Archives for February 2013

Learning Express

We have a free trial of Learning Express Library from now until March 20th.  The link is on the Trial Databases page or you can go here:

http://www.learningexpresslibrary.com

You must type in the following username and password to access it:

Username: 98877479968028

Password: topschool

Learning Express is an online learning platform featuring over 900 interactive course tutorials, practice tests and e-books related to test preparation, graduate school admissions test preparation, academic skills improvement and more.  From the links on the left, check out “Admissions and Placement Preparation” for test prep help on the following exams: GRE, MAT, GMAT, ACT, TOEFL iBT, CLEP, and COMPASS.  You can also select the “Occupation Practice Tests” for help with occupation exams like the NCLEX-RN  and Praxis I and Praxis II tests.

The trial has unlimited users, so share it with any students, faculty, and staff who might be interested.  Most importantly, give us your feedback on this database , and let us know if this is something you would use or recommend to your students.  Send your comments to chanan@atu.edu or post them in the comment thread below.

 

Robert Baden-Powell

Robert-Baden-PowellBaden-Powell was born Feb. 22, 1857 in London, Arkansas (lol) England. He was a British army officer, but became famous as founder of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts youth movements. He ran his first camp in 1907. His Scouting for Boys book was issued in 1908 and is since the essence of the movement.

See what the Tech Library holds on the boy scouts subject at http://goo.gl/vg8Vs.

See what Britannica Encyclopedia says on Baden Powell at http://goo.gl/viheE.

Lost Flash Drives

The Circulation desk at Ross OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAPendergraft Library reports that over 100 flash drives have been left behind in the computer labs.  Because of the location of the USB ports behind the monitor, it’s easy to walk off and leave your papers, music, photos, or other documents stuck in a computer.  When a lost flash drive is recovered, the Circulation staff first checks the device for any identifying information in the contents, like a paper or resume or other document with a name. Once a name has been identified as a current student, an email is sent to their official Arkansas Tech email account.   But many students never come claim their flash drives, and many more are lost every semester.

If you think you have left your flash drive in a library computer, swing by the Circulation desk to see if they still have it.  Owners must have an ID and some information about the size and contents of the device to claim it. You can give them a call at 479-964-0569.

Additionally, the 3rd floor Technology Center will also keep lost flash drives, and other materials left in the computer lab, for a certain period of time.  Contact Debbie Ennis at 479-498-6060 in room 306.

In the meantime, it is a good idea to always check that you have a file or document on it containing your contact information just in case you leave it behind.

500 years ago…

About 500 years ago, Nicolaus Copernicus wrote “Commentariolus”, a treatise laying the basis for his heliocentric (sun-centered) planetary system. He was born February 19, 1473 in Poland.Copernicus

See what CREDO reference says on his treatise at http://goo.gl/b95R0.
See what the Library holds on Copernicus at http://goo.gl/g933h.
Check the Tech eJournals on astronomy at http://goo.gl/fNMES.

Valentine’s Day Website

The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University works towards advancing sexual health and knowledge worldwide. For over 60 years, the institute has been a trusted source for investigating and informing the world about critical issues in sex, gender and reproduction.  The Kinsey Institute was founded in 1947 by pioneering sex researcher Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey.  The Kinsey Institute website features videos and podcasts of lectures in the field of sexual research, publications, and a wealth of ongoing research, bibliographies, data sets, full-text publications, and interview kits from Kinsey’s original studies.

Kinsey’s research, gathered from countless interviews of the sexual practices of Americans, introduced a new way of thinking and talking about sexuality into the public consciousness during the 1940’s-1960’s.   He is best known for the landmark studies,  Sexual Behavior in the Human Male and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female which are both available available at the Arkansas Tech Library (ask at the Reference desk to view these original first editions!!!).  In 2004, a major motion picture called Kinsey, starring Liam Neeson, was made about his life and research–a DVD copy is also available in the Music Lab for checkout.  For more information about Alfred Kinsey, see our catalog or ask a librarian. 

 

Mardi Gras

Want to know more about “Mardi Gras?”  Here’s some resources below to help you become more of an expert on the celebration taking place all over the world today.

  • Start with a search for “Mardi Gras” in Credo Reference, a database of over 600 reference books including encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other archives.
  • Go more in-depth in this article from 2008 about the recovery of the Mardi Gras festival in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, as well as the history of the evolution of the festival beginning in the late 1840s.
  • View historical costumes, krewes, and float designs from the 1870s to the 1970’s at Tulane University’s digital Carnival Collection, a free resource of digital images.
  • Or, just listen to some great Zydeco music by checking out Buckwheat Zydeco’s, “Ultimate Collection” available to all library users in the Music Lab on the 2nd floor.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

 

Free Journals February

For the month of February, we now have access to over 200 journals in the behavioral sciences published through Routledge (Taylor & Francis).  These journals cover subjects like Mental Health, Social Psychology, Neuropsychology, Cognitive Psychology, Psychotherapy and Counseling, Developmental Psychology, Gerontology, Work and Organizational Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychoanalysis, Creative Arts and Expressive Therapies, Behavioral Medicine and much more.  Just look for titles with the green box for free access to latest issues and archives.

Have a behavioral sciences article which you can’t find in full-text within any of our databases?  Try searching the journal title in this collection.  If you like what you find, let us know by contacting Angela Black, librarian for Behavioral Sciences.   Hurry–you have until Feb. 28th to sample these resources before they are no longer available.

Access Behavioral Science Journals:
http://bit.ly/oYulX6

Party Like It’s 1939

If you are looking for great movies to take home this weekend, consider some of classic movies from 1939–thought to be  the greatest year in film history.   At Arkansas Tech Library, you can find 1939 award-winning films such as:

Ask for any or all of these in the Music Lab on the 2nd floor of Arkansas Tech Library.  Take a peek at the golden age of Hollywood and world cinema by bringing one of these great movies to a small screen near you.

TRiO SSS

Federal TRiO logo program Student Support Services is now located on the 2nd floor of the Ross Pendergraft Library & Technology Center as of Friday, February 1, 2013. Director Lori Wineland and SSS Advisors, Lindsey Riedmueller and Nichole Christensen, along with a staff of peer tutors assist the 140 TRiO logo program participants. The goal of the program is to increase the retention and graduation rates among first generation, low income, and/or disabled students by providing comprehensive, individualized academic support. TRiO logo program SSS offers tutoring, informative workshops, study skills, financial aid information, economic financial literacy, career advising, academic advising, mentoring, cultural enrichment, graduate school planning, and much more!
For more information on TRiO logo SSS, go to http://www.atu.edu/sss/index.php.

Newspaper Database Trial

From now until Feb. 28th, the Arkansas Tech community is invited to help us test-drive a newspaper database called NewspaperDirect.  Featuring the digital editions of over 2,000 newspapers from around the world, this database allows you to search for news, sports, weather, and photographs published in the last 60 days.  Browse photographs, subscribe to RSS feeds, and share stories via email.  Search for specific topics within a specific range, or browse by country and date.   Read the online edition of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, including classifieds and editorials. Don’t have time to read?  Open the Interactive Radio icon and listen to the news via Windows Media Player.

During the trial period, the librarians at Arkansas Tech would like your feedback to help us shop for the best databases.  So try it out and tell us what you think.  Send your comments, suggestions, complaints, or compliments to Carol Hanan or just use the comment field below to tell us if you think this database is newsworthy.

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