Tuesday, September 15, 2009

American History in Video Trial Extended

Our originally short trial for database American History in Video has been extended through October 14th. It no longer requires a username or password for Concordia users. If you are attempting to access it off-campus, you will be asked to authenticate through our EZproxy server. This is the same login info as your main network login.

American History in Video provides the largest and richest collection of video available online for the study of American history, with 2,000 hours and more than 5,000 titles on completion. The collection allows students and researchers to analyze historical events, and their presentation over time, through commercial and governmental newsreels, archival footage, public affairs footage, and important documentaries. This release now provides 1479 titles, including new documentaries from PBS and archival footage, equaling approximately 462 hours.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

TechTalk @ the LTC: Using the New CLICnet Library Catalog

On Monday September 14, @ 4:00 pm in LTC 218 (upstairs from the library), CSP Librarians will be holding their first "Tech Talk" (formerly known as "Brown Bags") of the year, talking about and giving tips on how to use the new CLICnet library catalog. We'll be saying a few words about the catalog's new look, how searching works, navigating and limiting your results, the tagging function, making requests, saving lists, the fate of the old CLICnet, and more. Bring your laptops and come with questions.

Are there any topics you'd like covered in a "TechTalk"? If so, let us know in the comments or email us at reference@csp.edu.

New Style Manuals for MLA and APA

The newest editions (released in August) of the style manuals for both MLA (7th ed.) and APA (6th ed.) are now available On Reserve at the Reference Desk. If you'd like to see one of them, just ask a library staff member. They are filed under LIB001 on the Reserves shelf.

You can also access style and formatting guides on the new editions of the MLA and APA style manuals at the Purdue Online Writing Lab's Website: MLA and APA

Friday, September 4, 2009

Yes, You Can Request Videos From CLICnet

Students and faculty alike can request videos found in the CLICnet catalog. Augsburg and the Bethel Seminary Library are the only CLIC members (besides Concordia) who allow their videos to be requested directly through CLICnet using the "Request It" button. For videos from other libraries, you need to send the request directly through Amity Foster (foster@csp.edu) or by using the Video Request Form found on the CSP Library Website. It takes around 2 days for videos to arrive via the courier service.

Two caveats:

1. Some of the videos owned by Macalester show up in CLICnet with a "Request It" button because of an error in coding their records. This is misleading. If you try to use that button your request will be denied.

2. Not all videos you request will necessarily be lent. AV sharing is full of idiosyncrasies based on licenses and each library's policies. Still, most videos can be lent, so it is worth the small effort needed to send your request to Amity or fill out the Video Request Form.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

The Lower Level is the Quiet Area

The bottom floor of the library is the designated Quiet Area. Please keep noise to a minimum down there. If someone is being disruptive, please come tell a library staff member.

This doesn't make the rest of the library a designated Loud Area. If you need to have an extended phone conversation (anything longer than 2 minutes), please do so outside the library. Don't be surprised if you are asked to take your conversation elsewhere.

Always use headphones for audio inside the library.

If you are working in groups in the library please do so in the group study rooms. If no study rooms are available, the Pearson Commons is a better place to have a group meeting than the library.

The library is just sort of naturally louder between 10 and 12 every morning because of higher traffic. Be prepared for that, and consider a location downstairs if you need to concentrate during that time frame.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Try the Assignment Calculator! It is Free, Easy-to-Use, and Requires NoRegistration

The University of Minnesota offers a free web application called the Assignment Calculator which helps students schedule their research and writing activities for specific types of assignments over the course of a semester. It breaks your assignment down into steps, each with a deadline. Each step includes helpful tutorials only a click away when you need them. Here's a screenshot of part of an assignment guide:


Library Printing Tips

Here are some common problems and solutions to library printing problems:

-Choose printer Library1 or Library2 from the Print Menu.

-Getting an error message? First, make sure you're connected to the wireless network. Still nothing? Ask us for help!

-You can print on both sides by changing your settings in the Print Menu by choosing Properties, and then under settings for "Duplex", choose either "Long Edge" or "Open to Left".

-There are other ways you can customize your printing, like printing multiple power point slides per page. With Library1 or Library2 selected, look through your printing menu to familiarize yourself with your options.

-If you accidentally print a hundred page document, let someone at the Reference or Circulation Desk know ASAP so we can try to stop the job.

-Each student is credited with 500 printouts at the beginning of each semester. If you try to print something and nothing comes out of the printer, you should check your Printing Balance here: http://concordia.csp.edu/DocumentServices/Copy_Center/index.html. You can pay to have more credit added on at the Copy Center.

Also, please let us know about all paper jams and errors, and when they have run out of paper. We can't keep track of the printers 100% of the time and rely on you to let us know when they need maintenance.