Southwestern College Deets Library

Tuesday's Tip

2009-10-06T12:23:00.003-05:00

Deets Library is now on Twitter! Follow jinxlibrarian to find out what's going on in the library. Tweet at us to renew your materials! Make suggestions for us, ask a question. We will still continue Tuesday's Tips, only shorter.

Reference room reserved

2009-10-05T09:10:00.002-05:00

The reference room is reserved for the Belarusian Symposium now through Wednesday. Take advantage of our quiet study zones upstairs and downstairs. Ask at the circulation to reserve a conference room or a classroom for group studies.

Thank you SC community for being flexible this week!

Banned Books Week

2009-10-01T08:23:00.002-05:00

Why does the library celebrate Banned Books Week? Banned Books Week bring attention to book challenges--that is, books some people think should be banned or restricted. The First Amendment protects freedom of speech--that includes freedom to read whatever you like.

What books have been challenged? See a list of challenged classics.

Why are books challenged? American Library Association lists people's reasons, which vary from sexual content to showing a state in an unfavorable light. Does art reflect life or does life reflect art? Whatever the answer may be, books show a different perspective, a reality we haven't experienced. Banning books can only lead to limited ideas and restricted freedom.

If you don't like the idea of someone dictating what is and isn't freely available, keep reading all kinds of books. Fight for free ideas. Support the library.

Tuesday's Tip

2009-09-29T12:15:00.002-05:00

Did you know you can help make changes in the library? Tell us what works for you, what doesn't work, where you think the library can improve! Visit our homepage or click here to take a quick anonymous survey about the library. You can also email the librarians anytime--even after the survey is over! We want to hear from you!

Library event!

2009-09-24T08:44:00.002-05:00

Students are invited to a murder mystery event in the library!

The library wanted to throw Professor Dodgson of the Jabberwocky Studies Department a fancy party to welcome him to SC, but something went horribly wrong! Help Marian the Librarian, Sam the Circulation Desk worker, and more solve the mystery of his death!

Limited to the first 50 participants. The first three teams to solve the mystery will win prizes. Sponsored by Deets Library and SC Campus Life.

Tuesday's Tip

2009-09-22T12:20:00.005-05:00

When searching in a database, do you find an article that sounds just about perfect for your paper, only to find that Deets Library does not have it?

Here is a way to work around it.

Open a database and start your search.

Find an article you'd like to use and click on the green 360 Link to Full Text.

Here you can see if Google Scholar has the article available or submit your request for ILL.

Google Scholar is a under-appreciated resource. Google searches the entire web and may pull up Some Guy's Blog for your results. Google Scholar searches more scholarly sources--exactly what you need.

Contact the library with any questions!

Music!

2009-09-17T09:28:00.001-05:00

Can't make it to the festival this weekend? Deets Library has CDs for you to recreate your own music festival. Check out John McCutcheon's CDs!

Tuesday's Tip

2009-09-15T12:48:00.004-05:00

Do you need help citing your sources for your paper? Do you know how to use MLA or APA? What do those letters mean?

The library knows how important citations are in a paper. Give the authors credit for their ideas! To learn how to cite properly, stop by the library's Help and Tutorials page. Click the Write a Citation link to find several guides on different styles of citations.

How do you know which citation system to use? Check your syllabus or ask your professor.

Post other citation websites in the comments--help your fellow students!

Did you know...

2009-09-10T11:14:00.002-05:00

...the library has more than just academic books? We've got fiction and non-fiction best sellers! Find them in the reference room on the short shelf near the REF S-Z books--look for the books with green spine labels. Ask at the circulation desk and we'll point you in the right direction.

Tuesday's Tip

2009-09-08T12:32:00.002-05:00

Have you ever done research in the library and just can't find the right information for your paper? We can get it for you! Try an interlibrary loan.

Just what is an interlibrary loan? Deets Library works with thousands of libraries around the world and we share resources with each other. That's right, you've got access to more than just our physical collection and our databases! Simply fill out the forms with as much information as you can (the more, the better!) and we'll do our best to find it for you. If we can't get it for you, we'll let you know as soon as we can.

Because we are borrowing from another library and they are mailing the resource to us, allow 7-10 days to get your material. Use this service for your major research projects due at finals, borrow the next book in the fiction series you're reading, get a CD for inspiration for your own compositions, or get that DVD Deets doesn't have quite yet. Check out time will vary depending on the lending library.

If you are a distance learner, you can use the interlibrary loan service at your local public library for quicker service--because we borrow the book from another library and they mail it to us, then we mail it to you, you may not have the book long enough for your research.

Questions? Email us, call us, text us, or use the chat box on the website!

Labor Day Hours

2009-09-03T12:00:00.002-05:00

Stock up on your books and DVDs! The library will close at 4pm on Friday, September 4, and will reopen on Monday, September 7, from 3pm-midnight, for the Labor Day holiday. Online books and databases will still be available this weekend.

Tuesday's Tip

2009-09-01T17:30:00.003-05:00

Today marks the beginning of a new blog post series! Stop by each Tuesday find out a new tip about the library.

The first tip is about ebrary. From the library homepage, go to the ebooks and eaudiobooks link. The third link is for ebrary.

Ebrary is a collection of over 92,000 books--all at your fingertips. Look for a book in your area of study or read a book you've been curious about. Books can be read online in the browser or the ebrary reader. Register for a free account to save your books on your bookshelf, save your spot, take notes and highlight important passages! All for free. Don't worry about keeping the book from other patrons: ebrary lets multiple users read the same book at the same time. All your classmates can log on in class to read a passage for a class discussion.

Unfortunately, you cannot download the book to read offline. Make sure you have a good internet connection when using ebrary. If you have questions, ask a librarian!

Did you know...

2009-08-28T10:32:00.002-05:00

...all the ways you can get help at the library?

Ask us a question in person at the library! Call us! Talk to us through the Ask a Librarian chat. Text us a question. We're here to help you get the most out of your classes.

Text us!

2009-08-25T10:42:00.003-05:00

The library would like to announce our next reference service, Textalibrarian! Send your questions and get answers on your phone!

Here's how it works:

Send your question to 66746 and use the keyword sclib. Example: Text to 66746 and say sclib how late are you open tonight?

We'll get the question and send the answer right back as soon as we can! Text hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. Any question received after 5pm will be answered the next business day.

Worried about privacy? Textalibrarian does not tell us your phone number or identity.

Add us to your phone book for easier texting. Standard text messaging fees apply.

See http://www.sckans.edu/library/textLibrarian.htm for more details.

A New Year

2009-08-24T08:19:00.003-05:00

Summer classes are winding down and fall classes will begin this week! The library is ready and waiting for you to stop by. Check out books on nearly every subject, get a DVD for a study break, study and drink some coffee, print out your final draft and get an A!

It's dry inside the library

2009-08-18T09:19:00.001-05:00

Come in out of the rain and read one of our new books! The coffee bar has returned for the school year.

Resource sharing

2009-08-14T08:11:00.001-05:00

The library is all about sharing of resources. Our theology database invites you to share with us! If you find a Bible study, devotional, or just something cool, share it with your classmates at http://swctheology.pbworks.com/.

New!

2009-08-11T09:32:00.004-05:00

Deets Library just got a new shipment of DVDs! Stop by and grab a new release before it's gone!

2009-08-06T09:10:00.001-05:00

It's going to be hot this weekend! Are you ready for it? Stock up on DVDs to stay cool inside.

Do you remember last semester?

2009-08-03T09:35:00.003-05:00

If summer vacation has taken its toll on your brain and half of what you learned in class last spring has slipped your mind, come into the library and read up before classes start. We've got current issues of magazines and new books. If you can't find what you need, it's not too late for interlibrary loan!

New ebooks!

2009-07-27T15:51:00.002-05:00

Does your back ache from carrying around all your research materials? Are your arms sore from hauling a pile of books from your dorm to the classroom?

The library is pleased to announce the ebrary is waiting for you at their website! You'll find tutorials in ebrary to make searching easier. Browse for academic subjects and get a head start on that research paper--or add finishing touches the night before it's due.

Deets Library is on Facebook!

2009-07-24T15:30:00.005-05:00

Ever want to tell the (Facebook) world just how much you love SC's library? Become a fan!

SC Deets Library on Facebook

Keep your brain awake!

2009-07-21T08:58:00.002-05:00

Keep your mind active this summer with books about nearly every subject! Visit the library and find what you're interested in, or ask for it through ILL.

New materials

2009-07-16T07:58:00.000-05:00

The library has gotten a shipment of new DVDs and books! Stop by to be the first to check these out.

More databases!

2009-07-10T08:01:00.001-05:00

The library has two more databases for you! We now have access to Education Research Complete and America: History & Life. See what information is available to you.

Hours

2009-07-09T07:55:00.002-05:00

Now until Monday, August 24, the library will be open from 7:30am to 7:00pm, Monday through Thursday. We're open from 8:00am to 4:00pm on Friday and still closed on the weekends. See you soon!

New databases

2009-07-07T07:55:00.004-05:00

We've got new databases for you! Go to the library database page to check out ProQuest Religion, ProQuest Science Journals, and ProQuest Biology Journals.

SC also has its own theology database and needs your help! Check out the SWCtheology database. If you have any resources to add, post them or email us and we'll post them.

This week's hours

2009-06-29T07:54:00.002-05:00

In honor of our country's birthday, the library will close at 4pm on Thursday, July 2, and will be closed on Friday, July 3. Stop by early to pick up some music for your 4th of July party!

Opportunities!

2009-06-26T08:00:00.003-05:00

If you'd like to volunteer at the library this summer, we would love to have you! Work on community service or just pass the time and help the library. Stop by to talk to us or call us at campus extension x6225.

New hours

2009-06-22T12:59:00.001-05:00

During the weeks of June 22 and June 29, the library will be open 8am to 5pm. Take advantage of the quiet campus to get research done!

Summer daze

2009-06-17T16:57:00.001-05:00

Are you bored this summer? Stop by Deets Library and check out some DVDs or books! We're open 8am to 7pm just for you.

UChannel - Access to a world of ideas

2009-05-21T10:12:00.001-05:00

UChannel (linked to on the library's homepage) is a collection of academic lectures, open discussions, and presentations from global scholars. Topics focus on public or international affairs.

Book Drive to Fund Global Literacy

2009-05-04T11:38:00.000-05:00

SC Library has partnered with Better World Books to raise funds for global literacy programs. Simply donate used textbooks or course books in an orange and green collection box found in the library, outside the campus bookstore, or at the East Wichita professional studies campus.

Return Library Items and Pay Fines

2009-05-04T08:35:00.000-05:00

Students and graduate students return all library items (books, DVDs, CDs) by May 6. Also please pay your library fines before you leave for the summer.

EcoSearch.org - Save the Environment while You Search

2009-04-09T11:16:00.000-05:00

EcoSearch.org uses Google searching and donates proceeds to other non-profit organizations dedicated to save the environment such as the Sierra Club, Rainforest Alliance, and Healthy Child, Healthy World.

YouTube - Did You Know?

2009-04-07T08:42:00.000-05:00

Did You Know? reveals the progression of information with some amazing statistics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY. For example, did you know that the total number of text messages sent everyday exceeds the total population of the planet? Find out more by watching the 5 minute clip.

New Databases

2009-03-10T14:54:00.000-05:00

Try one of the library's new databases.

Agriculture Collection
Business Economics and Theory
ChiltonLibrary.com
Communications and Mass Media Collection
Culinary Arts Collection
Criminal Justice Collection
Educator's Reference Complete
Environmental Studies and Policy Collection
Fine Arts and Music Collection
Gardening, Landscape and Horticulture Collection
Home Improvement Collection
Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Collection
Psychology Collection

New Print Periodicals

2009-03-03T11:48:00.000-06:00

Browse the new periodicals at the library.

American Scientist
American Theatre
Ebony
ESPN the Magazine
Mailbox - Preschool Edition
Sunday Edition of the New York Times
Science News
Taste of Home
Wired

Change in Library Staff

2009-02-23T10:06:00.000-06:00

Alex Thomas, our online services expert, will no longer be available to answer questions after this Friday, Feb. 27.

Please use the following to contact the library: phone 620.229.6225 or 866.734.1275 or email the library using the "Tech Support Help" hypertext found on the library's homepage.

The library wishes Alex the best of luck and thanks him for everything he has done.

Google Book Settlement

2009-02-04T11:29:00.000-06:00

What does the Google book settlement mean for consumers and authors? Check out the two articles to read about the settlement.

Search Box Allows Instant Access to Online Resources

2009-01-08T14:42:00.000-06:00

The new search box on the library's homepage allows you to search databases for articles, books, e-books, etc. instantly. Simply enter your terms and then search multiple databases at once to find sources. Contact the library if you have questions.

Happy Holidays: Library Closed 12/24 - 1/4

2008-12-19T14:12:00.000-06:00

The library is closed Dec. 24, 2008, through Jan. 4, 2009, for the holiday season.

May you and yours have a joyful season.
~The Library

Remember to Return Items and Pay Fines

2008-12-04T09:14:00.000-06:00

Return items that are overdue and/or due before Dec. 19 to avoid fines.

If you are graduating or transferring at semester, you must return all your items.

Also remember to pay your fines. Until Dec. 12, you may donate items to support overseas troops and receive a $1 deduction in your fines for each item donated.

"Biblioburro" or Donkey Library

2008-10-30T10:41:00.000-05:00

In Columbia, one man is taking books to people who don't have any. See "A Whimsical Riff on the Bookmobile" from the New York Times.

e-Audio Books for iPods and burning to CDs

2008-10-22T11:43:00.000-05:00

Kansas Audiobooks, music, and more! (found in the catalog and on the e-Books & e-Audio Books web page) has some e-audio books that can now be downloaded to iPods or burned to CD.

Check out the e-audio book and download it to your computer. In the OverDrive Media Console, you will be given the options to transfer to an MP3 player or iPod and/or burn it to CD. Burning to CD requires several blank CDs; the number depends on the size of the e-audio book.

New Popular Books

2008-10-14T16:23:00.000-05:00

Testimony by Anita Shreve
Against Medical Advice by James Patterson
Dark Summer by Iris Johansen
Doctor Olaf van Schuler's Brain by Kirsten Menger-Anderson
A Lion Among Men (Volume 3 in the Wicked Years) by Gregory Maguire

Britannica Online Goes Wiki

2008-10-09T11:40:00.000-05:00

Britannica Online (found under Reference e-Books) now allows readers to leave comments and to share articles with others. The traditional online encyclopedia will continue its editing process but will allow readers to suggest changes and contributors to update their articles. Additional content supplied by the public will not go through Britannica's editors.

Read more: Wikitannica? by Barbara Bibel

100 Most Frequent Challenged Books 1990-2000

2008-10-03T08:30:00.000-05:00

How many challenged books have you read?

Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
Forever by Judy Blume
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Giver by Lois Lowry
It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Sex by Madonna
Earth's Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak

Remaing list found at The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000

6,364 Challenges Reported

2008-10-02T08:15:00.000-05:00

6,364 challenges were reported to or recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom from 1990 to 2000.

1,607 were challenged as “sexually explicit” materials
1,427 for the use of “offensive language”
1,256 considered “unsuited to age group”
842 with an “occult theme”
737 considered “violent”
515 for “promoting homosexuality”
419 for “promoting a religious viewpoint”

For every 1 challenge reported up to 5 are not reported.

from: Challenges by Initiator, Institution, Type and Year

10 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2007-08

2008-10-01T08:30:00.000-05:00

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Pater Parnell
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
TTYL by Lauren Myracle.Reasons
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

from: Children's book on male penguins raising chick tops ALA's 2007 list of most challenged books

Banned Books Week Question

2008-09-30T08:05:00.000-05:00

What does the following books have in common?

the Bible
the Koran
Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Shakespere's Hamlet
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

answer: They have all been challenged at various times.

Celebrating the Freedom to Read

2008-09-29T12:57:00.000-05:00

Banned Books Week (Sept. 27-Oct. 4) celebrates the freedom to choose what to read and the freedom to select from an array of opinons and viewpoints.

Banning an item is its complete removal from a library or a curriculum.

Challenging an item is the attempt to remove it because of the objection of a person or group. This isn't simply an expression of a view point but a means to restrict access to it for others. The commitment of educators, parents, students, and citizens prevents most challenges from becoming bans.

"Books and ideas are the most effective weapons against intolerance and ignorance." - Lyndon Baines Johnson, February 11, 1964

Presidential Candidates In Quotes

2008-09-25T10:29:00.000-05:00

Compare the quotes of John McCain and Barack Obama on various topics such as the economy, human rights, environment, and oil.

Change topics by either selecting the hyperlink or searching for a desired topic.

The "Spin" button brings up new quotes on the topic for each candidate.

Created by Google: http://labs.google.com/inquotes/

2 new databases

2008-09-22T12:37:00.000-05:00

Teacher Reference Center (found under "Education")
Search the most popular teacher and administrator journals and magazines.

GreenFile (found under "Science")
Find well-research information covering all aspects of human impact to the environment.

Search 50 databases at once!

2008-08-25T16:40:00.000-05:00

In its beta version, multi-database search is now operational. Found on the homepage and the database web page, click on "Multi-Database Search" to use one search to access 50 different databases. You also can search by only subject or select the various databases you wish to search.

Remember that searching 50 databases may mean to narrow your terms to keep from retrieving too many results.

Call the library or contact a librarian for additional help.

Changes to Online Services

2008-07-30T09:33:00.000-05:00

The databases provided by the State Library of Kansas will be changing in August. Some new databases will be added, and some old databases will be deleted. However, all the standard subject specific databases such as ABI/INFORM, ProQuest Nursing, and CINAHL will continue to be provided.

Also the library will be introducing a new link resolver to find full text articles in databases.

Thank you in advance for your patience during this time of transition.

Closed July 4 in observance of Independence Day

2008-07-01T08:19:00.000-05:00

SC Library will be closed July 4 in observance of Independence Day.

Front door closed to patrons beginning Tuesday, May 27

2008-05-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

Beginning on Tuesday, May 27 and until further notice, the front of the library will be closed to patrons due to renovations. Please use the back door, on the south side of the building facing Warren Ave. We apologize for any inconvenience!

Memorial Library closed on Monday, May 26 in observance of Memorial Day

2008-05-22T09:41:00.000-05:00

Memorial Day, a day when Americans stop to remember soldiers who have died, was originally known as Decoration Day. As early as 1868 Americans had adopted May 30th as a day to decorate the graves of Civil War veterans. In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, New York the birthplace of Memorial Day. In 1977 Congress officially declared Memorial Day a national holiday, taking place on the last Monday in May. You can find out more about Memorial Day here.

via The History Channel's Memorial Day Site

Library closed Friday, May 16 due to renovation

2008-05-15T12:55:00.000-05:00

The library will be closed on Friday, May 16 due to renovation activities. The library will re-open on Monday at 8 AM.

SC students lend a helping hand to Myanmar with www.istandforhope.org

2008-05-14T15:00:00.000-05:00

SC students have initiated a charity to assist victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. This is a great opportunity to join with your fellow Builders in providing help to those who desperately need it. Please check out their webpage for more information.

Summer hours begin Monday, May 5

2008-05-02T08:01:00.000-05:00

The library will close at 6 PM on Friday, May 2. The lobby will not be open over the weekend. Summer hours begin 8 AM on Monday, May 5 and are as follows:

Monday - Thursday 8 AM - 7 PM
Friday 8 AM - 4 PM
Closed weekends

There is no 24 hour lobby over the summer.

All items due back today - Wednesday, April 23

2008-04-23T10:09:00.000-05:00

Students must return all library items by today, Wednesday, April 23. Outstanding items or fines over $10 may result in being placed on the hard block list, which affects transcripts, diplomas, and IQweb.

DVDs and CDs will be available for 2 day checkouts April 24 - May 2.

Regular circulation rules will resume in May 5.

Happy Earth Day

2008-04-22T08:02:00.000-05:00

April 22 is Earth Day. Earth Day was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970. It was originally designed as a day to protest for environmental issues on a national level. College and university students made up a large proportion of the roughly 20 million people who attended demonstrations on that first Earth Day. Earth Day 1990 was another important milestone with nearly 200 million people in 141 country rallying to support issues like recycling. This directly lead to the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit. Earth Day even has its own flag, seen above, created by Ron Cobb in 1969.

April 22 is also the birth date of Julius Sterling Morton, who founded Arbor Day in 1872.

Find more information, volunteer opportunities, and ecologically friendly living tips at the official U.S. Earth Day site.

Also, while supplies last, Memorial Library has free Earth Day foot bags. They are perfect for going outside and spending some downtime with your friends while contemplating the environment.

Get your tough theological questions answered by SC's own E-team Discipleship

2008-04-14T13:51:00.000-05:00

Southwestern's E-team Discipleship have started a TuffQuestions blog to facilitate discussions between Christians and non-Christians. So far they have only one question, so do some navel-gazing and through a few quandaries their way.

Food for Fines to benefit the Food Bank

2008-04-07T11:22:00.000-05:00

Got library fines? Got some extra canned food? Get double the karma! Pay off your library fines cheap and help those in need. Between Monday, April 14 and Friday, April 18 each can of food you give to Memorial Library will reduce your library fines by $1. All donations go to The Food Bank. Start clipping those coupons!

Short videos that explain blogs, RSS, zombies, social networking and more

2008-04-03T11:27:00.000-05:00

The CommonCraft Show is a series of short animated videos that explain all sorts of technological concepts. If you are not sure about the difference between a twitter and a wiki, or if you just want to have a better understanding of how a site like Facebook works, this is a great resource to get some basic explanations.

All items muste be returned to the library by April 23, end of 24/7 lobby May 2

2008-04-02T10:59:00.000-05:00

We hope you had a great year at Southwestern! As we approach the end there are a couple of things you should be aware of.

All items must be returned to the library by Wednesday, April 23. Any book you you check out from now until the end of the school year will have less than three weeks remaining until it is due. After April 16 you will have less than one full week on CDs, DVDs, and any other seven day items you check out. You will be charged late fines and lost item fees over the summer so it is important that you remember to bring everything back. Outstanding fines and unreturned items may result in a Hard Block being put on your account, which will affect your ability to receive transcripts, diplomas, and use IQWeb.

Starting on April 24th CDs and DVDs may be checked out for 48 hours. Starting on May 5 regular circulation policies resume. However, everything must still be returned by April 23 and then re-checked out later. We apologize for any inconveinence this may cause.

Finally, beginning Friday, May 2 the lobby will no longer be open 24 hours. This is for your safety as the library undergoes renovations. We expect that this will continue through the 2008-2009 school year.

New, free scholarly enviromental database

2008-03-28T15:12:00.000-05:00

EBSCO, the company that provides many of the databases that you have access to through Memorial Library has announced a free bibliographic database focusing on environmental concerns called GreenFILE. You can access this database from anywhere with Internet access by going to www.greeninfoonline.com. That means your friends, your family, your neighbors, K-12 students, and alumni can all get access to this great resource and gather scholarly information about important environmental issues. And all without killing any trees!

Memorial Library is having a book sale

2008-03-11T12:53:00.000-05:00

For 25 cents each a wide variety of books, including fiction titles, can be yours to cherish forever. Come check out our book sale carts in the Reading Room at the front of the library.

Reduced hours over Spring Break

2008-03-10T11:45:00.000-05:00

Memorial Library will have reduced hours over Spring Break.

CLOSED Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th

10 AM-4PM Monday the 17th - Thursday the 20th

CLOSED Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd

6 PM - Midnight Sunday the 23rd

Check out the Official Blog of Southwestern College

2008-03-05T11:28:00.000-06:00

The Memorial Library Blog is happy to be joined by the Official Blog of Southwestern College. They have a lot of great sports coverage and pictures, so check them out!

Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion discussion Thursday

2008-03-04T07:52:00.000-06:00

Professor emeritus Dr. Wallace Gray will be presenting the first of a two-part viewing and discussion of the film Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion at Memorial Library on Thursday, March 6 from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM. The second part of the film will be presented on Thursday, March 13. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Internet, email and printing down March 1

2008-02-25T14:31:00.000-06:00

Due to routine maintainence Internet, email, and network printing will be unavailable on Saturday, March 1. Please plan accordingly.

Library closing at 6 PM

2008-02-21T09:55:00.000-06:00

Due to the weather the library will be closing at 6 PM today. (Thursday the 21st.) The lobby will remain open as usual.

The 25 Most Important Questions in the History of the Universe

2008-02-19T14:46:00.000-06:00

Good news, everyone! Neatorama has found answers to the 25 Most Important Questions in the History of the Universe. Feast your mind on answers to such questions as:

Is There One Move That’s More Likely to Win a Game of Rock-Paper-Scissors?

Can a Pregnant Woman Drive in the Carpool Lane?

Why Do Most Snooze Buttons Only Give You Nine More Minutes of Sleep?

How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck if a Woodchuck Could Chuck Wood?

Why are Grape-Nuts® Neither Grapes Nor Nuts?

You might also want to check out the Annals of Improbable Research which hands out the Ig-Noble Prizes every year.

Make your own library catalog at home

2008-02-18T11:39:00.000-06:00

If you have ever wanted to have an online catalog for your personal book collection you may want to check out LibraryThing. This site not only lets you easily catalog the books in your collection but also tag them and explore other members' books and tags. What other ways do you have of engaging with books and other bibliophiles online?

Where do Wikipedia edits come from?

2008-02-13T12:34:00.000-06:00

A new website called Wikipedia Vision aims to answer that question. It displays the location that edits were submitted from on a Google map. Not only is this an interesting way to see where edits come from but it is an easy way to see what is being edited as well. You can click through to the wikipedia article or see what has been edited.

via College & Research Libraries News

Are books not interactive enough?

2008-02-04T10:50:00.000-06:00

A columnist at Computer World opines that the reason young people don't read books is because they are used to more interactive media like YouTube. He glances at the book publishing world in Japan where last year five of the top ten best selling books started as stories written by amateurs and distributed by cel phone. Western publisher Penguin tried a novel written via wiki but that project hasn't really gone beyond the concept stage. There is also a small group of English speaking fiction bloggers (Ahem, "floggers.") but that concept doesn't seem to have broken out of being a fringe hobby. There have also been some stabs at video book reviews but, really, if someone won't read a review what are the chances that they will read a book? Amazon has long allowed reader comments, and readers even comment on each other's comments which seems a lot like the interactivity books are supposedly missing. Add to that the fact that many authors keep active blogs or foums (some of which are directly accessible through Amazon and similar sites) and it seems like books are about as interactive as they can be while still being a coherent set of ideas. What do you think the future of the book is?

Campus closed due to inclement weather

2008-01-31T08:00:00.000-06:00

The campus is closed today, Thurday, January 31st due to the weather. Please check your e-mail or the sckans.edu homepage for more information. The library lobby will remain open but circulation will be closed.

Rummage through the government attic

2008-01-29T08:32:00.000-06:00

governmentattic.org has recently posted an interesting series of FCC complaint logs with complaints about shows like the Simpsons, the Oprah Winfrey Show, and Sex and the City. It can be interesting and sometimes surprising to see what people filed a formal complaint about. You can also see some logs for the Peace Corp, the Secret Service, and NASA, among others. All of this information was obtained via a Freedom of Information Request. The Freedom of Information Act allows U.S. citizens to request any non-published information from any federal agency. As long as it is not classified or otherwise protected (see the link above) and you are willing to pay "reasonable processing fees" you have the right to access any information the government has! This is a great tool for original research in a wide variety of fields.

If your tastes run a little more lurid you can also check out the always interesting but sometimes frightening display of original documents at The Smoking Gun.

Free online courses from prestigious universities

2008-01-18T09:30:00.000-06:00

The Online Education Database has posted a list of 200 classes you can take for free online. Everything from Frontiers and Controversies in Astrophysics at Yale to Introduction to Psychology at MIT. This is a great way to try a class you have always wanted to take.

The Library of Congress needs your help

2008-01-17T08:47:00.000-06:00

The Library of Congress has launched a Flickr account to crowdsource the tagging of digital images in their collection. You can tag and comment on their images just like you can on any other Flickr account. If you want to stay a little closer to home you can do the same on SC's own fledgling Flickr page.

via Boing Boing

Library closed Saturday and Sunday

2008-01-15T08:39:00.000-06:00

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day the library will be closed on Saturday, January 19 and Sunday, January 20th. The library will be open from 8 AM to midnight on Monday, January 21st.

Some Google tricks

2008-01-08T14:43:00.000-06:00

Lifehacker has posted a list of ten tricks in Google. Did you know you can get the local time anywhere, track a specific flight and limit image searches to faces only right from the search box? Well, you can. Some of the other "tricks" are a little less impressive. The article claims using the phrase "better than" in a search is a trick. For instance, if you are looking for a book that is similar to but better than Harry Potter search for "better than Harry Potter." Unlike most of the other tricks, this isn't an actual command, just an arbitrary suggestion. There is one good command, the tilda ("~") mentioned. Tildas are used in equations to indicate approximation, and they are used the same way in Google. For instance, a search for "~college" returned results including college, colleges, NCAA, and graduate school highlighted.

Welcome back!

2008-01-07T15:44:00.000-06:00

We are glad to see you and we hope you are looking forward to a great Spring semester. Normal library hours resume on January 8. It's never too early to start researching your papers... or to start watching some DVDs. Just let us know what we can do to help!

Library closing at 5 PM today

2008-01-07T08:45:00.000-06:00

The circulation desk will close at 5 PM today. (Monday) The lobby will remain open. Regular circulation desk hours will resume tomorrow with the beginning of classes. (Tuesday)

Library Hours for the rest of break

2008-01-02T07:55:00.000-06:00

The library will be open Wednesday January 2 through Friday January 4 from 8 AM - 5 PM. The library will be closed the weekend of January 5-6 and will resume regular hours on January 7. Welcome back!

Library closing at noon on Friday, December 21st

2007-12-19T14:51:00.000-06:00

The library will be closing for the break at noon on Friday, December 21st. We will re-open at 8 am on Tuesday, January 2. Have a great break!

Winter break hours

2007-12-14T09:38:00.000-06:00

Saturday and Sunday 15th-16th
Closed

***

Monday 17th – Friday 21st
8am – 5pm

***

Closed until January 2

Also, books checked out now are not due back until January 8! CDs and DVDs checked out now will be due December 19. Have a great break!

lolz! "w00t" is the Merriam-Webster Word of the Year

2007-12-12T11:24:00.000-06:00

Visitors to the Merriam-Webster website have voted w00t the Word of the Year. (That's w00t with two zeros, mind you.) Merriam-Webster gives the following definition:

w00t (interjection)
expressing joy (it could be after a triumph, or for no reason at all); similar in use to the word "yay"

Runners up include facebook (maybe you've heard of it), blamestorm (A meeting held in order to come up with a name of a person to assign guilt to a certain incident), and Pecksniffian (unctuously hypocritical).

via Boing Boing

Library closing at 5 PM due to weather

2007-12-10T15:06:00.000-06:00

The library is closing at 5PM today (Monday) due to the weather. The lobby will remain open. The library will either be open or closed with the rest of campus tomorrow. If you are unsure you can call 6225 to see if anyone is here. Stay safe!

Sheldon takes on Wikipedia

2007-12-10T11:34:00.000-06:00

The comic strip Sheldon is taking on Wikipedia this week. Links to the first strip in the series. Don't forget to click forward to see more.

The strip above is a great illustration of why you can't rely on Wikipedia as a source for research. Any librarian with access to legitimate research tools like our databases could tell you that Skeletor could defeat Optimus Prime and Darth Vader at the same time with his hands tied behind his back.

Books you check out during finals week will not be due until January 8

2007-12-10T09:10:00.000-06:00

Are you going to have some downtime during the break? Need something to occupy yourself in that plane, car, or tv-less guest room? Check out our new popular book collection just around the corner from the circulation desk! Any book you check out during finals week won't be due until you get back next semester! We have everything from non-fiction books to build your mental muscles to page turning light fiction to rot your mind. And best of all it's free! (As long as you bring it back.)

What the library can do for you during finals

2007-12-05T23:11:00.000-06:00

Finals time, the most wonderful time of the semester (okay, maybe not) is here. But fret not, the library is here to help you.

We have access to hundreds of journals through electronic databases. You can look for databases by subject or use a general database like Academic Search Premiere. Don't forget that you can limit your search results to full text articles. In most databases you can do an "Advanced Search" (or similar phrase) and then look for a box to check for "Full Text Only". If you find something that looks good but isn't coming up in full text the first place to look is in the Complete A to Z list of Journal Titles (Under "C" in the list of databases.) That should tell you all of the ways we have access to a particular journal. We might even have a copy right here in the library.
We have both e-books and regular books. Check the catalog to see if we have what you are looking for. A-HL is downstairs, HM- L is by the restrooms on the main floor, M-Z is upstairs. Books are arranged by subject, so when you find one you like look around in that area for more on the same subject.
Ask a librarian. That's what we are here for. You can stop by, call x6225 or e-mail Robert or Veronica.
As always, stop by Cafe Biblio when a staff member is here for free coffee, tea, cider and hot chocolate.
Our lobby will be open 24 hours a day until finals are over. Meet up with a study group or just escape your crazy roommate.
Black and white printing is free. (Printer 2130 is down right now so please use printer 2041). Black and white copying is 15 cents a page. Color printing and copying is 25 cents a page. (The color printer is off the network right now, so you must come to the library and access your color files on a specific computer. We recommend emailing the files to yourself.) (Yes, that's a lot of printer problems. The printer gremlins must have waited until finals.)
Complimentary stress balls at the circulation desk until supplies run out.
Relax a little with some DVDs, CDs and popular fiction books.

New York Times 100 Most Notable Books of 2007

2007-11-26T23:11:00.000-06:00

The New York Times Book Review has released their list of the 100 Most Notable Books of 2007. We even have several, such as Legacy of Ashes and Edith Wharton, right here at Memorial Library! How many of these notable books have you read? (I have read one.)

Thanksgiving Break Hours

2007-11-24T23:11:00.000-06:00

Memorial Library will be open during the following hours over Thanksgiving Break:

Tuesday 11/20 Close at 6 PM
Wednesday 11/21 Close at 5 PM
Thursday 11/22 CLOSED
Friday 11/23 CLOSED
Saturday 11/24 CLOSED

Have a safe and fun Thanksgiving!

E-book readers part deux

2007-11-19T23:11:00.000-06:00

This isn't the first time that e-book readers have been the Next Big Thing. The Franklin eBookMan was released in 1999 and has been followed by a litany of failures -- the Gemstar REB, the Rocket eBook, the Sony Reader. Amazon entrepreneur Jeff Bezos thinks he has finally hit on a winning formula with the Kindle. (Of course, he also thought society as we know it was going to be upended by the Segway.)

The Kindle is a paperback sized, shaped, and weighted electronic device that uses eInk to simulate the look of a printed page. Like many new electronic devices it is "always on" and receiving and exchanging information. The Kindle uses the same technology as cell phones, and thus can be connected to the Internet without having to be at a WiFi hotspot. You can purchase eBooks from Amazon, access Google and message other users. Of course, you can already do that with a computer... or a cell phone... or a Game Boy. In fact, the Kindle sounds an awful lot like a Personal Data Assistant, another already failed concept, attached at the hip to Amazon.com. There are two main reasons you would turn to a book instead of an Internet resource:

1. You are learning about something complex and involved that requires that lots of information be conveyed over an extended period involving studious contemplation.

2. You want to lose yourself in a narrative (the so-called reading trance) and turn off the conscious parts of your mind for a while. For instance, before you go to bed.

Neither of these ends is served by buddy-lists, click-through links, offers of the day, low battery warnings and all of the other "features" of the Kindle that one turns to a book to get away from.

The Web has already been done better elsewhere, texts have already been done better elsewhere, portable multipurpose machines have already been done better elsewhere. What need does an always connected eBook reader fill that isn't already met better somewhere else?
Is this really the book of the future?

via iLibrarian

What it is like to be a student today (In case you didn't know already)

2007-11-15T11:11:00.000-06:00

Michael Wesch from Kansas State has posted a video that describes what life is like for students today. Wesch claims that you have 26.5 hours of things to do each day. Does this video describe you?

Wesch has previously released the popular videos The Machine is Us/ing Us and The Information R/evolution.

Deep Web resources

2007-11-09T11:11:00.000-06:00

Did you know that Google indexes only a small percentage of the Web? Here's some good links for getting to information that Google can't find:

http://aip.completeplanet.com/ : A search engine for finding specialty search engines
http://www.goshme.com : A Deep Web "assistant:
http://www.pipl.com/ : Search hundreds of databases at once for information on people
http://www.blinkx.com/ : Search across the web for videos in one spot