Bettina Wesloh
Question #1
Item 1 – Transcript of Question:
Question:
Why was the Goddess Cretan important to the greeks
name: Matthew Furtado
from:
confirm:
location: SurreyBC, Canada
area: History
reason: For an archeology Project on Greece
school: Yes
2: CHANGE SUBJECT to "HIS: Importance of Greek goddess Cretan? (need by 10/16/2007)" from "HIS: Why was the Goddess Cretan important to the greeks (need by 10/16/2007)" Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:12:39
Item 2 – Answer as Submitted to the IPL:
Greetings from the Internet Public Library!
Thank you for your question about the Greek Goddess Cretan and why she was important to the Greeks. It has been an interesting question to research!
My first challenge was to find a Goddess called Cretan. I began my search at Dictionary.com, an online dictionary that I have used before, that is run by the Lexico Publishing Group. The definition that I found to Cretan is online at:
The references that I found here listed Cretan as either being from, or an inhabitant of the island of Crete.
Following that line of thinking, I began to search for Greek Goddesses that were originally from the island of Crete. I went to the Encyclopedia Britannica online, and here I believe I found the answer you are looking for.
When you click the link to this page, you will want to scroll down through the articles until you get to the link on Britomartis. From here, I clicked on the link about Britomartis, which led to another article. However, only 75 of the words are free to the public. The rest of the article requires an account with Britannica. But that is okay, we do not need to sign up for an account. With the name Britomartis, we now have the information that we need to proceed with the search. Once I found this name, I found some resources for you, which I hope will help you out!
The first reference I found is from the Encyclopedia Mythica, and is located at:
This article is the history of Britomartis, and tells more of her tale. There are links on this page to further articles about Greek Mythology, including tales of the parents of Britomartis. These other links contained a lot of useful information, also.
The second reference that I found for you is located online through Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. We will provide a shortened link, or TinyURL, to this website as well, since this link is so long. Some email clients break long URLs or web addresses up into separate lines, breaking the link.
This is a chart of all of the Greek Gods and Goddesses, as well as the importance that they had in Greek and Roman mythology. There is a link at the bottom of this article to further articles about Greek Mythology.
The third reference I found is from Infoplease, and is located at:
There tend to be a lot of pop up ads that appear on this site, but if you click those closed, there is a small article about Britomartis.
I found all three of these sources through the Internet Public Library. (IPL) I use the IPL because I know that this is a librarian created index, and the sources listed are accurate and reliable. For all three sources, I began in the IPL section labeled Encyclopedias.
For the first search, I went through Ask.com. In the search box, I typed the word “Britomartis.” Once I was in the results page, I searched for articles that met your criteria for information on Britomartis. The articles from the Encyclopedia Mythica are very in depth, and provided much information on Britomartis.
In Microsoft Encarta, I typed the term “Greek Gods and Goddesses” into the search box. There were three articles that returned with that search.
For the third search, I used Info Please. I then typed the term “Britomartis” into the search box on the InfoPlease home page. There were two articles that returned from this search. I chose the first article for you search. The second article was the one that we had accessed through the Ask.com search.
I hope that this answers your question. If you need more help, please write back!
Thanks for visiting the IPL!
Item 3 – Time Spent Answering the Question:
2 hours
Item 4 – Sources Consulted and Strategies Used Beyond What is Listed:
This was a straightforward search. The most difficult part of the search was cross - referencing to make certain that I had the name of Britomartis correct before I did any further research. Beyond checking in Britannica Online, I also checked the online Encyclopedias that we have available online through Carroll County Library. ( All 3 sources- Grolier, Britannica, and Funk and Wangalls were close enough on their definitions of “Cretan” and “Britomartis” and “Greek Goddess from Crete” that I was comfortable deciding that Cretan is Britomartis.
Item 5 – Critique of the Question:
As a result of this search, I discovered the Encyclopedia Mythica. It has an amazing search engine within the site (google- like search) that allows you to type in a term, and it helps you to find the answer. If I face another question like this one that delves into myths, this would be my first stop. I would have saved myself a lot of time if I had gone there first.
I am pleased with my first attempt at an answer. However, I must admit that I am realizing exactly how little I know about searching. I have always thought of myself as a good searcher for online information. This one had me wondering how much more devilishly hard the questions would be.
Question #2
Item 1 – Transcript of Question:
Needed by: 10/21/2007
Question:
I would like to know more the different regions and people groups
in China. I have traveled to China twice this and realized that I
don't know a lot. For example, in the United States there is
information about the South and West in terms of geography as
well as about the Eskimo's, Native Americans, etc.
name: Valerie Thompson
from:
confirm:
location: Wilmington, Delaware
area: Geography
reason: I have travel to China on business twice this year and it
would be helpful to know about the Chinese people when I interact
with them in the future.
school: Yes
sources_consulted: I went to the Elsmere Library and found two
book general books on China that I must return in a few days. I'm
looking for internet sources that I use in the future.
Item 2 – Answer as Submitted to the IPL:
Greetings from the Internet Public Library!
Thank you for your question about the different regions and peoples of China. I have found some resources that answer your question.
The first source I found is from the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. This is the link to the China Studies Home Page:
This is a table of contents for further information on China. If you scroll down through the page, you will find links to Chinese History and the evolution of modern China. In Chapter 2, you will find links to Minority Nationalities and a Demographic Overview. Chapter 3 covers the Social System in China, with Ethnic Boundaries and Han Diversity and Unity at the top. If you continue scrolling down through chapter 3, you will find information on women, religion, and trends and tensions.
The second source I found is from the China National Tourist Office. This is the link to the homepage:
You will need a high speed internet connection to view the homepage. If you do not have access to a high speed internet connection, this link should skip the home page, and take you to the information page about China.
This page has an intriguing map of China, broken down by geographic regions. If you click on the map, it will enlarge the map for you. Each of the links will give you a brief bit of background information about China and its history, people, and ethnic groups.
The third source of information I found is on modern Chinese politics and religion. This is located on the web site of the United States Government State Department. The link is:
There is brief information at the top of the page about the people, history, and regions. However, as you scroll down through the article, you will find more information about the modern political structure of the Chinese Government, Economic Reforms, Foreign Relations, and the list of principal government and party officials. This includes the listing of United States Embassies in China, and at the bottom of the page, there is Travel and Business Information. This includes the link to travel cautions, and United States Government policies for Americans traveling in China.
The fourth resource I have for you is from the site, Answers.com. This is a chart of information about the provinces and regions of China, along with the area of each region and its capital. This site is located at:
We encourage caution when using Answers.com. Answers.com collects entries from many other free online resources on the web and presents them under their own website banner. Some of these resources are highly dependable, while others, such as Wikipedia and WikiAnswers, are not highly dependable sources. Each Answers.com entry is divided into sections by blue-colored bars. Each bar will cite the source or copyright owner from which the information in that section was obtained. If you are unsure whether the information on an Answers.com page can be trusted, please contact us again.
There are two links at the bottom of this page, with further information about China. One is China: History, Geography, Government and Culture. The second is China Maps: Maps and online resources. This site does tend to have a lot of advertisements when you access their site. Click through the advertisements to get to the information. There is a link on the top right corner of each ad that says “Skip this ad” click onto this to get directly to the information. Also, while this site does not require a high speed internet connection, it will take a while to load on a dial up connection.
I found the first source through the Internet Public Library. This is a Librarian Created Index to the Internet, and I know that the websites listed on here are reliable and accurate. From the IPL homepage, I clicked on the link under subject collections for regional. I chose Asia as the subject area. From there, I chose the sub-heading for China. China: Country Studies was one of the returns on this search.
I found the second site through the Internet Public Library, also. From the China screen, I chose the sub-heading China Travel and Tourism. The China National Tourist Office was the first listing on this search.
The third resource, U.S. Department of State, I found through the United States Government. I have used this site before, and I know that the information on this site to be accurate and reliable. This site is run and maintained by the State Department.
The fourth resource, Answers.com, is also located on the Internet Public Library. If you begin on the IPL homepage, look down the bar on the left side. This link is under Ready Reference, subheading Almanacs. Answers.com is the first almanac listed on this page. I typed the phrase “China regions” into the search box.
I hope that this answers your question. If you need help, just write back! Thanks for visiting the IPL!
Item 3 - Time Spent Answering the Question
4 hours
Item 4 – Sources Consulted and Strategies Used Beyond Those Listed:
Another strategy I used on this search was Google, where I searched the term “United States Department of State”. I was attempting to find the link the Travel Alert section of the State Department Website.
Item 5 – Critique of the Question:
This was a very challenging question for me to solve. Not because of the difficulty of the information, but because of the fascination that I found I had with China. While I used the straightforward methods listed in my search, I explored so many other websites that I did not list on my search because many of these websites were not reliable, valid resources. Oh, the trips I took through China on my laptop. I am now ready to go visit China. It seems like a fascinating place, the history and the people, and the culture are just amazing. It took me a while to realize that I had to stop looking at everything of interest for me, but to narrow down and find the answers for the question.
I feel this is going to be a continual challenge for me throughout this assignment. The questions are so fascinating, and there is such a wealth of information out there. Not only are there all of the reliable and accurate websites to weed my way through, there are all of the “other” sites that we can’t recommend, but are just as much fun to look through and research.
Question 3:
Item 1 - Transcript of Question:
Needed by: 11/5/2007
Question:
what is a procedure in a science project?
what is the refrence in a science project?
name: milagros
from:
confirm:
location: greenacres fl
grade: 7
area: Science
school: Yes
sourceschecked: sciencebuddies.com
1: Re: SCI: youth: what is a procedure in a science project? what is the refre (need by 11/5/2007) Post-A-Note message (only visible to IPL librarians) Fri, 19 Oct 2007 02:12:59
by Jennifer Burke ()
** From Sr RA: **
suggest starting with Kidspace Science Fair section, esp. part on
how to write up or develop a project; also check out the A+
Writing section of Teenspace and other resources in Kidspace on
writing reports
Item 2 – Answer as Submitted to the IPL:
Greetings from the Internet Public Library!
Thank you for your question about Science Fair Projects. You had specifically asked for information about the procedure and the reference in a Science Fair Project. I have found resources for you. All of these resources should load onto your computer easily, whether you are on a dial-up internet connection or a high-speed connection.
The first resource I have found is Science Service. Science Service is a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC. They encourage people to explore the world of science, and they sponsor two National Science Fair competitions. Follow this link to the website:
This page describes science research and the process of science. If you scroll down through this page, item number 5 describes “procedure” in conducting a Science Fair Project. This page gives you a lot of information about Science Fair projects, how to successfully complete your science fair project, how to find and cite your references. Scroll down to the bottom of the article for information on Elements of a Successful Project.
The second resource I found is “The Scientific Method” from the website, Science Stuff. You can follow the link to this site at:
If you scroll down through this page, you will find a description of procedure close to the bottom of the page. At the top of the page, you will find a more detailed description of how to pull together your science fair project.
The third source that I found for you is the A+ Research and Writing guide. This is the link:
This includes step by step guides to reading, writing, info searching, and links to online resources to help you write the best possible paper for your science fair report.
The fourth resource that I found is written by Janice VanCleave, who is a children’s science author. She writes many books about Science Fair Projects specifically for children. She has an amazing website that you can access at:
This website contains links to more information with a Science Fair Handbook, Science Fair Questions, and Science Fair Tips.
Here is how I found your resources:
I found all of these resources through the Internet Public Library. (IPL) I like to use the IPL because it is a Librarian Created Index, and I know that the resources listed on here are accurate and reliable.
I found the first site, Science Service through the IPL. I began on the IPL Kid Space Homepage at
I clicked on the Science Fair Link on the left side of the page, clicked on the Scientific Method button on the part labeled “Need More Help?” I chose the second link on that page, INTEL ISF Scientific Method. I chose to go through the IPL because I know that this is a Librarian Created Index, and that the websites listed on here are accurate and reliable.
I found the second site through the IPL Kid Space Science Fair Home Page, also. The link was down at the bottom of the page, labeled Science Stuff.
I found the third site through the IPL Teen Space Homepage. I clicked on the A+ Writing link on this page.
The fourth resource, Janice Van Cleave’s website I found through the IPL Kid Space Science Fair Page, and clicked the link to the Scientific Method website. Janice Van Cleave’s website is listed at the bottom of the page.