National STEM Video Game Challenge

The National STEM Video Game Challenge opened November 21. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. The American Library Association is an "outreach partner" for this year's competition. 

Submit your original video game concepts and designs in four categories (middle school, high school, collegiate, and educator) through March 12.  

The site provides resources, such as Gamestar Mechanic, Scratch, Gamemaker, Kodu, and some open source materials. So, even if you have never written a line of computer code, you still can create a game based on your amazing game concept.

Join Library on Twitter and Facebook

The library now has its own Facebook page and Twitter account. We'd love to hear from you. 

Finding the Latest LibGuides from the Library

Your teaching faculty and faculty librarians work hard to keep you informed about library materials. LibGuides help us keep you informed. Some guides show you how to find library materials to use for a specific class or research assignment. Other LibGuides provide you with general information, such as the newest books and eBooks added to the collection or how to use your mobile devices to look things up on the library's website. 

To find the newest LibGuides, click the "Recent Guides" link in the middle of the LibGuides home page. There also are options for featured and most popular guides. Or, simply search all guides by keyword. We hope you find our LibGuides helpful and appreciate your feedback and comments.

Library Hires Writing and Research Instructor



http://angry-birds-online.com/

The Cannon Memorial Library has hired Angel Jimenez for the newly created Instructor of Writing and Research position. He is available to assist students in all Saint Leo University locations and programs 30 hours a week this semester: Mondays and Wednesdays, 2-7 pm; Tuesdays, 1-10 pm; and, Thursdays and Saturdays, 10 am-5 pm Eastern Time. You may email him or give him a call (1.352.588.8269) to set up an appointment either for an in-person or online consultation. (Yes, he has his own Internet connected classroom for virtual consultations.) So, are you feeling like an Angry Bird? Do you need some help with your writing? Don't stress! Set up an appointment with Angel Jimenez today!

Kim Komando's eReader Comparison Chart

http://www.komando.com/ereader/index-2.asp

Kim Komando, the online and on-air personality dubbed "America's Digital Goddess," has assembled a comparison chart for eBook readers. Kim writes and speaks about "gadgets, gizmos, Internet and all things digital" (Komando.com).

The comparison chart gives you a quick overview of eReader features, such as screen size, file types supported, battery life, and whether or not the device is WiFi or web-enabled. (Look for one that can read both ePub and PDF files. View YouTube videos to further compare your options.)

Did you know that many of the library's eBook collections and databases, such as the Gale Virtual Reference eBook Collection and EBSCOhost, can now be read on mobile devices, such as iPhones and eReaders? The university supports the mobile app for BlackBoard, if you take courses online with the Distance Learning program.

Something Is Missing from LeoCat—66K eBooks from EBSCO

EBSCOhost eBook logo

When EBSCO purchased netLibrary this summer, the information in the library catalog, LeoCat, had to be updated.

We ran into a glitch in this process and had to take all of the now-EBSCO eBook information out of LeoCat until the records have been properly re-formatted. This means that some 66,000 eBooks in our library are no longer linkable from LeoCat.

To access the “missing” eBooks, you will need to go to the Online Library Resources section, choose the link for eBooks and eReference Resources, select EBSCO eBooks, and then complete your search.

All the eBooks in other collections are still linkable from LeoCat. Or they can be searched individually.

We apologize for the inconvenience. We’ll let you know as soon as this changes.

Philosophy and Religion Collection Now Available from "Periodicals Archive Online"

Cannon Memorial Library recently added the Philosophy and Religion Collection, from ProQuest's "Periodicals Archive Online," to its databases.

The collection presently contains all issues for 35 journal titles. A minor glitch in the "find journals" section shows incorrect years of access. If in doubt, search for a particular journal by title in the library's catalog for eJournals, the AtoZ Journal List. 

 A simple search for "Heidegger" in article titles returned 381 full-text articles, while a search for the term in article title and full-text returned 2,882!  Doing the same two types of searches for "Nietzsche" returned 167 and 2,124 full-text articles. Please let us know what you think of this new addition to the databases.

"Book for Book" Project from BetterWorldBooks, a Cannon Memorial Library Partner

You can have an impact on the lives of others by participating in the "Book for Book" program from Better World Books.

Here's how: You buy a book you need from this site, and BetterWorldBooks donates a book to someone in need. The "Book for Book" project started in mid-August.

Cannon Memorial Library already partners with BetterWorldBooks as part of the university's commitment to social and environmental justice.

Beth Henry, Technical Services Librarian/Associate Professor, has this to say about the partnership:

"[Better World Books] is the premiere no-cost program in North America, currently partnering with over 1,400 libraries:

·         They take discarded and donated materials and sell them online to generate funding for both libraries and nonprofit literacy initiatives;

·         They cover ALL shipping costs (no reimbursement charges!)  [They send us the boxes for shipping and prepay UPS.];

·         Their Prescreen Tool allows us to determine which books to send;

·         They are a consistent outlet for weeded and donated material including antiquarian, rare and collectable items;

·         We share a commitment to the environment—they make sure that our unwanted books never go to landfills.

"Books that don’t sell and qualify for the program go to Books for Africa."

By partnering with BetterWorldBooks, Cannon Memorial Library had a positive impact on the environment. Discarded books did not end up in a landfill and many were reused or resold. In August, this saved 26 trees, more than 14,000 gallons of water, over 2,000 pounds of greenhouse gases, and 7 cubic yards of landfill space.
 
To donate books, please contact the library or stop by the front circulation desk.

Time Announces "50 Best Websites of 2011"

Time magazine online has announced its list of the "50 Best Websites of 2011." Scroll to the bottom of the page to find its lists for the best blogs and Twitter feeds.

Website categories are: Music and Video, Family and Kids, Sports, News and Info, Financial and Productivity, Shopping and Travel, Health and Fitness, Social Media, Games, and Education.

I especially like the "FreeRice" site in the Education section. Each time you correctly answer a multiple-choice question, the site's sponsors donate 10 grains of rice to the United Nations' World Food Programme. Such a simple way to help others in need!

ScienceDirect--Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering Collections

We are pleased to announce the addition of ScienceDirect to the database collections available for your research from the Cannon Memorial Library. 

The library's subscription provides access to journal articles in the life sciences, physical sciences, and engineering collections. Articles in the health sciences, social sciences, and humanities collections may appear in your results as "for purchase" options. Beware!

"Because we cannot eliminate the 'for purchase' articles popping up [when searching ScienceDirect], we’ve decided to disable the purchasing feature," advises Brent Short, Director of Library Services.

This precaution means no one will be able to enter credit card information when finding "for purchase" articles in the ScienceDirect journal collection on the Cannon Memorial Library website.

"We’re trying to be cautious here and prevent a patron from racking up some type of huge bill," added Mr. Short.

Remember to check the AtoZ Journal List for journal titles to which you have full-text access from Cannon Memorial Library. If none, simply use the Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery service and complete the article request form.   

Good Starting Point for Research--Credo Reference LibGuides

Credo Reference, one of Cannon Memorial Library's eBook and eReference resources, now offers a collection of library resource guides (LibGuides) to help you get started with your research projects.

Use one of the Credo Reference LibGuides to find eBooks and reference articles on topics from Ancient Civilizations to Art History, Philosophy, and Religion. New guides are being added regularly. They link you directly into content owned or licensed by the library.

New Books (and Ebooks) Lists Online

Rachel Longstaff, Catalog Librarian and Associate Professor, recently announced:

"The New Books List for May through July, 2011, is now available from Cannon Memorial Library:

http://www.saintleo.libguides.com/new_books.

"In addition, 15,000 new e-books have been added to Ebrary

"The list can be accessed from the Library website by clicking on What’s New? -- New Books List or by going to LibGuides and clicking on New Books @ Your Library July 2011.

"Please note that there are drop-down tabs under some of the subjects, notably Language and Literature, due to the large number of titles added."

The New Books List is arranged by subject area or discipline, and includes new print books to be checked out (off-campus students use the Interlibrary Loan), print reference books (not to be checked out), and electronic books (to be read on your computer).

JSTOR: New Arrival

Symbols indicate SLU library access

Please welcome our newest summer arrival, JSTOR. Located in the databases section of the library's online resources, there are two JSTOR collections (269 titles) providing full coverage from the first to the latest issue of each.

A basic search reveals four types of results (see graphic image): content the library has, tables of contents, full-text on external sites, and citations only. If all you get is a citation, simply use the AtoZ Journal List to check for the journal title elsewhere on the library's website. Or, if that does not work, fill out the "article request" form and we will take it from there.

Using the advanced search feature allows you to search only the 269 journals the library has in JSTOR.

Free Downloads from the National Academies Press Website

http://www.nap.edu/

The National Academies Press has announced that all of the PDF versions of the more than 200 books it publishes annually will now be available online for free download.

According to the June 2 press release, "The National Academies—National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council—are committed to distributing their reports to as wide an audience as possible."

This represents a backlog of more than 4,000 PDF eBooks in the fields of science, medicine, and engineering. Special categories include:

Agriculture

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Biography and Autobiography

Biology and Life Sciences

Computers and Information Technology

Conflict and Security Issues

Earth Sciences

Education

Energy and Energy Conservation

Engineering and Technology

Environment and Environmental Studies

Food & Nutrition

Health and Medicine

Industry and Labor

Math, Chemistry and Physics

Policy for Science and Technology

Space and Aeronautics

Transportation and Infrastructure

So, let the downloading begin!

EBSCOhost and WilsonWeb Announce Merger

EBSCOhost and WilsonWeb

Database providers EBSCOhost and WilsonWeb have announced a merger of their two services, which will operate under the EBSCOhost banner.  The migration of resources is anticipated to be complete by December 2011.  EBSCOhost announced the acquisition of the eBook company, netLibrary, in May 2010. Look for changes in the search selections and interfaces in the coming months, along with blog posts to help you through the change process.

BreathingBooks microblog compiles amazing digital images

Prepare to be amazed at the quality of the digital images archived at this microblog! 

The BreathingBooks microblog features artistic digital images of books and their readers.

Clearly, this microblogger has an excellent eye for digital art and for presenting them within themes in various microblogs, including this one.

Sign up for a tumblr.com account to post a comment, reblog content, or subscribe to an RSS feed.

Citation Guides and Website Evaluation Tools from EasyBib

EasyBib logo

The library subscribes to the upgraded version of EasyBib, the citation assistant. The only way to access the upgraded content is by logging into the service from the library's website, so that you are redirected from our ezproxy server.

The upgraded subscription to EasyBib provides a website evaluation tool, as well as MLA and APA eBook style guides. Enjoy using these helpful tools.

Special Resources on Conflict and Terrorism

From NewsBank

Following the death of Osama bin Laden, Salem Press and NewsBank responded with special resources and reports.

You will find several articles from reference books published by Salem Press on their Issues Today online site. You may dowload, duplicate, and share as many copies as you wish.

In a similar vein, NewsBank has assembled a new Special Report on the subject. You will find all related news reports and articles linked from a single page for easy access.

Bringing Multimedia to the K12 Classroom--Education Majors Take Note

"SchoolTube.com is the nation's largest K-12 moderated video sharing website that provides students and educators with a safe and FREE video sharing website that is exclusively endorsed by leading education associations."

Because it is moderated, it is a safe environment where materials made by and for students, organized into strands or channels, can be shared and used for educational purposes. In April, the site is asking for videos showing "what you and your club, school or community is doing to celebrate" Earth Day.

There are over a dozen professional organizations and companies serving as educational partners on the site. It has grown from its launch in 2006 to become the "largest teacher moderated video sharing website" in the United States.

Random House Children's Books provides a channel featuring video "book talks" and related resources to encourage reading in grades K-12.

"Smartlink" in EBSCO Activated for Linked Full Text

The "smartlink" feature is now activated in our EBSCO database collections.  After you run a search and find an article that is available by "linked full text," click the link and make sure your pop-up blocker is disabled. Otherwise the feature will not be able to open the resource in a new browser window.  Give it a try and let us know what you think by sending us an email.

New Titles for Philosophy Majors (and Others) in Credo Reference eBook Collection

The Credo Reference eBook Collection has recently added or updated these titles: Encyclopedia of American Studies, The New Encyclopedia of the American West, OECD Factbook 2010: Economic, Environmental and Social Statistics, Debrett's People of Today 2011, and the Handbook of Research on Teaching the English Language Arts.

Philosophy majors, take notice. There are several new titles you may want to consult for your studies, such as: Meet the Philosophers of Ancient Greece, Encyclopedia of Classical Philosophy, Encyclopedia of Ethics, The Essentials of Philosophy and Ethics, and Great Thinkers A-Z.

Free Article Downloads from Salem Press

Picture Courtesy of CNN Archives

Salem Press, a division of EBSCO Publishing, and the well-known publisher of reference works such as Magill's Masterplots and the Critical Insights series, announced today a program to provide free access each week to "a few articles/chapters that will shed light on issues in the news."

They begin with "Nuclear Energy" from the Encyclopedia of Global Resources, "Climate (various articles)" from Encyclopedia of Global Warming, "Enrico Fermi" from Great Lives from History: Inventors and Inventions, and "Soviet Chernobyl Nuclear Plan Undergoes Meltdown" from Great Events from History: The Twentieth Century: 1971-2000.

You are allowed to "download these articles freely, print as many copies of these as you need, and distribute them any way you'd like." Nice...Thanks, Salem Press.

Search Gale eBooks on Your Mobile Device

Have you noticed the link for enabling searching in our Gale eBook collections using your mobile devices? It is just above the link for Gale Virtual Reference Library in the eBooks and eReference section of the Online Library Resources page.

You'll find the free QR codes online as part of the AccessMyLibrary College Edition campaign.

"ScienceCinema" Search Tool from the U.S. Department of Energy

In February 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) launched ScienceCinema, a new way to search DOE's extensive video resources.

Jeffrey Salmon, Deputy Director for Resource Management with the DOE Office of Science, said, "ScienceCinema's pioneering search and retrieval capability provides the public with a way to quickly access and view our multimedia-based R&D information."

You can search for specific words or phrases, then get results in the form of video snippets. The snippets have a media timeline indicating where in the video the terms were spoken.

ScienceCinema was developed by the DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) in partnership with Microsoft Research.

ebrary Titles Top 52,000

The Cannon Memorial Library's ebrary (eBook) subscription just increased by more than 1,000 titles to a total of 52,100 academic research eBooks that you can read on your computer. Here are some titles that were just added to the subscription:

• From Utopia to Apocalypse: Science Fiction and the Politics of Catastrophe, by Peter Y. Palk
• Invisible Gorilla: And Other Ways Our Intuitions Deceive Us, by Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris
• Accelerating Out of the Great Recession: How To Win in a Slow-Growth Economy, by David Rhodes and Daniel Stelter
• Complete Guide to Referencing and Avoiding Plagiarism (2nd edition), Colin Neville
• Health and Society: Key Debates in Health Care, by Roger Taylor
• Emerging Practices in Cyberculture and Social Networking, Daniel Riha and Anna Maj

You will find ebrary listed as one of the eBooks and eReference Resources in the Online Library Resources section of the site. To read one of the suggested titles, logon to ebrary and search for the book title. It's as easy as that!

New Books for January

Looking for something new to read? Want to know if the library has recently added new books, either in print or electronic format, to a subject of personal interest? There's a link for that--Enjoy! The books are on us! <G>

New books list for

Daniel A. Cannon Memorial Library

(January 2011)

http://www.saintleo.libguides.com/new_books

Geeky Fun--Online Collaborative Writing Tools

from http://foldingstory.com

I was trawling around on the “Geeky Fun” section of the MakeUseOf website the other day and found a list of “7 Collaborative Storytelling Websites to Weave Your Own Digital Stories” that I just have to share with you.  Collaborative writing is a modern, online prose version of group poetry, renga, and an updated version of the "exquisite corpse" method of group writing. 

Whether you are an experienced writer, just getting started, or simply like to read cool stuff that you’ve never seen in print before, these sites are for you:

1.       Folding Story—“writing game where each writer is constrained to write one line of a story (120 wrods or less) and pass it on…in just three minutes” 

2.       Ficly—“micro-fiction in a collaborative way”  

3.       Fabulate—“collaborative book project” with submissions maximum 500 words and each entry must pick up where the last left off and continue to build a cohesive end product 

4.       WikiStory—collaborative storytelling in all genres; check out the “three-word story” challenge 

5.       One Million Monkeys Typing—“each story has three possible paths” to which you may add your own snippet 

6.       StoryMash—“might appeal to amateur writers who want some of the spoils of their writing…site shares half of the advertizing revenue stories get with their writers;” chapter-length submissions and peer-review 

7.       Novlet—multiple languages; each story “is divided into passages” that you may continue or branch off in a new direction 

Internet Public Library logo (http://www.ipl.org/)

The Internet Public Library’s site offers a pathfinder page for more creative writing resources.

“There’s an app for that” at the Library of Congress

Thomas Jefferson Building, Library of Congress

The Library of Congress (LOC) in Washington, DC, is the world’s largest library.  It is composed of the Thomas Jefferson Building (c. 1897), the John Adams Building (c. 1935), and the James Madison Memorial Building (c. 1974). You could spend days, weeks or months exploring the various buildings, to say nothing of the library’s collections. 

Now, skip the trip to DC and design your own virtual tour experience at the Library of Congress’s myLOC site.  Start with virtual tours of the various exhibit spaces and all three buildings. Move on to online activities, a Knowledge Quest, and more.  Teachers will find lesson plans for using the Library of Congress’s vast resources in all subject areas. 

Or, go to the iTunes store to get the free LOC app to take the virtual tour on your iPhone or iPad. 

You can register at the site to access its many special features. 

From the Director's Chair--New Trial Databases in EBSCOhost

 

The library is evaluating 14 databases from EBSCO through June 2011 for possible purchase.  Logon and choose the link for "EBSCOhost Research Databases (Trial Databases)" as shown in the image above to try out some of them.

   

The databases being considered for purchase are:     Academic Search Complete

     Computers and Applied Sciences Complete

     Criminal Justice Abstracts

     Education Research Complete

     Environment Complete

     History Reference Center

     Humanities International Complete

     Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text

     Literary Reference Plus

     Newspaper Source Plus

     Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

     Science Reference Center

     SocINDEX with Full text

    "The library is looking at a proposal from EBSCO that would involve adding these databases while eliminating some others from ProQuest and Wilson.  There’s a good chance that we’ll be reconfiguring our overall menu of databases for next year, so your feedback about these trial databases is important and welcomed," said Brent Short, Director of Library Services.

Leave a comment here telling us which ones you like, which ones you don't like, and why.  Your input will help shape the decision about these possible new resources.   

Subject Research Guides--What's What and Where To Find It

We know you often use the library late at night, long after the reference desk has closed for the evening.  So, faculty librarians created a series of Subject Research Guides to help you find your way to the best resources to begin your research. 

There's a 3-minute video tutorial explaining how to use the subject research guides.

We now have 29 subject research guides.  Topics include Accounting, Business, Computer Information Systems, Counseling, Criminal Justice, Environmental Science, Exceptional Student Education, Fine Arts, Health Care Management, Human Resources Administration, International Hospitality & Tourism Management, Psychology, Religion & Theology, Social Work, and Sport Business Management. 

Use the "comments" area of the blog to suggest other subjects for new research guides or email us.