CNIB Digital Library Newspapers Tutorial

November 2008

Adapted from Tutorial Lesson 13 of the CNIB Digital Library Tutorial Lessons

There are three parts to this lesson. Part A provides step-by-step instructions for logging into the CNIB Digital Library and finding the Newspapers, Magazines and Databases page. Parts B and C explain how to read an article in two different types of newspaper layout.

A – Newspapers, Magazines and Databases:

In order to provide a wider range of information, the CNIB Digital Library offers its clients access to a number of newspapers, magazines and databases.

Exercise 1: Accessing the newspapers, magazines and databases page

1. Launch your Internet browser.

2. In the address field, key in: http://visunet.cnib.ca. A new web page called The CNIB Digital Library Login will open.

3. Activate the first edit field and key in your user name. Your user name probably consists of your first name and last name with a period separating the two, for example: “john.smith”. JAWS users must activate forms mode. If you don’t have a user name or password, contact Reader Services at 1-800-268-8818.

4. In the second edit field, key in your password.

5. Activate the SUBMIT button or use the Enter key to submit your request. A new web page called the CNIB Digital Library Home page will open.

6. In the navigation bar of the CNIB Digital Library Home page, activate the Newspapers, Magazines and Databases link. A new web page will open.

The Newspapers, Magazines and Databases page is divided into three sections: Newspapers, Magazines and Databases. In this tutorial we will only explore the first section, Newspapers.

Sub-section: Newspapers

The first link in this section takes you to Help with newspapers, where you will find a full list of newspapers available by region and language (English, French). Publication frequency is noted beside each newspaper. This list is for information only. To access the newspapers, go back to the Newspapers, Magazines and Databases page. You will also find instructions for reading a newspaper on the Help page.

You will find several other links in the Newspapers sub-section. Let’s examine the first few.

Link: Service announcement

The second link in the Newspapers section highlights any current issues with the Newspaper service. This link will take you to an announcement noting the details of the problem. If there are no issues it will state “no announcement at this time” and the link will take you to the Help with newspapers page.

Link: VisuNews service: selected regional, national and international papers

The third link in the Newspapers section will take you to the VisuNEWS service. This service provides a selection of newspapers and magazines in English and French, including the Globe and Mail and the New York Times. Part B of this lesson explains the VisuNEWS service further.

Link: VoicePrint

The fourth link in the Newspapers section will take you to VoicePrint. VoicePrint is an organization that provides audio access to top stories from more than 600 Canadian newspapers and magazines. Please note that this link takes you to an external site.

Link: Calgary Herald (and other newspapers)

The next link in the Newspapers section will take you to the Calgary Herald. After the Calgary Herald, you will find links to several other newspapers in English. Part C of this lesson explains how to read these newspapers.

B – VisuNEWS Service – Selected regional, national and international papers

There are two different types of newspaper layout in the CNIB Digital Library: newspapers that are part of the VisuNEWS service, and the Calgary Herald and other newspapers. The two layouts are very similar but there are some minor differences because they come from separate service providers.

In part B of this tutorial we cover VisuNEWS. VisuNEWS is similar to a newspaper stand with more than 30 publications, including daily, weekly and monthly newspapers, and some magazines in English or French, including the Globe and Mail and the New York Times. These publications are all available online the same day as they come out. In addition to the navigation bar, this page contains a list of links with the available publications.

Exercise 2: Accessing the VisuNEWS web service

1. Go to the CNIB Digital Library.

2. Log in by keying in your user name and password.

3. In the navigation bar of the CNIB Digital Library Home page, activate the Newspapers, Magazines and Databases link. A new web page will open.

4. Activate the VisuNEWS link found on this web page. A new web page entitled VisuNEWS will open. Please note that this link takes you to an external site.

Because the page is external, it does not have the usual navigation bar. Instead, it has a simple tree structure with four levels:

List of publications

List of sections in a publication

List of articles in a section

Whole text of an article

Let’s now look at each of the four levels:

List of publications

On this page, which corresponds to the first level of the tree structure, you will first find the End Session link. This is followed by around 30 links arranged in alphabetical order and each corresponding to one publication. At the very bottom, you will find another link, VisuNEWS – Help.

To consult a publication in VisuNEWS, simply activate the link to the publication. This will open a new web page showing a list of the sections in the selected publication.

List of sections

Located at the second level of the tree structure, this new web page lists the sections in the publication selected. At the bottom of this page, you will see that the Return to List of Publications link has been added.

To consult the contents of a given section, activate the link to that section.

Note:

In newspapers such as the Winnipeg Free Press, the sections generally correspond to sections in the print edition. It is important to familiarize yourself with the names and content of the different sections. In magazines such as Windspeaker, there are no sections, but only different articles with titles.

List of articles

This brings you to the third level of the tree structure, i.e. to the page showing the list of articles contained in the section selected. Each article includes a title, description and summary. To consult a specific article, activate the link to the desired title.

Two links appear at the bottom of the page: Return to List of Sections and Return to List of Publications.

Full text

You are now at the fourth and last level of the tree structure, i.e. the page showing the full text of the article selected.

Three links appear at the bottom of this page: Return to List of Articles, Return to List of Sections and Return to List of Publications.

By activating one of these links, you can return to any level of the tree structure to continue exploring VisuNEWS.

Now let’s read one of the editorials in the Globe and Mail.

Exercise 3: Reading an editorial in the Globe and Mail newspaper

1. Go to the CNIB Digital Library.

2. Log in by keying in your user name and password.

3. In the navigation bar of the CNIB Digital Library Home page, activate the Newspapers, Magazines AND Databases link. A new web page will open.

4. Activate the link found on this page. A new web page entitled VisuNEWS will open. Please note that this link takes you to an external site.

5. Activate the Globe and Mail link.

6. Then activate the Column link.

7. Finally, activate the link to the title of the article by the author you wish to read. Enjoy reading!

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C – Reading the Calgary Herald (and other newspapers)

When you activate the link to the Calgary Herald or any other newspaper listed below it, a new web page outside the CNIB Digital Library will open. Because the page is external, it does not have the usual navigation bar. Instead, it has a simple tree structure with three levels:

List of sections in a newspaper

List of articles in a section

Whole text of an article

Let’s now look at each of the three levels:

List of sections

Located at the first level of the tree structure, this new web page lists the sections in the publication selected: News, Editorial or Sports, for example.

To consult the contents of a given section, activate the link to that section.

At the top of this page, you will find the Newspapers List link. This link takes you back to the list of papers on the Newspapers, Magazines and Databases page.

List of articles

This brings you to the second level of the tree structure, i.e. to the page showing the list of articles contained in the section selected. Each article includes a title, description and summary. To consult a specific article, activate the link to the desired title.

Two links appear at the bottom of the page: Return to newspaper list and Return to index. Index refers to the list of sections.

Full text

You are now at the third and last level of the tree structure, i.e. the page showing the full text of the article selected.

Three links appear at the bottom of this page: Return to newspaper list, Return to index and Return to section: name of section.

By activating one of these links, you can return to any level of the tree structure to continue exploring the newspapers.

Now let’s read one of the editorials in the Calgary Herald.

Exercise 3: Reading an editorial in the Calgary Herald newspaper

1. Go to the CNIB Digital Library.

2. Log in by keying in your user name and password.

3. In the navigation bar of the CNIB Digital Library Home page, activate the Newspapers, Magazines AND Databases link. A new web page will open.

4. Go to the Newspapers section.

5. Activate the Calgary Herald link. A new web page will open entitled CNIB News / Calgary Herald. Please note that this link takes you to an external site.

6. Then activate the Editorial Page link.

7. Finally, activate the link to the title of the article you wish to read. Enjoy reading!