July’s eBook of the Month: Britannica Encyclopedia of World Religions

If the topic of religion fascinates you, be sure to take a look at July’s eBook of the Month.  Britannica Encyclopedia of World Religions has over 1100 pages of religious related topics, including religious figures from Aarron (Old Testament) to Zwingli, Huldrych (Protestant Reformation) and beliefs from Acosmism to Zurvanism. If you are looking for information on something related to religion, this is a good place to check!

To access eBooks, click on the ”Electronic Books Link” located on the library’s homepage, http://library.sccsc.edu, then click on “eBooks.” If you are off-campus, you will need to enter the library’s off-campus username and password, available to SCC students, faculty and staff.

 

 

 

 

Library Staff Attend LIBRIS Conference

Earlier this summer, members of the SCC Library staff drove down to Florence, SC, to attend the 2008 LIBRIS Conference held at the SIMT Conference Center, adjacent to Florence Darlington Technical College.

According to the LIBRIS website, this conference is an “annual gathering of librarians and library staff from across South Carolina” who meet annually to “share ideas that will better enable them to carry out the vision and mission of their libraries throughout South Carolina” (www.sclibris.org).

The first program attended was the “One Campus One Book” presentation about The Big Read, a community reading program. Last fall, the SCC Library participated in The Big Read with the Spartanburg County Public Library, and staff was thrilled to share experiences with a panel of Local Technical College library staff.

Staff also attended “The Green Library” program, where several eco-friendly alternatives for printing were suggested, and Furman University’s green initiative was discussed. Next stop was “U2 Can YOUTUBE,” where they worked with the slide collection and made a sample video clip.  There was also a presentation by Dr. Jacqueline Miller Carmichael, a local author, who discussed how events in her personal life caused her to write a book about Margaret Walker’s Jubilee, entitled Trumpeting a Fiery Sound.  

After lunch, staff had a chance to mingle with library personnel from other Technical Colleges. A leisurely stroll around the cool, refreshing fountains in front of the Conference Center was the perfect way to enjoy the ambience. 

After the post lunch session, SCC staff headed home to Spartanburg and are definitely looking forward to LIBRIS 2009 in Columbia, SC.

New Database Spotlight: History Resource Center- World

One of our newest databases is a wonderful resource called History Resource Center: World.

This databases contains  full-text articles from journals, magazines and reference books. It also has primary source materials, as well as images and charts with geographic and chronological data.  The focus is on all aspects of World History, so use it to find information from ancient times up to present day and on places from the Far East to Latin America.  You can also get overviews of events such as the French Revolution, the reformation and Y2K.  History Resource Center: World is an excellent starting place for your historical research!

To access History Resource Center: World go to the library’s homepage, http://library.sccsc.edu, and click on the “A to Z Database List.” This will take you to an alphabetical list of our online resources. Click on “History Resource Center.”  From here you can search both our new World database along with an old favorite, History Resource Center: US. 

If you are accessing the library’s databases off-campus, you will need to use the library’s off-campus user name and password. 

What is a Database and Why Should You Care?

Sometimes students will come to the library with an assignment, telling me they need to use a database, but they don’t know what one is.  Other times, students come in and use the databases, but sometimes they, too, aren’t quite sure what it is they are using.

Therefore today’s post is going to answer the big question:

What in the world is a database?

Let’s break the word down. “Data” means information. So a “database” is just a base or a collection of information that is organized so that you can find it easily.  For example, a  phonebook is a database of names, addresses and phone numbers. You can find information by looking under a person’s name, or you can use the yellow pages and find information about a specific topic, such as hairdressers or locksmiths.

What will you find in a library database?

Like a phonebook, a library database has organized information that is searchable, but instead of addresses and phone numbers, it has periodical articles (i.e. magazine, newspaper and journal articles) as well as reference book articles and entire books online. Books and periodicals tend to be wonderful sources to use when writing a research paper.  Because library databases are organized and searchable, you can easily find information on your topic.

The SCC library has general databases that are good for finding information on almost any subject such as the Gale databases and Academic Search Premier.  It also has topic databases, where you can find information on a specific area such as business, international, or health, such as Health Source: Nursing/Academic.

The library recently obtained several new databases, which will allow our students, faculty and staff even greater access to online articles and books. In the coming weeks, I plan on highlighting these great resources, but I first wanted to explain what a database is and how it can help  you with your research!

 

Library Poetry Contest Winner!

The SCC Library would like to congratulate Ysante McDowell who won the library’s poetry contest.  Below is a copy of Ysante’s poem:

 

As I sit and think of how we
have survived-
You have brought us through
another day, we are still alive-
Through all the suffering and all
the pain-
Through all the storms and
the rain-
Even when our faith seems to bend-
You pick us up-letting us know
that this is not the end-
You encourage us to continue
to do what we do for Christ-
Continue to walk in the spirit
and not to be enticed-
When temptations come our
way-
We don’t worry about going
astray-
Because our heart is fixed-we
are anchored in You-
You are the way, the life, and
You are true!

 To create your own poetry online, go to http://www.magneticpoetry.com/poetgame/create.cfm?k=1 

May Ebook of the Month- The New Paradigm for Financial Markets: The Credit Crisis of 2008 and What it Means

May’s eBook of the Month is The New Paradigm for Financial Markets: The Credit Crisis of 2008 and What it Means by George Soros.   Dividing the work into two parts, the author focuses part one of the book on his economic “theory of reflexivity.” In part two, he uses this framework, along with his experience as a hedge fund manager, to examine the current economic conditions in America.

To access eBooks, click on the Electronic Books link located on the SCC Library’s homepage, http://library.sccsc.edu; then click on the eBooks link. If you are off-campus, you will need to enter the library’s username and password. 

 

Please let us know if you have any questions!

 

Library Blog Turns One in April!

Please wish the library blog a happy birthday!  Believe it or not, we have been blogging for a year!

In April of 2007, SCC Library staff started the blog to give us a place to share information about upcoming library events, highlight parts of our collection and even give useful advice. After all, aren’t libraries all about helpful information?

In honor of this event,  we want to find out your thoughts and opinions about the library blog.  Let us know what you think!

To access the survey, click on the link below:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=JIaTjUwZ6BSfFZWuBlYVhw_3d_3d

 Thank you in advance for taking the survey!

April 17th: First National Poem in Your Pocket Day

On Thursday, celebrate the First National Poem in Your Pocket Day by keeping a favorite poem in your pocket and sharing it with those around you!

Since this is still National Library Week, my suggestion is to put a poem about libraries in your pocket! 

So what poem is this librarian going to use? I haven’t decided yet. Perhaps this not so famous poem, by this not so famous poet:

A librarian’s life is the life for me                       
For there’s nothing at all to do, you see,             
But to sit at a desk and read new books,             
And admire yourself, and think of your looks.    
To questioning souls one can tartly say:             
I can’t be bothered with you today,                     
 For I haven’t finished this novel. See?                   
 A librarian’s life is the life for me.                         

–William Fitch Smyth, “A Librarian’s Life” (1910)

April: National Poetry Month and National Library Week!

April is a great month! Not only has Spring (finally!) arrived, there is also a lot to celebrate this month!

First of all, April is National Poetry Month. Created in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, this is an opportunity to celebrate poetry and poets all month long! For more information about National Poetry month, please go to http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/41 .

It gets even better! April 13th - 19th (this week!) is National Library Week!  Older than National Poetry Month, this week long celebration of libraries, librarians, and library resources was started in 1958 by the American Library Association. You can learn more about this celebration at http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/natlibraryweek/nlw.cfm#nlw . 

In honor of National Library Week, the SCC Library will be holding student contests, including a poetry contest and a library quiz with a chance to win great prizes like an MP3 player!

So what can you do to celebrate National Poetry Month and National Library Week? Combine the two by going to the library and checking out a book on poetry!

Use the library catalog to search for works by your favorite poet or, if you are still trying to figure out who that is, do a subject search for “poetry” for a list of titles to browse!

April’s Ebook of the Month: Retire Happy: What You Can Do NOW to Guarantee a Great Retirement

A few years back, I saw a commercial that showed a  young man at his high school graduation.  His proud parents walk up to him and ask, “Son, so what is your next step?” 

The young man replies, “I have been thinking it over, and after weighing my options, I have decided to retire!” 

He then whips off his graduation robes, revealing a velour jogging suit, the type traditionally worn by elderly men at retirement communites.

A voice announces: “In life there are some steps that can’t be skipped!”  We then learn that if we purchase product XYZ, we can skip the step of rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher!

Well, for those of you a few steps away from retirement, April’s eBook of the month is for you!  In Retire Happy: What You Can Do NOW to Guarantee a Great Retirement, the author offers tips on how to “balance financial concerns with an enriching lifestyle.”

To access eBooks, click on the Electronic Books link located on the SCC Library’s homepage, http://library.sccsc.edu; then click on the eBooks link.  If you are off-campus you will need to enter the library’s off-campus username and password. 

 Please let us know if you have any questions about this eBook of the Month!