Access limited to location

It is very frustrating to have vendors limit access to a database based on IP addresses. Our auto guys are having difficulty using the Shop Key / Mitchell 1 resources because they are only available on campus. We had password access last year to Shop Key which made it very handy for students to do homework and for the instructor to prepare lesson plans. This year when we added the Mitchel 1 resource for the diesel program - slam - IP address access only....and the Mitchell 1 costs 4 times as much as the Shop Key...

What can a library do?

We offer Auto Repair Reference Center by Ebsco through GALILEO

The Auto Repair Reference Center database includes automotive repair information supplied by Point 5 Technologies, Inc., under license from Nichols Publishing, the former publisher of Chilton® Information and information from Delphi Integrated Service Solutions. Auto Repair Reference Center contains information on most major manufacturers of domestic and imported vehicles, with repair information for most vintage makes starting as far back as 1945. Database content includes approximately 28,350 vehicles covered from 1945 to present; over 191,000 drawings and step-by-step photographs; approximately 72,000 technical service bulletins & recalls issued by the original equipment vehicle manufacturer; over 114,000 enhanced wiring diagrams for easy viewing and printing; specifications & maintenance schedules; Labor Time Guide & Estimator; Auto IQ; Quick Tips, a complete guide to vehicle ownership & maintenance; unlimited remote access and much more. New repair procedures and updates will also be added continuously. All of the content in Auto Repair Reference Center has been created by ASE certified technicians.

I admit I haven't played with either enough to do a clear compare and contrast. The auto guys prefer the Shop Key resource. It could be they haven't played with the Ebsco product.

I do like the videos in the Ebsco Auto IQ tab. I tried to look up my car but it's too new- the ARRC only goes to 2007.

Maybe I'll offer treats and they can show me Shop Key and I'll show them ARRC!


-kls

Sharing stories

On LM_NET, Judy Freeman posted a thank you to another member for reminding us to use NoveList for curriculum ideas. At the beginning of the year many of us need a jump start on what to read. Parents may find these tips useful as well.

If you're looking for a way to extend your story time, the Desperate Librarians or . . . When You Need a Few New Ideas newsletters offer suggestions for the latest titles. I've attended Judy's workshops and can attest to the originality and timeliness as Judy shares how to make a story stay firmly attached in the memory of the listener.

Go to GALILEO
Select Databases A-Z
Type in NoveList
Search for "Desperate Librarians" (you need to use the quotes)
Voila - ideas galore!

You get the password to use GALILEO at home from your Georgia librarian.


-kls

Now What?

Supposing that there may be those of you who haven't heard, the Olympics games are being held in Beijing, China. (Technically they are not called the summer Olympics, even though the winter Olympics are officially called the Winter Olympics).

Over the past two weeks you may have caught footage of the opening ceremonies, stayed up till near dawn to watch gymnastics, or experienced the agony of tape-delayed covergage. Those of you who are home during the day may have seen unfamiliar sporting events that are often just a blip on the radar, even during the Olympics, such as badmitton or water polo.

Next week, the Olympics and the sporting events that make them up, will recede back into the level of obscurity that they inhabit except for a two week period every four years. (Not including the Winter Olympics naturally.) Still, life goes on for the sports and the Olympics beyond Beijing.

Most sporting federations will hold one or more world championships between the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. One such event will be the 13th FINA World Swimming and Diving Championships, to be held in Rome, Italy in 2009. (FINA oversees International Swimming and Diving.) Learn more about this event here.

And before you know it, the 2010 Winter Olympics will be upon us. These games will be held in Vancouver, Canada. (Translation=less tape delay). You see, those fine folks at the International Olympic Committee have this well thought out and organized idea of picking the host site for the Olympics about six to seven years out from the date of the games. That allows the host city/nation time to prepare. London will host the 2012 summer Olympics. Sochi, Russia will host the 2014 Winter Olympics. Chicago, Rio de Janiero, and Madrid, Spain are the finalists for the 2016 summer Olympics. Whew. That's a lot of Olympics to look forward to.

Still, as you are watching the hurdles, pole vault, diving, swimming, and judo, just remember the Olympics once had events such as the Hop, Step, and Jump (similar to the Triple Jump) and even the Tug of War. Wasn't life so much simpler . . .

JWF

Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts

The new librarian strongly recommended "Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and other powerful web tools for classrooms" by Will Richardson.

Jeff read and learned from the first edition while working at Chattanooga State. We purchased the second edition this summer for NMTC. I finished flipping through the book and read the section, "About the Author". The URL for Mr. Richardson's blog jumped out at me. I went exploring and found Weblogged-ed at http://weblogg-ed.com/. (I've added it to my Bloglines.)

Mr. Richardson's entry for today discusses del.icio.us. I had an "ah ha" moment. I've regularly copied and pasted the "About Us" description from web sites. I'm glad del.icio.us has increased the character limit.

I noticed the new "look" to del.icio.us a few weeks ago. I had a few issues with it - I felt like it was a "new" site. There was a learning curve. Yesterday I realized I could sort the additions alphabetically (which was one of my pet peeves). Obviously, I'm still learning.

How do we use del.icio.us at NMTC? We've been checking the curriculum posted at the TCSG site for the programs offered at NMTC. We use that information to look for resources to add to the NMTC del.icio.us. We're tagging by class to make it easier for students to find just what they need.

I've recently shown del.icio.us to the Intro to Early Childhood class. They can use this for an electronic portfolio. ECE students collect information about agencies they may need to contact. Del.icio.us makes a perfect portable favorites.



-kls

The Truth Really is Out There

The web is filled with information. When you think about it, anyone can post information to the web. This information can be true or false, and sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference. There are times when you hear a story and think, 'There's no way that's true.' Well, think again, because it is often as important to verify that something is false as much as it is to verify that something is true.

One such true tale that is often dismissed as false is the case of the exploding whale. The time was 1970, the place was Oregon. A whale beached near Florence, Oregon and died. The Oregon Department of Transportation was given jurisdiction over disposing of the whale's remains. The plan was to destroy the whale's body using dynamite. The resulting whale kibble would serve as food for seagulls.

However, the plan went awry. The whale was destroyed, but the amount of dynamite used was only sufficient to blow the whale into large chunks, rather than the planned for kibble. Spectators ran for their safety and cars were damaged as huge whale chunks rained from the skies. The spectacle was captured for posterity by a local tv news crew.

Sounds incredulous? Perhaps. Yet another internet hoax? Not this time. The tale is true, yet lay largely forgotten until the mass adoption of the web in the lat e1990's, which gave it a resurrection and new life.

How to find information that verifies this story? First, we can turn to Galileo . Once there, we will select the option of 'databases by type.' Then we will go to 'newspapers.' Finally, we will select the database 'Newspaper Source.'

Once in Newspaper Source, we will do an advanced search for 'exploding' and 'whale' and 'Oregon,' and we will limit the search to full text. We will get one result, which is a transcript of an interview from National Public Radio from 2005.

Exploding Whale/NPR Transcript

Another source in Galileo to try is LexisNexis, which can be found be going to the tab 'databases A-Z' and looking under 'L.' Within LexisNexis, do a power search and set 'major world publications' as your source, and search for 'exploding' and 'whale' and 'Oregon.' This search will produce numerous results, many of which relate back to our search topic.

Finally, for those interested, there is a YouTube video of the event. Exploding whale on YouTube. Also, the urban legends reference website, Snopes, has a good page on the exploding whale. Exploding whale on Snopes

JWF

What day is this?

I'm creating a display. I pulled The Man Who Walked Between the Towers (GV 551.G47 2003) by Mordicai Gerstein. I went to pull the movie review for Man On Wire. I was going through the Saturday paper. The movie section wasn't there! Did someone pull the movie section? I looked a bit further only to discover - it was in Friday's paper.

Friday's AJC had the review by A. O. Scott of the New York Times.

-kls

Walking the wire

When I read the movie review by A. O. Scott for "Man On Wire" in the Saturday AJC, I thought there was a children's book about this event - and I couldn't think of the title.

I went to GALILEO and did a Search for Philippe Petit. I limited my search to Academic Search Complete, Research Library, NoveList and Book Index with Reviews. I figured I'd get something in NoveList and Book Index with Reviews.

Voila - there it was in NoveList. The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Michael Gerstein. NoveList offers a curriculum extender for many titles- including this one. You can use this title in Math, Language Arts, PE, and Social Studies.

You might not want to take your elementary age child to the movie (it is rated PG-13) but the book would be appropriate for any age!

I looked in WorldCat to see who has the book. Yes, NMTC has the book- it is a Caldecott Winner- we do have an Early Childhood class on Children's Literature. Having the award winners in our library supports their program.

I gave you the link to the "public" version of WorldCat. If you use the WorldCat available through GALILEO, there is a "Borrow This Item From Another Library" link. That is helpful for you to get the book quickly from another library!

You may get the password to use GALILEO at home from your Georgia librarian.


-kls

All the luck

On NPR I heard that 8-8-8 is thought to be a lucky day by the Chinese (and others - see the Associated Press on MSNBC about marriages). My RSS feed this morning from The Ancestry Insider wrote about the lucky day and noted Ancestry.com has a Chinese site. I did a quick visual compare and contrast with the Ancestry Library Edition available through GALILEO (remember you can only get to Ancestry Library edition at your Georgia library). I see the search boxes! I like the Chinese header with the blowing leaves.

I just noticed at the bottom of the Ancestry.com screen that it is distributed by ProQuest.

ProQuest has an option to change the interface language on its regular databases. I wonder why Ancestry doesn't offer that option?

You can do a compare and contrast at your Georgia Public Library (or Tech College Library). Ancestry Library Edition is only available on site.


-kls

Where is that web site?

I started the morning teaching the Intro to Early Childhood class why Social Bookmarking is a useful tool. I started the session with Common Craft's Social Bookmarking video. I really like the Common Craft tutorials.

Sharing the Resources related to your Program of study demonstrated a way to gather up resources with tagging and bundling.

The instructor is going to use the students del.icio.us sites as their portfolio. This allows the beginning ECE students to gather web sites, tag them, and bundle them as the student progresses through the program. Upon completion of the program, they'll have a healthy set of web sites for their professional use!

I'm going to this class again and demonstrate the usefulness of the persistent links available through Ebsco and ProQuest. You've noted my complaining about how permanent is persistent. Hope springs eternal!

The instructor is quite excited about eliminating the three ring binders and the mounds of paper!


-kls

Yes, we're here

A staff member sent me this link Libraries Shine In Tough Economic Times : NPR Nice story. It was very nice to be thought of!

I went looking in Lexis Nexis, where I used to look for NPR transcripts and I did find this particular story very easily:

GALILEO
..Databases A-Z
...L
....LexisNexis
......General Search
........I copied and pasted the entire title
........I limited the search to TV and Radio Broadcast transcripts
........I limited it to the previous week
Search and there it was!

I admit I first tried a general search in GALILEO without success. Lexis Nexis isn't one of the options.

You may access current TV and Radio Broadcast transcripts through LexisNexis in GALILEO.

You know you may get the current password to use GALILEO at home from your Georgia librarian!

-kls

Looking at the new interface

Ebsco is trying to make their interfaces "friendly". This came out on July 29th from NoveList:

We are continuing to hear from our users with suggestions and comments concerning the new version of NoveList. We encourage and welcome this feedback, as it helps us to make the changes that mean the most to you in your libraries. As a result of your feedback, we have released the following enhancements which now available in NoveList:

* Quick Print has a new display that is designed to reduce the
amount of paper needed to print your results. Each title or item
has been reduced to a two or three line display, with only the
most valuable information.
* The citation that displays above NoveList articles and lists is
shortened, so you will not need to scroll down as much to find the
content that you are looking for.
* When you select links to feature content, you will no longer see
the search string ("PD 430716," for example) in the Find box.
* The Clear button at the Find Similar Books page now clears all
boxes of their checkmarks, instead of returning to the default page.
* The Search History will now be available at the Basic Search, as
well as at the Advanced Search.

I like the effort to listen and "fix" for the patron.

Stupid is as...

The ALA Information Literacy list is discussing how best to teach students the skills to find the best information. Many instructors let students settle for "good enough" resources found with a Google search.

Leonard Pitts noted in his article Not voting for stupid 07/27/2008 the difference between ignorance and stupidity.

Ignorance is a lack of information. We're all ignorant in one way or another.....I'm talking about stupidity, which I define as an inability to analyze, draw conclusions from, or otherwise "use" information even when one has it.

We just finished Day 5 of SCT 100. That's where we show students the resources available. We deal with the ignorance by demonstrating the resources. There's no time to walk through the thinking process on how to differentiate what is useful (accurate) and what is not.

GALILEO offers a page of FAQ's on how to find a database or an article. This deals with the ignorance factor.

I want ways to teach the thinking process, to deal with the stupid factor:

I selected Browse by Subject
...I selected Education
......I selected Colleges & Universities
.........The only database noted is Career & Technical Education. I decided that wouldn't do.
......I selected Education and the search list has 7 databases that seemed reasonable (including ERIC)
I typed in critical thinking, limited to full text, 2008-2008 -
A nice selection came up with some titles pointing to specific curriculum.

I think I'll go and read a bit!

-kls

You get what you pay for

I did a search on Google for "universal remote" review.

What did I find? Several snazzy looking sites with reviews on universal remotes that cost $60-$400 (and up). I admit, I only spent $8.95. That could be why the universal remote doesn't do what I want.

Still trying- a search using "universal remote" "under $10" review turned up individual reviews. That will have to do.

On to real library research - you get what you pay for.


-kls

Chirp, tweet

I'm still thinking about universal remote reviews.

I was scrolling through the All Databases list in GALILEO and ran across this addition All About Birds which "is a website from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that includes information about watching birds, learning their nesting behaviors, attracting birds, identifying them, recording observations, and getting involved in bird conservation. The site includes guides, images, maps, sounds, videos, and much more. There is also a link to the Macaulay Library, an archive of animal sounds and videos. "
Database Provider: National Science Digital Library (NSDL)

I regularly sit on my deck enjoying the birds in the yard. This resource will help me figure out which bird is which!

I'll go back to thinking about universal remote reviews. I may do a Google search and see what appears. I think I can evaluate the sites to find the one that will really have accurate information.

-kls

How universal is universal?

I bought a universal remote because our remotes seem to get away from the equipment they control. I've thought about velcro straps and links to the stand. Yet, I know I like to wander around a classroom and aim the remote. I don't want to be tethered to a cart or TV. So we "lose" remotes.

The universal remote I purchased isn't working with the specific equipment. Would it have made a difference in what I purchased if I did a little research?

Consumer Reports popped into my head. You know where I'm going - to GALILEO.

I selected the Journals A-Z tab
Typed in Consumer Reports and saw several databases that have the magazine.
I selected Ebsco - well they do have the new interface.

The Consumer Reports Buying Guide in Ebsco's Academic Search Complete came up.
I selected search within this publication (teeny tiny print above the list of years)
And this is where I got confused - the search box was filled in with JN "Consumer Reports Buying Guide"
I stared at the screen and thought- where do I fill in my query?
I selected Advanced Search
OK- there were the extra search fields
I typed in Universal Remote -
Nothing came up - How can that be?
Ah- I did not change the "Select a Field" drop down
I changed the field search to TX - All Text
and - 27 articles came up.

Yet- as I skim the titles- I'm not seeing a specific article for universal remotes. The first article PRODUCT RATINGS AND BRAND RELIABILITY might be helpful. I opened it and choose to search through the 140 page PDF file to find mention of remotes. Lots of remotes noted but not a section on universal remotes (that I saw)

Hmm. I think I need to rethink the process. I'll try something else and let you know how it works!

You may get the password to use GALILEO at home from your Georgia Librarian.

-kls

Carnivore, herbivore, locavore

And what are you?

In yesterdays New York Times "Getting That Locally Grown Flavor With Fuss but No Muss" noted new businesses springing up to support those who would like to eat locally grown produce but don't want to garden (or can't garden because they live in a high rise). I shared the article with our Horticulture department. It could be a growing (no pun intended) business market.

I found the article for you by using GALILEO.

I selected Databases A-Z and scrolled looking for newspapers.
I found the New York Times (ProQuest databases).

I searched for locavores limiting my search to the previous seven days. Nothing came up but ProQuest suggested using the terms Farmers Market or Farmers Market AND Fruit.
I selected Farmers Market, limited to the previous seven days and victory! The article was there.

Yet, it was the article in today's Britannica Blog by Robert McHenry that made me smile -

"Yes, locavoracity is yet another application of that grand green dictum, Think Glibly and Act Vocally."

.

I'm delighted to have the variety of foods I find in my huge grocery store- though I do admit the fresh tomatoes from my neighbors garden and the fresh eggs from my friends chickens do taste better.


-kls

North Metro Tech Library Reference Wiki

Meanwhile, back at the ranch . . .

Hello. Last week I decided to create a reference wiki for North Metro Technical College Library, North Metro Tech Reference Home. You may, or may not, be asking yourself why. There are several reasons for doing this.

1. This is a useful tool for the librarians at NMTC. We are not always working at the same time. One of us may help a patron with a unencountered area of need and forget (gasp) to tell the other. This wiki allows each of us to examine ways that the other has been helping our patrons.

2. The wiki will prove a useful off campus tool. Hopefully, the wiki will be a site that patrons can access from home to avoid an unnecessary trip to campus. There will be lots of 'how to's' on the wiki, along with general and basic information about the library.

3. This wiki is separate and apart from the Policies and Procedures NMTC wiki at North Metro Technical College Library Policies and Procedures. Yes, some of the information may be redundant. However, I hope that this new wiki will enable you the patron to access information on how to use library resources and also to get help when a librarian just may not be available (namely at 2:00 a.m.).

4. Other college and university libraries have developed their own reference wikis. This one will be unique, as the others are already unique, and its aims, purposes, services may not exactly match up to those of other libraries.

The format I selected to use for the wiki was Wetpaint. Comparing it to Wikispaces, I felt that it was more easily edited and updated. However, one drawback to Wetpaint is that there is some commercialization in the form of banners. I do hope that these banners will not become too much of a distraction.

The wiki will be a long work in progress and will never truly be finished. Stay tuned . . .

JWF

After all the fuss

Last week Ebsco rolled out the new interface. I mentioned it twice then became so wrapped up in using it, I forgot to mention it again!

What makes it better? The colors are the same. The layout is different. It feels cleaner, spacious, easier to navigate. The search options seem straight forward and easy to follow. The limiters follow along nicely.

The real beauty is in the results screen. On the left you may narrow your search. In the center are the articles. To the right more options.

A cleaner, visually friendly way to display the results!

Get the password to use GALILEO at home from your Georgia librarian.

GALILEO is the library...Ebsco is a resource in the library!

-kls

Word Clouds

Wordle is a website that allows you to create word clouds/graphics out of text that you enter. You can enter song lyrics, poetry, nonsense, prose, jargon, etc. into Wordle and generate an interesting word graphic. You may then edit the graphic if you so choose to suit your personal preferences.

One great source for text for Wordle is LION (Literature Online), available through Galileo. LION allows you to search for poetry. Once you find a poem or bit of prose that you like, you can go to Wordle, paste in the text, and create your very own word cloud. Remember, your local public library in Georgia can give you the Galileo password if you are a state resident.

This blogger made a Wordle out of the French National Anthem in honor of Bastille Day a few weeks ago. -JWF

Privacy

This morning I read about bloggers being arrested for libel and slander because of what was posted. On a list serve I belong to there was vigorous discussion about forwarding what is sent with people not on the list. On another list there was vigorous discussion about Information Literacy. Yes, I read a lot.

All of which reminded me of George Orwell's Nineteen eighty-four : a novel.

In GALILEO, NoveList provides a good summary of the book along with an interesting discussion guide. The question in the discussion guide that struck me had to do with memory.

Why is the thought that he might be "alone in the possession of a memory" (p. 60) so troubling to Winston?

We spend so much time creating lists, journaling, writing things down so we don't forget that in the end we forget.

Something to think about privacy and memory.

You may get the password to use GALILEO at home from your Georgia librarian.

-kls