Summer's almost here and I know there are a lot of vacation plans. My favorite part of summer is catching up on all the books I've been denying myself because I've been too busy with other things. I have very specific interests and I already have my books ready to read but if you don't or you want to start reading something and don't know what, try Googling "summer reading lists" or "reading lists". If that doesn't appeal to you, here are some websites that offer recommended reading lists.
O magazine has a list of 25 books for summer reading at their website, http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Summer-Reading-List-Summer-Books.
UC Berkeley has current and past reading lists at this website, http://reading.berkeley.edu/.
If you're looking for reading lists for your children, About.com has the top 10 summer reading lists at their website, http://childrensbooks.about.com/od/forparents/tp/summer_reading.htm.
Although you may just want to settle down with some old favorites and reread those!
Enjoy your summer and happy reading!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Google vs. Database
Libraries use the term database a lot! That's because so much of what libraries do involve databases. Databases store information and make it easy to retrieve when we need it.
"So what, Google does the same thing!"
Actually, it doesn't because Google doesn't store information it finds information and if it doesn't have access to that information, it can't find it for you! If you need information, Google is a great place to look for it but it can't always give you the exact data you need. For instance, let's say you read a great article on a newspaper website. You decide you would like to have a copy of that article but can't remember where you read it. So you use Google to find it and it does! Unfortunately, when you go to the website, you have to pay to access that article and can only read a summary of it.
So what do you do? pay? or complain that it should be free if it's on the Internet! I've got a better idea, go to the library website and look for their newspaper databases. Academic libraries usually have 2 or 3 of them and public libraries usually have at least 1. Then take the title and author of that article and search for it in those newspaper databases. Chances are you'll find it full text and usually for free! If you want to print it out at the library, you'll usually have to pay for it but if you send it to yourself through your email, you can print it out at home for FREE!
Databases are wonderful storage places that are easily searched using keywords. What could take you all day on Google to find, may only take you 10 minutes to find in the right database. Now databases aren't perfect, they can't have everything you're looking for but if you know the subject your topic falls under, you can search databases specific to that subject and find a lot of information on your topic. You could also use Google to find information, then take the citations for the articles Google finds for you and plug that information into the database. You'll get those articles or ones that are similar without the hassle of having to pay for them!
It really shouldn't be a question of Google vs. the database but rather, Google collaborating with the database to help you streamline your research and find the information you need so you have time to enjoy your life!
"So what, Google does the same thing!"
Actually, it doesn't because Google doesn't store information it finds information and if it doesn't have access to that information, it can't find it for you! If you need information, Google is a great place to look for it but it can't always give you the exact data you need. For instance, let's say you read a great article on a newspaper website. You decide you would like to have a copy of that article but can't remember where you read it. So you use Google to find it and it does! Unfortunately, when you go to the website, you have to pay to access that article and can only read a summary of it.
So what do you do? pay? or complain that it should be free if it's on the Internet! I've got a better idea, go to the library website and look for their newspaper databases. Academic libraries usually have 2 or 3 of them and public libraries usually have at least 1. Then take the title and author of that article and search for it in those newspaper databases. Chances are you'll find it full text and usually for free! If you want to print it out at the library, you'll usually have to pay for it but if you send it to yourself through your email, you can print it out at home for FREE!
Databases are wonderful storage places that are easily searched using keywords. What could take you all day on Google to find, may only take you 10 minutes to find in the right database. Now databases aren't perfect, they can't have everything you're looking for but if you know the subject your topic falls under, you can search databases specific to that subject and find a lot of information on your topic. You could also use Google to find information, then take the citations for the articles Google finds for you and plug that information into the database. You'll get those articles or ones that are similar without the hassle of having to pay for them!
It really shouldn't be a question of Google vs. the database but rather, Google collaborating with the database to help you streamline your research and find the information you need so you have time to enjoy your life!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
The Need to Weed
I've been doing a lot of weeding at my Library. It is very small and we are bursting at the seams so I'm weeding. There's a real misconception about weeding and libraries. I've known of faculty who complain that we're throwing out perfectly good books but we aren't! We're throwing out books that are absolutely no use to anyone!
When I was the Collection Development Librarian at another job, I instigated a weeding project to rid the library of law books. Our library was small and campus enrollment was growing. As lawyers moved to online databases, they would donate their law libraries to us. Unfortunately, that became a real problem because we had every law book ever published and nobody ever checked them out. They sat on the shelves taking up over a twelfth of all the shelves in the library. We needed that space to support our new programs so we weeded the books. I don't know if any of you have ever looked at a law book but they are boring. They are word for word recordings of cases and what the outcomes were. Anyone who has ever sat on a jury or been involved in a court case knows how tedious the proceedings can be and law books are a record of all of that! What I find really interesting though, is there are people out there who want the law books, not to read but to turn into purses and safes for valuables.
Just so you know that weeding is not something that happens only in academic libraries, here is one a favorite library blog, Awful Library Books. It's all about the need to weed in libraries. Take some time and check out some of those books. I'm sure you'll agree, they needed to go!
When I was the Collection Development Librarian at another job, I instigated a weeding project to rid the library of law books. Our library was small and campus enrollment was growing. As lawyers moved to online databases, they would donate their law libraries to us. Unfortunately, that became a real problem because we had every law book ever published and nobody ever checked them out. They sat on the shelves taking up over a twelfth of all the shelves in the library. We needed that space to support our new programs so we weeded the books. I don't know if any of you have ever looked at a law book but they are boring. They are word for word recordings of cases and what the outcomes were. Anyone who has ever sat on a jury or been involved in a court case knows how tedious the proceedings can be and law books are a record of all of that! What I find really interesting though, is there are people out there who want the law books, not to read but to turn into purses and safes for valuables.
Just so you know that weeding is not something that happens only in academic libraries, here is one a favorite library blog, Awful Library Books. It's all about the need to weed in libraries. Take some time and check out some of those books. I'm sure you'll agree, they needed to go!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Interlibrary Loan
In a previous post, I defined some library terms and interlibrary loan was one of them. I want to explain just what interlibrary loan, also known as ILL, is and how it works.
As stated in the definition, interlibrary loan (ILL) is borrowing materials from other libraries. In Texas, we have the TexShare card that lets us borrow from other libraries so what's so special about interlibrary loan? The TexShare card is great if the library that has the book or article you want is near you but it really stinks if the nearest library is 400 miles away. This is what makes ILL so great, your library can get that item even if it's 2000 miles away! You will have to be patient, though. Even with the Internet, moving items still takes time.
Libraries use the WorldCat database to find out which library has the book you want and through this database, we can request the book. This process may be as fast as 1 week or it may take as long as 2 months. It all depends on who has the book and who is willing to loan it to other libraries. If it's articles you're looking for, then this could take less than a week! That's because unlike books, articles can be delivered electronically and libraries will usually forward them to you via email.
When requesting a book or article, be sure to give as much information about the item you want as possible. For books be sure to include title, author, publisher, and copyright date. This is because there is often more than 1 book with the same title or there are many editions of the book and if you get an old edtion, it may not have the information you need in it. When you're requesting an article, include the full citation information. This means the author, title of the article, title of the journal, volume and issue number of the journal and the date the article was published. The more information you can give the library about the article, the faster the article will get to you. I once had a student ask me to help her locate an article she had requested using the citation she found in her textbook. It turns out the citation had the wrong date but because we had the volume and issue number, we were able to find the article and get it to her.
So filling out those forms may be a pain but they could be the difference between you getting the right article for your research or just settling for what is available.
As stated in the definition, interlibrary loan (ILL) is borrowing materials from other libraries. In Texas, we have the TexShare card that lets us borrow from other libraries so what's so special about interlibrary loan? The TexShare card is great if the library that has the book or article you want is near you but it really stinks if the nearest library is 400 miles away. This is what makes ILL so great, your library can get that item even if it's 2000 miles away! You will have to be patient, though. Even with the Internet, moving items still takes time.
Libraries use the WorldCat database to find out which library has the book you want and through this database, we can request the book. This process may be as fast as 1 week or it may take as long as 2 months. It all depends on who has the book and who is willing to loan it to other libraries. If it's articles you're looking for, then this could take less than a week! That's because unlike books, articles can be delivered electronically and libraries will usually forward them to you via email.
When requesting a book or article, be sure to give as much information about the item you want as possible. For books be sure to include title, author, publisher, and copyright date. This is because there is often more than 1 book with the same title or there are many editions of the book and if you get an old edtion, it may not have the information you need in it. When you're requesting an article, include the full citation information. This means the author, title of the article, title of the journal, volume and issue number of the journal and the date the article was published. The more information you can give the library about the article, the faster the article will get to you. I once had a student ask me to help her locate an article she had requested using the citation she found in her textbook. It turns out the citation had the wrong date but because we had the volume and issue number, we were able to find the article and get it to her.
So filling out those forms may be a pain but they could be the difference between you getting the right article for your research or just settling for what is available.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Libraries vs. the Internet
The growth of the Internet has caused many people to question the role of libraries in the search for information. People remember libraries from when they were children, full of books and librarians shushing you if you talk. Today's libraries are very different. They are no longer quiet places where you can get a book for your research but dynamic centers of learning where you can get up to the minute information on a variety of topics. And one place for information librarians use and recommend is the Internet.
It is impossible to do research without the Internet. In 2001 I started working in an academic library and I had a group of graduate students from the college of education come in looking for journal articles. I pointed them to the computers and told them they needed to get online. They insisted they were not allowed to use the Internet. This was a problem because everything in an academic library that has to do with research is on the Internet! I asked them if they were looking for articles, they said yes so I told them they HAD to use the Internet. I showed them how to search the databases and how to find the journals from the databases in the catalog. The real frustration for me though, came when the students found their articles full text online but wanted the paper copy of that same article. I pointed out that they could print the article for free from the Internet or pay ten cents a page to photocopy the article. They still went and found the paper copy and paid for the photocopies because they COULD NOT USE THE INTERNET!
Libraries facilitate the ability of people to locate information no matter where it is. They are places that have knowledgeable people and resources available that can speed up the research process. With the recession we are in now, we need libraries because of their role as facilitators. Public library usage is up and the Internet is a big part of it. Librarians don't see the Internet as a competitor but as a partner that makes their jobs easier.
It is impossible to do research without the Internet. In 2001 I started working in an academic library and I had a group of graduate students from the college of education come in looking for journal articles. I pointed them to the computers and told them they needed to get online. They insisted they were not allowed to use the Internet. This was a problem because everything in an academic library that has to do with research is on the Internet! I asked them if they were looking for articles, they said yes so I told them they HAD to use the Internet. I showed them how to search the databases and how to find the journals from the databases in the catalog. The real frustration for me though, came when the students found their articles full text online but wanted the paper copy of that same article. I pointed out that they could print the article for free from the Internet or pay ten cents a page to photocopy the article. They still went and found the paper copy and paid for the photocopies because they COULD NOT USE THE INTERNET!
Libraries facilitate the ability of people to locate information no matter where it is. They are places that have knowledgeable people and resources available that can speed up the research process. With the recession we are in now, we need libraries because of their role as facilitators. Public library usage is up and the Internet is a big part of it. Librarians don't see the Internet as a competitor but as a partner that makes their jobs easier.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Translating Library Terms
I have been working in academic libraries for 8 years and the one thing I've learned is that students and librarians don't always speak the same language! I make the mistake of assuming everyone knows what I know and I have to keep reminding myself that not everyone has the same education I do just as I don't have the same education they do. So with that in mind, here are some terms that are commonly used in libraries and their definitions. I hope this helps to make you more comfortable when using the library.
Database
A set of data grouped together in one location in (or accessible by) a computer. A computerized database has been likened to an electronic filing cabinet of information arranged for easy access or for a specific purpose.
Library Catalog
A list of the contents of a library or a group of libraries, arranged according to any of various systems.
E-journals
A periodical or magazine, especially one published for a special group, learned society, or profession available online.
Index
A sequential arrangement of material, esp. in alphabetical or numerical order.
Interlibrary Loan
A system by which one library obtains a work for a user by borrowing it from another library.
Periodical or Serial
A magazine or other journal that is issued at regularly recurring intervals.
Reference
A note in a publication referring the reader to another passage or source.
Resource
Something that can be used for support or help such as a website, book, journal, etc.
Thanks to John Kupersmith's website, Library Terms
That Users Understand, for providing the inspiration for this post!
Database
A set of data grouped together in one location in (or accessible by) a computer. A computerized database has been likened to an electronic filing cabinet of information arranged for easy access or for a specific purpose.
Database (n.d.) The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/database
Library Catalog
A list of the contents of a library or a group of libraries, arranged according to any of various systems.
Catalog (n.d.) Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/catalog
E-journals
A periodical or magazine, especially one published for a special group, learned society, or profession available online.
Journals (n.d.) Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Journals
Index
A sequential arrangement of material, esp. in alphabetical or numerical order.
index. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/index
Interlibrary Loan
A system by which one library obtains a work for a user by borrowing it from another library.
interlibrary loan. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/interlibrary loan
Periodical or Serial
A magazine or other journal that is issued at regularly recurring intervals.
Periodical. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Periodical
Reference
A note in a publication referring the reader to another passage or source.
Reference. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Reference
Resource
Something that can be used for support or help such as a website, book, journal, etc.
Resource. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Resource
Thanks to John Kupersmith's website, Library Terms
That Users Understand, for providing the inspiration for this post!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Welcome
I would like this blog to offer advice and insight on how to use the library. I'll provide tips and suggestions on where to find different kinds of information and hopefully, this will help the readers get what they need and also give me suggestions on what worked for them. Let me start with this very provocative video.
There has been a lot of talk about the value of libraries. With the recession, people are realizing that libraries offer more than just books, they off access to information. That's why this video, An Open Letter to Educators, I came across in a blog aimed at School Librarians was so interesting to me. Although it isn't about libraries, it is about how access to information has changed and that means the way people are educated has to change, too.
An Open Letter to Educators
There has been a lot of talk about the value of libraries. With the recession, people are realizing that libraries offer more than just books, they off access to information. That's why this video, An Open Letter to Educators, I came across in a blog aimed at School Librarians was so interesting to me. Although it isn't about libraries, it is about how access to information has changed and that means the way people are educated has to change, too.
An Open Letter to Educators
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)