Renew books online

Did you know you can renew library books online? Before the library book/video, etc is due, use the library catalog to renew the item. Access the library catalog, select My Library Card (top of screen), login with 14 digit barcode (215...), which is on the back of your student ID, and password (your last name). Next select Loans and renew the item(s).
Renew books video demonstration

Basic Computing Tips

David Pogue's "Basic Computing Tips" is quite useful. This blog post provide basic computing and camera tips that everyone should know. Scan the readers' comments too. David Pogue is a technology writer for the New York Times.

Tuition & Fees database

The Chronicle of Higher Education has just created a database of undergraduate tuition and required fees of 3100 private and public universities, colleges, and community colleges. "This Chronicle.com - Tuition & Fees database shows the tuition and required fees at more than 3,100 colleges and universities in the academic years 2007-8 and 2008-9 as well as earlier years. For 2008-9, charges for both state residents and out-of-state residents are listed. The 2007-8 figures cover state residents only."

Bookmobile via burro

The NYTimes article, Acclaimed Colombian Institution has 4,800 Books and 10 legs, is about a man who travels around his Colombian province via burros to deliver books to people in remote areas. This story of Luis Soriano work biblioburro is wonderful and touches on the power of literacy.

South Dakota Election Guide 2008

This Election 2008 subject guide was created to inform faculty/staff and students about the candidates and issues citizens will vote on November 4, 2008. Last day to register in South Dakota is October 20.

The guide includes information on local, state, and national races. South Dakota's election also includes seven ballot issues (4 constitutional amendments, 3 initiated measures). Please review the guide and make suggestions.

Access eBooks for free

The Williams Library and others provide online access to electronic books (eBooks). The free services provide access to classics, historical texts, and other titles published before 1923 (i.e. copyright). NetLibrary houses current titles on a wide range of subjects. Browse and search these different eBook databases. Below is a list of ebook provides. More information is available on the ebook page.

• NetLibrary (NSU only)
  Collection of electronic books (13,000) covering a wide range of disciplines. The library catalog also includes NetLibrary records (In the catalog select the link in record to access the ebook).


• Oxford Scholarship Online (NSU only)
  Full texts of over 700 Oxford titles in economics and finance, philosophy, political science, and religion. The library catalog also includes Oxford records (In the catalog select the link in record to access the ebook).


• Project Gutenberg
  Project Gutenberg is the first and largest single collection (20,000) of free electronic books, or eBooks. Select Bookshelf to see the eBooks by category.


• Internet Archive - Texts
  The Internet Archive is a non-profit that was founded to build an Internet library, with the purpose of offering permanent access for researchers, etc. in the digital format. Texts is one aspect of the site. Also, check out the sub-collections in the middle of the Texts' homepage.


• Online Books (University of Pennsylvania)
  The Online Books Page is a website that facilitates access to books that are freely readable over the Internet. It also aims to encourage the development of such online books, for the benefit and edification of all.


• Google Books
  Google and its library partners are scanning books and making them available to the public. The out-of-copyright titles are available full-text (or All Text). Use the Advanced Search for more precise searching.

EBSCO's new visual search

EBSCOhost has recently updated it Visual Search, for the better. It now is Flash-based and no longer uses Grokker or those awful circles. The visual search is more user friendly, but I do not think it makes the quality or relevance review of articles any easier or faster. I think one might be more quick to dismiss an article in the visual search interface versus the normal list interface (I see a study on the horizon). Plus, one is not able to search a specific field unless he knows the field codes (e.g. SO = Journal). I am now contemplating how to teach this search interface during my instruction. View EBSCO's Flash demo of the new Visual Search and try it yourself. Select one of the EBSCO databases (e.g. Academic Search Complete, Business Resource Center), then select visual search.

EDUCAUSE 2008 Horizon Report released

The 2008 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report(PDF) was recently released and it provides quality information to help institutions, faculty, and students to better understand trends in technology and higher education. The report discusses six emerging technologies, critical challenges to higher education institutions, and significant trends. Some of the report restates what is already known, but places the information in context and provides a time line for adoption. This report is always worth the time to read.

Forum Discusses Social Networks

Much has been discussed about Facebook, MySpace, and other social network sites from a number of perspectives. Last week the Economist magazine created an online forum to discuss social networks in education. I think much of the discuss was directed toward K-12 usage, but not all. Is there a place in education for social network software? Are Facebook and MySpace the best programs? Please review the Economist forum and the responses listed below.

• Economist forum on Social Networks
• Response by danah boyd
• Response by John Larkin

Growing Up Online

Tonight PBS' FRONTLINE airs "Growing UP Online"

"MySpace. YouTube. Facebook. Nearly every teen in America is on the Internet every day, socializing with friends and strangers alike, "trying on" identities, and building a virtual profile of themselves--one that many kids insist is a more honest depiction of who they really are than the person they portray at home or in school.

In Growing Up Online, "FRONTLINE peers inside the world of this cyber-savvy generation through the eyes of teens and their parents, who often find themselves on opposite sides of a new digital divide. From cyber bullying to instant "Internet fame," to the specter of online sexual predators, FRONTLINE producer Rachel Dretzin investigates the risks, realities and misconceptions of teenage self-expression on the World Wide Web."

If you miss the TV program, watch it online.

FRONTLINE homepage