What's New Library Blog - LaGuardia Community College Library Media Resources Center

Google Tip

I get the Google Friends Newsletter from Google, which has news about Google, as well as search tips. Best of all, it only comes once a month, so it doesn't crowd my in box.

This month, there was a great Google tip I didn't know about:

Sports fans now have an easier time finding game times and scores for their favorite NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB and MLS teams by simply searching for the name of the team. For example, typing [miami dolphins] or [pistons] into the search box will return information on those teams, respectively, at the top of the search results page. We'll soon be expanding this to other leagues and sports teams around the world, so stay tuned.

It's very cool. Here's one for Manchester United, the only soccer club I know. It also seems to work for U.S. sports, too.

posted by Steve in the Library on Monday, November 03, 2008

More Election Sites

Wow. In case you're looking for more election information (previously), there are a lot more interesting sites out there:

Google has an interactive map that lets you see where to vote based on your address

Google also has a whole election site, with news and information

CUNY's very own Baruch College has an interesting presidential election map

There's a lot of information out there. Try not to get too overloaded. Maybe just visit one of these sites a day for three days!

posted by Steve in the Library on Thursday, October 23, 2008

Election Information

There are a lot of helpful election sites out there. The Times has a nice one, as does the Washington Post.
Now, you can add LexisNexis to the list. They set-up a wiki to help with election research. It's very in-depth and worth checking out -- especially if you're an election junkie.

posted by Steve in the Library on Wednesday, September 24, 2008

New EBSCO

All of the EBSCO databases now have a new look. It's most cosmetic, but if you need some help navigating the new interface, EBSCO has some helpful documents here: support.ebsco.com/ebscohost2/

posted by Steve in the Library on Wednesday, July 16, 2008

One Less Password

I'm not sure if this interests anyone other than librarians, but the Queens Library now lets you request books using just your barcode, which I find much quicker than having to enter a barcode followed by a password.
The downside is if anyone ever learns my barcode they can request books on my behalf. That could be fun, too, though. It would almost be like a book club.
Here are a bunch of Queens Public Library links: http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/library/lib_othrlink.htm.
I hope CUNY+, LaGuardia's catalog, allows this as an option one day. There's something about entering a password that makes something as simple as requesting a book feel a little chore-like.

posted by Steve in the Library on Monday, July 07, 2008

Copyright in an Electronic World

Copyright is an important idea in libraries. Copyright dictates what can be done with a work.
David Pogue of the New York Times gives his take on copyright and electronic versions of items like books from the point of view of an author:

Unfortunately, I've had terrible experiences releasing my books in electronic form. Twice in my career, 'blind' people e-mailed me, requesting a PDF of one of my books. Both times, I sent one over–and both times, it was all over the piracy sites within 48 hours, free for anyone to download.
I've got a mortgage and three kids to put through college, and it broke my heart! Unfortunately, the bad apples have once again spoiled it for everyone else.

The Library has a lot of electronic books, but they're not always easy to use and access because the vendors need to institute certain practices to make sure the material's copyright isn't violated (like no printing!). It's tough because it assumes the user is a thief, rather than just someone trying to do research. But as Pogue reminds us, there are financial implications for the author when these precautions aren't put in place.

posted by Steve in the Library on Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Upcoming Workshops

The Library will be holding some workshops for students. The workshops all center around citation, which is pretty important this time of year. Details on the workshops are here: http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/library/programs.htm

We've also added one more Library workshop to our Spring series for faculty:

Second Life: An Introduction

Second Life is a 3-dimensional online environment populated by graphical representations (avatars) of over 1 million people.
The virtual environment of Second Life offers new opportunities for teaching and library services.

DATE: Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
LOCATION: Library Classroom
TIME: 2:30- 3:00 PM

Steve Ovadia will provide a brief overview of the world of Second Life, explaining what it is and showing how it works.

Coffee will be served. For further information contact Steve Ovadia sovadia@lagcc.cuny.edu, Catherine Stern castern@lagcc.cuny.edu, Alexandra Rojas arojas@lagcc.cuny.edu or Charles Keyes ckeyes@lagcc.cuny.edu

posted by Steve in the Library on Wednesday, April 30, 2008

What is a blog? About the Library FAQs Library Information Library-Faculty Liaisons Policies Programs and Workshops Units and Services What's New Library Blog CUNY CUNY Resources CUNY Library Tutorials Inter-Campus Book Delivery (CLICS) Library Resources Ask a Librarian: Reference Help Career & Job Search Common Readings CUNY+ Catalog Electronic Reserves (ERES) Faculty Resources Find Articles (Online Databases) RefWorks Research Guides by Subject Online Forms Interlibrary Loan Library Instruction Request Media Renew a Book Request a Book Purchase Search the Site Blog Archives 09/01/2004 - 10/01/2004 10/01/2004 - 11/01/2004 11/01/2004 - 12/01/2004 12/01/2004 - 01/01/2005 01/01/2005 - 02/01/2005 02/01/2005 - 03/01/2005 03/01/2005 - 04/01/2005 04/01/2005 - 05/01/2005 05/01/2005 - 06/01/2005 06/01/2005 - 07/01/2005 07/01/2005 - 08/01/2005 08/01/2005 - 09/01/2005 09/01/2005 - 10/01/2005 10/01/2005 - 11/01/2005 11/01/2005 - 12/01/2005 12/01/2005 - 01/01/2006 01/01/2006 - 02/01/2006 02/01/2006 - 03/01/2006 03/01/2006 - 04/01/2006 04/01/2006 - 05/01/2006 05/01/2006 - 06/01/2006 06/01/2006 - 07/01/2006 07/01/2006 - 08/01/2006 08/01/2006 - 09/01/2006 09/01/2006 - 10/01/2006 10/01/2006 - 11/01/2006 11/01/2006 - 12/01/2006 12/01/2006 - 01/01/2007 01/01/2007 - 02/01/2007 02/01/2007 - 03/01/2007 03/01/2007 - 04/01/2007 04/01/2007 - 05/01/2007 05/01/2007 - 06/01/2007 06/01/2007 - 07/01/2007 08/01/2007 - 09/01/2007 09/01/2007 - 10/01/2007 10/01/2007 - 11/01/2007 11/01/2007 - 12/01/2007 12/01/2007 - 01/01/2008 01/01/2008 - 02/01/2008 02/01/2008 - 03/01/2008 03/01/2008 - 04/01/2008 04/01/2008 - 05/01/2008 05/01/2008 - 06/01/2008 07/01/2008 - 08/01/2008 09/01/2008 - 10/01/2008 10/01/2008 - 11/01/2008 11/01/2008 - 12/01/2008

		Google Tip I get the Google Friends Newsletter from Google, which has news about Google, as well as search tips. Best of all, it only comes once a month, so it doesn't crowd my in box. This month, there was a great Google tip I didn't know about: Sports fans now have an easier time finding game times and scores for their favorite NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB and MLS teams by simply searching for the name of the team. For example, typing [miami dolphins] or [pistons] into the search box will return information on those teams, respectively, at the top of the search results page. We'll soon be expanding this to other leagues and sports teams around the world, so stay tuned. It's very cool. Here's one for Manchester United, the only soccer club I know. It also seems to work for U.S. sports, too. posted by Steve in the Library on Monday, November 03, 2008 More Election Sites Wow. In case you're looking for more election information (previously), there are a lot more interesting sites out there: Google has an interactive map that lets you see where to vote based on your address Google also has a whole election site, with news and information CUNY's very own Baruch College has an interesting presidential election map There's a lot of information out there. Try not to get too overloaded. Maybe just visit one of these sites a day for three days! posted by Steve in the Library on Thursday, October 23, 2008 Election Information There are a lot of helpful election sites out there. The Times has a nice one, as does the Washington Post. Now, you can add LexisNexis to the list. They set-up a wiki to help with election research. It's very in-depth and worth checking out -- especially if you're an election junkie. posted by Steve in the Library on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 New EBSCO All of the EBSCO databases now have a new look. It's most cosmetic, but if you need some help navigating the new interface, EBSCO has some helpful documents here: support.ebsco.com/ebscohost2/ posted by Steve in the Library on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 One Less Password I'm not sure if this interests anyone other than librarians, but the Queens Library now lets you request books using just your barcode, which I find much quicker than having to enter a barcode followed by a password. The downside is if anyone ever learns my barcode they can request books on my behalf. That could be fun, too, though. It would almost be like a book club. Here are a bunch of Queens Public Library links: http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/library/lib_othrlink.htm. I hope CUNY+, LaGuardia's catalog, allows this as an option one day. There's something about entering a password that makes something as simple as requesting a book feel a little chore-like. posted by Steve in the Library on Monday, July 07, 2008 Copyright in an Electronic World Copyright is an important idea in libraries. Copyright dictates what can be done with a work. David Pogue of the New York Times gives his take on copyright and electronic versions of items like books from the point of view of an author: Unfortunately, I've had terrible experiences releasing my books in electronic form. Twice in my career, 'blind' people e-mailed me, requesting a PDF of one of my books. Both times, I sent one over–and both times, it was all over the piracy sites within 48 hours, free for anyone to download. I've got a mortgage and three kids to put through college, and it broke my heart! Unfortunately, the bad apples have once again spoiled it for everyone else. The Library has a lot of electronic books, but they're not always easy to use and access because the vendors need to institute certain practices to make sure the material's copyright isn't violated (like no printing!). It's tough because it assumes the user is a thief, rather than just someone trying to do research. But as Pogue reminds us, there are financial implications for the author when these precautions aren't put in place. posted by Steve in the Library on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 Upcoming Workshops The Library will be holding some workshops for students. The workshops all center around citation, which is pretty important this time of year. Details on the workshops are here: http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/library/programs.htm We've also added one more Library workshop to our Spring series for faculty: Second Life: An Introduction Second Life is a 3-dimensional online environment populated by graphical representations (avatars) of over 1 million people. The virtual environment of Second Life offers new opportunities for teaching and library services. DATE: Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 LOCATION: Library Classroom TIME: 2:30- 3:00 PM Steve Ovadia will provide a brief overview of the world of Second Life, explaining what it is and showing how it works. Coffee will be served. For further information contact Steve Ovadia sovadia@lagcc.cuny.edu, Catherine Stern castern@lagcc.cuny.edu, Alexandra Rojas arojas@lagcc.cuny.edu or Charles Keyes ckeyes@lagcc.cuny.edu posted by Steve in the Library on Wednesday, April 30, 2008