Archive for October, 2007

Access to Databases Threatened by Budget Cuts

October 26, 2007 at 1:04 pm · Filed under Databases

logo_njki.gif  Can you imagine having to do assignments  or write papers without being able to use EBSCO? That’s exactly what will happen if New Jersey legislators have their way. If the current state budget passes, funding for these databases and many others will have to be slashed. If this happens, we may not be able to afford subscriptions, which cost in the tens of thousands of dollars each year. If you use these databases and want to ensure that you continue to have access, send an email to Governor Corzine.

For details, go the New Jersey Knowledge Iniative (NJKI) web site or see this urgent message on the library’s web site. Please help save the databases by writing to the governor.

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Online Libraries

October 23, 2007 at 8:12 pm · Filed under Books, Reading

Yesterday’s NYT had an interesting article on libraries refusing to sign deals with Google and Microsoft to digitize their books. Instead, they’re contracting with the Open Content Alliance, a non-profit run by Brewster Kahle, of Internet Archive fame.

As the story goes, libraries who are signing with Google and Microsoft to digitize their collections often agree to restrictions including books only being available through one search engine. The Open Content Alliance’s idea is to have a more open and collaborative process where books will be available to everyone.

Speaking of Google Books, have you taken a look at it lately? It provides access not only to out of copyright works (published prior to 1922) but excerpts from copyrighted works. I believe it has the potential to bring students back to books … For background and history, look here.

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Doris Lessing Wins Nobel Prize for Literature

October 11, 2007 at 5:51 pm · Filed under Books

lessing2.jpg Doris Lessing became the 104th writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature today. Watch this page for her acceptance speech, if she makes one. For information on previous winners, take a look at this page. If you would like to read some of her works, come check one out. We have twenty and these are just a few:

African laughter : four visits to Zimbabwe, DT2904 .L47 1992 
                        
African stories, PR6023.E833 A69 1981   

The fifth child, PR6023.E833 F54 1988                         

The golden notebook, PR6023.E833 G6 1994   

The good terrorist, PR6023.E833 G66 1985                       

Love, again : a novel, PR6023.E833 L47 1996                       

The making of the representative for Planet 8, PR6023.E833 M34 1982                      

The real thing : stories and sketches, PR6023.E833 R44 1992

Stories, PR6023.E833 A6 1978 
           
Under my skin, PR6023.E833 Z477 1994 

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Database Trial: Praeger Security International

October 9, 2007 at 9:07 pm · Filed under Databases

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This database is now on trial until the end of October. Try it out and tell us what you think.This is an excerpt from a Library Journal review: Praeger Security International Online (PSIO) is a one-stop source for information on terrorism and security, covering regional security, humanitarian and peace operations, weapons of mass destruction, armed forces, intelligence, military history, defense and national security, and military affairs.

It includes links to online books, encyclopedias, international and national government documents, commentaries and bibliography. There’s also a timeline feature that covers terrorist incidents in chronological fashion.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture

October 5, 2007 at 10:44 am · Filed under History, Museums, Web Sites

motto_frederick_douglass_original_medium.jpg The Smithsonian Institute opened their 19th museum today, online. The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) will open to the public in 2012, but as of today, it has an online version.

The inaugural exhibit, Let Your Motto be Resistance, highlights the lives of African American activists, scholars and poets and includes images from the National Portrait Gallery.  The “Share Your Memory” section of the museum allows users to upload family photographs and to tell their stories of triumph and resistance.

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New Database: ProQuest Education Journals

October 4, 2007 at 12:44 pm · Filed under Databases

logo_frompq.gif Over the summer, we tested several ProQuest databases and decided to subscribe to many of them. ProQuest Education Journals is a wonderful new addition to our other more well-known Education databases: Academic Search Premier, Education Full-Text and ERIC.

It offers: 

  • Access to over 700 journals, trade publications and newsletters
  • Publications from the US and other countries including England and Australia
  • Many full-text publications
  • The ability to search by keyword, author, title or topic
  • The ability to limit your search to full-text and peer-reviewed publications

ProQuest Education Journals covers all the areas in Education and a few related fields.

Sample titles include:

  • American Journal of Health Education
  • Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality
  • College Composition and Communication
  • Counselor Education and Supervision
  • Distance Education
  • Educational Leadership and Administration
  • The Gerontologist
  • History of Education Quarterly
  • International Journal for Technology in Mathematics Education
  • Intervention in School and Clinic
  • Multicultural Education

Access it from the Databases by Title link or go to Databases by Subject, then Education. It’s the fourth database on the list.

If you need help using it, please stop by the Reference Desk or gives us a call at 201-200-3033.

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Guilty Pleasures

October 3, 2007 at 11:46 pm · Filed under Fun

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Ever wonder what your professors (or colleagues) like to do when they’re not grading papers or preparing for lectures? Take a peek at this Chronicle article and then head to the forums for some real fun.

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