Does the Internet weigh over 1 trillion pounds?

According to Crave at cnet.uk, if you add up the weight of the computers, peripherals, cables, servers, etc. the Internet weights about 1,098,868,920,000 pounds. Other people have pointed out this does not include many handheld devices, and the physical building structures that houses the main servers, etc. All this weight for a paperless society?

New Library Mobile site

The Williams Library has created a mobile site which is accessible from various mobile devices (e.g. smart phone, iPod Touch). The site includes basic information about the library and access to mobile search interfaces for EBSCO databases (e.g. Academic Search Complete, Business Source Complete) and Worldcat.

The mobile site link is on the left side of the library homepage.

Just one more access point to quality information and service.

Database highlight: SportDiscus w/full-text

SPORTDiscus with Full Text is a comprehensive source of full text sports & sports medicine journals. It provides full text for more than 490 journals indexed in SportDiscus. This authoritative file contains full text for many of the most used journals in the SportDiscus index - with no embargo. With full-text coverage dating back to 1985, the database is a definitive research tool for all areas of sports & sports medicine literature.

Unfriend: OED's Word of the Year

Oxford English Dictionary - Word of the Year

unfriend – verb – To remove someone as a ‘friend’ on a social networking site. As in, “I decided to unfriend my roommate on Facebook after we had a fight.”

“It has both currency and potential longevity,” notes Christine Lindberg, Senior Lexicographer for Oxford’s US dictionary program. (read more...)

Though the OED cites the first usage of the term being used in 1659 - "I hope, Sir, that we are not mutually Unfriended by this Difference which hath happened betwixt us."

Database Hightlight: Historical Maps of SD towns

Sanborn Maps Online - SD
This database includes maps dated from 1884 to 1970 for many towns in South Dakota. The maps provide a wealth of information about buildings – size, dimensions, building materials used, function, and location of windows and doors. They were updated yearly, so a review of maps from several years can provide a good idea of when and what changes were made to a building.

Earn a $5 Java City gift certificate

The Williams Library is doing a “photo survey” and would like you (the students) to take pictures of your world in order to help the library better understand what you need as students and how the library can help you succeed.

There are 2 options:

1. You can use your own digital device (cell, camera, etc.) OR
2. The library will have disposable cameras for you to use.

• Besides taking pictures, you will complete a short form (to keep track of the pictures) and do a brief, in-person follow up session once all materials (photos and form) are turned in. The librarians will set up times.

If you partake in the survey, you earn a $5 gift certificate to Java City for coffee or snacks.

Please contact Jonna Underwood for information and instructions.

Jonna.Underwood@northern.edu
Phone: 626-2645
Office: Library #126

CiteMe - Facebook app for book citations

CiteMe is a Facebook application from WorldCat that formats book citations. Search for the title of book you want to cite, select the appropriate record, and get the citation.
NOTE: Not all citation are correct, so please check the citation against a citation style handbook.

Internet is 40 years old

Last week the Internet turned 40.   News and history about the birthday...

• CNN interviewed one of the founders, Leonard Klinerock
• NPR Looks back
• History of the Internet
• Overview of the Internet from WorldBook

Databases highlight: Naxos Music and Sheet Music

The Williams Library has two music databases, mainly for music faculty and students.

• Naxos Music Library (Limited to 5 simultaneous users)
  This database allows access to over 75,000 audio files in the areas of classical, jazz, opera, world, and new age music. Music included in this resource is provided in the streaming audio format, and can be used from on or off campus.
  
  
• Naxos Sheet Music
  This database offers over 45,000 sheet music titles, powered by the largest online digital sheet music store, FreeHandMusic.com. The library service delivers digital sheet music in all classical genres, spanning music from Medieval to the 21st century and composers from Bach to Arvo Part. You can download the sheet music and even play (computer-generated sound) many of the scores.
  
  • NOTE: To use database download the FreeHand Solero viewer
  • NOTE: Video demos for using NSM