Journals' Tables of Contents Search

Use Journal TOC to search for tables of contents from thousands of journals. If you find an interesting article use the library Journal Finder to search the journal title to discover if it is available full-text in print or in a library article databases. If the journal title is not available full-text request the article via interlibrary loan.

Web Tools for educators

Below are a few web tools mentioned over the last few days during faculty in-service, and other tools that may be useful.

• Jing Project (record screen)
  
• Screenr (record screen)
• Audacity (record audio)
  
• Glogster (web posters)
• Xtranormal (create TV interviews)
  
• DocVerse (MS word plugin that syncs document with others - grading papers?)
  
• Google Docs (online documents, presentations, spreadsheets)
• Zoho (online documents, presentations, spreadsheets)
• Evernote (share notes among devices)
  
• Skype (online chat, phone calls, video conversations)
  
• Animoto (create music video from pics)
  
• Voki (type and your avatar speaks it - non-computer voice)

Other useful tools

Allison Wonderland - Art Exhibit

Come to the library to see Allison Foster's "Allison Wonderland" art exhibit. The art exhibit is on display now and a reception for the artist is being held Saturday, May 1, 2:30-4:30pm.

Music subject guide

A music subject guide has been created for students and faculty. This guide will help you find:

• Sheet Music
• Audio files
• Phonetic translations
  
• Journal Articles
• Books
• Resources by music genre
• and more.
  

Check it out today! See it before the movie!

Icelandic Volcano images and video

Photos from Boston.com on the Icelandic volcano

AP Video of the erupting Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland.

National Geographic - Photographs

Take a break and explore the National Geographic photography gallery. Browse these amazing photos in the broad categories:

• Exploration
• Wildlife
• People & Culture
• Science & Climate Change
  

Tax Day - IRS forms

Tax returns are due today. Submit your tax return today, even if you do not know owe funds.

• Find tax forms on this page.
• Extension information on this IRS.gov page.
• IRS homepage
  

Webby Awards - Best web sites

Webby Awards
Each year websites are nominated for Webby, best website. There are many interesting and useful sites. Nominations are categorized by genre and sub-genre. Also, check out previous years' nominees and winners.

Genres:

• Connections
• Entertainment
• Features
• Living
• Marketplace
• Media
• Services
• Society

Celebrate National Library Week

Celebrate National Library Week by:

• Viewing "How Libraries Stack Up" (PDF)
  
• Taking our student survey
• Viewing the Altered Book exhibit in person
• Viewing the faculty publication exhibit
  
• Attending an event at the public library
• Supporting your hometown library
  
• Watching one of these silly videos on libraries
  

Off-campus access to library databases

Did you know you could access the library databases from off-campus? The username is the 14-digit number on the back of your NSU ID and the password is your last name.

When you are off campus, select any database and you will be prompted to input this information. Watch this video on the process.

Please contact the library if you have questions or problems accessing the resources from off campus.

Essay Contest Winners!

Last night, the library hosted a wonderful program of students reading personal belief essays. Each student did a great job of presenting his/her ideas. The judges (President Smith, Dr. Connie Smith, and Assistant Professor Ann Vidoloff) had a difficult time select the three winners. And the winners are:

• 1st Place: Danielle Peters - Essay - R-E-S-P-E-C-T
• 2nd Place: Kevin Nakajima - Essay - The Power of Music
• 3rd Place: Bethany Ellefson - Essay - From Zero to Hero

Kevin, Bethany, and Danielle

Congratulations.

Altered Books - Student Art Display

Students in the Mixed Media art course are displaying their work, Altered Books, in the library. Below is Sara Christensen Blair's (course professor) description of the project.

"The purpose of this project was to create a piece of art using a book in some way. The actual book inspired some of the project, whereas others were based purely on form. By using a non-traditional material, such as a book or books, the artists were free to experiment with form, content and process. Some of the art is interactive so please feel free to explore those pieces."

The Altered Books display will be in the library for two weeks.

GapMinder: Unveiling the Beauty of Statistics

Gapminder World
A site that displays statistical information in a visually pleasing and informative manner. It has grown from 16 to over 200 indicators displaying the trends in some cases back to the year 1800. The data in gapminder World is constantly updated and refined. Gapminder World has also been technically improved several times during the last year and new features added.

Example:

• HIV: New facts and stunning data visuals
  25 years of the HIV epidemic in easily understood graphics. Showing the big differences within Africa.

Win $50 Amazon.com gift card - Library survey

Please complete this survey and register to win a $50 Amazon.com gift certificate. Student feedback allows the library to better meet the student body's needs.

• Time: 10 minutes to complete
  
• Survey responses are anonymous
• Responses are NOT connected to gift card registration

Please contact us at reference@northern.edu or 605-626-3018 if you have any questions.

Register for Classes Now!

Registration Dates:

• Priority registration for current students starts on March 25, 2010.
• General and Freshmen registration starts: April 15
• Summer 2010 classes begin May 10, 2010 and registration continues through August 27, 2010.
• Fall 2010 classes begin August 30, 2010 and registration continues through September 9, 2010

To Register go to WebAdvisor

Power of the Internet

The BBC has created a series, Superpower: The Extraordinary Power of the Internet. The series explores the Internet's impact on:

• Superpower
  
• People
• Entertainment
  
• Society
• Communication
• Business
• Technology

The series includes interviews and episodes on specific ideas or phenomenon.

Beware of Credit Card Scam

Essentially, the scam works like this: the scammer identifies himself as an agent with the Security and Fraud Department of Visa (or MasterCard). He tells the card holder that his account has been flagged due to unusual activity. The scammer sounds very legitimate, even referencing his badge number and instructing the card holder to phone the toll-free number on the back of the card if he or she has any questions. The scammer usually already knows the credit card number and issuing bank. He asks whether the card holder made a particular purchase for a certain amount. The card holder says no. After confirming the account holder’s address, the fraudster then gets to the real crux of the scam. He explains that he needs to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen and asks the card holder to provide the 3-digit security code on the back of the card. If the card holder gives out that information, the scammer now has what he needs to make on-line purchases with the credit card in question. Sure enough, it is only subsequent to the phone call that card holders will discover fraudulent activity on their card.

If you receive such a call, DO NOT give out your security code. Instead, tell the caller you will contact Visa or MasterCard directly. Remember that credit card companies will never ask you to provide your 3-digit code because they already have that information (Snopes report on this scam).

If you discover fraudulent activity on your credit card account:

• contact your credit card company to report the fraudulent charges,
• cancel your card and request a replacement card,
• file a police report, and
  
• contact one of the three major credit reporting agencies to put a fraud alert on your account.
  

More information:

• Federal Trade Commission: Bureau of Consumer Protection
• Snopes.com for scams, rumors, etc
• FBI - Cyber investigations
  

Atomic Learning - software video tutorials

NET Services recently subscribed to Atomic Learning, a database of short, easy-to-understand video tutorials for using technology. AL provides training on software, web tools, and web coding. It is a great resource for learning computer technology at your own pace.

A link is on NET Services homepage and the Library's Databases by Title page.
NOTE: Login with your NSU computer/email login info

Chat with a Librarian while in a Database

You may now chat with a librarian as you search any EBSCO database (see list below). Perform a search and you will see this chat box on the right side of the results page. If the light is green, we are available to answer your questions. This is just one more way to receive assistance.

EBSCO databases

• Academic Search Complete
• SocINDEX with Full Text
• Business Source Complete
• Regional Business News
• Communication & Mass Media Complete
• SPORTDiscus with Full Text
• Education Research Complete
• EBSCO MegaFILE
• MasterFILE Premier
• PsycARTICLES
• PsycINFO
• Professional Development Collection
• ERIC
• Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts
• E-Journals
• GreenFILE
• Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition
• Alt HealthWatch
• Health Source - Consumer Edition
• MAS Ultra - School Edition
• Primary Search
• Middle Search Plus
• Science Reference Center
• Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia

Online Privacy guides

A list of resource to help protect your privacy and personal information online.

• OnGuard Online - provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information. Resources: Tools, Videos, Games and more.
  
  
• StaySafeOnline - The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) is a public private partnership, working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), corporate sponsors and nonprofit collaborators to promote cyber security awareness for home users, small and medium size businesses, and primary and secondary education.
  
  
• What Social Networks Do Not Tell You - a blog post about social network settings and a few negative aspects of "living" online
  
  
• Federal Citizens Information Center - A list of resources on protecting kids, medical info, financial info and more
  
  
• FTC's Guide for Businesses - A guide to help businesses keep information private (e.g. educating employees and customers).
  

Getting Articles from other Databases/libraries

Have you ever seen the icons displayed below in library databases? They help you locate full-text articles from other databases or other libraries. The icons lead you to the full-text article or a way to request the article from another library. Watch this video to learn more.

Quality Health Resources online

There are a number of quality health resources online, below are a few.

• MedlinePlus
  This site brings together authoritative information from the National Institutes of Health and other government agencies and health-related organizations. Provides easy access to medical journal articles, information about drugs, an illustrated medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, and latest health news.
  
  
• Mayo Clinic
  A consumer health site of health information and healthy lifestyles.
  
  
• Consumer Health Complete (NSU database)
  Searchable database of articles from health encyclopedias, reference books and alternative health sources, as well as health-related news reports, pamphlets, and drug and herb information. Content includes not only articles, but images and diagrams as well as videos and animations.
  
  
• Alt HealthWatch (NSU database)
  An alternative medicine resource which provides in-depth coverage in journal, pamphlets and other sources.
  
  
• Health Source - Nursing/Academic Edition (NSU database)
  Searchable access to nearly 550 scholarly full text journals focusing on many medical disciplines. Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition also features the Lexi-PAL Drug Guide, which covers 1,300 generic drug patient education sheets with more than 4,700 brand names.
  
  
• Health Source - Consumer Edition (NSU database)
  A searchable collection of consumer health information on topics including the medical sciences, food sciences and nutrition, childcare, sports medicine and general health. The database provices access to nearly 80 full text, consumer health magazines.
  
  
• Influenza: Evidence-based Information Portal
  The information is designed to inform patients and their families and provide information to clinicians to help them with H1N1 diagnosis and H1N1 treatment by making up-to-date diagnosis and treatment information available. The resources being made available will also provide up-to-date information about the H1N1 vaccine."

Get the Library Toolbar!

The Williams Library has create its own browser toolbar so students and faculty may access the library from anywhere. A toolbar is available for Internet Explorer 7 (and up) and Firefox 3.0 (and up). The toolbar contains not only links to library resources, but also links to NSU webmail, D2L, WebAdvisor, and more. Get it today!

ARTstor, not just for the art department anymore!

ARTstor is a database of images, sketches, drawings, photographs and more. Faculty and students in history, geography, natural history, indian studies, literature, humanities, religion, among others, will find its collections quite interesting and useful. For example:

• Asian Society Collection
• Madeline Caviness: Medieval Stained Glass
• Cook's Voyages to the South Seas
• Cave Temples at Ellore, India
• Hill Ornithology Collection
  
• Illuminated Manuscript Collection
• Islamic Art and Architecture
  
• World War I and II Posters and Postcards.
  

Contact the library if you have any questions.

Digital Archive - Local History

The Williams Library's Archive & Special Collection has added local and regional history to its digital archive. Once you enter the site, select Browse, then select one of the collections in the drop-down menu. Each document/image is scanned with a high-resolution camera/scanner, which allows you to zoom in for great detail. Browse theses collections:

• NSU Images,
• Local History,
• SD Germans from Russia, and
• Harriet Montgomery Water Resources.

There is also a link to the collection on the left side of the Library homepage.

New Books added to library collection

Browse the New Book lists to see which titles the library has added to the collection in the last month. The link is also on the left side of the library homepage.

New Book Lists

• Philosophy, Psychology & Religion
• World Civilization, Archaeology, & Genealogy
• World History (non US)
• History of the Americas (US) (pub. 2000-present)
  
• History of the Americas (pub. prior to 2000)
• US Local History(includes SD)
  
• Geography, Anthropology & Recreation
• Social Science
• Political Science & Law
• Education
• Children's Literature
• Music
  
• Fine Art
  
• Language & Literature
• Science, Medical,Agriculture & Technology
• Leisure Reading
• NSU Archive Collection

Winter driving tips and road conditions

Winter weather driving techniques

• Driving in Snow and Ice from Weather.com
• How to: Drive in the snow from Edmunds.com

Current Road Conditions

• SD and area road conditions from SafeTravelUSA
  

An Evening with Charles Darwin

The Northern State University Science Club and Williams Library are sponsoring “An Evening with Charles Darwin” to celebrate his scientific achievement and his 201st birthday. Mr. Darwin, portrayed by Dakota State University biology professor Dale Droge, will discuss his life, the times he lived in, and his scientific contributions. The audience will have the opportunity to ask Mr. Darwin questions. The program is free and open to the public.

• When: Tuesday, February 2
• Time: 6-8pm
• Where: Johnson Fine Arts Center, Room 134

Refreshment will be served

$100 Essay Contest

The Williams Library is sponsoring an essay contest based on the book, This I Believe: Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women . The book is a collection of essays from the National Public Radio (NPR) show This I Believe. The book is on reserve at the library front desk and other essay examples are on the shows web site.

The essay contest will culminate with ten finalists reading their essays on April 6, 7pm at the library. Judges will select the winners: first place wins $50, and second and third places win $25 each.

Read all the information and rules at the library's essay contest page.

Haiti before and after earthquake images

A few sources have compiled photos, video, and images of the Haitian earthquake.

• NYTimes multimedia - images and videos
  
• NASA - includes satellite images, and location of fault line (scroll down on page to see all info)
  
• Google/GeoEye - satellite images(before and after0
  
• US Government effort
  

Database Highlight: Credo Reference

Over the winter break the library decided to subscribe to Credo Reference, an online database that includes a broad range of subject and general encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference materials. This is a good starting point for background information.

Try it out and let us know what you think.