Awards

Library Journal 2006 Best Reference, January 1, 2011

Reviews

"This database's opening screen presents an attractive, intuitive interface. Users may access a quick search box and browse by subject or region. Also offered is the capability of browsing the source titles on the home page. Each general subject is subdivided into topics; e.g., Celebrations and Rituals subdivides into Carnival, Ceremonies, Festivals, Holidays, Rites of Passage, and more. The browsing index by region follows a similar hierarchy. Users may browse by collection titles and link to audio and video clips. Supplementing the quick search box is an advanced search function that allows keyword, title, and subject searching with Boolean operators and limiting by type of text or multimedia. Also available are pull-down limit menus for subject, time, region, and country. . . . Help pages are detailed and useful. Citation information and print buttons are available for each article. The real prize in this database is the quick access to a collection of world folktales, myths, and legends. The stories range from the traditional to the more bizarre--from Hans Christian Andersen to modern urban legends. Each tale entry includes the title, traditional bearer, source, date, original source, national origin, introduction, and text. A side menu offers links to related resources and related tales. Entries include the Aarne-Thompson number for tale type. Recommended. School and public libraries and academic institutions with strong storytelling or folktale programs; lower-level undergraduates; general readers; practitioners."—Choice, June 1, 2007

"JUST HOW GOOD IS IT? The design of WFF is outstanding. The content is useful and substantial. The price is affordable to many. But, most significantly, this exceptional file gathers into one place diverse material researchers have had to hunt for in the past. The combination merits a 10! . . . World Folklore and Folklife is strongly recommended for all collections serving students and researchrs in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences."—Library Journal, February 1, 2007

"Starred Review 'I took a hero's quest through World Folklore and Folklife and found the information excellent and useful, but more amazing, through the magic of databases and search links, I was led all over the world and time. It gave me knew and interesting ways to search, compare, and absorb information; often making links I wouldn't have considered. Luckily, to keep the student from being tempted to wander aimlessly through WFF, Greenwood has also included teacher resources and lesson plans that are correlated to state and national standards. Using either quick or advance search, main entry points by country or subject easily lead the researcher through its extensive links. High school students, and particularly any Advanced Placement humanities, literature, or anthropology student would find this a terrific resource. Highly recommended."—Library Media Connection, October 1, 2007

"The design of this file is outstanding. The content is useful and substantial. The price is affordable to many. But, most significantly, this file gathers into one place diverse material on folklore that researchers have had to hunt for in years past. Strongly recommended for all collections serving students and researchers in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences."—Library Journal Best Reference 2006, April 15, 2007

"World Folklore and Folklife (WFF) is an online file ‘tracing the origins and development of all aspects of traditions around the world.’ Covering art, history, languages, literature, music, social customs and structures, and religions of the world, its content comes from such titles as The Greenwood Encyclopedia of African American Folklore, The Greenwood Encyclopedia of World Folklore and Folklife, The Greenwood Library of American Folktales, various titles from the Greenwood Folklore Handbooks series, as well as such standards as the Hans Christian Andersen stories and Grimms' fairy tales. Updated twice a year, the file is available by itself or as part of Greenwood's Daily Life Online database."—Library Journal, February 1, 2007

"Although advanced searching does allow for a more focused search, some results returned cover a broader range of topics than expected. Some articles include photographs, maps, and other illustrations. Scope and length of entries vary with the topic; where applicable, links to reputable outside Web sites appear. Help pages are detailed and useful. Citation information and print buttons are available for each article. The real prize in this database is the quick access to a collection of world folktales, myths, and legends. The stories range from the traditional to the more bizarre—from Hans Christian Andersen to modern urban legends. Each tale entry includes the title, traditional bearer, source, date, original source, national origin, introduction, and text. A side menu offers links to related resources and related tales. Entries include the Aarne-Thompson number for tale type. Summing Up: Recommended. School and public libraries and academic institutions with strong storytelling or folktale programs; lower-level undergraduates; general readers; practitioners."—Choice, June 1, 2007