European Culture online

Europeana is a "virtual European library, aiming to make Europe's cultural and scientific resources accessible for all. It will build on Europe's rich heritage, combining multicultural and multilingual environments with technological advances and new business models." It currently has 2 million items and plans to have 10 million by the end of 2009.

The database includes records from the major European libraries and museums. You will find digitized versions of original works (books, art, sheet music, audio, and more). For example, Mozart's sheet music, Da Vinci's works, photos from North Pole expeditions, etc. Most records directly link you to the item's home museum or library web site.

Great tool for citing works and formatting papers

How would you like a tool that automatically formats your citations and your paper as you write it? EndNote Web is such a tool. This web-based tool is a place to collect citations from articles, books, magazine, etc. and make personal notes. You may take this collection and export a bibliography in your prefered citation style (e.g. MLA, APA, CBE, Chicago).

The MS Word plugin, Cite While You Write, will format your paper as you write. Login to EndNote Web, select your preferred citation style, and start writing. When you need to cite a work, select it from your EndNote Web library and the work is cited in-text and place automatically in the bibliography. If you need to change the style, you do not need to rewrite the paper, just pick the new style and the paper and bibliography will be reformatted automatically. This plugin is already loaded on the computers on the first floor of the library.

MORE information on the library citation page.

IM or Text a Librarian

Students now may ask a Librarian questions via instant message or text. Below are the library's IM screen names for each major service. Plus, on the library's contact page is a Meebo box. You may input your question directly into the box (no need to open any IM program). Texting instruction are also provided. The librarians are on at variable times.

Add our screen name(s) to your buddy list.

• MSN - nsu_librarian@hotmail.com
• AOL - nsulibrarian
• Yahoo - nsu_librarian
• GTalk/Jabber- nsulibrarian@gmail.com

Finding Stats in Lexis-Nexis Statistical DataSets

Lexis-Nexis has repackaged its statistical database into a more functional tool, LN Statistical DataSets. If you are looking for statistics, start here. The interface is easy to use and interactive. You may select multiple data points based on criteria (year, location, etc). You may browse the contents of the collection, select subjects and variable of interest, and view your data in side-by-side tables and charts. Plus, you can download the data and charts into multiple formats/programs (Excel, .cvs, SAS, PDF, etc).

NOTE: Lexis-Nexis Statistical DataSets demo

Citation tool in Facebook

OCLC WorldCat has created CiteMe and WorldCat, a Facebook Applications. The CiteMe app is useful for citing physical items (books, videos, etc.) only. Select the CiteMe application from your apps list and search for the book title you want to cite. Once you find the book you want to cite, select the citation style (APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago or Turabian). The WorldCat app does the same thing, but provides a bit more information about the title. For citing via the WorldCat app, select Format a Citation once you found the item you want to cite. The app is a lite version of WorldCat, which provides citation, library location and other information about each title.

Note: Always manually check the citation after using any automated citation tool. Facebook also has an article citation app, but it is not very good.

New books in the LIbrary

This spreadsheet lists the new books in the Williams Library. The spreadsheet is arranged by subject (select a subject area at the top of the page). The spreadsheet will be updated monthly. The books are located in the New Book collection, which is in the round room. You may also subscribe to the individual subject pages via RSS, which will automatically inform you of any updates/changes to the subject page.

NOTE: Video demo on RSS in Plain English by Common Craft

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.