Issues and Controversies Online from Facts on File provides information on news and current events related topics in areas such as business, politics, government, education, and popular culture. Issues and Controversies is kept current by weekly updating. In addition to current issues, a back file allows users to research events occurring in the previous 12 years.
The basic search screen utilizes a keyword search that provides users with the option of searching within the story and title text or within the title text only. Results can be sorted according to relevance, story date, or story date range. The basic search screen also allows searching through a subject index and a pro and con index. An index titled “Issues” in the “Headlines” provides links to current topics in national and world news.
An interesting feature of the basic search page of Issues and Controversies is a “Curriculum tools” section which is divided into “Tools for students” and “Tools for educators.” “Tools for students” is further divided into sections titled “Research tools,” “Presenting your research,” and “Analyzing and understanding.” Each of these sections contains links related to that particular topic. For instance, “Presenting your research” provides links titled “Avoiding plagiarism” and “Writing and delivering a speech.” “Tools for educators” is divided into sections titled “Classroom activities and assignments” and “Teaching aids.” Another section provided on the basic search page is titled “Special features.” This provides links to subjects such as editorial cartoons and newspaper editorials which can be searched by subject. A section titled “Need a research topic” presents an extensive list of suggested research topics with links to pertinent information. “Curriculum tools” would be very useful for both students and educators, particularly those educators new to the teaching profession.
Patrons using Issues and Controversies can also search using an advanced search option. A unique feature of advanced search is that the user can search other Facts on File databases. For example, if a patron's institution has purchased a subscription to World News Digest from Facts on File, that database could be searched while using Issues and Controversies.
Issues and Controversies provides for the use of Boolean operators and phrase searches. Citation information is automatically generated for some articles. Full instructions are given for citing according to MLA and APA formats for articles that do not generate a citation. Issues and Controversies offers a “save to folder” feature that allows users to save content to a folder for later retrieval. Patrons using Issues and Controversies can also e‐mail articles.
Library administrators can generate statistical reports through the Infobase Publishing website. Access to Issues and Controversies can be authenticated through IP authentication, username and password, library barcode authentication, referring URL, and proxy server.
Issues and Controversies is easy to use and would require minimal instruction. It would be a good database for either high school or undergraduate students to use in researching current events. Issues and Controversies is highly recommended.
