OSLIS Resources

About Gale

In September 2009 Gale was awarded the vendor contract for providing Oregonians with access to subscription databases.  The statewide package includes 18 databases, one of which is a collection of about a dozen smaller databases.  Through these, OSLIS users can access information in magazines, journals, newspapers, reference books, and more.  Besides full-text articles, there are maps, images, podcasts, and video clips. 

Gale databases are only available through the OSLIS website for Oregon K-12 public and private schools. Link directly to the elementary or secondary OSLIS Find Information page from your school library website.

Funding for this resource is granted to the Oregon State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act, and at times, funds from the Oregon Department of Education.

Databases have been selected and organized for the appropriate user group, but anyone can access any of the Gale databases including those available at the university level. Various options exist for English language learners, including translation features and a Spanish language database.

Individual schools will have limited access to Gale admin. Schools will not be able to change the userID or password and will not be able to change the database order, but will be able to view usage statistics.

About L-net

L-net, Oregon's statewide digital reference service, began in January 2003 as a pilot project called Answerland. The idea for the pilot project came from the Oregon State Library's 2002 E-reference task force and the Oregon Library Association's Vision 2010 Call to Action.

The premise for the service is that Oregon's libraries can serve our communities well by connecting Oregon citizens directly to reference librarians online. L-net is staffed by librarians from all over Oregon and collaboration ensures that reference services are provided efficiently and effectively.

Patrons can ask any genuine question. Students with a homework question will be helped in finding resources, but will not be given the answer to the specific question. Students should be reminded to be courteous and patient since they are chatting with a live librarian who may be busy chatting with other people too.

L-net is made possible with funds granted by the Oregon State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act and by the collaboration of Oregon's libraries. The fiscal agent for the pilot project is Multnomah County Library.

For access questions and technical support see OSLIS Site Help

NOTE: The Newsbank Oregonian resource was dropped in July 2008 due to an increase in costs.  Please use the link we have provided for additional newspaper resources as well as the newspaper resources within the Gale resources.