In many parts of the country, today is Election Day! By now you should feel pretty comfortable with the touch screen voting machines. However, if you need a refresher----
It's a beautiful day in the metro-Atlanta area neighborhood. No excuses not to exercise your right (and obligation) to participate in the democratic process.
-kls
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
The Discoveries
Alan Lightman wrote The Discoveries [Q 180.55 .D57 L54 2005] a science review of the 20th century.
Lightman outlines the intellectual and emotional landscape of each discovery, portrays the personalities and human dramas of the scientists involved, and explains the significance and impact of the work. In doing so, he explores such questions as how do scientists think, whether there are common patterns of discovery, the nature of creativity in science, which discoveries are accidental and which intentional, and whether the scientists are aware of the significance of what they have discovered. Finally, Lightman gives an exhilarating tour through each of the original discovery papers. In their own words, here are Einstein, Bohr, McClintock, and Pauling, grappling with the nature of the world. The Discoveries is an exploration into the process of scientific discovery and into the minds of the men and women who do it.
Mr. Lightman brings the familiarity of friendship to each scientists own words. It's a fascinating and enjoyable read!
-kls
Monday, November 02, 2009
Bones and more
Posters around the North Metro campus are filled with dancing skeletons to advertise the Rad Tech annual open house which will be held on the North Metro campus on Wednesday, November 4, from 11 to 1 in room 221.
The plethora of skeletons on view reminded me of the rollicking song, Dem Bones. While reading the lyrics (and humming the tune), I began to wonder about the scientific names for the bones.
Medical dictionaries are readily available online. I searched MedLine Plus for hip bone and quickly found
I wondered if I might find a Medical Dictionary in GALILEO? Looking in Browse by Type and selecting Dictionaries did not reveal any medical dictionaries.
Going to Browse by Subject, selecting Medicine and Health, then Nursing and Allied Health, clicking on the tab Articles & Databases, scrolling down to Other databases in this category, I selected the Merck manual, which really is not a Medical Dictionary. A search for hip bone pulled up all sorts of diseases, treatments, etc but not the scientific name for the bone.
Checking Health Source : Nursing showed a Medical Dictionary link (4th tab from the left). I typed in hip bone, then selected hip bone from the list and the definition appeared....
To answer my question - yes, I can find a Medical Dictionary within a database in GALILEO. Not easily but it can be done!
Your Georgia librarian can give you the current GALILEO password to use GALILEO at home.
-kls
The plethora of skeletons on view reminded me of the rollicking song, Dem Bones. While reading the lyrics (and humming the tune), I began to wonder about the scientific names for the bones.
Medical dictionaries are readily available online. I searched MedLine Plus for hip bone and quickly found
the large flaring bone that makes a lateral half of the pelvis in mammals and is composed of the ilium, ischium, and pubis which are consolidated into one bone in the adult -- called also innominate bone, os coxae, pelvic bone
I wondered if I might find a Medical Dictionary in GALILEO? Looking in Browse by Type and selecting Dictionaries did not reveal any medical dictionaries.
Going to Browse by Subject, selecting Medicine and Health, then Nursing and Allied Health, clicking on the tab Articles & Databases, scrolling down to Other databases in this category, I selected the Merck manual, which really is not a Medical Dictionary. A search for hip bone pulled up all sorts of diseases, treatments, etc but not the scientific name for the bone.
Checking Health Source : Nursing showed a Medical Dictionary link (4th tab from the left). I typed in hip bone, then selected hip bone from the list and the definition appeared....
the large flaring bone that makes a lateral half of the pelvis in mammals and is composed of the ilium, ischium, and pubis which are consolidated into one bone in the adult— called also innominate bone, os coxae, pelvic bone
To answer my question - yes, I can find a Medical Dictionary within a database in GALILEO. Not easily but it can be done!
Your Georgia librarian can give you the current GALILEO password to use GALILEO at home.
-kls
Who has it?
Ebsco offers the option to show a link in NovelList that connects to the public WorldCat. When I've demonstrated the feature, the students eyes get wide with delight. The public WorldCat shows which library holds the book, how far that library is from the computer you're using, reviews, how to purchase the book, and what other books have been read by folks who read the book you're looking at.
What the public WorldCat does not offer is the option to request the book through inter-library loan. For that option, you need to go to GALILEO
...select Databases A-Z
.....select W
.......select WorldCat
This WorldCat is not as 'pretty' as the public WorldCat. The borrowing feature makes the clunky look acceptable. After you've searched for a title and found the one you'd like to read, click on the title. Scroll down a bit to the Availability section - see the link Borrow this item from another library? Select that link and complete the form. Make a note in Comments which campus you'd like the item delivered to. The request is sent to the main library. The Inter Library Loan assistant searches for a library to borrow the item from. Within ten days the item will be at the branch you noted for pick-up.
Knowing who has the book is important but knowing how to get the book delivered to your local branch - is priceless!
Ask your Georgia librarian what the current password is to use GALILEO at home.
-kls
What the public WorldCat does not offer is the option to request the book through inter-library loan. For that option, you need to go to GALILEO
...select Databases A-Z
.....select W
.......select WorldCat
This WorldCat is not as 'pretty' as the public WorldCat. The borrowing feature makes the clunky look acceptable. After you've searched for a title and found the one you'd like to read, click on the title. Scroll down a bit to the Availability section - see the link Borrow this item from another library? Select that link and complete the form. Make a note in Comments which campus you'd like the item delivered to. The request is sent to the main library. The Inter Library Loan assistant searches for a library to borrow the item from. Within ten days the item will be at the branch you noted for pick-up.
Knowing who has the book is important but knowing how to get the book delivered to your local branch - is priceless!
Ask your Georgia librarian what the current password is to use GALILEO at home.
-kls
Friday, October 30, 2009
All Hallows Eve eve
It's drizzly, overcast, and cool feeling today. I'm wearing my skull and crossbones knee socks in honor of the holiday weekend.
Halloween has evolved into a more grown up holiday from my childhood experience where we wore home made costumes and gathered in groups to trudge around the neighborhood collecting treats.
For current articles about the growth of Halloween as an adult holiday, I decided to check the Religion And Philosophy collection which "includes more than 300 full-text journals covering topics such as world religions, major denominations, biblical studies, religious history, epistemology, political philosophy, philosophy of language, moral philosophy, and the history of philosophy." A search for All Hallows Eve only turned up three articles. Halloween, though, brought up 81 articles.
The Economist article (yes, the Economist is in Religion And Philosophy) ,The Nightmare Before Christmas notes the economic engine powered by the purchasing of consumables.
Using GALILEO can provide you with interesting articles to read while the weather outside is less than ideal!
Get the current password to use GALILEO from your Georgia librarian.
-kls
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Time flies
On Sunday morning at 2 AM, we set our clocks back one hour. Encyclopedia Britannica offers a bit of history on Daylight Saving Time.
Each time we change the clocks, I hear grumbling about the hazards of sleep deprivation, the efforts to change all the clocks, the aggravation of being too late or too early for an event! Having used Facts.com several times this week, I went to check in Issues and Controversies to see if there were any arguments over the implementation of Daylight Savings time. There were three references in the Almanac but no controversies.
A search in GALILEO for daylight savings using Academic Search Complete and Research Library turned up over 1100 articles.
I was taken by this poem.
Which led me to wonder if the poem was noted in any of the Literature databases in GALILEO. I had no luck using
Browse by Subject
..Literature, Language and Literary Criticism
....Literature and Literary Criticism.
search for Time Change
Though a search for the author, Jesse Mountjoy, revealed 62 poems in Academic Search Complete and 17 in Literary Reference Center, all published in Legal Studies Forum.
Is he a lawyer? You know where I'm going - to Lexis Nexis. Yes, there is a Jesse T Mountjoy noted as an attorney in Kentucky! A Google search confirmed my theory.
I started out thinking about Daylight Savings time, was side tracked by a poem, then drifted off to find out if the author is an attorney.
Use the resources in GALILEO to find information.
Your Georgia librarian can give you the current password to access GALILEO at home.
-kls
Each time we change the clocks, I hear grumbling about the hazards of sleep deprivation, the efforts to change all the clocks, the aggravation of being too late or too early for an event! Having used Facts.com several times this week, I went to check in Issues and Controversies to see if there were any arguments over the implementation of Daylight Savings time. There were three references in the Almanac but no controversies.
A search in GALILEO for daylight savings using Academic Search Complete and Research Library turned up over 1100 articles.
I was taken by this poem.
The article presents the poem "Time Change," by Jesse Mountjoy.
First Line: Daylight-saving time ended early;
Last Line: Was a light, forgetful matte color.
Which led me to wonder if the poem was noted in any of the Literature databases in GALILEO. I had no luck using
Browse by Subject
..Literature, Language and Literary Criticism
....Literature and Literary Criticism.
search for Time Change
Though a search for the author, Jesse Mountjoy, revealed 62 poems in Academic Search Complete and 17 in Literary Reference Center, all published in Legal Studies Forum.
Is he a lawyer? You know where I'm going - to Lexis Nexis. Yes, there is a Jesse T Mountjoy noted as an attorney in Kentucky! A Google search confirmed my theory.
I started out thinking about Daylight Savings time, was side tracked by a poem, then drifted off to find out if the author is an attorney.
Use the resources in GALILEO to find information.
Your Georgia librarian can give you the current password to access GALILEO at home.
-kls
Color
Each autumn as I drive around the delightful state of Georgia, I marvel at the gorgeous display of color provided by the variety of flora! I am impressed by the landscapers ability to bring color to our surroundings by selecting trees and bushes that add fire and light to the end of the summer greens.
We have a book on the shelf with delightful pictures of the Fall garden, Fallscaping : Extending your garden season into autumn by Nancy J. Ondra and Stephanie Cowan [SB 423.4 2007]. The authors offer hints and tips for selecting just the right plant to add that touch of color to an area.
Get ready for next year by admiring what others have done, learning how they did it, and then planting your contribution to the beauty of our state.
-kls
Slow Food
Greetings.
The Chattahoochee Technical College Mountain View campus library has quite a few books related to all matters culinary. Several of these books are related to the Slow Food movement. Slow Food is a movement that was envisioned as a way to counter the 'fast food' we all know and love in modern day North America. Slow Food also seeks to preserve elements of local culture and tradition that are endangered the disconnect between the foods eaten by people in general and the interest in where those foods came from and how they were produced.
The Slow Food movement is worldwide. There are branches specific to various countries, including that of the United States of America. Local chapters, including one for Slow Food Atlanta, also exist. You can find links related to Slow Food at the Chattahoochee Technical College Library's website at Delicious.
JWF
The Chattahoochee Technical College Mountain View campus library has quite a few books related to all matters culinary. Several of these books are related to the Slow Food movement. Slow Food is a movement that was envisioned as a way to counter the 'fast food' we all know and love in modern day North America. Slow Food also seeks to preserve elements of local culture and tradition that are endangered the disconnect between the foods eaten by people in general and the interest in where those foods came from and how they were produced.
The Slow Food movement is worldwide. There are branches specific to various countries, including that of the United States of America. Local chapters, including one for Slow Food Atlanta, also exist. You can find links related to Slow Food at the Chattahoochee Technical College Library's website at Delicious.
JWF
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The stronger chain
Links to links to links. Bill Badke, noted Librarian and author, shared with the ALA Information Literacy list,
I had no idea Google Scholar could be personalized. I tell students that Google Scholar will have scholarly articles. I point out there will be a fee to access those articles. It's part of my pitch to send them to GALILEO.
I went to Google Scholar and selected Scholar Preferences. It's in teeny tiny print next to the Search button.
I searched for GALILEO and Georgia Library Services EBSCOHost Full text appeared.
I clicked on it.
I searched for Georgia Library and Georgia Library Services Board of Regents (FindIT Full Text) - Full Text@GALILEO appeared.
I selected that also.
I saved my preferences
When I did a search, if the article could be found in GALILEO, there was a link (and the purple Find It button).
You will still need the current GALILEO password to access the articles off campus but if you're hooked on the availability of Google Scholar - editing the preferences to pull up GALILEO resources will save you money!
-kls
If your institution has Google Scholar set up with links to your resources, an easy way to get to full text quickly is to search for part of the title (in quotation marks) and the last name of an author.
I had no idea Google Scholar could be personalized. I tell students that Google Scholar will have scholarly articles. I point out there will be a fee to access those articles. It's part of my pitch to send them to GALILEO.
I went to Google Scholar and selected Scholar Preferences. It's in teeny tiny print next to the Search button.
I searched for GALILEO and Georgia Library Services EBSCOHost Full text appeared.
I clicked on it.
I searched for Georgia Library and Georgia Library Services Board of Regents (FindIT Full Text) - Full Text@GALILEO appeared.
I selected that also.
I saved my preferences
When I did a search, if the article could be found in GALILEO, there was a link (and the purple Find It button).
You will still need the current GALILEO password to access the articles off campus but if you're hooked on the availability of Google Scholar - editing the preferences to pull up GALILEO resources will save you money!
-kls
Exploring a Health Resource
As I was looking at Issues and controversies in Facts on File, I noticed the Health Reference Center icon. Health Reference Center is a new resource for the Chattahoochee Technical College library.
Since I wrote about Ebsco's free resource a few days agao, H1N1 is on my mind. I did a Basic search in Health Reference Center for H1N1. 4 Topics (articles from 3 books) and 41 news articles were retrieved. Not as extensive as the Ebsco resource but still enough reliable information to get started.
As I scanned the page I noticed links to other resources that may prove helpful for students in the Allied Health or Early Childhood programs.
I looked under Subjects (second tab in). There are 5 major headings.
I selected Body Systems because the Anatomy classes are regularly looking for more information about the body.
Selecting Images and Videos from the right side of the screen opened up an opportunity to view movies or illustrations. There are 61 movies and over 500 illustrations for the Body.
The big test for usefulness for the anatomy students in the Health Reference Center is the musculoskeletal system. Toward the end of the quarter, the instructors leave bones in the library for students to handle, study and learn the exact names of each bone.
I clicked on musculoskeletal system. There is an illustration of a skeleton. It notes the axial and appendicular portions of the skeleton. It's not tagged with the names of the individual bones. There is a list noting the axial and appendicular skeleton parts but no pictures. This would not be very helpful for the Anatomy students.
The handiest tool I noticed is the Conversion Calculator! Going from grams to kilograms or ounces to pounds. A very handy tool.
I'll keep exploring. This Health Reference Center in Facts on File will provide another resource for accurate information!
-kls
Since I wrote about Ebsco's free resource a few days agao, H1N1 is on my mind. I did a Basic search in Health Reference Center for H1N1. 4 Topics (articles from 3 books) and 41 news articles were retrieved. Not as extensive as the Ebsco resource but still enough reliable information to get started.
As I scanned the page I noticed links to other resources that may prove helpful for students in the Allied Health or Early Childhood programs.
I looked under Subjects (second tab in). There are 5 major headings.
I selected Body Systems because the Anatomy classes are regularly looking for more information about the body.
Selecting Images and Videos from the right side of the screen opened up an opportunity to view movies or illustrations. There are 61 movies and over 500 illustrations for the Body.
The big test for usefulness for the anatomy students in the Health Reference Center is the musculoskeletal system. Toward the end of the quarter, the instructors leave bones in the library for students to handle, study and learn the exact names of each bone.
I clicked on musculoskeletal system. There is an illustration of a skeleton. It notes the axial and appendicular portions of the skeleton. It's not tagged with the names of the individual bones. There is a list noting the axial and appendicular skeleton parts but no pictures. This would not be very helpful for the Anatomy students.
The handiest tool I noticed is the Conversion Calculator! Going from grams to kilograms or ounces to pounds. A very handy tool.
I'll keep exploring. This Health Reference Center in Facts on File will provide another resource for accurate information!
-kls
Just the facts
Chattahoochee Technical College Library subscribes to several databases that supplement what is available through GALILEO. One of those resources is Facts.com by Facts On File.
What I like best about Facts.com is the Need A Research Topic box in the lower right hand corner. They offer a lengthy list of topics that have two sides! There is a bibliography which might offer further information. Scroll to the very end and the MLA and APA citations are noted. It is extraordinarily helpful for undergraduates to have the correct citation noted.
How do students get to Facts.com?
There are two ways- one may access the CTC Library page- #3 is Facts.com (You will need the login and password. Check with your CTC campus librarian for that information).
Or- one may go to GALILEO
..select Databases A-Z
....select F
.....select Facts.com.
By going this route you can click on the Click here link to get the password to access Facts.com .
You will need the current GALILEO password, which you may get from your Georgia librarian.
-kls
Facts.com highlights articles on current issues and controversies in society and science. Additionally, Facts.com contains a World Almanac Reference Database, World Almanac Encyclopedia, Reuters news articles, and World News Digest special features and articles from 1940 - present.The English 1101 classes must write an argumentative paper. One that shows there are two sides to a topic.Facts.com has a section noted as Issues and Controversies which explores more than 800 hot topics in business, politics, government, education, and popular culture. This makes it a bit easier for students to see the two sides to a topic.
What I like best about Facts.com is the Need A Research Topic box in the lower right hand corner. They offer a lengthy list of topics that have two sides! There is a bibliography which might offer further information. Scroll to the very end and the MLA and APA citations are noted. It is extraordinarily helpful for undergraduates to have the correct citation noted.
How do students get to Facts.com?
There are two ways- one may access the CTC Library page- #3 is Facts.com (You will need the login and password. Check with your CTC campus librarian for that information).
Or- one may go to GALILEO
..select Databases A-Z
....select F
.....select Facts.com.
By going this route you can click on the Click here link to get the password to access Facts.com .
You will need the current GALILEO password, which you may get from your Georgia librarian.
-kls
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Polls
It's getting close to election time. A poll seems an appropriate way to participate in the democratic process.
The upgraded layout option for Blogger.com offers several gadgets. One is a poll.
JWF suggested we ask about the movie Heathers and Citizen Kane. He thinks Heathers is a better movie than Citizen Kane.
I admit I haven't sat through either one- so I don't have an opinion. The poll is a test - to see how it works! We may play with polls just to see what thoughts are flying around.
-kls
The upgraded layout option for Blogger.com offers several gadgets. One is a poll.
JWF suggested we ask about the movie Heathers and Citizen Kane. He thinks Heathers is a better movie than Citizen Kane.
I admit I haven't sat through either one- so I don't have an opinion. The poll is a test - to see how it works! We may play with polls just to see what thoughts are flying around.
-kls
The silver screen
JWF is adding Film resources to delicious. He shared with the CTC librarians:
That sounded like a challenge to several of us - one librarian did a quick search in Credo and by golly 33 references to Heathers came up. Admittedly most are for the greenery but there are references that include biographies of the stars and the director, the mineral water being mentioned in the movie, and the movie’s release date in Hutchinson Chronology of World History.
I went to GALILEO, looked in Browse by Subject, selected Arts and Humanities, then selected Movies and Film. The Articles & Databases tab mentions International Bibliography of Theatre & Dance with Full Text includes full-text articles and books for those studying theatre and the performing arts. This database was initiated by the American Society for Theatre Research, and the Theatre Research Data Center (TRDC) at Brooklyn College has published 14 volumes of the IBTD since 1984. I did not find much on Heathers (Film.)
Wikipedia does offer a comprehensive look at this teen flick. Because I have the GALILEO tool bar loaded on my computer, the Find It buttons show up in the References!
If you don't have the GALILEO toolbar - go to Galileo, look at the Getting Started column on the right side of the screen - select Get Your GALILEO toolbar. Follow the directions to load the toolbar (Firefox and IE are supported). Then you'll have best of both worlds- using Wikipedia while GALILEO tags the references!
Your Georgia librarian can give you the current password to use GALILEO at home.
-kls
Tribeca is an entertainment company, established in part by Robert DeNiro, that produces independent film and a film festival. A section of their website, called the Reelist, produces insightful commentary related to films along a certain theme. Interestingly, the links to various elements within the postings refer back to Wikipedia. Perhaps this represents a small part of the long slow legitimization of Wikipedia as a reference source. I would suggest that Wikipedia beats ‘authoritative’ reference sources hands down in a matching of comprehensive information on pop culture. I doubt you’ll find an entry for the film ‘Heathers’ in Credo Reference.
That sounded like a challenge to several of us - one librarian did a quick search in Credo and by golly 33 references to Heathers came up. Admittedly most are for the greenery but there are references that include biographies of the stars and the director, the mineral water being mentioned in the movie, and the movie’s release date in Hutchinson Chronology of World History.
I went to GALILEO, looked in Browse by Subject, selected Arts and Humanities, then selected Movies and Film. The Articles & Databases tab mentions International Bibliography of Theatre & Dance with Full Text includes full-text articles and books for those studying theatre and the performing arts. This database was initiated by the American Society for Theatre Research, and the Theatre Research Data Center (TRDC) at Brooklyn College has published 14 volumes of the IBTD since 1984. I did not find much on Heathers (Film.)
Wikipedia does offer a comprehensive look at this teen flick. Because I have the GALILEO tool bar loaded on my computer, the Find It buttons show up in the References!
If you don't have the GALILEO toolbar - go to Galileo, look at the Getting Started column on the right side of the screen - select Get Your GALILEO toolbar. Follow the directions to load the toolbar (Firefox and IE are supported). Then you'll have best of both worlds- using Wikipedia while GALILEO tags the references!
Your Georgia librarian can give you the current password to use GALILEO at home.
-kls
Monday, October 26, 2009
Scams, etc
The Government is reminding folks to be careful when they hear, read or see information about preventing the spread of the H1N1 virus. EBSCO is providing a free resource.
The EBSCO Editorial Team performs daily literature surveillance of thousands of journals and generates reports on the most significant research.
You can create your own daily literature search through resources in GALILEO.
1. Select one of the databases (Academic Search Complete or Research Library).
2. Do a search for H1N1
3. Near the top of the screen will be a Create an Alert or RSS feed link.
Click on that link and fill in the form (In EBSCO for Academic Search Complete, you will need to create a free account)
Keep up with the latest H1N1 information by using GALILEO and EBSCO!
-kls
Due to Pandemic H1N1 Influenza (formerly known as Swine Flu) and concerns about the 2009/2010 flu season, the EBSCO Publishing Medical and Nursing editors of DynaMed™, Nursing Reference Center™ (NRC) and Patient Education Reference Center™ (PERC) have made key influenza information from these resources freely available to health care providers worldwide.
The EBSCO Editorial Team performs daily literature surveillance of thousands of journals and generates reports on the most significant research.
You can create your own daily literature search through resources in GALILEO.
1. Select one of the databases (Academic Search Complete or Research Library).
2. Do a search for H1N1
3. Near the top of the screen will be a Create an Alert or RSS feed link.
Click on that link and fill in the form (In EBSCO for Academic Search Complete, you will need to create a free account)
Keep up with the latest H1N1 information by using GALILEO and EBSCO!
-kls
Friday, October 23, 2009
A little history
The North Metro campus COL101 class was assigned Summer Hill School in Cartersville as their research topic. The Chattahoochee sports team is called the Blue Devils in honor of Summer Hill. When asked, several students happily admitted to using Google for their search. There are good resources online from The Summer Hill Project which has primary sources (newspaper articles) to the Georgia Interscholastic Association. A Living Stories video has been created and shown on PBS with more information.
When I looked in GALILEO I found a few things that could add pizazz to the story of Summer Hill.
In the Digital Library of Georgia I searched for Cartersville. 62 items were retrieved. The items I found most fascinating were the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps - in particular the 1916 map which showed the location of the Negro Public School (on sheet 8 ). Searching the Sanborn maps isn't for the faint of heart. You need to search Digital Library of Georgia then click on the map picture to bring up the map and other search features inside Sanborn (like an address search). As I stood in front of the class I had to quick try to remember how to find that particular section of the map. It's not as easy to navigate as I had hoped. Lots of clicking in and out, left and right arrows to actually see what is on the map.
Comparing the 1916 Sanborn map with the Google map for the current Summer Hill complex made for an interesting compare and contrast.
The other resource I used was NewsBank (provided by the Chattahoochee Technical College Library). I did a search in the Georgia News Sources, limited to Atlanta and Marietta. Several stories came up with Summer Hill in the articles. The obituaries for people who graduated from Summer Hill gave an insight to the people who lived in Cartersville.
A Google search can help get you started but don't forget to check GALILEO for information that cannot be found on the free web.
-kls
When I looked in GALILEO I found a few things that could add pizazz to the story of Summer Hill.
In the Digital Library of Georgia I searched for Cartersville. 62 items were retrieved. The items I found most fascinating were the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps - in particular the 1916 map which showed the location of the Negro Public School (on sheet 8 ). Searching the Sanborn maps isn't for the faint of heart. You need to search Digital Library of Georgia then click on the map picture to bring up the map and other search features inside Sanborn (like an address search). As I stood in front of the class I had to quick try to remember how to find that particular section of the map. It's not as easy to navigate as I had hoped. Lots of clicking in and out, left and right arrows to actually see what is on the map.
Comparing the 1916 Sanborn map with the Google map for the current Summer Hill complex made for an interesting compare and contrast.
The other resource I used was NewsBank (provided by the Chattahoochee Technical College Library). I did a search in the Georgia News Sources, limited to Atlanta and Marietta. Several stories came up with Summer Hill in the articles. The obituaries for people who graduated from Summer Hill gave an insight to the people who lived in Cartersville.
A Google search can help get you started but don't forget to check GALILEO for information that cannot be found on the free web.
-kls
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Gadgets and more gadgets
Just some musings on the new Credo Reference Gadgets tool . . .
The gadgets tool will appear as a frame on the right side of the Firefox window. If the frame does not appear, you may need to click on the gadgets link in the top center of the Credo homepage.
Not all gadget options will appear on the frame initially. You may click on the + symbol to see what additional gadgets are available and add them to the frame.
Searching within the gadgets is rather straightforward. A search for a word under ‘define’ will take you to entries for that word. The location search appears to have some issues. A search for ‘Atlanta, GA’ did not take me to the desired articles. A search for ‘Atlanta’ did take me to the desired entries.
The conversions tool is a bit simple and compares laterally to similar tools on websites found through a search engine. The conversion answers appear in script below the tool itself and the display is a bit untidy in my opinion.
The quotations tool will take you to entries from quotations books related to the searched for person, as with a search for George Bush, which included both elder and younger. However, due to the slightly dated nature of the Credo materials, a search for Barack Obama through quotations yielded no hits.
The crossword tool allows you to look for a crossword answer. Enter the letters you have and place a ? in the stead of the letters you desire. The tool will pull up a list of suggested answers. There is a drop down list explanatory device that appears with this tool in the form of a question mark icon.
I tested the holidays tool by typing Sweden in the search bar. This took me to a list of entries for holidays that originated in Sweden, followed by entries for holidays associated in some way with Sweden.
A useful tool for ready reference. The image search may lead to students/others using copyrighted pictures in their presentations though. (Even though it is Wikipedia related, Wikicommons is a good source of public domain images.)
-JWF
Credo is available through GALILEO. The password to use GALILEO is available from your Georgia librarian.
The gadgets tool will appear as a frame on the right side of the Firefox window. If the frame does not appear, you may need to click on the gadgets link in the top center of the Credo homepage.
Not all gadget options will appear on the frame initially. You may click on the + symbol to see what additional gadgets are available and add them to the frame.
Searching within the gadgets is rather straightforward. A search for a word under ‘define’ will take you to entries for that word. The location search appears to have some issues. A search for ‘Atlanta, GA’ did not take me to the desired articles. A search for ‘Atlanta’ did take me to the desired entries.
The conversions tool is a bit simple and compares laterally to similar tools on websites found through a search engine. The conversion answers appear in script below the tool itself and the display is a bit untidy in my opinion.
The quotations tool will take you to entries from quotations books related to the searched for person, as with a search for George Bush, which included both elder and younger. However, due to the slightly dated nature of the Credo materials, a search for Barack Obama through quotations yielded no hits.
The crossword tool allows you to look for a crossword answer. Enter the letters you have and place a ? in the stead of the letters you desire. The tool will pull up a list of suggested answers. There is a drop down list explanatory device that appears with this tool in the form of a question mark icon.
I tested the holidays tool by typing Sweden in the search bar. This took me to a list of entries for holidays that originated in Sweden, followed by entries for holidays associated in some way with Sweden.
A useful tool for ready reference. The image search may lead to students/others using copyrighted pictures in their presentations though. (Even though it is Wikipedia related, Wikicommons is a good source of public domain images.)
-JWF
Credo is available through GALILEO. The password to use GALILEO is available from your Georgia librarian.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Cows
At COMO, Carmen Agra Deedy talked about (and read aloud) her new book 14 Cows for America. It's the true story of the response to 9/11 of a Maasai warrior who was in NYC on Sept 11, 2001. The pictures are magnificent. The story is touching. I bought several copies and asked her to sign them for my children who were in NYC on that fateful day.
You know how I like to search in GALILEO for news stories and articles to confirm what I hear. I did a search for Kimeli Naiyomah (the Maasai warrior) in Academic Search Complete, Research Library (ProQuest), and Newspaper Source. I limited the search to 2001-2003. In both Newspaper Source and Academic Search Complete there was the abstract for the New York Times story "Where 9/11 News Is Late, but Aid Is Swift" [Jun 3, 2002].
I wondered if I could find the story full text some where else. You're already thinking- she's going to Lexis Nexis. Yes, that's where I went. I limited my search to News, entered the headline exactly, limited the search to The New York Times, and the past ten years. The complete story is available!
Now some folks think Lexis Nexis is difficult to use so I went to a resource provided by Chattahoochee Tech, NewsBank. This database is "complete full-text content of local and regional news, including community events, schools, politics, government policies, cultural activities, local companies, state industries, and people in the community."
I admit, it is a bit easier to use. I selected United States, typed in the entire headline and selected headline, limited the years to 2001-2003. The entire story is available. I noticed the e-mail link on the right in NewsBank allows me to send the citation to myself. I received the entire article but not a citation. I looked again and noticed a bibliography export link. In the center of that screen there is a box that tells me I can choose either citation format (MLA or APA). That citation help is very, very useful.
Maybe I'll go straight to NewsBank the next time I'm looking for a news story.
You may get the current password to use GALILEO at home from your Georgia librarian.
-kls
You know how I like to search in GALILEO for news stories and articles to confirm what I hear. I did a search for Kimeli Naiyomah (the Maasai warrior) in Academic Search Complete, Research Library (ProQuest), and Newspaper Source. I limited the search to 2001-2003. In both Newspaper Source and Academic Search Complete there was the abstract for the New York Times story "Where 9/11 News Is Late, but Aid Is Swift" [Jun 3, 2002].
I wondered if I could find the story full text some where else. You're already thinking- she's going to Lexis Nexis. Yes, that's where I went. I limited my search to News, entered the headline exactly, limited the search to The New York Times, and the past ten years. The complete story is available!
Now some folks think Lexis Nexis is difficult to use so I went to a resource provided by Chattahoochee Tech, NewsBank. This database is "complete full-text content of local and regional news, including community events, schools, politics, government policies, cultural activities, local companies, state industries, and people in the community."
I admit, it is a bit easier to use. I selected United States, typed in the entire headline and selected headline, limited the years to 2001-2003. The entire story is available. I noticed the e-mail link on the right in NewsBank allows me to send the citation to myself. I received the entire article but not a citation. I looked again and noticed a bibliography export link. In the center of that screen there is a box that tells me I can choose either citation format (MLA or APA). That citation help is very, very useful.
Maybe I'll go straight to NewsBank the next time I'm looking for a news story.
You may get the current password to use GALILEO at home from your Georgia librarian.
-kls
What do I see?
Have you ever looked at something and not really seen it? I use GALILEO almost daily. I write about GALILEO resources regularly. I think I'm fairly conversant with GALILEO.
Last week as I stood in front of a class demonstrating Browse by Subject. I selected a subject, clicked on it and began to do my spiel on how to fill in the search boxes, select full text, peer reviewed, limit by date, pick extra databases to search, when I noticed the rest of the gray bar running to the right from the blue Search button. I saw Books & more and thought- what is that? I clicked on it and it took me to the Chattahoochee Tech catalog! Well, really it took me to a search box that went to the catalog.
I was amazed! I said- this must be new. Isn't this a great addition to GALILEO. Look at the Articles & databases, Journals & magazines, Other tools buttons - it's a complete library for this particular subject.
I need to thank the GALILEO folks for continuing to improve this resource.
At COMO, I stopped by the GALILEO booth to thank them and tell them how useful those extra tabs were....I watched them all turn slightly pale as I was exclaiming about this 'new' resource....when one said very quietly- oh my, if she didn't see the bar..... it had been on the page for a very long time.....I was embarrassed. What else have I not noticed in GALILEO's great bag of tricks?
Let's go exploring for other tools that are available to Georgians in GALILEO. You may get the password to use GALILEO at home from your Georgia librarian.
-kls
Last week as I stood in front of a class demonstrating Browse by Subject. I selected a subject, clicked on it and began to do my spiel on how to fill in the search boxes, select full text, peer reviewed, limit by date, pick extra databases to search, when I noticed the rest of the gray bar running to the right from the blue Search button. I saw Books & more and thought- what is that? I clicked on it and it took me to the Chattahoochee Tech catalog! Well, really it took me to a search box that went to the catalog.
I was amazed! I said- this must be new. Isn't this a great addition to GALILEO. Look at the Articles & databases, Journals & magazines, Other tools buttons - it's a complete library for this particular subject.
I need to thank the GALILEO folks for continuing to improve this resource.
At COMO, I stopped by the GALILEO booth to thank them and tell them how useful those extra tabs were....I watched them all turn slightly pale as I was exclaiming about this 'new' resource....when one said very quietly- oh my, if she didn't see the bar..... it had been on the page for a very long time.....I was embarrassed. What else have I not noticed in GALILEO's great bag of tricks?
Let's go exploring for other tools that are available to Georgians in GALILEO. You may get the password to use GALILEO at home from your Georgia librarian.
-kls
Monday, October 05, 2009
Say you're one of them
Oprah's latest book club book has arrived on the North Metro campus. Say You're One of them by Uwem Akpan.
Through GALILEO you may access NoveList and read the reviews from BookList, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus.
A reviewer noted that the first story,"An Ex-mas Feast", was published in the New Yorker. My favorite task is to see if I can really find something. I searched for the New Yorker in the Journals A-Z link. It is available in full text through Ebsco (from 2004), ProQuest (from 2001), Gale, and Lexis Nexis. I went looking in GALILEO for "An Ex-mas Feast".
I did a specific search through The New Yorker. I did a general search through the GALILEO search box. Nada. I searched for Uwem Akpan and did find another short story in The New Yorker, titled "My Parents Bedroom" (2006).
A specific search through the New Yorker showed it isn't really full text in Ebsco. With the date I was able to find the article. The Find It button told me which libraries hold that issue.
Hmm...it's not in ProQuest. I checked by the New Yorker date - 13 Jun 2005- no "ex mas feast".
I tried Lexis Nexis using Uwem Akpan in the New Yorker- I did not find ex mas feast but another article by him.
Went to Gale Cengage Learning- still no luck finding this particular short story.
A Google search for 'ex mas feast New Yorker' did find the short story dated 13 Jun 2005 in the New Yorker archives.
So why couldn't I find it full text in GALILEO? One of life's mysteries.
-kls
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
It's the beginning!
Fall quarter starts today at Chattahoochee Technical College. The hallways on the North Metro campus are filled with eager, nervous, excited students and faculty. Over 11,000 students have registered system wide for classes this quarter. Over 3500 registered for classes at the North Metro campus.
Students have begun to use GALILEO to find articles and use the references sources. RUSA (Reference and User Services Association) posted a list of free reference sources that might add to your 'library' of information sources.
Get the current password to use GALILEO from your Georgia librarian. Remember there are just a few reliable 'free' resources that can help you find accurate information. GALILEO will provide Georgia residents with the best resources.
-kls
Students have begun to use GALILEO to find articles and use the references sources. RUSA (Reference and User Services Association) posted a list of free reference sources that might add to your 'library' of information sources.
Get the current password to use GALILEO from your Georgia librarian. Remember there are just a few reliable 'free' resources that can help you find accurate information. GALILEO will provide Georgia residents with the best resources.
-kls
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