The SLU Film Society Presents: Pacific Rim

The SLU Film Society presents:

Pacific Rim (2013)

When: Monday, October 21, 6:30 p.m.
Where: TECO Hall
What: Pacific Rim (2013, 131 minutes, PG-13)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro

Starring Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi, Idris Elba, and Ron Pearlman

In the humble estimation of the Film Society, Pacific Rim has no redeeming social value whatsoever. However, it is a rare and always interesting event when someone like del Toro, one of the world’s most highly skilled directors (Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth), chooses to make a summer action movie.

Pacific Rim follows the exploits of a group of human robot fighter specialists who must stop the threat presented by the emergence of monsters of the Godzilla/Gamera/Mothera variety. These monsters are bent on destroying Southeast Asia and then, presumably, the world. The result is pure film. This is a movie that makes us very happy.

The film will be shown in English with Spanish subtitles.

Join us for the film, discussion, and light refreshments. For further information, contact Donald Pharr (8280), Carol Ann Moon (8261), or Marcela Van Olphen (8370). We look forward to seeing you there!

The SLU Film Society and the Spanish Club Present: The Impossible

Please join the SLU Film Society and the Spanish Club as they present the film The Impossible.

Starring Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, and Tom Holland, the film is based on a true story, depicting a family taking a luxury vacation in Thailand in 2004. Suddenly the historic tsunami hits and obliterates everything around them, separating the family and severely injuring the mother (Watts, who received an Oscar nomination for best lead actress). What happens in the aftermath is incredible.

In the humble opinion of the Film Society, J.A. Bayona (The Orphanage) is one of the best young directors on the planet.

Come join us for a remarkable experience of film, discussion, and light refreshments. For further information, contact Donald Pharr (8280), Carol Ann Moon (8261), or Marcela van Olphen (8370). We look forward to seeing you!

John David Harding: Writing and Research Instructor

An additional Writing and Research Instructor has joined the Saint Leo Pride!

John David Harding received his BA in English with a focus in Creative Writing from Louisiana State University in 2008 and then went on to complete his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Fiction) at LSU in 2011. In addition to his studies, John David taught creative writing and composition at LSU, where he was also a graduate assistant for classes in Shakespeare and Contemporary Fiction. For two summers, he assisted with courses at a summer program for high school students at Northwestern University in Chicago. When he was a junior in college, he began his teaching career as a writing tutor at the LSU Writing Center.

Coming from a small town, Phenix City, Alabama, John David likes to read and write, play easy video games, and visit the amazing state parks of Florida.

John David is absolutely committed to serving our distance learning community! You can make an appointment for writing help by emailing john.harding@saintleo.edu or calling (352)-588-7576. His hours (EDT) are Tues 11:00-8:00; Wed 8:00-5:00; Thurs 11:00-8:00; Fri 8:00-5:00; Sat 10:00-7:00.

Please join the library staff and Saint Leo Community in welcoming John David to the Pride!

Changes to Library Services: WorldCat

Hello, Saint Leo Pride. it has been a while since the last blog post, and there are some exciting new changes coming to the services that the library will be providing our patrons. Beginning August, our catalog database will be switching to WorldCat, and we will be implementing LibAnswers, a new way to ask and retrieve answers for reference and library questions.

WorldCat is a global system with user-friendly features that will be replacing our existing catalog. Much like our current search box, Worldcat can be accessed through the library website. The result format will look different (as seen below), but you will still be able to limit your search by different criteria, such as book, eBook, language, and many others. A great feature that WorldCat provides is that if we do not possess a book in our collection if it is available at any surrounding libraries.

This new system allows for easier use of access, retrieving materials, and has a more aesthetically pleasing display. Further details to be announced as the time draws near!

Updating Reserve Items at the Circulation Desk

The Daniel A. Cannon Memorial Library is currently updating all reserve items at the circulation desk. Items on reserve will be either re-shelved in the circulating stacks or returned to faculty. If you would like course materials placed on reserve for the upcoming term, please complete the form found through our website and submit to cecilia.bolich@saintleo.edu.

All requests should be emailed by August 23 for the Fall 2013 semester to ensure availability.

-Aimee Graham, Online Librarian - 

Happy Fourth of July!

From all of us at the Daniel Cannon Memorial Library, we are wishing everyone a safe and happy 4^th of July! In celebration of our nation’s birthday, the library at Saint Leo University is displaying works of America’s history! Browse the collection regarding America’s history, and if you’re craving something a bit more informative, our catalog can help you find even more texts of Americana! We also have a great collection from American writers in our stacks, including Hemingway, Irving, Steinbeck, and so many others that made American literature the masterpiece it is today. Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend!

-Aimee Graham, Online Librarian -

Saint Leo University has been named in the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll! Established in 2006, this honor recognizes higher education institutions that reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their community. Whether through the university wide Community Service Day or the numerous activities conducted by different groups and organizations on campus, Saint Leo University is a shining example of philanthropy at a Catholic institution.

Whether you are new on campus or would like to find opportunities to volunteer, contact the Center for Values, Service & Leadership, including information on AmeriCorps and Saint Leo’s alternative spring break program, SERVE (Students Engaged in Relevant Volunteer Experiences).

Once again congrats to the SLU Pride!

-Aimee Graham, Online Librarian - 

ebrary is a free mobile app for both iOS and Android users that lets researchers have access to scholarly e-books through a variety of platforms. Users can access Saint Leo’s e-books from leading publishers and even upload research – outside of the library platform – through the DASH!(Data Sharing, Fast) feature.

Key features and benefits of ebrary’s apps include:

• Online and offline reading
• Seamless downloading of full titles
• Simple and advanced search
• Multiple navigation controls
• Table of contents with relevancy rankings
• Early check-in of ebrary’s e-books
• Copy and paste with automatic citation for offline documents
• User configurable download size warnings
• Import and use documents from other sources
• Available in English and Spanish
• Optional sign-in with Facebook user name and password
• Email ID based authentication
• Use of up to 6 different devices from the same account

Take a gander and send some reviews back! Have a great week everyone!

-Aimee Graham, Online Librarian - 

Your CHOICE® of Online Research Sites

Art, Communications, History and Current Culture (Reference): Flickr: The Commons, a subsite of Yahoo!’s photo-sharing site.

CHOICE® reviewers wrote: “This is the most accessible collection of freely available historical photographs on the Web, and the rich metadata make photos easy to find.” Participating institutions include: the George Eastman House, the Getty Research Institute, the New York Public Library, the Smithsonian Institution, NADA, and the national archive of the US, the UK, Norway, and the Netherlands.

URL: http://www.flickr.com/commons

Computer and Information Science: AI (Artificial Intelligence) Topics, from the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI).

Aimed primarily at AI students and faculty, an editorial review board selects materials “to be accessible to all interested readers.” Articles date from the 1980s; video sources include materials from the 1940s and 1960s. The site employs standard Google search methods. Readers may submit materials to the review board for consideration using an online submission form. Not all articles can be freely provided, although each includes citations and abstracts. Saint Leo University students, faculty, and staff can use citations to track full-text back to university databases for full-text delivery, or search for individual eJournals by title using the AtoZ Journal List to locate full-text from online library resources.

URL: http://aitopics.net/

Health Care and Medical Technology: Influenza Encyclopedia, from the University of Michigan Center for the History of Medicine and MPublishing.

Similar to The Great Pandemic: The United States in 1918-1919 <http://www.flu.gov/pandemic/history/1918/>, the Influenza Encyclopedia site is actually an encyclopedia solely about the American flu epidemic of 1918-1919. It addresses how the Department of Health and Human Services used two University of Michigan Center for the History of Medicine research studies to “form policy decisions on handling pandemic influenza.” Fifty US cities are represented, each with an essay and supplemental materials. The site is based on primary source materials, including images, and is divided into four topics: People, Places, Organizations, and Subjects.

URL: http://www.influenzaarchive.org/

Health Care, Sociology and Social Work (Reference): The Human Mortality Database, created by demographers John R. Wilmoth (Univ. of California, Berkeley) and Vladimir Shkolnikov (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Germany).

On the home page, site developers Wilmoth and Shkolnikov explain that it was “created to provide detailed mortality and population data to researchers, students, policy analysts and others interested in the history of human longevity,” such as those majoring in or researching topics in the fields of health care, sociology, anthropology, or social work. At present, there are 37 countries included, each with data sets linked from the site’s home page. Use the left-hand frame for navigation to sections such as registration, projects, people, methods, data, and links. If you need this type of data, you might also consider looking at the United Nations’ Population and Vital Statistics Report at <http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/vitstats/>. For similar data on the United States, look at the US Census Bureau's The National Data Book, the online version of the series known as The Statistical Abstract of the United States or link to it from the library's online catalog, LeoCat.

URL: http://www.mortality.org/

History and Archeology : Texas beyond History: The Virtual Museum of Texas’ Cultural Heritage, from the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin, in partnership with the Department of Anthropology at Texas State University, the Council of Texas Archeologists and 15 other organizations. 

Launched in 2001, the site seeks to “interpret and share” a bounty of research into "at least 13,500 years" of Texas history and archeology. The site includes virtual museum exhibits, Gr. 4-7 curricular materials, and a clickable map to 60 other Texas sites. Additional resources are listed in the Credits and Sources section of individual pages. The site has been infrequently updated in recent years, but still provides a great jumping-off point for both academic and lay researchers.

URL: http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/

Scholarly Communications (Reference): The Scholarly Kitchen, from the Society for Scholarly Publishing.

This moderated blog was started in 2008 by the Society for Scholarly Publishing and focuses on “scholarly publishing, particularly in scientific, technical, and medical fields.” Use the "Follow" button on the lower right of the home page or the Twitter, RSS Feed, and Email Notifications features on the right-hand side of the home page to sign up for notifications from the site. Readers can search by contributor, keyword, or a topical index, as well as join in the scholarly discussions of individual articles using the "comments" feature. You might want to compare it to the SPARC (Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition) blog site,< http://www.arl.org/sparc/media/blog/index.shtml>.

URL: http://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/   

Undergraduate Instructional Materials (Reference): PRIMO; Peer-Reviewed Instructional Materials Online, from the Instruction Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries, a division of the American Library Association.

Started as the Internet Education Project by ACRL’s Instruction Section, this database is regularly updated and curated by section members. Tutorials are selected for “their strong instructional value” and can be used by both academic librarians and undergraduate subject faculty interested in developing the research skills of their students. The collection presently tops 250 tutorials created from 1996 to the present. Navigate the site by browsing or searching. Results include the tutorial record, a short description, the tutorial link, and data from the developers.

URL: http://www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl/directoryofleadership/sections/is/iswebsite/projpubs/primo/

--Items selected by
Sandra Lee Hawes,
eLibrary News Editor,
from CHOICE Reviews
March 2013, Vol. 50, No. 7

Boolean Searches: Easier Than You Think

Finding research for a paper can seem like a daunting undertaking, especially if you’ve never had to conduct such thorough research. Maybe it’s for a subject you are not familiar with, for a thesis, or your topic is so narrow that you need articles on a specific topic alone. Well, have no fear: Boolean Search is here!

The logic of Boolean search is pretty straightforward and will save you a great deal of time narrowing down resources. There are three key terms to remember: AND, OR, and NOT. 

• OR: Search results will contain either one or several or all of the search terms. Best used when you want to pull together results on similar topics.
• AND: Search results will contain all search terms, and results where one of the terms is missing will be excluded. AND is best used when you want to retrieve only those results where the search terms overlap.
• NOT: Used to exclude keywords from your search, this term is most effective when your search is ambiguous.

Boolean searches may be utilized through the library databases and numerous search engines (including Google), so they really are an essential logic to learn. Makeuseof.com has a great article on Boolean searches, including pictures, diagrams, and further interpretations. Take a look and find some relief with your research! Until next time!

-Aimee Graham, Online Librarian -

Top 100 Search Engines for Academic Research

Hello once again, SLU Pride! It has been a while since the last entry, but we are back and in full form!

Being librarians, we understand that sometimes you will use sources for research other than what we have available at our library. Of course we prefer you choose us, but if in a bind, or can’t find the exact information you are looking for, we want you to use credible sources. This is why today’s entry showcases the Top 100 Search Engines for Academic Research, a helpful tool to set you on the path to academic excellence.

Teachthought.com has generated this list in order to keep researchers supplied with information, and will expose researchers to sources they may have never heard of before! The list is organized by genre, with a category for nearly every discipline, and includes reference, general searches, journals, databases, and books.

This list is definitely bookmark worthy, and a great fallback in the event the CML does not have the sources you are looking for. Make sure to check the sources available through the Reference Desk or contact our Interlibrary Loan department if assistance is required! 

-          Aimee Graham, Online Librarian - 

15 Tips for Keeping Yourself Healthy While In College

College is an experience unlike any other. For traditional students, it is the first time away from home and an opportunity to experience a new life, new friends, new surroundings, and a new set of obligations and increasing personal responsibilities. Non-traditional students, such as the many students in our Continuing Education and Distance Learning programs, simultaneously juggle the responsibilities of family, employment, and studies. In both scenarios, whether you attend courses on a campus or virtually, college can be stressful. 

Adaptation to any new environment can wreak havoc on the body, so remember to take care of yourselves. Focusing on your health while attending college is imperative. Poor health can severely affect your college experience. Here are 15 Everyday Health Tips for College Students, taken from Hive Health Media, to get you started:

1. Eat breakfast. Choose a meal that includes whole grains, some protein, fruits or vegetables, and low-fat dairy products for a balanced meal.

2. Drink water. Many people don’t drink enough fluids through the day and misinterpret signs of dehydration as hunger. Carry a water bottle with you and refill it as needed.

3. Include fruits and vegetables in your diet regularly. These healthy foods are packed with vitamins and are a good source of fiber, so be sure to include a few servings in your diet every day.

4. Don’t skip meals. It can be tempting to forget to eat when you are busy, but your body needs fuel if it is going to have enough energy to help you get through the day.

5. Go to sleep at the same time each night. It can be challenging to try to get to bed at the same time each night, but if you can stick to a regular routine you will have a better chance of getting a good night’s sleep.

6. Avoid all-night study sessions. While you may think cramming for an exam or working to finish a paper at the last-minute is the right thing to do, not getting enough sleep will have a major impact on your performance in the morning.

7. Stop drinking coffee and caffeinated beverages well before bedtime if it tends to keep you awake at night. Switch to decaffeinated tea or have a glass of milk before bed to help you relax and get the rest you need.

8. Take a nap. If you find yourself feeling listless during the day and you have some time in your schedule, take a short nap. It will help you to reset your internal energy clock and give you the boost you need.

9. Wash your hands. Making a point of washing your hands after using the washroom, before eating, and after you have been around someone who has been ill can prevent illness.

10. Wear flip flops in the shower. Even though shared facilities are cleaned regularly, it’s still possible to pick up bacteria and viruses that can cause athlete’s foot and warts.

11. Go to the gym. Take advantage of on-campus recreational facilities. Here at Saint Leo, we offer a fully equipped fitness center, Olympic-size swimming pool, and other recreational facilities. Getting regular exercise is a great way to stay fit, make friends, and deal with stress.

12. Sign up for a fitness class. Many schools offer on-campus fitness classes. The cost is already covered as part of your tuition, so you may as well take time out of your schedule to enjoy some regular physical activity.

13. Create a schedule for yourself. Set aside time each day for sleep, study, writing papers, working out, meals, and breaks. It will be easier to manage college life if you have a plan for your day set out in advance.

14. Plan to spend time with friends. It’s important to have some “down” time in your schedule so that you can have a meal together or just hang out. Make plans to go for a walk, see a movie, or watch television together. Everyone needs to do something other than focus on school for a time each day.

15. Ask for help. If you feel overwhelmed while at college and a good night’s sleep and discussing the situation with a friend doesn’t help you to feel better, don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance. There are services available on campus to help. Make an appointment to see a doctor, nurse, counselor, or tell a trusted instructor about how you are feeling.

One of the most essential and rewarding things you can do for yourself as a college student is take care of yourself, and there are many resources on the Saint Leo Campus to help you keep on track. Many of these services are available to our off-campus and online communities as well. Just ask.

-Aimee Graham, Online Librarian-

--Edited by S. Hawes, 5.29.13

New University Portal

https://portal.saintleo.edu

You may have received several messages lately announcing that the current university portal will be replaced with a new one beginning May 20th. 

All of the features of the current portal will be available, as well as additional ones including the integration of your calendar, email, and to-do list. The first time you log in, you will need to enter your username and password on the main page to synchronize these with your Outlook/Outlook 365 account in response to a gray error message asking you to log in.  

As the portal matures, many new features will become available, such as “Team” and “My Sites.” Additionally, a new eLion self-service finance view for students will soon be available. This will enable students to view account activity, make a payment, and view student statements  via the new portal interface.  Your current username and password will work with the new portal.

The new portal is constituency-based, meaning it shows you options based on your status as student, alumni, faculty, or staff.  If you belong to more than one of these groups (e.g. student and alumni or student and staff), your primary group will be your default (e.g. student if you are both student and alumni).  When you log in to the new portal page, you will see the Constituency tab located near the top left of the page under the university logo. Click on the constituency name in the drop-down list to choose your constituency.  We expect the portal home page to default to the user’s primary constituency in the near future. 

Note that several versions of the Chrome browser yield unexpected results when using the new portal, so we recommend not using that browser until those issues have been corrected by the vendor. Currently supported browsers include:  IE7; IE8; IE9; Chrome 9.x; Chrome 10.x; Chrome 20; Firefox 8.x; Safari 4.0; Safari 5.0; and Safari 5.1. 

University Technology Services (UTS) has extended testing of the new portal for at least seven days, so please make sure to give your feedback!

For more information, contact the Help Desk at (352) 588-8888 or help.desk@saintleo.edu.

--Edited by S.Hawes, 5.29.13

Library Closure (Memorial Day Weekend)

Good morning Saint Leo Family, I hope the summer is treating you well thus far!

The Daniel Cannon Memorial Library will be closed on Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day, and May 28 for maintenance. However, the staff and faculty of the library will still be on hand on May 28th to answer any of your questions, concerns, and research help by calling (352)588-8477 or emailing us at reference.desk@saintleo.edu.

While Memorial Day is traditionally celebrated on the fourth Monday in May, the official holiday is Thursday, May 30.  All faculty, staff, and students are asked to wear red, white, and blue on Thursday, May 30, to honor the men and women who serve our great nation.

This year, Saint Leo University celebrates our 40-year anniversary of providing educational services to the military, veterans, and their families. This significant milestone is being commemorated through Veterans Day 2013 with special programming including lectures, films, and related events that educate the university community and general public about the role the military has played in American life. 

On behalf the Daniel Cannon Memorial Library, I would like to thank all who have served, are serving, and those who gave their lives for this nation. Enjoy the long weekend!

-Aimee Graham, Online Librarian -

10 Digital Skills to Know Before You Go

St. Edward Hall, SLU Campus, FL

As readers of this blog know, the content is provided to help you along your journey at Saint Leo University. Whether it is information regarding a particular subject, writing skills, or just tidbits of general interest, we want you use the information to succeed in academics and beyond. 

So with graduation ceremonies concluded, summer session underway, and preparations for the fall semester being made, it is time to think about additional tools and skills to help you succeed, either as a student or a recent graduate.

Most Saint Leo University students are fairly tech-savvy, but with today's dependence on technology, particularly in the employment sector, there are several key skills you should know before you start sending out your résumé. 

For example, Mat Patronzio at Mashable.com suggests that you "Don't Leave College Without These 10 Digital Skills" (May 6, 2013). He gives a brief overview of why you need these 10 digital skills: setting up a Wi-Fi network, backing up to the Cloud, basic photo editing, basic video editing, Google Drive and Microsoft Office, HTML and basic coding, setting up a website and domain, converting file formats, online banking, and branding yourself. 

If you look at the list and feel overwhelmed, have no fear! There are plenty of online tutorials to show how to develop these skills and many can be found on Youtube. Of course, you can simply fool around with some products, such as Adobe Element for basic editing skills, to acquire the suggested skill set. 

As always, feel free to contact us here at the Daniel Cannon Memorial Library with your questions. We are here to assist you. Happy Exploring!

-Aimee Graham, Online Librarian-

--Sandra Hawes (ed.)