the (un)classified library

Truth in Politics?

2012-02-02T15:46:00.002-05:00

Tis the season of negative campaign ads and grandiose candidate claims. No matter what side of the aisle you're on, it can be overwhelming trying to make sense of all the information, and deciphering the truth from the lies (or exaggerations). So, where is someone to turn when all they want is the truth so they can make an educated decision?

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer for this. There is no website, publication, or news show were the complete truth will be put on display. The basis of this post is a conversation on the ili-l discussion list on what to do when our patrons ask us librarians for reliable political information. The majority of librarians who weighed in stated that it is almost impossible for us to do that. We can send them to sites that appear to be better than most, but even those sources have issues and biases that we cannot ignore.

The best you can do is practice the tried and true methods of source evaluation and try to come to a conclusion as to the probable reliability of what you are reading or watching.

When evaluating a source (whether in print or online), you need to ask yourself:

1. Who is the author of this information?

With this question you are looking for two things: whether the author (or authors) is reliable and authoritative and whether you can identify the type of bias they may have related to the topic. Especially related to politics, all authors are going to have some sort of bias, you just need to identify the bias in order to understand how it may cloud what they are reporting.

You should also identify if the author (or authors) is affiliated with any larger organization or group and what types of bias that they may have.

2. Why did they publish this information?

Identifying the motive behind why the author (or authors) took the time to post this information is a key element to identifying its reliability. Sometimes their motives might be a bit murky so it might take some time to discern.

3. Where did they get their information?

If they identify where they got their statistics, quotes, or other information it makes it easier for you to track down those sources and look at them yourself. This allows you to check to see if they have falsified or exaggerated any of the numbers or words.

4. Can you verify the information?

Compare the information from a variety of sources, make note where they corroborate each other and where they differ. The more sources you check the clearer picture you should get. Also don't forget, when you are identifying the bias, to broaden your search to cover as many viewpoints as possible. That will help you better judge their validity.

Though all sources are inherently biased, especially regarding politics, below are a few that may be a bit better than others. Though I would take all of their information with a grain of salt. The best defense you can have against misinformation is to arm yourself with as much information as possible, and an open mind that will allow you to identify the "truths."

Thomas from the Library of Congress allows you to search the text of bills, reports, and other official information from the legislative branch of government.

Open Secret claims to provide information regarding campaign funds for candidates.

Project Vote Smart is suppose to provide facts on voting records and other information on various candidates.

Fact Checker, a column from the Washington Post, claims to find "the truth behind the rhetoric."

Fact Check.org is also supposed to identify the truth and misinformation in political claims.

Politifact.com attempts to rate the truth of political claims and identifies whether promises have been "kept." Though, its rating system has come under fire and has been criticized.

So, if you are trying to find the truth in political ads and claims this election year, the best thing you can do is approach each source with a critical eye and an open and observant mind.

Perfect Friday Film for Book Lovers

2012-01-27T09:51:00.000-05:00

In honor of Friday, I just wanted to share a film titled The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore which is one of this year's Oscar nominated short films. You can read more about the film in a post by Open Culture. For me, this film is the perfect thing to get me motivated to push through to the weekend. Enjoy!
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore from Moonbot Studios on Vimeo.

SOPA and PIPA - what are they?

2012-01-18T09:33:00.002-05:00

Today you may have noticed that Wikipedia and other sites are blacked out, and Google has a message of protest on its home page. These are protests in response to the SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) acts that are currently alive in the government. Both of these bills have been created to assist the entertainment industry in stopping pirated movies, music, or other media. However, their wording will make it easy for the government to control or censor the internet and put many of our favorite sites, like YouTube or Twitter at risk of being taken down. This type of power makes those of us who work with information and understand the value of free speech very nervous. Protests throughout the web are meant to bring awareness to these bills, and motivate United States citizens to voice their disagreement with the bills and what they will mean for the internet.

Please take today to learn more about these particular bills and make an informed decisions about them. If you are in disagreement with the bills there is a lot you can do. You can sign an online petition (like Google's) or you can call or email your local representative. Information and expression are core concepts of the internet and are important to its existence. SOPA and PIPA would change all of that.

Below are some sites where you can gain some more information, but please do some research on your own. These are just a sample of the information that is out there.

House Takes Senate's Bad Internet Censorship Bill and Makes it Worse

Protect IP/ SOPA Act Breaks the Internet

What is Wrong with SOPA

PIPA, SOPA, and the Open Act Quick Reference Guide

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Information Literacy from a Different Point of View

2012-01-16T11:28:00.001-05:00

As a librarian, I have been exposed to all sorts of information needs: research on the genetic diversity of wolves, business statistics, commentaries on particular bible verses. Though I feel that I have been successful in helping students with these needs, I am always painfully aware that my background lies in the humanities. Though I'm interested in all types of topics, my point of view regarding information is always from within this framework. The need for information is universal through out the disciplines, but if I'm talking about the research process with literature as my example, students from the sciences (physics, biology, etc) might have a harder time relating to what I am saying, and mistakenly assume that I do not know how to help them. The problem is not a lack of knowledge, just a lack of communication.

This communication barrier is what makes me excited when I see examples of other disciplines talking about information literacy, or the research process. Often times they don't realize that they are talking about these concepts. Instead they are simply imparting knowledge that they feel their students, or other scholars, need to know in order to become part of the scholarly communication. Whatever their reasons, I am happy to have their words to use as examples so patrons can understand in better detail how they can meet their particular information need.

Chad Orzel, a physics professor at a small liberal arts school, provided a recent example of this on his blog. He framed his example as how to successfully read a scientific paper, as part of his current research methods class. His suggestions fit perfectly with information literacy and how to evaluate and utilize information from a topic. His steps include:

Know what you want from the article (what is your purpose or what information are you looking for)
Know its structure (understand the layout so you know what sections you should pay attention to)
Read the abstract (the abstract provides an excellent preview of the article and its findings)
A picture is worth a thousand words (allow pictures, captions, and graphs to help you understand the research)

This suggestions are perfect for individual who are having to read and evaluate a scholarly article for the first time, especially one from the sciences. And, he explains it better, because of his scientific background, than I ever could have. I recommend for anyone from the sciences (or even the social sciences) to read the blog post and follow his advice.

But don't forget, if you have any problems/questions, you can always ask your friendly neighborhood librarian. Though we may not be intimately familiar with your discipline or topic, we are intimately familiar with the concept of information, and can help point you in the right direction. Plus we still may know some tips and tricks for accessing information that even professors may not know ;)

Don't just read more... read better

2012-01-06T15:39:00.001-05:00

Well, it's 2012. A new year provides an excellent opportunity to step back and assess your life of the past 365 days and mark potential areas of improvement (aka resolutions). So, what does this have to do with libraries? Aside from checking out a diet book or maybe an personal organizing title, maybe you should also take this time to revamp your information gathering strategies. I don't just mean information for school or work, I mean all the information you consume during the day. News, hobbies, topics of interest, favorite bands or movies, all of these are reasons why we open up our web browser of choice and try to make sense of the flood of information that comes flowing towards us.

As an information literacy librarian, I'm especially interested in not only how people find information, but how they process that information. The overall steps of being information literate are 1. understanding what information you need 2. finding information relevant to your need 3. evaluating that information to find what works best for you 4. using that information in meaningful and ethical ways. Most people are good at steps 1 and 2, but its step 3 that can cause people some grief due to the excessive amount of information that is at our finger tips. It's easy to become so overwhelmed with information that we fail to get any sort of meaning or knowledge from it. We miss the trees for the forest and our information need goes only partially filled, if it's even filled at all.

Libraries and librarians can offer you some pragmatic tips and tools for filtering that information flood, along with professionals that can help you get on the right information track. But, in this post I wanted to discuss a post on Lifehacker from this week by Alan Henry titled: How to Boost Your Reading Comprehension by Reading Smarter and More Conscientiously. In his post, Henry, along with tips from author Clay Johnson, asks readers to complete reassess their reading and information gathering strategies. Instead of feeling like you have to read EVERYTHING relating to your topic or interest, Henry concludes that it's better instead to take a quality sampling of the information and read more meaningfully. The suggestions are especially relevant to the long term information topics, topics that you have a deep and vested interest in.

They recommend reassessing your interests and asking yourself whether you really enjoy a topic, or a blog or website, or if you are simply reading it because you feel you should or ought to read it. If you have a strong interest in something than it is easier to get meaningful information out of it. Also, they say to analyze your reading or information gathering strategies. Are there sources that you hardly ever read, or if you do read them, you never get meaningful information from them? Then discard those sources and focusing on others.

Once you have rediscovered your focus, they say to make sure you include sources that challenge you and offer you multiple viewpoints. The sources should be able to give you well rounded, and respected information. Then, you only have to focus your energy on critically reading and assessing these particular sources, instead of trying to read anything and everything on your topic or interest.

At this point, Hunt suggests that for even more meaningful comprehension you might want to write or share your own thoughts on the topic, based on what you have just gathered from your sources. Even if you don't decide to share, reading with this frame can help you gain a better understanding of the issue and its various sides.

Hunt and Johnson's ideas for more meaningful reading and information management are perfect examples of how to effectively become information literate and create an information strategy that benefits instead of harms you. With the information overload that we currently have, we are having to read and comprehend so much information that the meaning and relevance of the information can get lost. These strategies can help you in and outside of the classroom, so why not use the New Year as an excuse to reorganize this part of your life as well? It should help you at the very least with your time management and your stress levels.

Before I sign off, I want to mention that Clay Johnson is the author of a new book titled: The Information Diet: A Case for Conscious Consumption that will be released in the near future. I have heard a lot of interesting things about this title and I will be picking it up when it comes out.

Well, happy 2012 and good luck creating a more meaningful relationship with reading and information!

The Library as Space

2011-12-14T11:14:00.002-05:00

During final exams, I usually find myself more sensitive to how students use the space of the library, as opposed to how they use its information. By this time of year, most of the research has already been done, all that is left is that final writing of a paper or studying for an exam. Students don't necessarily need the books, databases, or the reference desk. In our institution, they are more interested in the study space. They want the tables so they can spread out their materials or study with friends. They want the study rooms, where they can have more quiet and privacy. They want a warm, well lit, safe space to study into the wee hours of the mornings.

This is not an abnormal need. In fact, Barbara Fister comments on this phenomena in her blog post "The Language of Libraries." In most modern library applications, we have redesigned libraries into learning commons. These commons turn the focus of space onto technology and collaborative work spaces, and removed books to the periphery, almost as if they are an afterthought of a by gone area. However, the students who we thought would be happy for the ability to "plug in" and continue their 24/7 relationship with technology have not completely welcome to this change in focus. Fister lists instances where students have called for the return of the more traditional library. A place where they can unplug and hide from the distraction of everyday life. They want the books, not as sources of knowledge necessarily, but as a barrier that will allow themselves to separate from others and to focus on their studies. This is also a sentiment that we saw in our student surveys last year. The students wanted more spaces where they could study in quiet and privacy, though they also appreciated the open more public library spaces.

So, what does this mean for librarians? To serve our students' needs, its best to stay away from the extremes, which is always good advice. Also, it's good to listen to want they actually want, not what we think they want. Apparently, they want the technology but they also want the traditional. So, our challenge is finding a way to balance these two. Even if students aren't using the books for their knowledge, they still appreciate their existence, and by retaining them in the library maybe the students will be curious enough to open one up every once and a while.

At some point in the future, our library will be dealing with the question of how best to address the library space to serve students. We know that we need to have a balance between private and public, plugged in and unplugged. But, now the challenge is how the best achieve this. So, how do you use your library? And, want would you want in a new library space?

A Research Question

2011-12-13T13:57:00.001-05:00

As a librarian, there is a special place in my heart for questions: trivia questions, research questions, any type really. I also like to see those complicated questions that can't be answered by Google. They reaffirm to me a little bit the value of my profession.

Today in my ritual morning perusing of the web, I came across an interesting mystery that was solve through the help of archives, libraries and librarians. MSNBC has a report titled Pearl Harbor surprise: Photo of female firefighters wasn't from Dec. 7. The subject of this mystery was a photograph that had been used in a report commemorating Pearl Harbor Day last week. Many people commenting on the original picture questioned whether it was actually from that fateful day, and after some digging the reporter discovered the true story behind the picture and actually located one of the women in the picture and was able to speak with her.

If you have a chance, between all the end of the year chaos, take a look. Below is the picture in question, owned and distributed by Getty Images:

Staff Picks

2011-12-07T09:35:00.001-05:00

The end of the semester means an intense struggle to fit in that last bit of studying, paper writing, and typing before finals start next week. It also means that last little push before two weeks of nothing: no classes, no papers, no projects. Christmas Break is the perfect time to catch up on all the reading and viewing that you have missed. To help our patrons decide what to read or watch, or even listen too, we put a display together of our staff picks. I've highlighted a few of them below.

21 - Adele (cd - 781.66 A228tw, 2011)
It's hard to miss her voice on the radio. Our staff member writes, "After numerous listens I have yet to find a bad song on this album. Adele's voice is powerful and beautiful and I think just about everyone can identify with the emotions in at least one song if not more. Amazing."

Defiance (dvd - 791.4372 D313, 2009)
"Based on a true story of how three brothers resisted against the Nazis during World War II. A very powerful and well acted film."

Apocalypse Now (dvd - 791.4372 A643, 1999)
"Simply put this film presents the best cinematic portrayal of the Vietnam War story. The opening sequence rivals Orson Welles' opening to 'Citizen Kane'."

Atonement - Ian McEwan (book - 823.914 M142at, 2002)
"Love it! Hate! Wanted to throw it against the wall after I read the ending! If you can make it through the annoying narrative of Briony at the beginning the book is well worth the effort."

Garden Spells - Sarah Addison Allen (book - 813.6 A429g, 2007)
This authors first novel was arguably her best. Garden Spells is a favorite amongst our staff because of its magic and delicious drama. "There's magic at work within the pages - and cooking! I couldn't put the book down until it was done."

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell - Suzanna Clarke (book - 823.92 C611jo, 2009)
"Magic comes alive in 19th century England! This footnoted fictional alternative history features a cast of unforgettable characters. It is a book that has won numerous awards including the Hugo Award for Best Novel and Time's Best Novel of the Year."

Happy reading, watching, and listening! And most of all, happy end of semester!!

The Temporary-ness of eBooks

2011-12-05T14:59:00.001-05:00

Within the past couple years the popularity of ebooks have increased. With the Nook, Kindle, and the iPad consumers are asking for the convenience that ebooks offer them. They don't have to lug around heavy paper copies of books. They can instantly download their books onto their reader within having to step foot into a bookstore or library.The ease and convenience of ebooks means that the format is not going away. However, few people realize what they are sacrificing for this convenience.

Today I came across an excellent article in Information Today by Charles Hamaker called "Ebooks on Fire Controversies Surrounding Ebooks in Libraries." His work clearly explains the issues related to ebooks, those related to the libraries and also those that are relevant to the general public. Hamaker's biggest issue with ebooks is there ephemeral characteristics and the lack of understanding as to who really "owns" the book. When a consumer downloads a book onto their Kindle, what do they own? Many times, Amazon or the other distributor are simply leasing access to the book, so if the publisher decides to make a change, or to remove Amazon's ability to lease the book, they the book disappears from the reader's device. The reader also has no way to ensure that their copy, or any other copies, are not edited at some future date. When you do not own the books, you have no control over them and therefore it has a very limited permanence.

These issues of ownership and permanence are extremely important to libraries. They effect how much the libraries has to pay for access, what kind of access the library can deliver, and to what steps the library can archive or protect access to the text. Furthermore, Hamaker points out that ebooks carry with issues of confidentiality. With privacy being a cornerstone to libraries, having publishers or supplies that can keep track of patron usage, is a big concern.

Though patrons are asking for more ebook titles, the libraries have many hurdles to cross before any comfortable or consistent ebook access can be given. Publishers and suppliers are constantly changing lending rights, and questioning library rights to provide books and other information to their communities. Unlike many personal readers, library are concerned with not only providing access, but also preserving access and archiving information for future generations. The inconsistencies of these factors within the ebook have cause many libraries to only provide ebook access in limited amounts, or even refrain from ebooks entirely, at least for the time being.

Our library is currently assessing how we are going to provide ebooks to our patrons. Students are faculty are using ebook readers, so the need is there. But, we are not sure how we will reconcile the temporary-ness of the format. What books will we get in the format? What about those patrons that still do not have ereaders? How long can we lend them out to patrons? Will the user agreements allow us to lend them out at all? As we work towards ebook access we are finding that we are discovering more questions every day and that the definitive answers appear to be non-existent.

For a more complete discuss on ebooks, please read through Hamaker's article. You will not be disappointed. And, let us know what you think. Do you believe that the convenience of ebooks is worth their lack of permanence?

Researching from your couch

2011-11-22T16:23:00.001-05:00

Today is BC's last day of classes before Thanksgiving break. Most students are gone now, headed home for an extended weekend. Unfortunately, after Thanksgiving break there will only be two weeks of school left before finals. So, for many students this will be a working vacation. Trying to work on a paper or project at home can be frustrating since it can be hard to get to the resources you need. Before I head out the door to start my own Thanksgiving vacation, I just wanted to highlight some library tools that can make researching that paper from home a little less painful.

Access databases from off campus

If you need a journal or newspaper article for your research, you can access all 80+ databases available through the Mack Library from off campus. When you click on the link on the Library Databases A-Z page, the site will check to see if you are on or off campus. When you access from off campus, it will ask you for your name and your Bridgewater ID#. Your ID# can be found on your ID card or in your WebAdvisor account. Once the site verifies that you are affiliated with the college, you can access whichever database you need.

Access books from off campus

Mack library does have a number of ebooks available, though you cannot download them to your Nook or Kindle. You can, however, read them in your web browser. These books can be found in our ALEX catalog, but if you are off campus, the link to the full text might not work. Instead you'll want to search in our Ebsco eBook Collection database which provides our ebook subscriptions. You can find more information about access ebooks in the video embedded below.

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Access research help from off campus

Though the library will be closed during Thanksgiving break, you will still have access to the guides and tutorials available 24/7 at our LibGuides site. The site provides video and print guides to help you start your research in a particular subject, or just tips to help you through the entire research process. Though the guides aren't quite as good as in person reference assistance, hopefully they will hold you over until classes start on Monday.

Hopefully the above tips will help make your Thanksgiving break a little less painful, and give you a little bit more time to enjoy another piece of pie or a little more football.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!!

Library videos can be fun AND educational!

2011-11-04T15:31:00.001-04:00

I am always on the look out for good examples of library video tutorials and guides. Our own list of videos can be found here, but I'm painfully aware of the fact that most library videos are not very entertaining. It is hard to make researching in the library a fun experience. But, it is something that is important to know and learn. So, I look to others in the library world to see how they have tackled this Mount Everest of a problem and to see if I can get any ideas for improving our video tutorials or just my instruction philosophies in general.

So, you can imagine my delight when I came across the instructional videos from Kimbel Library at Coastal Carolina University. They have approached their videos in such a way as to keep them short, informational, and even a little humorous. They even included information on their outcomes, assessment methods, and the overall philosophy of the videos to help other librarians and educators to see how the videos fit into the overall instructional framework. The videos cover all the basic topics of the research process and provide students with a good foundation for understanding a tool or concept.

Below I have posted a sample video so you can see what I'm talking about. I will be taking plenty of notes on how they have chosen to approach instructional videos, and hopefully my own creations will be all the better for it.

Scholarly Sources vs Popular Sources from Kimbel Library on Vimeo.

Slang

2011-10-27T15:50:00.002-04:00

The blog Five Books interviews the leading minds in a particular field and asks them for five books that are representations for their particular topic. It is a great way to learn more information about a variety of things. Though the blog is one of the leading reasons that my list of books to read has become almost impossible to keep track of.

Recently, the blog interviewed Jonathon Green on the subject of slang. His interview, and list of books, provides a great insight into how slang is formed, how it is used, and how linguists study it.

If, after reading the interview, your interest has been peeked, you can find out about the origin of specific words through some of our reference resources.

The Routledge dictionary of modern American slang and unconventional English - R 427.09 R869, 2009

Random House historical dictionary of American slang - R 427.973 R194h, 1994

An encyclopedia of swearing : the social history of oaths, profanity, foul language, and ethnic slur - R 427.09 H893e, 2006

A glossary of netspeak and textspeak - R 004.03 C957g, 2004

Slang is changing every day so for a more immediate look at slang check out Urban Dictionary or look at our subscription to the Oxford English Dictionary to see with slang becomes an accepted word in the English language.

Understanding What Google Does with your Information

2011-10-26T15:54:00.001-04:00

Information privacy isn't the same as it used to be. With the invention of the internet, between web searching, social media, and communication technology, it can be a little unsettling to realize how much someone can learn about you by accessing that information.

With the set up of today's web tools and features, it can be hard to tell what information they store from your interactions. Despite this, it's always good to do a bit of digging to make sure that you at least try understand the privacy settings and adjust your use accordingly.

I think that it is safe to say that most of us use a Google product at some point during our day. Accessing our email through gmail, searching for information using Google search, or watching a video on YouTube puts us all into contact with Google's privacy policy. It can be a little concerning, having all that information going to one company, but Google does provide its users with an explanation on how their information is used and stored.

Good To Know is a site by Google that explains how Google uses your information (like cookies, IP addresses, and search terms) to personalize your searching and record your habits online. The site discusses general ways to stay safe online and also ways to manage the information Google records and ways to block some features (like personalize ads).

The site contains text explanations along with videos to help discuss its practices in plain terms.

Google's privacy policies are not the only topic relevant to controlling your personal information online. View the Choose Privacy website, sponsored by the American Library Association to view other current issues related to privacy and steps that you can take to remain in control of your personal information.

National Information Literacy Month

2011-10-12T16:00:00.002-04:00

School is in full swing, and the past month has gone by at a crazy fast speed. The semester is already half gone and most students are starting to hit their heavier work load. Papers are being written, projects are starting, and everyone is counting down the days to Thanksgiving.

October is not just a month for turning leaves, Fall break, and football (though these are all important things). I just wanted to quickly remind you that October is the National Information Literacy Month. Everything seems to have a "day" or a "week" or a "month," but in calling attention to information literacy, hopefully this month will help people become more confident information consumers, and give them the ability to decide for themselves which information is trustworthy and reliable. As said on the National Information Literacy Month website, "Having that skill set empowers them to interpret and make informed decisions about their lives, in essence, taking more responsibility for their own individual welfare and that of the nation." Information literacy is not just about being able to write research essays or fulfill the requirement for a school project. Instead, it is a perfect example of life long learning. No matter what type of information we need: news, entertainment, household financing, etc., finding and using good information is key to being successful at life.

In the larger scope of this, as members of our community we have a responsibility to be good citizens. Being a good citizen has a number of different meanings, but they all revolve around the ability to process information and maintain an understanding of the world around us. We have to be able to research and use information responsibly in order to create and maintain our individual voices, and to champion and support issues and topics that are important to each of us.

In honor of information literacy month, please take the time to examine your information use and see if you are doing everything you can in order to be a good information consumer. Resources concerning the steps of information literacy are available at the Association for College and Research Libraries (part of the American Library Association) website. You can also visit our library's guides in order to find more strategies to become information literate.

Staying Curious

2011-09-20T10:06:00.000-04:00

One of the things that drew me to the academic environment is the amount of learning that is continuously happening all around campus. I have always been a curious person, which is why the career of a reference/instruction librarian is a perfect fit for me. I love answering people's questions and learning something new along the way.

The years that a student is an undergrad are perfect for trying out new courses or subject areas. Especially in a liberal arts college, you are required to take a certain number of courses in other disciplines so why not take that opportunity to explore new learning? If you're a business major, enjoy the opportunity you have to take a course in meteorology. Or, if you are an exercise science major, why not explore a different way of thinking in the philosophy course? Sometimes it can be frustrating to have to take a course you think you have no interest in, but you never know when one course might spark an entirely new worldview, or reveal that hunger for knowledge, no matter what its form.

After college, it can be hard to continue that curiosity beyond reading the latest headlines online, or maybe even occasionally picking up the Sunday newspaper. If your job doesn't constantly expose you to knew topics, like mine does, there are luckily websites out there that can help you satisfy your curiosity.

I've mentioned this site before on the blog, but Open Culture, has become one of my go to sites when it comes to fascinating intellectual information. Topics range from links to classic silent films recently digitized online, to websites where you can view free courses and workshops on just about any topic.

One of my new favorites is Inside Higher Education's The Academic Minute. This audio podcast really is just one or two minutes longs and features scholars talking about their areas of study. Topics covered the entire academic spectrum, from diagnosing the cause of death of historical individuals, to new findings in the research on addiction. Since its only a couple minutes long, its the perfect site to check out during a coffee break, or while waiting for your Inbox to load.

Staying curious and searching for new knowledge allows you to continue to build upon your college education and is essential for you to remain informed in today's society. To be a good citizen you should never stop learning, and with the ease of access to information, why should you even consider that you've learned all that you need to know?

Welcome Back!

2011-09-02T11:57:00.000-04:00

Today is a bit busy on BC's campus. First year students are moving in, with upperclassmen close on their heels. They'll be here by Sunday. The countdown to Fall 11-12 is quickly approaching zero whether we're ready or not. Fall has always been my favorite time of year, and I was always excited for the first few weeks of school: connecting with old friends, plotting out my schedule for the next few months (I have always been a hyper organized person), and of course football!But, I always remember how overwhelming my first few weeks of college were. Freshmen year is one of the most exciting, but also one of the most anxiety field times of a student's life. Everyone is offering students college advice this time of year, so much so that it begins to blend together. By spring semester (or even Fall break), you'll be your old confident self, but here's my two cents on how to cope.

Review your Syllabus early - Knowing the amount of work the professor expects from you and when it is all due, helps you keep ahead of your work load. Reviewing it early also helps to catch any errors or inconsistencies on the professor's part. They may be more willing to adapt the syllabus now then when you are 4 or 5 weeks in.
Use a planner - whether you like a wall calender, Google Calendar, or a scrap of paper, writing down what work you need to do before the next class, or your job schedule can keep you from feeling overwhelmed and help you to mentally prepare for the super busy days of mid-terms and finals.
Make an effort to make friends - Even if you aren't a social butterfly, get to know the people in your dorm, or your classes. Seeing friendly faces around campus can help you feel more comfortable. You may not end up being BFFs, but that's okay.
Explore different subjects - You may have entered college with your heart set on being an accounting major, but don't miss opportunities to take classes outside of your major. At the most extreme, you might decide that you want to change your major, at the very least you will learn more about a topic you may have never considered before.
Ask for help - no matter what's bothering you: homesickness, a hard assignment, a bad roommate, or even a horrible class, there is someone who can help you. Career services can help you land an awesome internship, tutoring services can help you pass a class, and health services can help you handle stress or other physical/mental issues. Just because your an adult in college doesn't mean you are expected to handle everything on your own.
Visit the library - Coming from the library, this tip isn't too surprising, but the library can help you survive. We provide a relatively quiet place to study if your roommate is less than accommodating. You can meet up to work on group projects with relative ease, plus if you have trouble finding information there will always be a trained member of our staff available to answer your questions.

Enjoy your new semester, whether you are returning to BC or just starting college. It's okay if you decide to completely disregard my advice. However, I can't stress enough how important it is to at least visit the library once during your first semester. You won't regret it.

MOVIECLIPS

2011-08-25T14:28:00.003-04:00

We all watch movies, and sometimes as we are working on a project or a presentation, we realize how nice it would be to use a clip from a film to illustrate our point or an an example of one of our concepts. Thanks to a site called Movie Clips we can do just that. The site contains clips from over 2,000 films and they are all legally licensed so you not need to worry about copyright.

You can search for clips by basics actor, genre, movie, or you can chose to search by mood, theme, prop or action. Once you find your clip, you can embed the clip into a blog post or website, or you can share it through email, Facebook, and others. The number of recent films is pretty extensive. I've included a clip from the movie The Bounty Hunter below as an example.

In the Trunk
The Bounty Hunter at MOVIECLIPS.com

More New Reference Books!

2011-08-24T15:56:00.007-04:00

Just in time for the beginning of the school year we have a new batch of reference books ready for the shelves. Some of the more exciting ones are beyond.

Have I mentioned how much I love new reference books?

Contains nearly 100 entries on creatures ranging from sasquatch, to nessy, to the chupacabra. The animals in this book range throughout the world and the book illustrates stories of sitings and possible explanations.

Covers historical and modern footwear and their cultural representations.

The book when it comes to human anatomy and anatomical drawings.

This massive tome contains definition for almost all culinary or food related terms, and also includes a selection of recipes

Defines the influential people, techniques, and characters in historical illustration and animation.

What skills do students need to learn in school?

2011-08-18T14:46:00.003-04:00

The question may seem fairly simple, but in reality it is asking something a little more complex than what subjects we should include or what particular topics should be emphasized over others. What the question is really asking is has modern society changed the way we view the world and are their any additional skills that students need to master that they currently aren't required to know?

The website eSchool News recently asked the above question to its readers and received some surprising results. Some of their skills are pretty traditional, while others reflect the way modern society has changed our personal and professional interactions. One of the most surprising, but perhaps most fundamental is the ability to read. While we at times may take this skill for granted, the ability to read written information effect every aspect of our lives and is a core skill for all learning. As one of the readers pointed out, students need to learn how to read if they are going to be able to do math, science, or any other subject. One of the other surprising skills is typing. With modern technology, this skill has become almost as essential as reading. Being able to quickly and efficiently type on a QWERTY keyboard helps students access information more quickly and allows them to communicate more effectively. While many students still "peck" on a keyboard, the amount of time and energy saved by typing correctly more than makes up for the class time need to master the skill.

As an academic librarian, two of the skills that seem relevant to the library are the abilities to think critically and be resourceful. Students need to be aware of what resources and materials they have available to them, and they need to have the confidence to utilize these, often new, resources in order to create better quality research. Thinking critically is a key point in being resourceful. Students need to be able to access their information need and then decide which resource will be suit their needs - all critical thinking skills. These skills and others on the list tie into the concept of information literacy, and what it means to be an information literate student. It also ties into what it means to be a positive member of the academic, and the larger global, community. This is a goal we have for all of our students, whether they are in elementary school, high school, or college.

You can access the full text of the article here : Ten Skills Every Student Should Learn. I've also typed out the full list below.

1. Read
2. Type
3. Write
4. Communicate effectively, and with respect
5. Question
6. Be resourceful
7. Be accountable
8. know how to learn
9. Think critically
10. Be happy

Fair Use in the College Classroom

2011-08-11T15:05:00.003-04:00

It's pretty fair to say that copyright rules and laws have become the a gorilla in the room when it comes using materials in the college classroom. The rules are not the easiest to follow, which can lead some people to use materials incorrectly, or others to be so afraid of infringing on copyright that they refuse to use materials all together.

A few weeks ago, Inside Higher Ed posted an article on the top myths concerning copyright fair use and how the truth about these myths impact the classroom. The myths included:

I don’t need fair use — educators have special privileges.
Fair use is too unreliable to depend on -- it's all a judgment call.
Fair use is easy for an academic — I can take whatever I want because everything I do is noncommercial.
Fair use is too limited for me, because it’s useless when I publish or otherwise commercially market the work a fairly used item appears in.
Sure, fair use is on the books, but it’s too risky — even if I’m right, I could get sued.
Fair use is just a defense, not a right.
I don’t want fair use, because I believe educational materials should be free to all, and I license all my work under Creative Commons licenses.

I highly recommended reviewing the article to hopefully clear up some of the confusion that occurs when it comes to copyright and fair use. The link to the full article is below:

Myths About Fair Use by Patricia Aufderheide

Libx browser plug-in

2011-08-09T10:27:00.002-04:00

If you use the library's resources extensively while researching information, you might find the new Libx Browser plug-in very convenient. The plug-in adds a search box to the toolbar of your browser and allows you to search the library's catalog and other resources* without having to navigate to the page. The plug-in also allows you to right click on a selected word or phrase and search it in the catalog automatically. The plug-in is currently only available for Firefox and Internet Explorer, though a plug-in for Chrome is currently in the works. (IE can be a bit more cumbersome, to the library recommends trying it out in Firefox first).

Check the website for more information and the link to download the plug-in. Any tool that helps you save time is always a good thing!

*If you are off campus, searching some of the library databases might not work. You may have to log into them from the library's website instead.

More Job Stuff

2011-07-29T09:53:00.004-04:00

I know more than a few people who are currently in the job hunt. So, I always keep my eyes out for resources that might help them during the process. I've come across a couple interesting resources this past week, both of them from Lifehacker, which will hopefully give you an edge up on other applicants, or at the very least make the process a little less stressful.

ApplyMate Keeps Track of Your Job Applications and Reminds You of Interviews and Follow-Up Calls

Give Your Resume an Edge by Making It More Modern

History of the English Language

2011-07-27T15:22:00.003-04:00

Today I just wanted to quickly share an awesome set of videos from the Open University covering the history of the English language in 10 animated minutes. Each video is only a minute or so long, and is perfect for introducing the complex history of English, without boring yourself to death. You can find the videos on YouTube. While there, check out the rest of the videos Open University has put out. Don't forget to check their main site for even more educational material. Who would've thought that learning could be so fun!

To help you find the awesome, I've embedded one of the videos below. Enjoy!

Redefining the Status of Peer-Reviewed

2011-07-22T14:08:00.003-04:00

The peer-review process is central to academia and how we communicate new information. Scholars rely on the peer-review process in order to get published and gain reputation and tenure in their field. Academic libraries rely on peer-review to identify quality and valuable information and teach the strategies for identifying and utilizing peer-review information to our undergraduate students. Though this structure has been in place for hundreds of years, it does not mean that it is not susceptible to alternations and innovations. Just like Open Access is striving to change the structure of Scholarly Journals, some have call for a similar de-structuring of peer-review.

In a post from Inside Higher Ed called Killing Peer Review Steve Kolowich reports on the efforts of Joe Pickrell, a doctoral student, and others to restructure the review process and make it more communal. He relates the process to Wikipedia or the news service Reddit, where the larger community rates articles on importance and accuracy and reports on any errors or misinformation. Though the review process would still be handled by scholars and others knowledgeable in the fields of study, the articles would no longer be reviewed by a select few and instead would be evaluated by a larger number. The key to this new kind of review is that the larger scholarly community would decide what articles are important and should be more valuable than the others. Though the idea still meets with a large amount of opposition, the post does report on other examples where scholarly journals or repositories have toyed with the idea of communal review.

In a society where technology allows us all to share our opinions with others and where the group consensus is often more valued in that ideas of a select view, it is not hard to believe that peer review with follow along those lines. Read the entire article to gain a better feel for the pros and cons of such a communal review and whether such an idea might be the standard in the near future. Regardless of the shape peer-review takes, in order to be useful to information consumers, it must still retain in characteristics of evaluation and creditability that make it such an essential part of good quality research.

Search Engines and Memory

2011-07-15T10:50:00.003-04:00

Computers, smart phones, and other such technology have changed how we approach information. While these technologies and their applications have made it easier to access and discover new information, they can also lead to information overload and the inability to distinguish the good information from the bad. Librarians are interested in the challenges and innovations that this influx of information can bring, but this is only one aspect of the larger issues of how technology is effecting learning and memory.

Yesterday Wired published an article on the web titled, "Search Engines Change How Memory Works." In this study, researchers gave participants a random number of facts. Those that were told that the facts would be erased after viewing had a higher rate of recall than those that were told the facts would remain available after viewing. The researchers concluded that since the facts would be available to access later, the participants did not have the need to memorize the information. The researchers did not see this as a new phenomenon so much as another illustration of transitive memory which is "exhibited by people working in groups in which facts and expertise are distributed." Because of that collective memory, each individual does not have to work as hard remembering every fact or detail themselves.

The internet has made the memorization of information obsolete, since a simple Google search can allow us to recall information from its collective memory. While memorization is not as crucial of a skill, information searching and evaluation (central librarian concerns) have risen to take its place. Individuals now more than ever need the skills to be able to search efficiently and effectively, or the collective memory of the internet is rendered useless. The information might be there, but if you cannot recall it effectively, than it might as well be forgotten.

The study mentioned in Wired is only the first in many to come that will explore how technology effects our brains and learning. Read the entire article; it mentions some potential areas of exploration and the importance of understanding how these devices are altering how we approach memory and other aspects of our daily lives.

What happens in the library...

2011-06-30T14:51:00.006-04:00

So, it's summer in the library. Campus has changed over to its slower summer pace, and while there is still the contingent of summer students, activity at BC is only a fraction of what it typically is during the school year. Due to this shift, I typically get asked the same question, "What do you guys do in the library during the summer?"

Well, unfortunately we don't get to take it easy during the summer, and in many cases, its actually busier here from May-August than it is at other times. (Hence the gap in blog posts). Summer allows us to prepare for the coming school year and complete all those major projects that aren't feasible to do during the school year.

One of our biggest project every summer is collection inventory. That's when we check every book/dvd/cd/etc in the collection and make sure it hasn't disappeared and is in the right place. Plus, it gives us an opportunity to assess the collection and see where we may need to update our collection, which leads us to one of our other major projects. We get to process all those books and other materials that we've ordered. We have carts full of books waiting to be cataloged and waiting for you to check them out. Don't forget about the New Books shelf we have near the DVDs. You can check out all the awesome stuff we're ordered for the Fall.

And, of course we have the new feature film, documentary, and educational DVDs that are hitting the shelves as we speak.

The summer is full of projects small and large that help get the library ready for the fall semester and make it a better resource for the next school year.

Friday randomness

2011-06-03T10:24:00.003-04:00

I admit that I am an information junkie. I love finding out new things online. But, what I love even more is sharing that new information with those who could find it useful. Today I just want to share two of the resources that I've found this week. The first one is Vimeo Video School. Vimeo is a video sharing site similar to YouTube, though it's geared towards more serious video creators. With that background in mind, they've created a collection of videos (along with text) to help beginning filmmakers start with the craft and allow more experienced ones to share techniques. The videos are free to view, and can come in handy whether you just want to start a new hobby or want to create a video for a class project. Here's an example:

Video 101: Shooting Basics from Vimeo Staff on Vimeo.

The second site doesn't have as much of a practical use as it is just plan cool. Via Open Culture, researchers have put together a digital map of how Washington D.C. looked in 1814. The contrast between then is now is very surreal. The video gives you the finish product, along with explaining the painstaking steps involved with making a historically accurate depiction. You can read more about the project in articles linked to in the blog post. I've embedded the video below.

Happy Friday!

summertime and the book

2011-06-01T11:09:00.004-04:00

For me, summer will always equal time to read. It stems from childhood, where during elementary school and high school I would spend all day reading, and all night too. Reading by the pool, or at night by a oscillate fan, or during a long road trip. Unfortunately my current summers don't allow as much reading time. But, I still love to think about what books I would be reading, if I had a chance. I know I've posted about summer reading (and winter and fall and spring too) before, but its hard to resist talking about new books! There are some really good titles coming out for the summer, and NPR has a preview. Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson is definitely going on my wish list. So, for the lucky ones that summer still equals free time with a book, here are some books to peak your interest. You can buy them at your favorite book store, or better yet, check them out at your friendly neighborhood library!

Get those resumes noticed

2011-05-26T10:17:00.005-04:00

Graduation was just a little over a week ago here at BC and most other college in the nation have already held commencement or will so very soon. With all those newly minted Bachelor's or Master's degrees (or even Doctorate's) there are a lot of job seekers entering a very competitive market. Local libraries or your school's career center are both excellent sources for help creating that resume or cover letter. But, since the biggest challenge in a job search is setting yourself apart from the crowd, I thought I'd share a recent article on Mashable showcasing 10 social media resumes to learn from. Not only do these resumes using the internet and other media to stand out, they also take the concept of the traditional paper resume to a new level. Here's an example from the article:

One thing to remember about these types of resumes though is that they may not be appropriate for every job search. This type of innovation is especially appropriate for fields where creativity and design are part of the job qualifications. However, even if your field isn't as imaginative, you can still use these ideas to help you "think outside the box" when you are putting the finishing touches on that resume.

One final tool to mention. If you want something to help create a landing space to organize your online professional profiles, you may want to try a site like Flavors.me that can help you advertise yourself, and make it easier for future employers to find out why you are their best candidate. Lifehacker has put together a list of other such sites, so if Flavors.me isn't your cup of tea you may want to try one of the other ones.

What will the world be like 25 years from now?

2011-05-16T16:02:00.005-04:00

Technology has become an essential part of our every day lives. How it changes in the next 25 years will positively or negatively impact how we live. So, when thinking of the future we often frame our thoughts in respect to what kind of technology will be available to us. In the past 25 years we've seen the introduction of the mainstream Internet, personal computer, cell phone, smart phone, wireless internet. We've seen the demise of the typewriter, cassette tape, VHS, CD-ROM and other formats. Looking at our current technology, CDs and DVDs probably won't last much longer. Cloud computing, smart phones, and web 2.0 are effecting how we share and access information. Things change so fast that it can be hard to decide what the next 5 years will be like, but the website Network World posted an article last week called "25 Ways Technology will Morph in the next 25 years."

Most of the predictions are pretty straight forward: computers will get smaller and faster. The Semantic technology will change how computers will process information, there will be more cameras, and more of our information will be stored electronically either on home networks or in the cloud. But, what caught my eye as a librarian is what they wrote for number 11:

11. Everything will be digitized and accessible over the Internet.

Every piece of information available to mankind - from historical to current - will be scanned, digitized and searchable over the Internet. And that information will be accessible on your smartphone no matter where you are located in the world at speeds that won't frustrate you.

"Kids will have no idea what it means to go to a library, what it means to go to Blockbuster," Newell says. "We will show our grandkids a CD or a DVD, and they will have no idea what this is."

All entertainment will be streamed in 3D, and you won't need a special device to access it; just your smartphone.

Blu-Ray could be the last removable media format ever made, Lewis says.

"Everything ever created will now be online," Lewis says. "Libraries will disappear and morph into think tanks. Books will be in a museum."

Libraries have already undertaken massive digitization processes, and eBooks and electronic databases are already replacing some print format in libraries that just don't have enough space. But, I'm not sure that the library community will be comfortable with a future that Network World describes. And, I'm pretty sure that the everyday public isn't quiet ready for it either. One of the core philosophies for libraries is the idea that information is freely and easily available to its patrons. You don't have to pay a fee to get a library card, though some services like printing or interlibrary loan might have a nominal fee to defray the cost. Currently, physical materials like books, journals, even DVDs are the only way that libraries can ensure that there is free and complete access to the materials in its collections.

Based on the current arguments related to eBooks and the realities of electronic databases, I don't see this changing. Libraries, both public and academic, are struggling with publishers who want to restrict the number of times an eBook can be read. They also are struggling with electronic database vendors or journal publishers that are increasing the price of access for many core magazines and journals. The New York Times has started to charge some readers to access their online material. And, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Often times libraries are the only ways that individuals can access information because they cannot afford the technology or the access. But, if the new technology and digitized materials of 25 years from now lead to increases in price, than even libraries may not be able to afford the formats. All the information in the world might someday be "digitized and searchable over the Internet" but I doubt it be accessible for everyone. So, the digitized materials won't be a workable options for libraries, while the print materials still will be, as long as they are available. Unless all this new digitized information becomes free or considerably more inexpensive, then libraries may be more willing to change. And, I am not holding my breath for that to happen.

Instead of this new view of libraries, in 25 years I believe there will still be a need for a library that much the same as now. Technology such as eBooks and digitized content might change how we serve the patrons, but it does not equal a complete purging of our print subscriptions. Books have lasted for hundreds of years, and they will remain in libraries at least for another 25. Many patrons still prefer the print format, and currently eBooks and their readers have not evolved to be a legitimate contender. You can't take notes in an eBook very easily, and you still will have to charge up a eBook reader every so often, just to name a few of the issues.

However, the largest issue when it comes to the use of digital information in libraries is that of preservation. In addition to free and easy access, an equal goal of libraries throughout the world is preserving information for future generations. There may be a time that eBooks will be better and after 25 years patrons might prefer the format, but when it comes to preservation, will we be able to trust that this digitized information will last indefinitely? Digital storage technology will have to improve a great deal before libraries consider it for long term storage. None of the formats so far, tapes, CDs, etc. have the capability to last as long as the paper or book format. It may be that this preservation goal becomes the only one of libraries, especially if digitized material becomes freely accessible. So, instead of the think tank that the article mentions as a library alternative, it may be that libraries becomes conservatories. This shift in mission though does not mean that they will lose their importance. Some of them will remain in a similar form as today to ensure that we don't lose our access to information when/if servers crash or the Internet fails. And, they will still need librarians to help patrons access this information.

Though I may disagree on how the library will change, I am not naive enough to say that it won't change. Already academic and even to an extent public libraries are focusing on the idea of a learning commons, where they provide access to information (through databases, the Internet, and other technologies) instead of collecting it all in-house. And, students and other patrons are seeing the library more as a space for collaboration and study than for traditional research. So, if this is what the article meant by think tank, then we are already there. I am simply disagreeing with the extent to which libraries will rely on digitized content at the expense of the more traditional print formats. 25 years is a long time in technology years, so perhaps we will reach that state by then. But, the level of modification to the traditional views of digitization will be so drastic, that I'm not sure that I will see it in my lifetime.

Even though predictions like that ones made by Network World are mere thought experiments at best, they do help illustrate the problems, concerns, and expectations we have for the future, and help up to consider all the challenges we'll have in moving forward. Libraries and other institutions will face a lot of hard decisions in the coming years as technology radically changes. But, in the end hoping the solutions we come up with will make the world a better place.

American History in Video database

2011-05-11T14:34:00.002-04:00

If you would like to use videos in your in your class lectures or presentations, or are just a documentary nut like I am, you'll definitely want to browse through the newest database in Mack Library's collection. American History in Video database from Alexander Street Press has documentaries that cover the colonization of America up until the year 2000. The videos come from major companies like PBS, A&E, or the History Channel. The database also has newsreels from the 1920s to the 1960s.

Along with watching the videos, you can create clips from the full length documentaries (or use someone else's) in order to play only a portion. Creating an account (free) in the database allows you to manage your clips, and create playlists. Finally, you can copy and paste a link to the particular video or clip for the inclusion in a syllabus or project text, or you can embed a video into a website. Though apparently the javascript does not want to work in this particular blog.

The database also allows you to watch select videos on your smartphones by sending a link to your device. You can view the help for more information.

This database covers many historical and social events that are important to many different disciplines. Plus, it is an easy way to review the major events of the history of our nation something that we all should be familiar with.

If you have any questions about this database or any of our resources, you can always contact your friendly neighborhood librarian!

Access library resources from anywhere...

2011-05-10T13:33:00.004-04:00

and yes I mean anywhere. As long as you have a smart phone or another similar device. Many of our most popular resources have mobile apps or websites that allow you to stay up to date while your traveling or just while you have a few minutes standing in line. Most of these require some sort of authentication, so contact the library for more information on using the access. Below is a list of the resources available. However, new apps and mobile sites being developed every day, so if you're favorite resource isn't listed, check their website, the iTunes store, or contact the library.

EBSCOhost - the EBSCO family of resources (like academic search complete) can be access through a mobile site or an iPhone/iPod Touch App.

Wilson OmniFile Full Text Mega - this resource has a mobile website formatted for most mobile devices.

JSTOR - you can review article abstracts using their mobile website, and email the results to your email account to read later. The site doesn't currently allow you to read the full text of articles.

Annual Reviews - this resources has a iPhone/iPod and Android app. But, requires you to create an account using a BC networked computer.

ACS Mobile - provides access to journals from the American Chemical Society. The app costs $4.99 to download.

ScienceDirect - has an app for the iPhone that requires you to create an account from a BC networked computer.

Remember, if you have trouble using any of the library's resources, whether on the go on in the building, you can always contact your friendly neighborhood librarian for assistance.

Watch a Good Book this Summer

2011-05-05T14:13:00.003-04:00

A surprising number of Hollywood movies started their lives on the page of a novel, short story or children's book. This summer is no exception. Their existence though leads to one of the core questions of readership. Is it better to read the book first or watch the movie first? I prefer to read the book first, though often I have discovered excellent books I didn't even know existed by watching the movies. Don't forget about TV shows either. I'm making my way through the Walking Dead graphic novels before I watch the first season, and I can't wait to get a hold of the short story on which Justified is based.

Below I've listed some of the major releases that will be out this summer. The links are to the book's Amazon page, but feel free support your local bookstore. Or better yet, why not check them out at your local library?

Water for Elephants (currently in theaters)
Something Borrowed (May 6th)
Mr. Popper's Penguins (June 17th)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II (July 15)
Winnie the Pooh (July 15th)
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (July 15th)
The Help (August 12th)
One Day (August 19th)

Which movies or books are you looking forward to this summer? Do you read books before or after seeing the movie?

Mack Library Summer Read

2011-05-04T17:40:00.003-04:00

For me the summer makes me think of one thing: lounging by the pool or on the beach and reading a good book. Though, I guess lounging under a shade tree, in a hammock, or by the lake would be just as acceptable. The place doesn't matter so much, but the good book is essential. If you are looking for a book to read on your summer vacation, or just to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, Mack library would like to suggest The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

The library will be leading an informal discussion on the book on Tuesday July 12th at noon. Since its over the lunch hour don't forget to bring your lunch for a little literary conversation while you eat.

If you have any questions or would like to RSVP contact Cori Biddle (cbiddle@bridgewater.edu) or Carin Teets (cteets@bridgewater.edu).

Choose Privacy Week

2011-05-02T10:19:00.002-04:00

This week is Choose Privacy Week, sponsored by the the American Libraries Association. Sometimes it is easy to forget how easily it is for others to gain information about ourselves. Just with a simple Google search they can learn our address, phone number, what we look like. Most of this is very personal information that we have chosen to share with people via our online accounts, like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and others. There can be serious consequences when information becomes public beyond embarrassment. Just as one example, an employer can fire you, or not even hire you, based on the images or words you put online.

It is important to understand the value of your privacy and the steps that you can take in this information age to safeguard it. When it comes to social accounts like Facebook or Foursquare, understand the privacy policies and the privacy settings. Be sure that you know the people that you friend, and never put anything online that you aren't comfortable with the entire world knowing.

The site Privacyrevolution.org has resources and information concerning your personal privacy on the web, and also aspects of your life, like medical records, financial records, or even your library checkouts. Being aware of who has access to what, when it comes to your information, is an important way to safeguard your privacy and gives you the opportunity to choose who knows what about you.

Choose Privacy Week Video from 20K Films on Vimeo.

Are we too plugged in?

2011-04-27T10:41:00.003-04:00

The internet opened up information access, making the desire for instant information a reality. However, there have been some unforeseeable consequences to this instant access. Information overload has made it hard to pick out the important things from the frivolous. Plus, the constant beeping of IMs or email notifications, and the lure of Facebook has reduced our ability to focus on an individual task to almost non-existence. As a whole, this constant access unfortunately tends to lead people to choose web connections over real world contact and interaction.

I admit that I am one of those people. I find myself distracted during the day and evening with checking Facebook or email, or stopping in the middle of a project to check my Google Reader. I might believe that I am multi-tasking, but in reality I am really just wasting time. Though, as a weak defense, the nature of my job is to be interrupted, and to sideline projects as more important ones (like helping students) present themselves. So, distractions are par for the course of a library, but that doesn't mean the internet hasn't magnified them.

With finals fast approaching, students too are recognizing the distraction of our connectivity. On Sunday, The Boston Globe published an article about students and the distraction of laptops, smart phones, and other devices. The students in the article complained that their addiction to social networks, web surfing, and just access online information make it very hard to study and produce quality papers and projects. Professors interviewed witnessed the same type of distraction in their classrooms, where students check twitter or ebay instead of engaging in classroom discussion. This inability to focus in the classroom hurts their grades and frustrates the professor enough to suggest that classrooms and lecture halls loose their wireless internet access.

While most of the students interviewed objected to that extreme, many of the professors saw improvement when the devices were banned. Though they may not willingly remove devices from the classroom, students are recognizing that being constantly plugged in has its drawbacks. Some resort to extreme measures, like installing software to block access to certain websites, in order to get their work done. Others move away from the dorms to the library or other places on campus to remove distractions.

The internet and mobile devices have created a culture of multitaskers. But, being able to do three things at the same time does not mean that you are saving yourself time, or that you are producing a better product. The blog Lifehaker reported studies that found people who believed they were good multitaskers weren't actually all that successful. Plus, the New York Times reported a study from the University of Utah that only 2.5% of the students they studied were actually able to multitask successfully.

So, what does this all mean? If you want to get the best grade possible in your classes than perhaps you need to unplug both during class and while studying. The mack library has a quiet floor and countless corners to hide yourself in, plus there are other places on campus to isolate yourself from distractions. Though, with the new wireless installed over the summer, you most likely will still be able to log onto Facebook. The Boston Globe article lists software available to block access if you would like to remove temptation.

In the end though, it is good to remove some of that multitasking, and eliminate some of those distractions. Besides falling grades, one of the biggest drawbacks to our connectivity is that we are losing our ability to interact in face to face social interactions. Knowing how to engage in meaningful and focused conversations, both in the classroom and in the real world, is a skill that will always be useful, not matter how plugged in we are.

Got any tips on how you stay focused? Or how you unplug? Put them in the comments below.

Best. Library Guide. Ever.

2011-04-20T15:12:00.004-04:00

Two of the things that I love most in the world are zombies and libraries. The librarians at McPherson College's Miller Library have combined both, making today almost equal to Christmas on the excitement level. Most libraries have some sort of guide or introduction to the library, but Miller Library has taken it to the next level of awesomeness with their Zombie Guide to Miller Library. A graphic novel where zombies overrun a college campus and the only source of salvation is the library? Excellent. The guide provides important information on how to use the Dewey Decimal system, find scholarly journals, or just navigate the building. But, the excellence of the guide comes in its ability to present the library in a "fun" way, while illustrating that libraries are important for more than just research papers.

So, if you ever find your campus, town, or city overrun by zombies remember library first, then chainsaw. The library may save your life (or at least make your information searching a little easier).

*image from the Zombie Guide to Miller Library

National Library Week

2011-04-10T21:20:00.005-04:00

Yes, it's that time already. Today marks the beginning of this year's version of National Library Week. All across the United States public, academic, school, and special libraries are hosting events, posting news articles, and doing just about everything else to celebrate the existence of libraries and the people who use and support them. Though for years there has been talk of libraries going the way of the dinosaurs, we still have endured and adapted. Even with the new society full of instant gratification, technological fascination, and a belief that everything can be found with Google, we still serve a purpose and have not been replaced. We have integrated electronic databases, ebooks, and internet searches into our service, while retaining those aspects that will keep us separated from personal and mobile technology.

Libraries are important because we still retain our humanity. We provide a place where people can ask other people for help. Whether that help is locating a DVD, filling out a job application, or researching ancient Rome, we listen to your information need and find those resources that fill that need completely... not just those that may fill the need. Libraries take the guessing out of finding information, which is something I wish happened everywhere. Customer service is being lost in most aspects of our lives. This weekend I needed to exchange an article of clothing at a national store. Instead of answering my question as to whether they could find the same item in another size for me, the salesperson sent me to a kiosk in the middle of the store. I had to struggle for 10 minutes trying to find the item, when it would've taken her 2 minutes to look it up for me. Coming to the store meant that I wanted that personal interaction. If I had wanted to order it myself, I would've done it on my own computer. Computers and technology will always been an imperfect system, and after listening to automated messages and default search results all day, it is nice to see a human face every once in a while.

Along with providing a friendly face, libraries are also a comfortable space. In academic libraries they are a central location where students can meet for group study or project. They provide a space outside of the noisy, distracting dorm where hours can be spent on focused study. Public libraries can serve as community centers where patrons can meet in like minded groups, and students can study or hang out in a safe place. Libraries work hard to create a space that is inviting, but can also have different areas to meet everyone's needs. There are quiet places, loud places, social spaces, and solitary spaces.

Libraries have grown beyond being a storehouse of information, we are a unique service to help patrons find and absorb that information. We may have started on a more intellectual pursuit, but we have ended up balancing the intellectual and social components quite nicely I think.

So, as technology and its effects on information are changing at lightning speed, I choose to spend this National Library Week focusing on aspects that computers and technology can never copy. It is the personal human aspects of libraries that make them a key to our community (whether that is an academic institution or something larger). I am happy to be part of that humanness and hopefully I am making my community better by making my library the best place possible.

I've told you my thoughts for this National Library Week, but what about yours? How do you choose the view the library this April?

*image from: http://www.sullivanfreelibrary.org/NationalLibraryWeek2009Peeps.html

National Poetry Month

2011-04-06T16:14:00.003-04:00

April is National Poetry month - a time when we can recognize the importance of poetry and dust off some of the poems and collections that have been loved but forgotten. Though, poetry does not just belong to the Lord Byrons and the Emily Dickinsons. There is a lot of beautiful and powerful poetry created every day. Maybe you will even be the one to create it.

Check out the website for National Poetry Month for ideas on how you can celebrate for the next 24 days (sorry I'm a little late in posting). The main site for the Academy of American Poets also has some good resources if you are interesting it giving the craft a try.

If you just want to learn how to better appreciate poetry, the blog Five Books has a feature this month where it interviews experts who give their five "best" poetry book (or books about poetry).

So, as you continue on through April don't forget to add a little poetry to your day. I'm sure that it will be all the more beautiful for it.

Tour Prague's Strahov Monastery Library online

2011-04-05T14:32:00.003-04:00

This article from Wired magazine outlines photographer Jeffrey Martin's project to photograph the Philosophical Hall in Prague's Strahov Monastery Library and create a 360 degree digital tour. The over 800 year old section of the library is off limit to visitors, though Martin's resulting tour is almost as good as the real thing. You can access the panoramic tour at his website. Be sure to zoom in on the bookshelves and the ceiling to enjoy the great detail that Martin was able to achieve in his images.

The Philosophical Hall has everything that a grand library from a by-gone era should have: tall ceilings, ornate bookshelves lining every inch, beautifully bound books, ladders on casters to reach all the volumes. There is just something romantic about the knowledge and history that fills that type of room. Information just feels more treasured in such an environment. Perhaps we have all grown a little spoiled by how easy it is for us to access information, and take it all for granted. Sure, we use computers to access almost all the information we will ever need with a few key strokes, but does your library have a hidden passageway?

Blogging outside the vacuum

2011-03-25T15:24:00.003-04:00

One of the things about our information society is that it is very hard not to be influenced by those around you. In blogging this is especially true, with most of by ideas, strategies, and inspirations for posts coming from other blogs. To display that change, I have added a blog roll to the side of (un)classified library, so you can easy see other blogs related to libraries and higher education. I will be adding to the list over the next weeks, so don't forget to check back and see what other sources of information might strike your fancy.

Yay Dictionaries!

2011-03-23T09:09:00.003-04:00

As a librarian, it's probably not surprising that I love books and other sources of information. But, every librarian has their own individual favorites and for me it's dictionaries. I'm aware that this might make me a little little weird, but at least hear me out. Dictionaries are one of the essential types of reference sources. Almost everyone has used a dictionary at least once in their lives. And, they are among the easiest to use. As long as you know the alphabet you're good to go. With the various online versions of dictionaries (like Dictionary.com) you don't even have to know the exact spelling, just have to get it close enough for the program to pick it up.

More importantly though, they give us so much information. They give you the spelling of the word, its various meanings, and even where the word came from. And, since each discipline or subject area have a different vocabulary, we also have subject dictionaries, like the Dictionary of Policing or the Dictionary of Ancient Egypt.

While most dictionaries are good to have because they are useful and informative, some are just plain fun. I could sit down for hours and read Common Phrases and the Amazing Stories Behind Them, the Dictionary of Modern American Slang, or the Encyclopedia of Swearing (which isn't strictly a dictionary but is still about words so its fun).

The best dictionary by far though is still the Oxford English Dictionary. The amount of information inside it is astounding! Plus for someone who is fascinated by the origin and development of meaning behind words, it is the go to source. If you are not familiar with the OED, its size at 20 volumes can be intimidating. But fear not: the library has a subscription to the OED online, which contains all the print information and more, since it is easier for the editors to update an electronic version. Check it out on the Library Databases A-Z page. The handy interface and other features make it even more addicting than the print.

So, if you have a few extra minutes, take the time to really appreciate the wonderful and sometimes overlooked Dictionary. They can be the first step to understanding a word or concept, and open a whole new world of information you never noticed before.

Learning to Read Scholarly Journals

2011-03-10T13:30:00.002-05:00

One of the key concepts in information literacy is being able to match a information source to your information need. This can mean a lot of things: whether the source focuses on information related to your topic, whether the source supports your argument, or whether it matches your professors expectations for the assignment. The last example is perhaps the easiest in some ways, but for students just starting out at college level research, this is often the hardest. A lot of times this is because they don't understand the terminology. What does a scholarly or peer-reviewed source mean? How do I decide whether or not it is scholarly?

At this point of confusion, it is pretty easy for a library to step in, and whether through instruction session or tutorials or handouts, we can give students at least a general idea of what a scholarly source is and where they can find it. At this point though, the instruction usually stops. We tell them what databases to use, or what characteristics to look for, and then leave them with a "good luck," assuming that they know how to do the rest. But, is it valid to assume that a student knows how to pull information from a scholarly source and use it effectively in their paper?

For Rob Weir in his article "It's not Harry Potter," which was posted yesterday on Inside Higher Education, the answer is no. He makes the point that while we tell students to use journals, we need to take the extra step to tell them HOW to use them. He counters the idea that today's students aren't readers, saying that the number who read web pages and Harry Potter reveal that they are. But, reading Harry Potter is not the same as reading a scholarly article. They have to learn how to approach the reading of scholarly source, and it is up to faculty (and librarians) to show them.

This is a concept that we often forget, so Weir is right to remind us. As educators we have been using scholarly sources for a long time, and know the tricks of reading the abstract, checking out the introductions and conclusions, and skimming the rest. But as Weir points out, most students are not familiar with this approach. They are used to articles and sources that are more for general audiences, so they are shorter in nature, and meant to be read from beginning to end. If they use this general or "Harry Potter" approach for scholarly articles, then they are discouraged, if not frightened off, the process of information gathering.

Taking the time to introduce to undergraduates an approach for reading scholarly sources, along with our traditional lessons on finding scholarly sources, can help students become more at ease with this new type of information source. In the long run it can help them be more comfortable with library sources, and hopefully lead them using the library first, instead of turning to Google. Ultimately, this should lead to more information literate students and better research assignments, both of which are always good things!

New Reference!

2011-03-07T11:16:00.002-05:00

When the students come back from spring break, they will find a few new reference books on the shelves. I wanted to highlight some of the cool ones here first!

Student's Guide to Writing College Papers - R 808.02 T929s 2010
This book is the latest edition of manuals following Kate Turabian's style for completing and citing research. It covers guidelines for all the major styles Chicago (Turabian), APA, and MLA so if a research paper is in store for the second half of the semester, it might be a good idea to at least review these pages.

The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture - R 975 N532 2006-10
There are 16 volumes in this set and they cover some of the major subject areas relating to the history and culture of the southern US. Topics include history, religion, language, literature, folklife, gender, and urbanization (to name a few). If you are doing any sort of research related to the southern US, you may want to browse through this extensive collection.

Common Phrases and the Amazing Stories Behind Them - R 423.1 C957c, 2010
This dictionary provides the origin of some of the most common phrases in American English. Entries include "bad hair day," "eat my hat," and "cold turkey" to name a few.

Encyclopedia of Politics and Religion - R 322.1 E559 2007
This two volume set covers the major concepts dealing with the relationship between these two important realms and how they influence one another.

The Encyclopedia of the First Amendment - R 342.085 E56, 2009
The 1,400 entries in this set examines the rights afforded by the first amendment and the related issues in history, popular culture, religion, politics, etc.

Library Spring Book Diccussion - Eat, Pray, Love

2011-02-28T13:22:00.002-05:00

The library finished a survey last week, polling students, faculty, and staff on what they wanted from our book discussions. So, this week we're happy to announce that Eat, Pray, Love received the most votes on our survey, so we will be reading it for our spring discussion.

The discussion will be held on Monday March 28 starting at 6:30pm in the library's Brethren Room (on the 2nd floor). We promise that the discussion will be fun and informal - nothing academic. If you want a head start on the questions we'll be considering, you can find them here. Light refreshments will be provided, because what is a book discussion without food?

If you are interested in attending please RSVP by March 21st by contacting Cori Biddle (cbiddle@bridgewater.edu) or Carin Teets (cteets@bridgewater.edu). The first four students who RSVP will receive a free copy of the book!!

Hope to see you there!

Google Results Revision

2011-02-27T20:49:00.003-05:00

Last Thursday, Google posted an entry on its blog concerning some changes it has made to its search algorithms. This update is meant to help combat the number of low-quality results that appear on a typical results page. The change is supposed to up the rankings of more high-quality (aka more reliable) sites so they will be easier for searches to find and use. As a librarian and information consumer, I am very pleased with the potential this change could have. One of the struggles with performing an Internet search using Google or any other search engine is the tedious task of separating the "high quality sites," or those that are suitable sources for research papers/projects and those "low quality sites" whose reliability is suspect.

Hopefully, this change will make those high quality sites a little easier to find amid the garbage, though with the high amount of information available on the Internet, a searcher still needs to be cautious when reviewing the results of an Internet search. A number of sites on the web are there to make money through ad revenue and are not there to provide good, reliable information. So, it is beneficial for these types of sites to be on the first one or two pages of a Google results list. I imagine that they will discover ways to work around Google's fix, so this respite might only be short term.

One thing you can always rely on though is your own critical assessment of the site. The Mack library is here to help you with this process, by providing helpful print and video tutorials outlining the best ways to approach evaluating web sources. The most important part of this evaluation is understand the author. Whether it is an organization or an individual, you need to find as much information as you can about them. What are their motives for putting up this information? Is it to inform (or misinform) the public? Is it to make money? Where did they get there information and did they properly cite it?

Even with the changes to Google this can be a daunting task. If you want some alternatives to Google don't forget our ALEX catalog for print materials, and our electronic resources on the Library Databases A-Z page. If you are struggling to find the appropriate sources (either web or library) for your project, don't forget to ask your friendly neighborhood librarian for assistance.

Reason behind the references

2011-02-18T16:01:00.003-05:00

As spring break approaches, students are beginning on major papers or projects for the classes. Many of them are probably also muttering under their breath over the difficulty of including the reference list at the end of their paper. Whether they are confusing or just plain time consuming, some question the need for this list of sources. But, it serves a specific purpose for scholarly writing and including too much information can be just as bad as not including enough. One of the latest posts on the APA Style Blog speaks to the confusion some students have when writing their reference page. The author, Jeff Hume-Pratuch, stresses why reference lists are important in an APA style paper:

In the scholarly disciplines that use the APA Style of author–date citation, however, the purpose of the reference list is twofold: (a) It allows the author to credit the work of others that directly influenced the present work and document any facts that are not common knowledge; and (b) it gives interested readers the information necessary to identify and retrieve those sources. Thus, there is no reason to include uncited sources in the reference list.

To present references correctly you not only have to format them correctly but you also have to include the correct ones. Pratuch says that other styles, like Chicago, allow for more references than those cited in the paper, so it is always good to double check with the style your using what can be included. If you have questions about formatting your citations, you can always check out the library's guide: How To - Cite Your Sources.

Remember that references serve a higher purpose than just showing the professor you completed the assignment. They can be useful to you as a author to help build your creditability and also as a reader to help identify useful sources on a topic.

To read all of Pratuch's article, click here: What's a Reference List For? If you have any additional questions you can ask your friendly neighborhood librarian, or if you are a BC student, you can always contact the BC Writing Center.

A Video For Thought

2011-02-16T09:05:00.002-05:00

The spring semester is speeding right along. We're already have way done with February! Though it's not a break for your brain, why not shift your thinking a little bit and contemplate how higher education will change in the next five/ten/fifteen years?

Michael Welsh, an anthropologist from Kansas State has created a number of videos discussing how technology is changing how humans interact with each other and with information. In his newest video, he is "Rethinking Education," and commenting on how the internet and web 2.0 is changing information distribution. The amount of information collected and produced by our collective intelligence is growing, but this shift is not very compatible with the traditional higher educational environment and its focus on print published information.

How do you think that technology will change higher education and the way new ideas are created and documented?

For links to Welsh's other videos and where I first saw the video, check out this Open Culture post.

Google Art Project

2011-02-02T09:14:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, Google announced a new tool in its arsenal: Google Art Project. Think of it like Google Maps for art museums. You can tour more than 17 museums, including the Met, Varsailles, and the Van Gogh Museum, and see over a 1,000 pieces of art in amazing detail. Though, there are a currently a few limitation: only parts of the museums are available for touring and the level of detail one some of the works varies. Check out the paintings though: seeing the brush strokes on Van Gogh's works is incredible. You can choose to either view the pieces individually, or tour the museums and see the pieces in their "natural habitat." The project goes beyond just viewing the artwork: it allows you to instantly view audio narration or YouTube videos related to the artwork you are viewing, and when you sign in you can create your own personal collection and add you to store personal notes or comments on the works.

This resource is excellent for any art related paper or project. Or, its just a way for you to spend a coffee or lunch break. It may not be exactly like being in the museum, but it is enough to help you forget the gloomy, dismal day outside. Lifehacker and Open Culture have their own reviews of Google Art or you can see the video below (and the Visitors Guide) for more information.

If you would like to look at a piece of artwork not included in the Art Project, or just want to view some more pieces in exception detail, the library has access to Artstor on our Library Databases A-Z page. This source provides over one million pieces from collections throughout the world, in detail that is equal to or exceeds those in the Google Art Project. If you have questions about using Artstor or any of our other library resources, you can always contact your friendly neighborhood librarian.

Qwiki - a challenge to Wikipedia?

2011-01-30T21:46:00.003-05:00

During my meanderings online I often come across new resources and tools. Some are a completely new idea, while most others are just approaching an old idea in a new way (e.g. social bookmarking, blogging, etc.). They all have their own way of solving a problem, but you have to wonder how much they are just reinventing the wheel, and whether there version of the solution is really any better than the other hundreds that are out there.

No matter what your thoughts are about it, everyone has seen or used Wikipedia. It has become the poster child for Web 2.0 and collaborative information. Qwiki takes that idea and adds its own unique twist. It is attempting to transform information gathering from a task into an "experience." Instead of a page full of text and links, this website uses slides and audio narration to relate information about a topic. The results are pretty cool. (Check out the entry on The Beatles for an example.) Qwiki is still in its alpha stage, so the depth of each entry is inconsistent, and the computer generated voice can be a little cumbersome, but the site gives you the idea of what is possible for this model of the collaborative encyclopedia. (Like Wikipedia, it gives you the options to sign in an "improve this qwiki" on the different entries).

Qwiki is fun to play around with and an interesting way to present the information. But, as I check out all of these types of sites I wonder if they will succeed. With the competition out there as fierce as Wikipedia, how many people are going to give up on their habits and try something new? Because, that it ultimately how you succeed. Not whether your idea is better or worse, but whether or not people follow your idea.

But, maybe I am too harsh to categorize Qwiki as a challenger to Wikipedia. There is nothing to say that they both can't co-exist. I guess it depends on the type of information need you have. Many people can want information on India, but what do you need it for? Are you planning a trip to India, or are just curious about the country? Then Qwiki's slide show format might be the perfect way to visually experience the country as you hear more about it. If you want the information for a school project or a presentation, then you might lean toward Wikipedia (for right now), with its recent focus on citations and adding depth and a level of reliability to its articles.

An important concept in information literacy is this idea of information need. Knowing this allows you to decide what resources to use. It can help you decide whether you need a book or a journal article, or whether you want Qwiki or Wikipedia. Knowing the right place to go is the first step to finding the information that will help you answer your question the best and most efficiently way possible.

Below I've posted a video from the Qwiki "About us" page talking about what Qwiki is, just for some food for thought. How well do you think that Qwiki will match our information need? Or perhaps a more telling question might be, how well do you think we understand our information needs? I invite you to check out Qwiki and let me know what you think in the comments below.

Qwiki at TechCrunch Disrupt from Qwiki on Vimeo.

New to the Mack - AP Images

2011-01-28T15:53:00.003-05:00

Earlier in the week, I posted about the library's new access to LexisNexis Academic. We have one other new database that should help students during the coming semester, so today I wanted to intro introduce you to AP Images. As the name implies this database mainly contains photographs and other images affiliated with the Associated Press (4.6 million of them). They range from historical photos from the 1800s to current up to date images. You can browse the database by event or you can search by keyword. On the homepage it outlines some of the most popular images or popular current events and collections. The advanced search option allows you to search by date which is very useful in such a large database. Each image also contains a caption that places the photo into context.

In addition to the images collection, the database also has extensive audio and text collections from the Associated Press as well. Audio clips of interviews and newscasts, along with text versions of news stories.

This database has a lot of potential for help in journalism, social studies, current events, history classes, and anything else that can benefit from news sources. Topics could range from historical events like World War II, to recent natural disaster like the Haitian earthquake, to the upcoming Superbowl. Plus, the images are great for class projects and presentations. As long as the assignments are not for profit, all the images are free game.

This is one of those databases that is fun to just explore, so I recommend taking it out for a test drive when you have a free moment or two. If you have any problems searching the database, remember to contact your friendly neighborhood librarian.

New to the Mack - LexisNexis Academic

2011-01-25T16:03:00.003-05:00

Just in time for the spring semester, the library has added a new resource: LexisNexis Academic. This database (found on our Library Databases A-Z page) is an excellence source for newspaper and journal articles, along with company and country information from a variety of reputable sources. For students studying political science, international studies, pre-law, communications, journals, sociology, or any subject really, this is a great addition to the resources already made available. For a quick introduction to the database, check out the video below. You also might want to check out the video tutorials and Research Guides Wiki provided by LexisNexis itself. If you have any questions about using the database, remember you can always ask your friendly neighborhood librarian!

Unable to display content. Adobe Flash is required.

Symbloo Bookmark Manager

2011-01-14T14:23:00.002-05:00

AML currently uses Delicious to bookmark and manage all of the awesome web resources we've amassed for the use of our patrons. So far, its worked great, but a few weeks ago came reports that Delicious was going to be dissolved. Though the reports and rumors have not been confirmed or denied, they have made us a little nervous. So, looking for a good alternative to Delicious appeared on the top of my "to do" list. There are a lot of options out there (if your interested you can read about them here, and here.) Each service has its own unique features, so deciding on the best one for the library was a bit difficult. In the end, we decided to go with Diigo because of its options to do more than just bookmark websites.

Today's post isn't about Diigo though (but I do suggest checking it out as well). No, today I wanted to bring to your attention another bookmarking tool that I found while exploring the options out there. Symbaloo isn't a social bookmarking site, so your not able to share your bookmarks with others, which is what we wanted to do with our library list of web resources. But, if you need to manage your own bookmarks and links and would like to have access to them anywhere, it looks like a good option to try.

Instead of creating lists of links, Symbaloo creates tiles that represent a particular website (like Facebook) or a group of sites that cover the same topic (like diet/fitness). On top of this you can create tabs called webmixes that further categories and organize the tiles. Also, if you are wanting to transfer your bookmarks from Delicious to Symbaloo they provide pretty easy instructions for transfer.

Disclaimer: I have not signed up for Symbaloo yet or explored it extensively, but it is a free service, so this might be on my personal to-do list this weekend. If you've tried Symbaloo before, or know and love other bookmarkings services (either social or private) you can post them in the comments below.

Happy Birthday to Wikipedia!

2011-01-12T15:28:00.004-05:00

On January 15th Wikipedia will turn 10 years old, which is surprising in two contradictory ways. First, it's hard to believe that it's been ten years already since Wikipedia became the destination for teenage researchers, trivia buffs, and every information searcher in between. Conversely though, it's hard to imagine a time when we didn't have Wikipedia to help answer questions like "How many people survived from the Donner Party" or "Who was the Beatles' drummer before Ringo?"

The use of Wikipedia in academia has always been controversial, with questions regarding the validity of its information and concerning where it is ethical to purposefully falsify information in order to illustrate to students its shortcomings. However, in her blog post "Happy birthday, Wikipedia," Library Babel Fish author, Barbara Fister, uses it's birthday to highlight how the use of Wikipedia has experienced a shift in academia. Where students were using the source blindly in years past, they are now experienced with the type of information available on the wiki, and understand strategies for utilizing it as a resource for reliable information. Fister also explains that while they are not all experts on using the site effectively, it has created an opportunity for librarians to better illustrate the nature of information and the importance of citations in the research and writing process. The article concludes by emphasizing the "lifelong learning" nature of Wikipedia, which also indicates that use of it as an information source is not likely to recede in the near future.

With its 10th birthday, we have an opportunity to acknowledge how Wikipedia has fundamentally changed how we view and teach information gathering an information literacy. Its existence stresses how important it is that students (and everyone else) understand how to critically assess the information provided them. However, it also serves of an example of how freeing it is to have information on a variety of topics available to all.

To snow or not to snow...

2011-01-11T15:15:00.001-05:00

It appears as if mother nature has decided to spare us from the snow (at least for this storm). Despite that good news, it is still a cold and dreary Tuesday. So, to brighten things up a bit, here's a library related animation that put a smile on my face.

Scribd: YouTube for documents

2011-01-07T10:23:00.003-05:00

Today is a little slow here at the library, as are most Fridays. So, I figured it would be a good time to share a new web resource, Scribd that you can check out and explore this weekend. I haven't had a chance to explore it in depth but was intrigued when the Choice review likened the site to YouTube, only for documents instead of videos. It still appears to be in its growing stage, but it is a unique way to upload and share PDFs, presentations, recipes, resumes and any other document you'd like to share. It changes these uploads into web documents that anyone can view (no matter the format) and are searchable by search engines. Publishers like Wiley, Lonely Planet, and other companies like the BBC and Microsoft have created profiles, though the information content varies. There are magazine articles, book excerpts and even full length books available not only to read but also to discuss. There are also a number of teachers and other profiles uploading lesson plans, study guides, and other educational content.

The actual content is a little sparse, for now, but as more people build profiles and expand the information should increase. The usefulness of the site could vary as well. Posting your resume or CV online like this could aid in the job hunt, while posting course paperwork could give teachers another way to get information to the students. Though, it does feel like it overlaps a little with file sharing technologies like Google Docs, though they aren't as public as Scribd is. Though, unlike some of the other file sharing site out there, it is more conscious of copyright and piracy prevention.

Read the About for more information on the resource, and the ideas behind its creation. Has anyone used Scribd before? You can talk about your experiences in the comments.

Snail mail is quickly going the way of the dinosaurs... is email next?

2011-01-06T14:30:00.004-05:00

I have been contemplating this question a lot in recent weeks. It seems as if I get more spam or Facebook notifications in my email than anything else. At least for my personal email. My work email still gets probably fifty or so emails a day, so in contrast it is still actively humming along. (Whether those emails are actually relevant and worthwhile is a concern for another time.) This unique dichotomy is addressed, in part, but the recent article "How Will Students Communicate" posted on Inside Higher Ed. this morning. While people like Facebook's founder Mark Zuckerberg are ready to read email it's last rites, other technologies believe that email will remain an important communication resource especially on college campuses. The article hits the nail on the head I think when it reports that many believe that email will retain at least some of its usefulness primarily as a source of official communication between college administrators and students.

Though students are replacing email in their private lives, opting for text messaging, Facebook, and other more immediate mediums for their daily contacts, these more personal methods do not easily lend themselves to professional information. Plus, an intrusion of such "authority figures" into their more private, informal communication habits might make students more than a little uncomfortable. This demarcation between the private and the public has cropped up in other topics as well, usually ones that discuss the use of technologies like Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks in the classroom and libraries. How comfortable are students with "friending" their professors or librarians? How willing are they to "follow" them on twitter? The evidence on this is inconclusive, with published surveys and reports falling on either side of the argument. One of the nice things about email is that I can have both a professional and personal account. Will I have to do the same thing with texting or Facebook, or with the dividing line no longer be needed in the future?

The article also mentions benefits from the institution's side to retaining email. Email is a better method for the lengthy and important information that administrators (and sometimes professors) need to send to students. Plus, it is more reliable for retaining archives of information. Such administrative housekeeping (like registration or financial aide information) used to be send through snail mail, but has been reformatted quiet easily for email. Though the translation from email to texts or other such communications could be a bit more difficult, if for no other reason that the amount of information and detail needed in those messages.

The end is uncertain, but it is clear that the way we communicate with one another digitally is changing. So, I would like to hear your take on the issue. Have you already abandoned email or do you still cling lovingly to your subject line? How comfortable are you with your boss or professor sending you a text? Or, on the opposite side, how willing are you to text your employees or students? (I for one am not sure on the etiquette of that one). If you have any ideas on the matter, please include them in the comments below. And, I also recommend taking the time to read the entire Inside Higher Ed. article. It is very worth the time.

Resolutions for the New Year

2011-01-03T15:08:00.003-05:00

I don't typically fall into the trap of New Year's resolutions, mostly because I have a little trouble keeping up with them after about two weeks. I find it hard to flip a switch and say that "after today I am going to X". Despite this personal inconsistency, I can totally get behind other people's resolutions. I can especially get behind those students that are interested in becoming more serious concerning academics in 2011. Since the beginning of our interterm is today, this is one resolution where it is essential to hit the ground running. One of the best ways to do this is to utilize the library and its services (including the librarians). An important part in academic studies is understanding the materials and assignments. The library can help you become more efficient in your researching and in the end more comfortable with your subject area. All of which can be an important step in getting that "A" or "4.0."

Though the library is an excellent resource, like any other resolution it can be hard to include it in your daily routine, at least at first. I've stated on the blog before that students (and humans in general) are most comfortable with what they already know, and so may be a little apprehensive in trying a new search strategy or a new resource. Studying in the library can be a great way to get used to the environment, and the staff. The best thing you can do is become comfortable with the staff. Then, it will be easier to ask those questions you may have. No question is too big or too small. We are librarians, it is our job to answer questions.

It is also important to get rid of the stigma that all the library's resources are books. We have a number of electronic resources that can be useful. The catalog gives you information on print and electronic books. The online databases have electronic access to encyclopedias, newspapers and journal articles. Knowing how to use these resources can allow you to access information from your dorm during those snowy winter days or off-campus during spring break.

The library has other sources of guidance other than librarians. Our Library Guides Wiki has tutorials for most of the library's most popular resources. But, it also gives you strategies for the entire research process.

I guess that's about it for the library advertisement for the New Year. Sometimes it's easy to forget how useful the library is, but when in doubt you can always ask your friendly neighborhood librarian. And, good luck with all those goals for 2011!

Important library resources:
ALEX catalog
Online databases
Library Guides Wiki
Recommended Web Resources

While the students are away...

2010-12-20T14:34:00.003-05:00

I've been having trouble coming up with an type of substance to add to the blog over the past weeks. It's been hard to think of something that would be noteworthy to the larger community. Mainly, this is because the role of the library changes after Thanksgiving. With the last week of classes and finals all that is standing between students and the freedom of Christmas break, they are focused more on memorizing and editing than research. Take home tests and study guides fill their time because for the most part the research papers and assignments are over. This doesn't mean that the library is abandoned. The time between Thanksgiving and finals is consistently one of our busiest. There were students everywhere in the library, and the laptops and desktops were at a premium. The students need a place to study: a quiet place to meet with friends and study groups, or hide away from the world. A side effect of this transition is that they don't need the research materials as much. Books and articles are still needed, but by this time the student is at the writing stage. Reference librarians can feel a little neglected, except for the occasional technology question. Who knew that the printers could jam so much?

With my research skills no longer needed, temporarily at least, I switch my focus as well. This time is a good opportunity to reflect on the past semester and plan for the new one. Libraries and librarians don't just show up this awesome. We need to constantly change in order to meet our mission of patron service. We need to be evaluating our collections, creating guides and tutorials, planning for outreach opportunities, or just trying out new strategies or technologies. The "free" time we have this time of year allows us to do that.

Unfortunately, most of these projects are not very flashy. They tend to be slightly tedious, and I would much rather be answering reference questions or teaching a class. But, they are just important to creating a library that serves all the patrons' needs. Understanding student research and providing access to the proper information is obviously an important duty. However, understanding the students' need for study space and evaluating the library as a space can be just as important. Even though campus is quiet, and the students are long gone, we are still working towards our mission, we're just doing some of the "paper" work that makes things go so smoothly during the semester.

Next year the blog will be back, with hopefully more exciting news and events from the Mack and the world of academia. We are gearing up for the new semester and by Jan. 3 we'll be raring to go!

Controlled Vocabulary Video

2010-11-24T09:14:00.000-05:00

Two weeks ago, I posted an entry advertising a new how-to tutorial we had created to help explain the concept of controlled vocabulary. Subjects headings and terms are important to library searching, though they may take a while to master. In order to help users understand their complexity, we also created a video tutorial on the same topic. After a few minor technical difficulties, it has finally be posted on the Library Guides Wiki. I have also embedded the video below. As finals approach, remember that the wiki has a number of how-tos and video tutorials meant to help you with the research process. Also, when in doubt you can always contact your friendly neighborhood librarian!

Controlled Subject Vocabulary - A Definition

Unable to display content. Adobe Flash is required.

Latest findings from Project Information Literacy

2010-11-17T13:10:00.001-05:00

"Truth Be Told: How College Students Evaluate and Use Information in the Digital Age" is the latest report from the organization, based in the University of Washington's iSchool. In this survey, Project Information Literacy focused on how students evaluate and use information. As always the report bring to light many interesting trends regarding student research. Most of them are not surprising, but it is always good to see the anecdotal evidence you come across in your daily work validated by a larger study. PIL surveyed over 8,000 students from 25 different colleges and universities, and while it has some inherent limitations it still gives a good overview of students' research behaviors. These are a view of the findings that I found particularly interesting.

84% of students find getting started the hardest part. They have trouble defining their research inquiry.
A majority of students also have nagging uncertainties as they complete their research: Have I done a good job? How do I sort through my findings and isolate what I need? How do I know when to stop looking?

These two points tie in with the idea of information overload. With online database and web searching, libraries are able to provide students with an almost unending amount of information. Narrowing down their topic in order to make searching more manageable can often be a daunting task. Plus with unclear instructions from the instructor they may not feel that they are searching for and providing the right information.

A majority of the students do evaluate web and library materials before use - largely for currency.
The students report that researching is largely a collaborate process but only 11% ask for library assistance. They would rather ask their friends/classmates or instructors.
Few of the students used web 2.0 tools to collaborate or manage their assignments.
78% of students were interested in doing comprehensive research on a topic and learning something new. This was along with the overall goal of getting good grades.

According to the findings above, students are paying attention to the evaluate aspect of information literacy, even if they are not evaluating to the degree we would hope. Currency is a good determinate, but there are also aspects like bias and reliability that should be addressed as well. This is a process that librarians are largely familiar with, but students still do not appear comfortable enough to ask a librarian for help. I wonder at this feeling. Is it because they feel librarians are not knowledgeable enough in the topic or discipline area to offer help? Or are they just more comfortable asking individuals like friends, classmates, or even instructors that they deal with on a daily basis?

The final two points speak a lot to misconceptions concerning the student population. Though they are seen as the digital or technology generation that are not completely fluent in the options available to them. Just because they know how to use a mouse or execute an internet search does not mean that they know how to use Google Docs or feel comfortable using a blog to find information. Just like every other generation, they are most comfortable with the tools that they are used to. Finally, 78% of students are interested in undertaking more than just the minimum when it comes to research. While a good grades is important, they want to be engaged, learn new information, and participate in scholarly activities. Ideas of students procrastinating or achieving only the minimum are rampant, but it is always good to see some statistics to put at least a little dent in this stereotype.

You can access the full report here or you can also check out the accompanying video produced by PIL:

Is the Price for Plagiarism Inflated?

2010-11-11T14:14:00.000-05:00

Yesterday as I was perusing the World Wide Web (for educational purposes, I promise) the following post on Lifehacker caught my eye. The article concerned the issue of plagiarism and one writer, Malcolm Gladwell's experiences with being plagarized. Unlike most of the articles I read from the academic perspective, the conclusions for this article caught me a bit off guard. The author asked whether plagiarism is something that we should worry with anymore, and how much our words and ideas are acutally our own anyways. The author cites instances where "we borrow cliches and common phrases in our writing all the time and do it without attribution." I can understand his argument; almost all of our words and ideas are based on someone else, and it is impossible to give credit to all of our "sources."

Though I do disagree with his points especially when related to academia and the use of writing in the classroom setting. Plagiarism of a paper or an assignment is not just an ethical issue in the undergraduate classroom (or any level classroom for that matter). In that respect, it's actually cheating. Papers and assignments are meant to measure a student's understanding of a concept or issue. If they use someone else's words then they are not giving the instructor an accurate representation and are falisifing their results. In research, the process of citing other people's works is fairly clear and straightforward. Plus, citing other people's ideas acutally gives the writer more creditability than they would have if the research was presented as strickly their own.

The example cited in the article though is not from academia, it is concerning words from a published article that were used in a stageplay. I wonder if the process of using other people's materials in more "creative" endeavors is somehow different. Would it not be common courtsey to ask for permission from your "source" especially if you value it enough to use it in your work?

My only other point goes back to the author's argument mentioned earlier that we borrow cliches and common phrases all the time. For me, there are different levels of use. If something has become part of the larger vernacular (e.g. "old school" or any other such sayings), does that not make it similiar to the common knowledge rule in most citation manuals? We do not have to cite that Columbus discovered the Americas in 1492. This is something that most of our readers would already know for themselves. They would not believe that this idea or concept came from us or our research. Don't cliches and common phrases have this same level of built-in understanding? Though the reader may not know the exact source, they would acknowledge that they had heard the phrase before in multiple locations.

I'm interested in what others have to say about this topic, so please comment below. I am approaching this issue from the perspective of an information literacy librarian, and according to The American Library Association, part of being information literate is knowing how to use information responsibly, which includes avoiding plagiarism. But, I am also a writer (though unpublished), and I don't think I would appreciate someone else using my words (especially those that I worked hard to craft) without some sort of acknowledgement. Others though may have a different perspective, so please add it to the comments.

If you would like more information on avoiding plagiarism you can check out AML's how-to guide. You can read the full Lifehacker article at the link below:

http://lifehacker.com/5686165/what-is-plagiarism-and-is-it-always-bad

Trying to understand controlled vocabulary

2010-11-08T15:30:00.000-05:00

I admit it, controlled vocabulary is not the easily concept to understand. Trying to explain the importance of using it is even harder. I am a librarian, so I love organization. Materials covering similar topics belong together on the shelf, making it easier for librarian to keep track of the library's resources, and making it easier for students to discover everything on a topic in one place. If only it was that easily. What did you do if a book covers more than one topic? And how do students know what shelf to look on? There has to be something more than just the Dewey Decimal System (even though it's awesome). To help patrons find information about a particular topic, libraries use subject headings (typically based on the Library of Congress Subject Headings). Each book, DVD, CD, or any other item in the library has at least one subject heading assignment to it so that it's easier for patrons to search for information by subject. The LCSH represent a list of controlled vocabulary, so that each term has one specific meaning. This arrangement is meant to make researching easier by eliminating the need to search for more than one term to describe a particular topic.

For example, if you are looking in the ALEX catalog for materials on the portrayal of women in film, you would do a subject search on motion pictures. Instead of the terms films or movies the LCSH uses motion pictures. Theoretically, this controlled vocabulary should make searching simpler. However, without an understanding of the vocabulary (and the terms used) it can actually make searching more frustrating.

This variation between the concept of controlled vocabulary and its reality, largely comes from two main areas. Because of internet search engines and other similar search opportunities (like Amazon or EBay), patrons are used to keyword searching. Subject Headings originated in a time where there were only three ways to access information in a card catalog: title, author, and subject. Modern keyword creates the opportunity to search for terms throughout the entire document. (More on the pros/cons of this in a later post). Modern patrons are more fluid and flexible with their searching than they were before the internet. The other area of variation is the typical patron's goal for their searching. The typically undergraduate is not looking for ALL the information on a particular topic, they just need a few resources they can use in their papers/projects. This approach makes the results from a controlled vocabulary a little overkill.

The points mentioned above to not render controlled vocabulary or subject headings obsolete. If anything, because of the amount of information discovered in a typical keyword search, subject headings are more useful than ever. However, instead of being used alone, they are best used as a hybrid. Do a keyword search in a catalog or database to find the vocabulary terms used to describe your topic.

Because subject headings are useful, though confusing, AML has created a new How To describing this controlled vocabulary and its use. There will be a video tutorial soon as well, so stayed tuned!

How To - Controlled Subject Vocabulary

Still confused about the use of controlled vocabulary, or just have trouble finding information on your topic? Don't forget to contact your friendly neighborhood librarian.

(Feedback on this tutorial, or any of our others is always welcomed. Let us know if it helped, or more importantly if it didn't!)

Has privacy been replaced by the status update?

2010-11-02T11:29:00.000-04:00

One of the consequences of our technology is that we have lost a lot of our personal privacy. Many people don't even realize that it is gone, but everything that we point out on the web: social network profiles, twitter updates, even Google searchers, allow others to learn just a little bit more about ourselves. Google tracks what we search and uses it to target us with advertisements. Facebook keeps copies of images, etc on their servers long after we have deleted them. The worst part of all of this is that once information gets out there, its almost impossible to "undo." Something to keep in mind, especially for undergraduates who will be looking to start their careers come May. It is just as easy for potential employers to view your social persona as it is for your classmates.

I've posted before about Choose Privacy Week, The American Library Association sponsored event meant to help people to think critically about the information they are putting online. But, despite such events and news reports on hackers breaking into various databases, most people do not take an active approach to maintaining their privacy. For many, its simply a trade off for being more connected to their friends/family and interests. Many, including most younger users, do not see the negatives of placing their personal lives online.

On Inside Higher Ed last week, Michael Bugeja posted an very interesting article about a class he taught in a media law classroom concerning privacy invasion. The class focused on how current media technology makes it easier to have our privacy invaded, and there were a few parts that I found especially disconcerting.
Bugeja writes that:

This summer PC World reported in “How Will Facebook Make Money?” that Facebook has been trying to find the right balance between respecting privacy of users and using their data to make money. The article noted that Facebook is not "free" but "offers its service in exchange for the right to capture and collect mountains of demographic and preference data from its users," which "can be extremely valuable to marketers and advertisers because it is highly detailed and personal."

He also writes that, based on an impromptu survey of the class, "only two students out of the 60 that day had read the user agreements associated with those services."

One of the drawbacks of the popularity of these social services, like Facebook, is that many do not take the time to understand what they are signing up for. I admit that I am as guilty of this as anyone else. The problem is that the overload of information makes it easier to skim over the important stuff along with the fluff. But, its important to consider that most of the sites on the web are there to make money for someone, and probably not you. With that as a motivator, you have to be the one to insure your privacy is secure.

My biggest concern though is that this technology doesn't just put you at risk from privacy invasion, but also makes it easier for you to invade others' privacy. With the amount of information people put out on the web, they are very vulnerable, and with the anonymity that the online world gives us, we are as much at risk of becoming the aggressor as being the victim. Bugeja writes:

I ended media law class by asking students about their own online habits:

•Using chat, social networks, texting, virtual worlds, cell phones or blogs, have you or anyone you know ever intruded on another person’s seclusion or solitude? Response: About two-thirds of the class raised their hands.

•Using PhotoShop, InDesign, videography or other software, have you or anyone you know ever appropriated a person’s name or likeness and disseminated it to others for fun or any other reason? Response: About one-third of the class raised their hands.

•Using any of the previously mentioned applications or software, have you or anyone you know ever posted private facts about someone else, potentially embarrassing them? Response: Almost all raised their hands.

•Using any of the previously mentioned applications or software, have you or anyone you know ever placed a person in a false light intending to hurt or belittle that individual? Response: About half the class raised their hands.

Part of the criteria for being information literate is to use information responsibly. In the research environment, this largely means that you cite your sources and give your sources proper credit. In the large social environment this has evolved to mean understanding how social sites can effect your privacy, and how your choices can effect the privacy of others. Though we are not interacting face to face with individuals we are still responsible for the information we put online, and the consequences of such sharing.

More additions to JSTOR

2010-10-31T16:44:00.000-04:00

Earlier in the year, I posted about changes JSTOR made it its interface. More changes have come to JSTOR this week, or at least our library's version of it. We have added to our JSTOR subscription Arts & Sciences collections IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII. These include full text availability to hundreds of titles in the fields of business, psychology, history, religion, literature, economics, political science, sociology, art/art history, and many more. Nothing has changed in regards to your search of JSTOR, except that you will have an increase in the number of results due to the increase in our subscription. You can will still access JSTOR from the link found on our Library Databases A-Z page, and both on and off-campus access is still available.

Just remember that JSTOR is still an archiving database, so each of the new journals will have a "moving wall" of 2-10 years, so the most current issues will have to be accessed through another source. If you need help as you explore our new addition, or as you do any research, remember that you can always contact your friendly neighborhood librarian.

Even Jane Austen needed some editing

2010-10-28T15:54:00.000-04:00

To continue with the theme of writing, I just wanted to mention an interesting article I first saw mentioned on the blog Inside Higher Ed. A scholar from Oxford was analyzing the written manuscripts of Jane Austen's novels (and her other unpublished works) and discovered that she did a lot more editing to her drafts than originally though, and even had a separate editor for some of her novels. You can read the entire article here.

Understanding how an author changed a novel (or any work) over time can give as much insight into the work as the author itself. I've always found it fascinating how a story changes from first draft to final. You can view the changes Austen made in her own manuscripts through the Austen Fiction Manuscripts digital archive recently compiled by Oxford University and King's College in London. If you are a fan of Jane Austen or just writing in general you may want to check it out. Thankfully it provides a text translation of Austen's handwriting, for those of use that find her script a little hard to decipher.

The Great American Novel in one month

2010-10-27T11:21:00.000-04:00

Okay, maybe its not as simple as that, but today I want to diverge from librarianship for a few minutes and talk about one of my other passions: writing. Finding time to write each day can be tough, but whether you are interest in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or just about anything else, its a necessary evil. The uninitiated may think that writing is strictly a creative process, but we know in reality that it is a process, a slow methodical process. There are moments of creativity and inspiration but to reach them you usually have to spend hours in front of the computer screen forcing yourself to write something, anything!

If you are looking for a way to get serious about your writing, and train yourself to write everyday, may I suggest National Novel Writing Month. If you sign up for the (free) project you have thirty days (November 1-30th) to write a 50,000 page novel. If you succeed, you don't get any rewards in the physical sense (aside from a cool certificate), but the mental rewards are far greater. You have a motivation to write 1700 or so words a day and the satisfaction to know that you completed something by the end of the month.

One of the biggest hurdles to writing is that you think your writing isn't good enough. NaNoWriMo, with its condensed time period, requires you to look beyond the quality and focus on the quantity. Writing through the uncertainties is the best way to train yourself as a writing. The quality comes later, after November, when you actually start to edit the thing.

You still have a few more days to think of an idea and get signed up. The NaNoWriMo websites has tons of tips and helps for coming up with an idea and a community where you can commiserate with other writers.

One other thing to point out. If you like to play with new software, you may want to try out Scrivener's free one month trail during NaNoWriMo. This software is like Word, but it gives you a lot more tools for organizing and editing your manuscript. The software isn't free, but there is a discount for NaNoWriMo contributors.

I won't be able to participate this year, but I had lots of fun last year and obviously recommend it to anyone who is a writer (or thinking of being one). Good luck and happy writing!!

The dreaded 404 error and scholarly publications

2010-10-25T16:19:00.000-04:00

HTML links unfortunately do not last forever. Websites are redesigned, blogs are deleted, everyday information disappears into the ether. This can be very frustrating with typical internet use. A favorite blog disappears for no reason, or a band changes their web address with the release of a new album. Typically though this is not a life or death situation. At most you just have to do a Google search for the new URL. The fluidity of HTML links however, is a lot more serious of a concern when it comes to scholarly publications. When a scholar uses a web source (like a blog or government website) in their research, what happens to the credibility and usefulness of their research when all of their sources disappear?

Plus, a lot of scholars use these reference lists in their own research. I usually mention this strategy in my upper-level instruction classes. Once you find one or two articles that are useful, check to see what sources they use. A lot of them might be useful to you in your own research, because you know they are all somehow related to your topic, and you know that they are reliable sources. Broken links in the reference list would make this practice almost impossible, unless you are lucky enough to be able to Google the title or author and find the new site.

The Chronicle of Higher Education posted an article on the topic earlier in the month (You probably need a subscription to access the article). Researchers have discovered that in less than four years over half of the links in scholarly publications no longer work. Depending on the type of citation, you can use tools like a Digital Object Identifier, or the the Internet Archive Way Back Machine to recover the article. Or, if it is was originally published in a print journal/magazine you can always look for it in another database. These tips are useful but they don't cover all the various ephemeral information types (like blogs, or tweets, etc).

What should researchers do? The easiest thing to do is to print out a copy of the source so you can save it for later. If you want to be a little more eco-friendly, you can save the website off line, or convert in information into a PDF file that you can save to you hard drive. The article provides a lot of suggestions along these lines.

What about libraries? The researchers suggest that the libraries remember their identity as a preserver of information, not just a disseminator. This is easier said than done. The amount of information out there is mind-boggling. Plus, most libraries don't have the funds or the staffing to handle even part of the internet. The researchers also suggest that publications do their own backing up of information cited in articles, but the logistics of how this information would be stored, and how researchers would access it, are not easily to figure out. Regardless of the safe guards libraries or publishers, or any other entity would employ, it is inevitable that some information is going to fall through the cracks. It is just a self-effect of our digital world that we are going to have to accept, I'm afraid.

Though, that doesn't mean that researchers should not be aware and take as many safeguards as they can. Remember, it doesn't always take three years for a site to disappear. You can be researching a paper for class, find a website on Monday, and by Wednesday it could be gone. Unfortunately, once something is gone, it is almost impossible to recover, forcing you to go back to square one of your research process.

If you have any questions a broken link, or need help trying to find it, you can always ask your friendly neighborhood librarian. Since we are information professionals, we know a few tricks when it comes to access. Though we aren't miracle workers, we will do the best we can to help you access the information you need.

Open Access Week

2010-10-20T13:30:00.000-04:00

This Week is Open Access Week. As with any "week" or "month," its meant to bring awareness to a cause or issue. You may not be familiar with the push for Open Access, but it's an important cause, especially for those in academic/scholarly fields, or in the library profession. With Open Access, scholarly papers, reports, presentation, and other such types of information would be freely available to the public. Researchers and scholars would still get credit for their work, but the public wouldn't have to pay a subscription or any other fee to view it.

When I talk in my instruction sessions about scholarly sources and academic journals, I mention the concept of scholarly communication. Scholars publish their materials in scholarly journals in order to further the research discussion in their discipline about a particular topic, or to perhaps start an entirely new conversation. With the Internet and Web 2.0 technologies, you would think that communication between scholars has gotten easier. But, unfortunately this is not the case. The scholarly landscape has changed, but a majority of the disciplines are still using the old system of academic journals, and journal subscriptions, to communicate new information.

The problem with this is that the old system is no longer working. Subscription fees have skyrocketed becuase journals are having a tougher time making a profit, and some journals have ceased publishing all together. So there are now fewer places of scholars to publish and its now harder for these same scholars to maintain access to those select journals.

Open Access is a movement to remove the subscription based system. Instead information would be published on the web and be freely available to anyone who wants to access it. But, if Open Access removes all the negatives of the current system, why hasn't it been put into practice across the disciplines? This is a complex question, and of course has a complex answer. Scholars working in higher education rely on the tenure process for job security. One way they gain tenure is by publishing their research in respected journals. Open Access journals and other such sources do not have the respect of their paper counterparts, largely because they are the new kid on the block, and also because scholars fear the "opening" of the discipline and its information channels. Print journals, of course, are fighting hard against the Open Access sources, questioning their relaiblity and their longevity, because they fear loosing their livelihood.

There are other issues as well like, indexing and access logistics, long term storage, verification and peer-review status, copyright, etc. But, Open Access has made great strides over the past ten years or so. And, individual scholars are starting to slowly turn to Open Access as a better alternative to the present system.

During this Open Access week, why not look more into the conversation, and see how the concept of Open Access can work best for you. I've talked about Open Access in perivous posts on this blog. And below, you can look at some other articles/posts published in honor of Open Access week.

Open Access Week: Principles for Open Bibliographic Data - Confessions of a Science Librarian
Uncovering Open Access - Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Long Road to Open Access - Inside Higher Education

ScienceDirect

2010-10-18T13:10:00.000-04:00

This summer the library was able to subscribe to the database two of the collections within the ScienceDirect database. The campus how has access to journals from its Life Sciences and Health Sciences Collection. Professors in the life sciences and psychology departments are very excited. So, to help lessen the learning curve, I've created a video outlining the basics of the database. Just remember that you can find the link to the database on our Library Databases A-Z page, and it is available both on and off campus (with verification). If you have any questions about using this database, or any of our resources, don't hesitate to ask your friendly neighborhood librarian.

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Can you trust the library?

2010-10-15T10:00:00.000-04:00

'Tis the season of midterms, so the library is humming. Most students are finishing up work on their first major projects of the semester. For a good many of these projects, the students have received at least some library instruction via in-class instruction sessions or at least one-on-one meetings. Students know that the library is full of books and journals that would be good sources for their papers, but it still can be a challenge to get them to step away from their Google comfort zone and try something new. I don't blame them, new tools can be intimidating and time consuming to learn. In instruction sessions then, I try to make it a point (whether consciously or unconsciously) to wow them with all the awesomeness of our databases, and how easy it is to find information on John D. Rockefeller or identity theft. And, I admit that I feel a little pride when I see students from the classes using the databases or checking out a book. I wonder sometimes though whether we are putting the library's resources up onto a dangerous pedestal. Are we just exchanging a blind reliance on search engines for one on the library?

My question is based on two events. Event #1: I had the opportunity to see an ENG 110 course two times this week. Taking advantage of this doubling of my usual fifty minutes, I decided to split the instruction into two sections: the first session would be on the library's catalog and the second would discuss the library's databases. Each day would be a mixture of lecture and an activity. I don't have access to a computer lab, so I asked the class to break up into pairs (I never realized how hard it was for classes to pair off evenly) and using our desktops and laptops find either two books or two articles (depending on the day) on an assigned topic. I thought day one went well, I walked around the library had answered the few questions they had, and then we discussed the catalog search at the beginning of day two. Since there was no time discuss their database activity, I had them hand the sheets into me before they left, more to make sure they went through with the assignment than anything else. At the end of the class I had a pile of worksheets, and I figured I might as well review them just for my own interest. Besides a few blanks where they neglected to fill in all the information, I noticed a trend that most of the students just did a keyword search for their topic and recorded the first two articles they found. And why not? It's not as if I required them to do any sort of evaluating.

The goal of my assignment was to get them to actually use the catalog and the databases. But, I wonder now if I left the lesson incomplete. Should I not have also spent time on how to evaluate the sources, giving them the tools to separate the wheat from the chaff? When it comes to library resources, is it important to even pay attention to a sources credibility? Of course it is. Every library collection is going to have information that is at least outdated or biased. And, we as librarians have very little control over what journals or other sources are added to the databases. But, after hearing that Google is bad and the library is good will students think to question the resources we have just touted as more reliable? If we put too many asterisks after the library resources, we run the risk of having them loose their credibility. But, we have a responsibility to the students to show them the realities of every potential source.

With that question rolling around in my head, we come to event #2. I'm always exploring around on the web, finding new blogs or information sources related to librarianship or just academia in general. So, Wednesday I came across the blog New Jack Librarian, and the author's post on her recent experience in an instruction session full of 100 second year students. She discussed with them the difference between their normal day to day searching and the more scholarly searching they need for their academic assignments. When the in class conversation got a little sparse, she asked her students point blank: "Can you trust everything found by the library?" She then used examples of bias or faulty information in the library's collection as a way to show them the need to evaluate.

I've personally assessed a number of the subject areas in our print collection, so I know for a fact that there is some unreliable stuff floating around. Even though we are still in the process of cleaning up the collection, I never once considered presenting the collection with some sort of a warning label. I guess that was because I felt that students could do the evaluations themselves. However, now I don't think that this is the case. It's important to evaluate every information source. Even if it turns out to be reliable, that practice will help the evaluation process to become like second nature. No one should ever take the reliability of a source for granted, so here's some questions to ask no matter what type of source it is.

Who is the author of this information?

Does the author have any sort of authority regarding the topic? Why are they presenting this information? Be aware that the author might have some sort of bias or alternative goal of misinformation.

When was the information published?
If the information is a book or article, check the copyright date to make sure that the information is up to date. A good website always indicates when the page was last updated. Out of date information is just as bad as information that is completely false.

Where was the information located?
Check the type of book, magazine, or URL. A scholarly journal or book has stricter standards than popular books or magazines. If the website is affiliated with a recognized academic institution or organization, then it will usually be more trustworthy than a personal site. However, be aware that anyone affiliated with a college or university can have a .edu URL (including an undergraduate’s personal site)

Is the information verifiable?
Do the authors provide a list of where they got their information? These lists allow you to check their research, along with providing you with additional resources pertaining to your topic.

SweetSearch and web evaluations

2010-10-06T11:44:00.000-04:00

Wow, it's been a while. I've been swamped with instruction sessions (which is never a bad thing), but I've had some good resources on the back burner to highlight here on the blog. Now that I actually have a few free moments, I'd like to mention one today: Sweet Search. This search engine bills itself as being a search engine specifically for students (both high school and undergraduate). It takes Google's simplicity and rankings approach and applies to a limited number of sites (35,000 or so) that have been evaluated by their staff of educators, researchers, and of course librarians. By removing a lot of the "junk" sites a Google search can provides, SweetSearch hopes to better the quality of student research while making it a lot less painful.

"SweetSearch helps students find outstanding information, faster. It enables them to determine the most relevant results from a list of credible resources, and makes it much easier for them to find primary sources. We exclude not only the spam sites that many students could spot, but also the marginal sites that read well and authoritatively, but lack academic or journalistic rigor. As importantly, the very best Web sites that appear on the first page of SweetSearch results are often buried on other search engines." (About SweetSearch)

While the site does limit the number of questionable sites, it sill includes those sites (like news sources) that might be seen as having a bias to some readers. This allows the results to have a more balanced viewpoint, but requires students to still think critically about the results they are given.

In a lot of my instruction sessions this semester, I have tried to focus on the idea of creditability and reliability when it comes to college level research. Professors expect their students to critically assess each source, both to make sure that its credible, and to ensure that it is appropriate to their topic. Some students, especially those first year students who are researching for the first time, may not feel up to this task. But, the library has tools to help them with this process. The Library Guides Wiki has a lot of good resources for evaluating information. For websites, you should keep the following questions in mind:

Who is the author? Or, who posted this information?
Where was the information located? (Look at the entire URL just not the domain)
When was it published?
Is the information verifiable?

Learning how to evaluate websites can take time, but as a student becomes more comfortable with the process then these questions become second nature. Luckily, evaluating websites is not something that is limit just to college research. It is a process that is important to every aspect of our information lives. So, we should get a lot of practice. In the strange way that information works, as I was preparing for my instruction sessions last month, I also came across this list of criteria for evaluating webpages from one of my favorite blogs: Confessions of a Science Librarian. This blogger, in turn, was re-posting information he found from another blog from Scott Rosenberg. This list is another example of how you must think critically about each site, plus it reminds you of some more areas to look at:

What's the top-level domain?
Look the domain name up with whois
How old or new is the registration?
Look up the site in the Internet Archive
Look at the source code
Check out the ads
Does the site tell you who runs it
Is there a feedback option?
What shape are the comments in?
Is the content original and unique?
Does the article make reference to many specific sources or just a few?
Links in are as important a clue as links out
Google the URL. Google the domain. Google the company name. Poke around if you have any doubts or questions.
Then, of course, remember that every single question we've been applying here can be asked about every page Google points you to, as well.

So is there some sort of moral when it comes to doing a web search? I guess it could be, proceed with caution. Becoming a savvy web searcher can take time and practice. While you are getting used to using the criteria and questions listed above. Using a site like SweetSearch might be a good alternative. Along the same lines of this educational search engine, the AML has also put together a list of credible websites on is Delicious page, so don't forget to check it out as well. There's also the library's other resources, including online databases, that you can access through our library's website.

Happy searching, and if you become confused or discouraged, there are always your friendly neighborhood librarians!

Decline of Studying and the Importance of Peer-Review: Links of Interest

2010-09-13T14:49:00.000-04:00

Even though I try to manage my information sources, I still suffer from information overload every now and again. But, I've discovered a new variation. Instead of a wave of good and bad information toppling me, I have become swallowed by just good information. There are so many interesting articles, reports, and studies concerning libraries, student behavior and just academia in general, that I have trouble doing them all justice. So, today, I just wanted to quickly post two articles of interest. I really wish that I could remember which of my favorite blogs posted these, but I still want to give them a hat tip nonetheless.

The first article was a report on recent study focused on the study habits of undergraduates from the United States and Canada. In "The Decline of Studying" the researchers report that studying on average has decreased close to 42%. Though it seems like students are spending more of their time on other pursuits, they still are, on average, maintaining consistent grade averages or even increasing over the same period. So what accounts for this dichotomy? The report lists a few reasons, though none are conclusive. The strongest reason it gives is the drop in college/university standards and pressure (but students, parents, or administrators) on instructors to give higher grades and teacher easier classes (and better the bottom line for all involved).

But, the article also gives another argument for the lower studying hours related to technology. With the ease of the internet and our almost constant connection to information, students no longer have to memorize large amounts of information, they simply have to memorize how to find it. But, the authors do present a unique bit of information: the largest decrease in studying hours happened between 1961 and 1981, long before the internet and other technologies became main stream.

So, while the article doesn't really give any clear answers, it does ask a lot of interesting questions, both about the state of our students and the state of our institutions on a whole.

The other article that caught my eye: "Why Peer Review Matters." While this article is referring to peer review within the sciences (more specifically computer science), it reminded me of the content of many of my instruction sessions last week. When speaking to upper level classes, I try to stress the importance of scholarly (or peer-reviewed) resources when researching a particular topic. A lot of times though, the students do not have a clear view of what peer-reviewed actually means. So, it's important for me to take the time to explain the process of peer-review and its immediate importance the students, along with its larger importance to that particular discipline at large. The author, Wing, relates that the peer-review process is not only important to help create new innovations, but it also insures high quality work. This idea of experts assessing experts helps those that are not fluent in the field, the general public for example (the article specifically mentions politicians an policymakers), draw conclusions on information they may not fully understand.

None of that information is shockingly new, but the author then takes her discussion from why peer review matters, to how is peer review undertaken. And, whether the current set-up is still the best way. How can today's social networks, and entirely new idea of "collective intelligence," re-invent how scholars approach the peer-review process? I don't think that the author is suggesting that Wikipedia is the new peer-review, but I think that she's considering different ways to get more scholars (and resources) in on the action. An interesting thought: how do you maintain the level of esteem created by peer-review while opening up the exclusive process?

Week 2?!

2010-09-09T16:34:00.000-04:00

We're coming upon the end of week two of the Fall 2010 semester. I feels like it has been so much longer than that, probably because of all the work that has been packed into these two short weeks. The initial chaos has subsided for the most part though. The first year students have survived their first week, and are quickly becoming acclimated to BC and to the library. I've been busy teaching sessions to freshman and upper level classes, but sometimes I get so rapped up in promoting the library's resources (like our databases, our extensive catalog, and our excellent reference resources) that I forget about the basics. Most first year students have probably never been in an academic library before. What do they need to know to make the most out of their library experience. Heck, what do they need to know convince them to walk through our doors at all?

So, here's a quick list of the most important things first year students need to know about the library (in no particular order).

1. The library is more than just a collection of books
You may think that the only reason you'd want to come into the library is to check out a book. But, for most students who come in during the day, that's the last thing on their minds. The library is popular because of its environment. It is a clean, quiet (relatively) neutral place to study. Whether in between classes, or late night studying, the library is a great place to concentrate on that pressing assignment, and block out the rest of the world. But, don't forget that it is also an excellent place to meet for group projects.

2. Laptops
Our most popular resources are the laptops. The machines are constantly getting checked out, for students who want to work on a paper, print an article for class, or browse Facebook. If a laptop is not your style, we have desktop options that are available on the first and second floor. Did I mention that printing in the library (and elsewhere on campus) is free?

3. DVDs
Second to the laptops, the DVDs are the most requested items. We have popular titles to watch during the weekend, academic titles you'll need for class, and those not quite blockbusters that will become your new favorites. Browse the collection whenever you get a free minute. You can check out the DVDs for a week at a time. Oh, and we also have a growing CD collection of pop hits and classic of each genre.

4. Study Rooms
If you need to watch a movie for class, practice a presentation, or just find a quiet place to study, we have study rooms available at the library. They each have TVs and DVD players so you can watch movies, and they also have the ability to hook up a laptop to practice that PowerPoint.

5. Wireless
We have wireless Internet available throughout the building, so you can hold-up in your favorite corner and work on your paper, where ever in the library that may be.

6. Online Tutorials
Learning the ins and out of the library's resources and the research process in general can be daunting. Don't forget about our Library Guides Wiki that provides print How Tos and Video Tutorials to help you step by step through the process

7. LIBRARIANS!
Along the lines of #6, if you find yourself overwhelmed about a topic, or just confused about how to start using the library, always know that your friendly neighborhood librarians are here to help. It is our job to answer your questions and make sure that you are using the best resources possible for your paper or project. Almost all of the hours the library is open there will be a staff member here to help you.

8. Off-Campus Access
Just because you are off campus doesn't mean that you can't use the library. All of our online databases are available on and off campus for your researching ease.

Well there you go. I'm sure that there are more than 8 things that are essential to know about the library. Anyone got something else to offer? Just coming into the library, and allowing yourself to become comfortable with the layout and resources will help you throughout your 4 years at BC. So, don't forget to stop by the library and say hi!

ARTstor

2010-08-27T15:27:00.000-04:00

I just finished an instruction class for the Art department reviewing ARTstor. Every time I use this database I am amazed at the tools and resources it makes available to instructors and to students. Each year the collection of images grows, now including images of sculptures and artifacts, video images, and tons of other media. The collections also cover various topics other than just art history. The materials are relevant to all the humanities, and social sciences: history, culture studies, women's studies, etc. To help promote this interdisciplinary aspect ARTstor has created a list of subject guides meant to help instructors "think outside the box."

With ARTstor instructor's have a plethora of options when it comes to presenting the materials: they can create folders and image groups that students can access through specific URL's, they can export the images directly to PowerPoint, or they can download the database's OIV (offline image viewer) software for even more presentation options. Students can use folders to create image groups for class projects, both individual and group. Plus, they can save images to a personal folder, for use later.

This may sound like an ARTstor advertisement, but I really believe that ARTstor has become one of the most versatile, and user-friendly databases that we have. Unfortunately, I don't think that its getting used enough, so this is just my little pitch to get the database on the radar of those that may not have even considered it an option before.

If you have any questions about using ARTstor, you can view their extensive help section at http://help.artstor.org/ or you can ask your friendly neighborhood librarian.

JSTOR changes

2010-08-24T16:15:00.000-04:00

JSTOR is one of the most popular online databases at my institution. It is a great resource for full text articles, especially in the humanities. By definition it is a non-profit archival database, so it concentrates on maintaining the full run of many journals, starting from vol. one and issue one. I do caution students who use JSTOR though because it does not carry more recent information, usually stopping coverage at about five to seven years ago.

This summer though, the database has been completely redesigned, along with its content. Some of the most important changes include that a search that shows results not just for a specific library subscriptions, but for the entire JSTOR collection. Also important is that there are links to more current articles.These changes greatly expand the information access within JSTOR, but makes the limited full text more apparent.

These changes can be quite confusing, especially to a typical undergraduate. Today, Meredith Farkas, from the blog Information Wants to be Free, posted a very good article on the changes. The post, What's the deal, JSTOR? makes many important points, especially regarding full text access. With the default settings showing results from all the JSTOR collections, and the current article access limited, students may be confused as to what full text they can view. And, with the pages of some articles indicating a cost of $19 for example for article access, students may think that they have to pay money to read that article.

JSTOR does provide check boxes to limit the results to only the content subscribed to by the library, but new students who are not familiar with the way databases work, won't understand what they means. Plus, its hidden on the advanced search screen where most new users don't go. Students also don't understand that the library has tools like our Journal Finder that can find the full text of an article in another database. When students are used to Google, they do not understand why things have to take so many steps, or be so complicated, and JSTOR's changes are only making things worse. Not that JSTOR's searching wasn't already complicated in the past.

So, if you do use JSTOR for your research you can view the support pages for a Platform Update. I've also embedded the a video overview of the changes. Don't forget to check out Meredith Farkas article too.

If there is one thing that I continue to stress to students, its that they should never pay for access to an article with tools like Journal Finder and our Interlibrary loan service the library can provide you free (to you) access to the full text. If you have any questions about JSTOR or any of our library's databases don't hesitate to contact your friendly neighborhood librarian.

WORDS

2010-08-23T16:01:00.000-04:00

Faculty are back on campus today, which means that the summer is on its last legs.We are all going to soon have ten million important, pressing things to do, so I wanted to share one last cool video before things get too serious. I'm not sure where I first saw this, but I've been sitting on this link for a while. As a former writing major, I've always thought that words were cool, but even if you don't have the same love for them as I do, you can still appreciate how interconnected this video makes everything feel. The video Words is from NPR and Radiolab.

Funeral dirge for the web?

2010-08-18T14:40:00.000-04:00

Today, a fellow librarian posted a link on the ILI-L listserv to the Wired Magazine article "The Web is Dead. Long Live the Internet." The article has an interesting take on the evolution of the internet and how individuals, and media developers are changing the way that the web and the internet are being utilized. One of the core points was that the use of apps (like those from the iPhone or iPad) are reducing the use of the "web" by limiting how people search for information. Apps bring the information to them, instead of searching for it online, so they replace convenience with the ability to have access to countless information sources.

I must admit that I have never really used apps. I do not have a cell phone or other mobile device that has internet access. Heck, mine does even have a camera! In this age of "information overload" I can definitely understand the appeal having some way to bring order to the chaos of information on the web. However, as an academic librarian, I still need the web and its dense jungle of information in order to research various topics and bring the best resources to my patrons. My use of the web is not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, or other such sites (as Wired uses in its example).

I do recognize that I am probably an exception to the rule and not a standard. But still, I don't see the situation as being as "dire" as Wired seems to suggest. So, I'm curious to see what others think. I must admit that some of their points were a little muddled to me, but the fact that our usage of the internet and web has changed rapidly over the past 5 or 10 years. Do you think though, that this change is signaling an end to the web? Post your thoughts in the comments!

Oh, and another library posted this article from BoingBoing disputing the Wired article and its use of data. I've always been interested in how the same data can be molded and manipulated to say so many different things.

Library/ Faculty relationship

2010-08-17T16:00:00.000-04:00

This summer in the library, I offered my first workshops geared towards faculty and how the library can help them (and their students). Since our instruction program is in the building stages, I was unsure as to the response I would get. My worries were unfounded as each offering received a good response. The faculty were happy to hear about the new resources available from the library, and I was happy to answer their questions about potential assignment.

One thing that I love about working at a small liberal arts school is the chance for communication between the different campus areas. This conversation is vital to the library because so much of our work is based on our informal interactions. Faculty and staff might see us on the sidewalk or in the wellness center and ask a question or request a material. Such interactions always lead to better service, and sometimes opportunities for collaboration. We hear about building a positive relationship with students to make them more comfortable with using our services, but I think the same should be done with faculty. A library is constantly changing. This is especially the case with ours. As databases change and resources shift, they should feel comfortable to ask about the changes and hopefully content to know that all we do is to better our services.

A good relationship between faculty and the library can only benefit the students. With everything going on though, keeping the library on the faculty's radar can be difficult. So, hopefully through events like this workshop, our liaison program, and of course this blog we can reach out to new and established faculty. As an Information Literacy librarian, teaching students (and faculty) about the library is my primary focus. We have plenty of resources to help both use the library, from creating the assignments to completing them. Those interested in what the library has to offer can check out our Library Guides Wiki, along with contacting the library with any questions they may have.

Tips for Doing E-Research from Harvard University's Library

2010-08-11T13:53:00.001-04:00

Anyone else surprised (and maybe a little annoyed) that summer has gone by so fast? Yesterday marked three weeks until the first day of classes. The library won't be quiet for much longer, but the new students will bring the same questions. How do we best show them how to use the library effectively? Through this blog I've tried to post tips and strategies for researching, but why should you listen to only me? Today I am going to re-post the content of last week's post from the Professors' Guide, an excellent blog from US News and World Report. The post is from guest blogger Cheryl LaGuardia and even those this information refers to Harvard University's Widener Library, it is still excellent information no matter where you go to school. Where applicable I have inserted links and comments related to AML's resources.

Top 10 Tips for Doing E-Research at College

1. Start with Google and Wikipedia. Sure, your professor doesn't want you to rely solely on these e-sources for your research. But they're both good for giving you an overview of your topic. Once you get a general view and some descriptive words from Google and Wikipedia defining your topic, you can move on to the meaty stuff.

Google and Wikipedia aren't the only sources for background information: try out AML's reference collection. We have an ever-growing group of books that are designed for the purpose of providing you with an overview of your topic. Also, keep in mind that sources for background or overview information are not typically cited in your paper. The information you draw from them is meant to help you find better sources, not to be the sources themselves.

2. Proceed to your library's Web site. Once you've Googled and Wiki-ed to your satisfaction, you'll be ready to use more serious, scholarly sources that will provide you with dependable information. Go to your college library's Web site and consult the online catalogue. The main library home page ought to give you detailed instructions about how to search. Here's an example of a library catalog that requires you to search a certain way for keywords, authors, titles, and subjects. Some library catalogs have you search the way you do in Google; here's an example of that kind of catalog.

For help using AML's catalog and the library's other resources you can check out the library's guides and video tutorials.

3. Use your library's online databases. While the online catalog helps you find books, it doesn't usually let you find individual articles within scholarly journals. For that you have to go into online library databases (take a look here to see how popular magazines differ from scholarly journals). Usually there's a way to locate databases by subject. Some databases you'll find on your library's Web site might include Academic Search Premier, InfoTrac, JSTOR, ProQuest Central, Readers' Guide, and Science Citation Index. Be sure to read the instructions on the opening screens of databases to learn how to search them; it's worth taking the few minutes, because this is where you're going to find the current information your professor wants you to use. A bonus in using these databases is that you may get the full text of articles on your computer: a real time saver.

I can't emphasize enough the importance on taking the time to explore a database. A view minute spent learning the site's setup and search tools can save hours of frustration later.

4. Try Google Scholar. Another good resource for finding scholarly articles is Google Scholar, which combines ease of use and rich content. If you go into Google Scholar from this public link, you can search the system, and get full-text access if you'd like to pay. However your college library may have a link into Google Scholar in its list of library databases, in which case the full text of the articles will be f-r-e-e.

If you can't find the full text of an article using Google Scholar, try the library's Journal Finder to see if we have access through one of our databases.

5. Use online research guides. At many colleges and universities, librarians create online library research guides for use by students and others. Here's a link to that section of my library's Web site to give you an idea of the kinds of research guides you may find at your college.

You can find AML's online research guides here: http://alexmacklibrary.pbworks.com/

6. Evaluate Web sites. In the course of doing research, you may need to use some Web sites on the open Web. You should evaluate these sites for Authority, Bias, Currency, Documentation and Delivery. Here's a guide that can help you evaluate sites for your research.

AML's guide can be found here

7. Use real, print books. You may find many research materials online, as new books and journals are increasingly appearing in electronic format. But you may find a wealth of research material in books and journals that are not yet online—and the "secret bonus" is that many of your peers will not go after that material, so you'll do the better, more complete research, and probably get the better grade.

Sometimes we get distracted by the new technologies, but books are continually an excellent source for information. Check the ALEX catalog frequently because we are constantly getting new materials meant to support our curriculum.

8. Use ILL. One resource that beginning students aren't always aware of is the interlibrary loan department. Here students can borrow books from other university libraries—usually at no charge and quite quickly. To find out what library has the books, check out WorldCat (used to be called FirstSearch) at your library or in its public version.

The library has a video tutorial that will walk you step by step through the ILL process.

9. Use citation tools. It's smart to create your paper's footnotes and bibliography as you go along; it saves time and backtracking later. There are lots of different softwares for doing this; your college will probably give you access to one of these or you can go online and locate free software. Here's a guide that outlines the citation tools in use at my library; and here's an example of a free online citation tool, EasyBib.

You can find a longer list of citation tools on the library's guide for citing sources.

10. Ask a librarian. As soon as you get that 15-page research paper assignment, go to the library and find a librarian who can help you. Librarians will save you enormous amounts of time, help you find research materials you otherwise wouldn't, and help you get the "A" as painlessly as possible. Locate a librarian as a first-year student and, with any luck, you'll be set for your entire college career.

Yes, it is our job to help students familiarize themselves with the library and find the resources they are looking for. So, please don't hesitate to ask your friendly neighborhood librarian!

Have any other tips you'd like to add? Please insert them in the comments below.

Sweet New Reference Books

2010-07-29T09:05:00.000-04:00

The new reference books we've ordered for the coming school year are ready for their debut on the library shelves. I know I'm excited, and it's not just because I'm a librarian. The reference section is probably one of the most important, and yet underused sections of our library. It contains a wealth of easily accessible information on just about any topic you can think of. While this description might be just as valid for the internet, our reference books go above and beyond what the internet can do. All of these sources have been verified by us librarians as being reliable sources, plus they not only explain a topic or subject, but they give you suggestions of where else you can go for information. Rarely does an instructor require only ONE source for a paper or project. Instead of doing another internet search, you just have to find the sources recommended by our reference books. Alexander Mack Library is dedicated to making the research process as painless as possible for our patrons. So, when you get that first assignment for the semester, don't forget to check out the reference section, or ask a librarian what sources would work best for you.
I try not to have favorites when it comes to books, but here's a few examples of the new awesomeness:

Oxford Companion to the Mind
The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves, and other Monsters
Encyclopedia of Cold War Espionage
Wars of the Americas
Health Care State Rankings 2010
Greenwood Encyclopedia of Clothing Through World History
Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs
Encyclopedia of Sports in America
Milestone Documents in American History

To find more reference books on your topic, you can search the ALEX catalog or you can use one of the Research Guides on our Library Guides Wiki.

Friday Fun

2010-07-16T14:58:00.000-04:00

I'm sure most everyone has seen the new Old Spice commercials. I for one enjoy them. And, I also enjoy that they have spawned a library parody that is perfect for a Friday afternoon!

Hat Tip to the blog Christina's LIS Rant, which is where I first saw this.

But, even the Old Spice guy himself has a word or two to say about libraries. This video has been spreading like wildfire across the library blogs. If the Old Spice guy says that libraries are important than they must be! (The video was part of a marketing campaign where he answered questions from Twitter, Facebook, and other such sources. You can find the rest of them on YouTube.)

Two blog posts of interest

2010-07-14T09:35:00.000-04:00

I just finished my daily perusal of my favorite blogs (Google Reader is awesome by the way!) and just thought I'd send two of the more interesting ones your way. The first one is an article from Inside Higher Education concerning the status of wiki's in academia. It covers both the successes and failures of this web 2.0 tool and its interaction with more traditional academics. One of my areas of curiosity are the tools of web 2.0 and how they are effecting both how people communicate and how people use them to collect/produce information. The biggest problem the article points out is that with wikis their collaborate nature (which is what makes them so revolutionary) makes it almost impossible to single out individual voices. The idea of receiving credit for ideas is especially important to the tenure process, and one reason why the traditional publishing model has remained so entrenched. Though, sources like Wikipedia which were once shunned by the academic profession and professors, is now becoming more accepted as wikis in general are becoming more common place. The article doesn't provide any answers, but it is a unique insight into how academia is adapting to all these new technologies.

Whither the Wikis- Inside Higher Education

The second blog post came from the ACRLog, and its an excellent summary of a new study from Project Information Literacy. This study analyze the text of assignments to see how much guidance students actually receive on where to search for information. They found that about half of the assignments actually suggested to students where to look (e.g. databases, websites, or book titles) and those that did focused mostly on book titles from the library. This is in contrast with previous studies that showed students relied on physical books the least of all sources, and instead looked to the web or library databases for their answers. ARCLog does a better job of summarizing the study than I can, so you can read it at the link below. I've posted about Project Information Literacy studies in the past and am always fascinated by the results they publish. A better understanding of how students approach research and school work, can only lead to better strategies when it comes to teaching them information literacy.

Reading Between the Assignment's Line- ACRLog

There is also a video that outlines the study's results:

24/7 Online Renewal

2010-07-12T15:35:00.001-04:00

The library has made managing your checked out materials a little easier. You now have the ability to log into the ALEX catalog and renew your items yourself: no more calls to the circulation desk or emails to a librarian. The instruction on how to access your personal account are belong, along with a online tutorial which will walk you step by step through the process. If you run into any questions or difficulties you can always give the circulation desk a call at 540-828-5413 or shoot an email to circulation@bridgewater.edu.

1. Visit the library’s website: http://www.bridgewater.edu/library
2. Click on the ALEX catalog link
3. Open the “my account” page
4. Log into your account using your full name and university ID number
5. Choose the link in the top left corner to view your checked out items
6. Check the box by each item you’d like to renew and hit the “renew selected items” button
7. The new due date should be displayed in the status column

The "other" flu epidemic

2010-07-12T09:40:00.000-04:00

Last year's "swine" flu wasn't the first time that an influenza virus has caused mass hysteria and death throughout the world. 1918's "Spanish" flu made last years look like a walk in the park: 50-100 million people were killed during the epidemic. Just like our recent bout with the virus, the spread of the disease and its horrible outcome was document by the news media. The National Archives has put together an online exhibit of images, documents, and other primary materials related to this horrible time in history. If you are interested in diseases and epidemics, both from the social or the scientific standpoint, this is definitely something that you should check out.

The blog Booktryst has an excellent entry providing more information on the exhibit and background information on the disease. Plus, for more information on epidemics (or pandemics), communicable diseases, and anything else that's catching you can check out our ALEX online catalog. We have plenty of circulating books, reference books, and other materials to feed your curiosity.

What happened to studying? - The Boston Globe

2010-07-08T14:55:00.000-04:00

Most students don't want to be thinking about studying in the middle of summer, but we really only have 2 more months before the start of classes (sorry for the reality check). Most start the semester with the best of intentions. They promise themselves that they are going to keep up with the readings and the assignments, showing up every day ready for class. Unfortunately, for most this dream dies before mid-terms.

So what happens? An article in today's Boston Globe reports that the number of hours students spend study a week has dropped to only 14 hours a week. Though this has been recorded in a number of studies the reasons for this decrease are still up in the air. Care to weigh in on your thoughts? What do you think? My money is on the change in professor/student dynamics, and what they each expect in the way of assignments. Got your own theory, feel free to comment.

What happened to studying? - The Boston Globe

Notes from ALA

2010-07-01T15:03:00.002-04:00

Last week I went to the American Libraries Association Conference in Washington DC. It was my first time at an ALA conference, and all in all, I had a good time, and I came back with my head full of potential ideas. Unfortunately, its been a busy week, so I haven't had a chance to post on it before. But, I really wanted to at least write a short blurb about it: both in regards to insights into the library profession and to ideas for library outreach, research resources, and blog posts.

Each type of library serves a different patron group, and so approaches things a little differently. But, that doesn't mean that, if you pay enough attention, you can't get some good tips from public or school or even special librarians. From a presentation by a middle school librarian, I got some teaching ideas and a list of new web resources that I will be able to hopefully implement next school year. A book publisher presentation meant to highlight their new titles for public libraries gave me ideas for next year's book discussion programs. In the end though, seeing what's going on in other aspects of the profession can be fun, especially when you are looking for new ideas.

The summer is a time when we actually have a minute or two to sit back and assess what we've done in the previous year. So, keep an eye out for new resources (highlighted both here and on the delicious page.) Plus, keep an eye open for new library programs during the coming semester. That is, as soon as I get a chance to sort through all the papers, fliers and brochures I got.

I discovered that conferences are not just all about the free stuff (pens, stress balls, maybe a cookie). There is actually a professional development aspect. Crazy, huh?? You may not be interested in being a librarian, but keep an eye out for conference related to your profession. They are a good way to keep up to date with what is going on in your profession, and to experience your job (or potential job) in another context. Plus, you might actually be able to snag enough free pens and paper to last until the Apocalypse!

Why so serious.... about plagarism?

2010-06-17T14:38:00.000-04:00

Plagiarism is no laughing matter, it is a serious offense with serious consequences. But, that doesn't mean that instructions on how to avoid plagiarism need to be so boring. Today I came across a YouTube video that successfully combines educational information on plagiarism and entertainment. The video was produced by the University of Bergen in Norway and its library. For English subtitles, you just have to click on the "cc" button. (If the video below doesn't work right you can always view the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwbw9KF-ACY.

If you are have any questions about plagiarism or would like some additional resources, you can also check out AML's wiki guide and its pages on avoiding plagiarism: Print and Video.

the importance of the library as a space

2010-06-10T16:26:00.000-04:00

The library has shifted gears a bit now that summer is upon us. We don't have as many patrons, since most students are home for summer vacation. But, this just means that we have turned our focus to other projects that are easier to accomplish now that serving the patrons isn't as pressing. One of these projects is a student survey that was conducted last semester. We asked students what they thought of the library and how they used our resources.

While our books, databases, and laptops were all important reason why students used the library, its space was just as important. Many indicated that the library's quiet, comfortable space was crucial to their studying. Along with this, the library's existence as a neutral place with room from groups to meet and work was also highlighted.

Many of the library's resources are available online, but the library as a building is still important. In recent years, a library has evolved from a place was information was stored, to a place where students study, learn, and interact with others. This is an important service that cannot be replicated online.

I was reminded of this by an article today on the Inside Higher Ed blog. It cited an LA Times article on a make shift "People's Library" created by Cal State LA students. Due to budget cuts, the campus library was forced to close at 8pm. While students could still use many of the library's resources online, they still need a place to access the internet, meet with groups, or study in quiet. So, the students created a space outside the library with portable tables and other amenities to fill the hole left behind by the library's closing. The students called it "studying in resistance" and the whole story illustrates that while some are calling for the end of the library on campus, the building is still an important space, though the definition of that importance has shifted slightly.

The Semantic Web- Web 3.0

2010-05-27T14:13:00.000-04:00

The following video provides some interesting information on the overwhelming state of information on the internet- billions and billions of pages of information, and inability of the current information structures to manage it all. The library catalog systems, like Dewey are woefully inadequate, but eventually even Google won't be able to handle it all. The question then becomes: how do we deal with the information overload?

The video discusses the current struggles in creating a successful semantic web- one that sees the relationships between terms and concepts, and how the implementation of such a tool will usher in a web 3.0.

Web 3.0 from Kate Ray on Vimeo.

I first came across this video yesterday on the library blog Tame the Web.

New Reference Books :)

2010-05-25T09:54:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite parts of summer is that all the new books we've order for the library finally come in. This includes all the reference books that we are adding to the collection. Below is a few that are "noteworthy." Though, you can always check out the reference section for more. The reference section may not be the first place many thing to look for information, but it is easily the most efficient place to begin your research. It is a good place to look for background information but a lot of these sources (the ones below included) also contain substantial articles on topics that may be suitable for citing in a paper or project. It's best to double check with your professor though to be sure that they will accept the source. If you need help using the reference materials, just ask your friendly neighborhood librarian. You can also find a list of reference sources covering a particular topic in our Research Guides.

Also, don't forget to check out the other new materials that we're getting for almost every discipline area. It's almost like Christmas here at AML!

A Companion to Aesthetics

The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research

Handbook of Social Psychology

Encyclopedia of Entomology

Encyclopedia of Stem Cell Research

You've graduated, now what?

2010-05-18T14:13:00.000-04:00

Once the excitement of receiving that diploma has worn off, a little question comes creating up to the front of your mind (if it wasn't there already): Now what? Going to class and studying for exams becomes replaced by stalking job search sites and sending out countless resumes and cover letters. Finding a job is never easy, and in this current economic climate in can be a bit of a challenge. Whether you are looking for the beginning of a career or just something to hold you over until the end of grad school, the blog Information Wants to be Free has some tips for job applicants that will hopefully land you an interview. While this post focuses on applying for jobs in a library, the tips and advice are relevant no matter what field you are applying for. I've pulled out a few that I thought were especially important but may not be as obvious:

■"Include experience outside of libraries that might be relevant (school, other jobs, etc.). I always made an effort to describe how the skills I’d developed as a psychotherapist were relevant to reference and instruction work. If you’re applying for a library job where you’re working with the public, retail experience is a great asset."

■"If you currently work in a different library type (or have only taken coursework towards working in a different area) address why you are now applying for this job. We got a lot of applications for a distance learning librarian position from folks who were catalogers, were members of the Society of American Archivists, etc. Had they said “I’m really interested in getting more experience in online instruction” or something similar we would have given them greater consideration. Otherwise, it just looks like they don’t really want to work in that area and will bolt the minute something comes available that they do want."

■"If there’s a reason why you want the job beyond the position itself (like you want to relocate to the area, you have ties to the area, etc.) do state that. It can let people know that you’re seriously interested in relocating. Just make sure it doesn’t sound like it’s your only reason for applying."

The hiring process is not easy for either side, but this should hopefully help you get your foot in the door. Good luck to all of BC's recent grads and all the other grads everywhere else!!

You can read the entire list of do's and don'ts here: Tips for library job applicants in a tight market.

Summer Reading 2010

2010-05-12T15:49:00.000-04:00

Finals are over! Now all that's left to do at BC is to wait for the seniors to walk on Sunday and summer officially begins! Since not everyone will be exiting the campus, we at AML would like to make it at least a little more fun for those left behind. In honor of the most excellent season, the library is hosting a Summer Reading Program for faculty and staff of BC. If you happen to be one of those lucky faculty or staff that will be off campus during the next few months, you're in luck because this program will be hosted completely online at BCMoodle.

The basic premise behind the program is to read whatever books you would like over the summer, and add your review to the Moodle site. Sharing your own thoughts can help others decide what to read next, or more importantly what to avoid.

This year we are adding another component to the program. There will be the option to join a discussion on Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. The discussion will also be held completely online and the book will be broken up into three sections over the course of the summer.

If you have any questions about the Summer Reading Program, you can contact Carin Teets (cteets@bridgewater.edu) or Cori Biddle (cbiddle@bridgewater.edu). The program starts on Monday May 17 and runs through Friday August 13th.

Life after graduation...

2010-05-07T20:31:00.000-04:00

After graduation, students join the big bad "real world." They get jobs (hopefully), rent apartments, and tests, all night study sessions, and shower shoes become a faint memory. Unfortunately, your information need does not disappear with multiple choice and true/false questions. The needs just change. Whether you are looking for the best car for your buck, planning a trip to Italy, or even taking workshops or professional development classes, you still will need reliable resources. But, without AML, you may not be sure where to go. To help out recent grads, the library has put together a list of resources on our library guides wiki. These After Graduation Tips, will hopefully make the start of a new chapter in your life a little easier.

Here are some tips I wanted to highlights:

Public libraries are awesome!- you can find almost everything that you used at AML at your local public library. They may not have as much access to electronic databases, but they will have a friendly, knowledgeable staff that can help you find what you're looking for.
Google Scholar and The Directory of Open Access Journals- If you need access to scholarly journal articles you can try these two internet resources. Everything in the DOAJ is full text, but the same can't be said for Google Scholar.
Professional Blogs- If you want to get a leg up on your competition, you should keep up to date with what's going on in your profession. One of the best ways to do this is by searching for blogs that focus on issues relted to your profession. You can also check Twitter to see what people are saying there.

AML extends its congratulations to the graduates of 2010! And, happy vacation to the rest of the BC student body. Only a few more days of finals then, we'll see you in August!

Quantum Bunnies??

2010-05-06T20:32:00.000-04:00

I just want to start by saying that I come from a strictly humanities background. I have surrounded myself with novels and poetry, historical narratives and philosophical musings. However, there has always been a part of me that is insatiably curious. That is one of the main reasons why I became a librarian. So, while I'm comfortable in the humanities, sometimes I find myself venturing into the sciences and social sciences. While the thoughts of statistical analysis and mathematical equations usually give me migraines, they also fascinate me.

Why am I mentioning this? One of the areas that has always caught my eye is physics especially the odd world of quantum physics. My background in this area is practically non-existent, but that hasn't kept me from trying to learn more about it.

That's why I was so excited when I read about Chad Orzel's How to Teach Physics to Your Dog. I've followed the author's blog on ScienceBlogs, and the book did not dissappoint. I figured that if the author could "teach" physics to his dog, then I should be able to learn a thing or two. I will be honest; some of the concepts (like Quantum Electrodynamics) still went over my head. But, all in all it was an enjoyable book. Chad Orzel can write well, and that's not something that is all that common, whether you are considering science writings or even everyday fiction. The book was entertaining and engaging. The dog Emmy, and her bunny analogies, are used perfectly to interject common questions people may have about these complex concepts.

So, with this blog I just wanted to share my excitement, and hopefully tweak your interest enough so that someone else might pick up the book and read it. I know that not everyone else has the same interest in physics, but it will be worth your while. And conveniently, AML has a copy in our Browsing section ready for someone else to enjoy.

Choose Privacy Week

2010-05-05T14:37:00.000-04:00

This week is Choose Privacy Week sponsored by the American Library Association. I'm sure that May has all sorts of other "weeks" and "months" (like Zombie Awareness Month) but this is one to which you should pay special attention. Most of us have information that we post online, through blogs, social networks (e.g. Facebook), or have friends that post information (both about themselves and about us). But, how much control do we have over that information once it is out there in the ether? Have you ever Googled yourself and were surprised by want information you found there? Choose Privacy Week is meant to help you become aware of what you are putting online, and its effect. You have to worry about identity theft, your reputation, and other issues. Especially as you graduate from high school or college (its that time of year after all) you have to worry about what potential employers will find on your Facebook page, or if they did a Google search of your name.

Visit the Choose Privacy Week website for more information, including a blog and news page concerned with issues of privacy in a variety of different formats. Also check out the video that they produced:

Choose Privacy Week Video from 20K Films on Vimeo.

There is a lot of other privacy information out there. With the recent change to Facebook's privacy settings, you can find a lot of articles discussing how to maintain your privacy. Consumer Reports did a survey on the State of the Net 2010. You can find the results, and their relation to Social Networks discussed here. Finally if you want to check to see how much information you put on a site like Facebook is public, you can use the tool mention here on the Lifehacker blog. Finally, you can check out the Commoncraft video on Protecting Reputations Online in Plain English.

Online privacy is constantly a challenge. However, it's an important one to be aware of in our constantly connected society. Hopefully these sites will help you to take back control of your online reputation, and keep you're private life, well private.

How works cited pages can work for you

2010-04-30T15:26:00.000-04:00

The library has been pretty busy over the past week. With only three days of classes left before finals, students have found their motivation to work on those last few assignments. Even though the beautiful weather outside is tempting, their are plowing through because the end is finally in sight.

One way to help those last papers/projects to go a little faster is to make your research as efficient as possible. One tip for this is to utilize the works cited or bibliography pages that are at the end of almost every scholarly source. Scholars are required to use reliable sources themselves, so one you find an article or two that works perfectly for your project, check out what sources they used. They might work for your project as well. Plus, using them means that the original author has done the hard work for you. They have already found and evaluated the sources. All you have to do is check out the full text, and see if the article fits with your topic.

You will have the citation for these additional articles, so all you'll have to do is use Journal Finder to find the full text. Though it's a little late in the semester, you could also use Interlibrary Loan to request the article from another library.

The databases that we receive through EBSCO (like Academic Search Complete or PsycARTICLES) make this process easier with their cited reference and times cited tools. If an article's entry contains these links, then the database has indexed the original articles sources, so you can view a list that will show you all the citation information and whether those articles are available full text. Times cited will show you if other articles in the database cited the original article. These can be useful as well. If another author has used the original article, then he/she may have something to say about your topic as well.

For more detailed instructions on this topic, you can view the library's new tutorial here. And, of course, you can always ask your friendly neighborhood librarian!

plagiarism, and citations, and bears... oh my

2010-04-22T16:25:00.000-04:00

The library has two new video tutorials for your viewing pleasure. They cover citing your sources, and avoiding plagiarism. Both important and relevant concepts for this time of year. Students are working on their final papers and projects, but finding supportive information is just half the problem. You need to also pay attention to using the materials correctly. Which means that you should cite and attribute any information that is not your own. These two tutorials discuss this concept in greater detail and give you tips on making attributing as painless as possible. And, don't forget, along with the video tutorials, the library also has "How To" guides on both subjects. These guides also provide links to additional sources of information.

Video Tutorial- Avoiding Plagiarism
Video Tutorial- Citing Your Sources

New Video- Choosing Your Sources

2010-04-21T15:39:00.000-04:00

After a short hiatus, the library has begun to add more video resources to its library guides wiki. Now that this librarian finally sounds normal again (the cold and allergies having finally dissipated), you can expect a couple more in the coming days as well. This new video covers the process of matching your information need to the right source type. The library has numerous resources available so understanding whether you need books, reference books, or articles can go a long ways. You can access the new video here.

Things have been busy at the wiki. Along with the video tutorials, we have added new "how tos" covering plagiarism and citations, along with useful resources created by other libraries.

We're all about helping you get you papers/projects done as painlessly as possible. In addition to the guides/tutorials available at the wiki, don't forget you can always ask your friendly neighborhood librarian for help.

Got any ideas for tutorials or guides you would like to see? Let us know in the comments!

First World War Poetry Digital Archive

2010-04-21T11:07:00.000-04:00

Earlier in the semester the library's book club read the book Johnny Got His Gun, which takes place during World War I. Along with discussing this powerful book, we also touched on the famous poetry of the time. The poets of World War I gave us a unique perspective on the bleakness of war, one that has been an important part of the literature cannon. Since April is National Poetry Month, it only seems appropriate to highlight The First World War Poetry Digital Archive, a valuable resource for the study of the major poets of World War I, including Wilfred Owen, Isaac Rosenberg, and Siegfried Sassoon. The Archive contains digitized collections of manuscripts from ten major authors, along with collections of audio and photographic files that put the poems within the larger context of the War. The site also contains the Great War Archive, which is a collection of images, artifacts, and personal recollections submitted by the general public. Finally, the site provides resources and lesson plan ideas for educators at every level, and other resources specific geared towards school students to use for homework assignment or larger projects.

You can get a better picture of the vastness of his archive by viewing the YouTube introduction embedded below: