems employing the LibGuides systems are incredibly useful and effective in discovering connections between written works.
Reference
Villanova University. (n.d.). Outliers: the story of success. Villanova University. Web.