The Asian Library database was done in Microsoft Access 2002. Even if you do not know anything about Access, you can still utilize this database if you have Office 2000 or Office XP. The library includes over 350 resources, mainly books, with an emphasis on China (over 100 entries) and Japan (over 150 entries). Each resource generally includes the ISBN, author, title, publisher, date of publication, grade level, rating, categories, and photo of item.
First you will need to unzip the 2004AsianLibrary.zip file. To open the database after you have unzipped it, double-click on the 2004AsianLibrary.mdb file. A window will open. On the left side is a column labeled Objects; make sure that Forms is selected. In the main box you will see an InputForm. Double-click on this. At this point, you can scroll through the form. If you know something about Access, you can make reports based on any of the categories, such as the grade level, author, or content.
My goal in creating an Asian Library database of my collection is to provide K-14 instructors with a list of resources that will help them decide on the suitability of the material prior to purchasing it.
The grade level category is divided into Pre-K, K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-14, and 15-16. I am not a reading instructor so my ratings are somewhat arbitrary, as are the grade ranges. Many Pre-K books are suitable for K-3 to read on their own. Likewise, a teacher might want to read a level 7-9 book to their lower classes. Many 7-9 books are also useful in high school (and these books tend to be fun, light reading that provide insight into the culture for a teacher of any grade level) and many 15-16 books are suitable for lower-division college students (13-14).
The rating system is even more arbitrary than the grade level. The ratings reflect my personal interests. If a book has a rating of 1, I would probably give it away and I certainly wouldn't recommend it. Books rated 2 might be satisfactory, but I wouldn't have purchased them had I had the opportunity to peruse them prior to purchase. Materials rated 3 are good and very good books (or media), most of which I would re-purchase. Books rated 4 or 5 are of very high quality, in my opinion. Some books I left unrated because I am not yet qualified to rate them (such as language books that are too advanced for me) or I have not had time to read them, or at least give them a good look. It should be pointed out that I try to rate the book based on the type of book. Therefore, a travel guide with a rating of 4 is not necessarily a better book than a history book rated 3.
In addition to the typical facts about a particular resource (such as title
and author), I also included 8 categories (reference, history, arts and music,
science, philosophy and religion, social science, language and literature, and
regional emphasis). Each category is further subdivided into 2-16 subcategories.
The categories are based on the Library of Congress' system, but have been modified
to suit the needs of teachers focusing on Asian studies. I hope this database
helps you find materials useful in your classroom!