Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Baghdad Day to Day: Librarian's Journal
When the Saddam regime was toppled in 2003, the Iraq National Library and Archive in Baghdad was set alight and looted. Much damage was done, in particular to the library’s archive collections. For several months, the diary entries ofDr. Saad Eskander, the director of Iraq's National Library and Archives, have apeared on the Web site of the British Library and they detail the daily hurdles of keeping Iraq's central library open, preserving the surviving archives and books and just staying alive. An article about Eskander and the library appears in the Arts section of the New York Times today available on the library page. You can read the diary entries at http://www.bl.uk/iraqdiary.html.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
New England Watershed: Best New Publication
Place is an important part of how we construct our identities and now we have a new regional magazine. Utne magazine nominatedd New England Watershed as the best new publication of 2006. You will find the Winter 2006-2007 issue in the library.
According to Utne editors, "New England Watershed casts an exceptionally wide lens on a variety of questions pertaining to regional identity. Each issue of the magazine focuses on one them--food and farming, mental health, interstate 91, and examines it through a variety of cultural and historical perspectives." Don't miss out!
According to Utne editors, "New England Watershed casts an exceptionally wide lens on a variety of questions pertaining to regional identity. Each issue of the magazine focuses on one them--food and farming, mental health, interstate 91, and examines it through a variety of cultural and historical perspectives." Don't miss out!
New Book: What's Toxic, What's Not
What's Toxic, What's Not by Gary Ginsberg and Brian Toal (published Dec., 2006)
The authors are toxicologists for the Connecticut Department of Public Health. This is a comprehensible bible of hazardous substances that impact every individual in the United States. While explaining the major toxins of lead, radon, mold, and asbestos, they also delve into pesticides and chemicals in consumer products, food, water, air, and soil. Chapters describe each toxin, address the myths and realities surrounding it, and discuss how people come into contact with the substance and how to avoid it. Charts illustrate the toxicity, exposure, and risk index for each contaminant. Suggestions for testing one’s own environment through local health department, water service, and so forth are concrete and achievable. Important points are boxed for emphasis. Tips are provided for diverse subjects such as how to microwave foods in plastic safely and how to make a homemade “green bubble” bath. This is a fascinating but frightening account that is well worth considering for class bibliographies.
Source: Library Journal December 2006
The authors are toxicologists for the Connecticut Department of Public Health. This is a comprehensible bible of hazardous substances that impact every individual in the United States. While explaining the major toxins of lead, radon, mold, and asbestos, they also delve into pesticides and chemicals in consumer products, food, water, air, and soil. Chapters describe each toxin, address the myths and realities surrounding it, and discuss how people come into contact with the substance and how to avoid it. Charts illustrate the toxicity, exposure, and risk index for each contaminant. Suggestions for testing one’s own environment through local health department, water service, and so forth are concrete and achievable. Important points are boxed for emphasis. Tips are provided for diverse subjects such as how to microwave foods in plastic safely and how to make a homemade “green bubble” bath. This is a fascinating but frightening account that is well worth considering for class bibliographies.
Source: Library Journal December 2006
What They are Reading on College Campuses
- Iraq Study Group Report
- Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
- For One More Day by Mitch Alborn
- America (The Book) by writers of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart
- Next by Michael Crichton
- Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwrds
- The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
- Bad President by Rosen, Friedman, Prichett, and Battles
- Freakonomics by Levitt and Dubner
- The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by JohnGreisham
Source: Chronicle of Higher Education
Monday, February 05, 2007
Annual Report on Nation's Health
The American College of Physicians, or ACP, has released its annual overview, which highlights problems in the U.S. health care system and calls for sweeping payment reforms designed to shift the nation’s focus back to patient-centered primary care and prevention. ACP’s report, “State of the Nation’s Health Care” contains a laundry list of red flags, including 47 million Americans without health insurance; astronomical per capita spending for health care; underuse of preventive care; overuse of invasive procedures; and a lack of patient-centered, coordinated care. And the situation is only getting worse, according to the ACP.
Source: American College of Physicians (via American Academy of Family Physicians)
+ Full Report
Source: American College of Physicians (via American Academy of Family Physicians)
+ Full Report
New Database: Academic OneFile
Academic OneFile is a comprehensive, subscription-based database of more than 8,000 journals covering everything from STM to the humanities. It was created in response to the academic community’s need for a sophisticated, up-to-date, easy-to-use database for serious research. All of the things you’ve come to love about InfoTrac® remain the same. The powerful search engine, Thomson Gale PowerSearch,™ continues to simplify navigation with a “breadcrumb trail” that shows the path a search has taken. An exciting, innovative added value is the inclusion of hundreds of podcasts and transcripts from NPR, CNN, and the CBC, as well as full-text New York Times content to 1995.
Find it at www.iconn.org!
Find it at www.iconn.org!
LegalTrac is here
Iconn.org now provides us with the LegalTrac database. Drawing on a wide variety of the most highly regarded legal publications, LegalTrac provides indexing for approximately 1,300 titles: major law reviews, legal newspapers, law specialty publications, bar association journals and international legal journals. Each title included in LegalTrac is selected by a special advisory committee of the American Association of Law Libraries. LegalTrac also contains law-related articles from more than 1,000 additional business and general interest titles. It is easily accessible at www.iconn.org.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Spelling's Summit on Higher Education
The “summit” that Education Secretary Margaret Spellings promised (or threatened?) to hold as part of her plan to carry out the recommendations of her Commission on the Future of Higher Education will take place in Washington March 21-22, the Education Department said in invitations sent out just before Christmas. The summit was designed to “focus on galvanizing action and distributing leadership and accountability across all sectors.” Its work will emphasize five key priorities: “aligning K-12 and higher education expectations; increasing need-based aid; using accreditation to support and emphasize student learning outcomes; serving adults and other non-traditional students; expanding affordability through increased transparency of costs.”
The report, "A Test of Leadership: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education", was commissioned by Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling and completed last year. the work of the panel, which engaged in a year of study and debate, challenges college leaders, policy makers and the public to help improve an American higher education system that Spelling describes as slipping.
Source: U.S. Department of Education
The report, "A Test of Leadership: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education", was commissioned by Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling and completed last year. the work of the panel, which engaged in a year of study and debate, challenges college leaders, policy makers and the public to help improve an American higher education system that Spelling describes as slipping.
Source: U.S. Department of Education
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Campus Pandemic Flu Planning
All Connecticut colleges and universities are encourage to send a campus team to a one-day conference on planning for pandemic influenza, capitalizing on the approach utilized by Yale University The Conference is at the Michael J. Adanti Student Center, SCSU on February 22 from 8:30 to 2:30.
In late 2005, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began in earnest to alert the world’s countries to the possibilities of a pandemic flu outbreak on a scale similar to that of the Spanish Flu of 1918. Higher Education will be among the industries most severely impacted. The impact on college or university operations may include unprecedented demands on student health services, the establishment of quarantine sites, debilitating sickness among staff and faculty causing severe reductions in the work force, essential services hampered and perhaps unavailable, and significant loss of tuition revenues from closure of the institution, and non-returning students.Further information on the February conference is available at greimanj@theccic.org
In late 2005, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began in earnest to alert the world’s countries to the possibilities of a pandemic flu outbreak on a scale similar to that of the Spanish Flu of 1918. Higher Education will be among the industries most severely impacted. The impact on college or university operations may include unprecedented demands on student health services, the establishment of quarantine sites, debilitating sickness among staff and faculty causing severe reductions in the work force, essential services hampered and perhaps unavailable, and significant loss of tuition revenues from closure of the institution, and non-returning students.Further information on the February conference is available at greimanj@theccic.org
New Book: A Hand To Guide Me
In A Hand to Guide Me, Denzel Washington shares his personal story of the mentors who helped guide his life--more than 70 of America's leading personalities in theater, sports, business, and politics who in turn tell their life-changing stories of mentorship. The library has four copies.
The book "showcases how the kindness of mentors has shaped the lives of people you know and respect. In their own words, legendary personalities tell how people stepped up to guide them. From Hank Aaron and Muhammad Ali to Bob Woodard and James Worth, the voices in this book may be household names now, but they credit their success to the guidance of others long ago." (book jacket)
The book "showcases how the kindness of mentors has shaped the lives of people you know and respect. In their own words, legendary personalities tell how people stepped up to guide them. From Hank Aaron and Muhammad Ali to Bob Woodard and James Worth, the voices in this book may be household names now, but they credit their success to the guidance of others long ago." (book jacket)
Bookfinder.com
BookFinder.com is an one-stop ecommerce search engine that searches over 100 million books for sale—new, used, rare, out-of-print, and textbooks. They save time and money by searching which booksellers are offering the best prices and selection.
The BookFinder.com website is part of the BookFinder.com/JustBooks network, produced by a team of high-tech librarians and programmers based in Berkeley, California, and Düsseldorf, Germany.
Source: Free Pint
The BookFinder.com website is part of the BookFinder.com/JustBooks network, produced by a team of high-tech librarians and programmers based in Berkeley, California, and Düsseldorf, Germany.
Source: Free Pint
21st Century Literacies.
During this week's 21st Century Literacies Impact Conference, more than 170 attendees invited from all sectors of education, business, and policy leadership will explore how teacher education, ongoing professional development, and assessment practices need to change to support the core 21st century skills framework.
Source: The Council Chronicle Online, January 25, 2007
Source: The Council Chronicle Online, January 25, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Facts on File: Free Trial
We have a free trial to Facts on File until February 9, 2007. Facts On File is one of America’s leading publishers of print and online reference materials since 1941. The list has grown to more than 1,300 titles and spans a multitude of subject areas such as:
American History
American Women's History
African-American History
American Indian History
Modern World History
Ancient and Medieval History
World Atlas
Science
Health Reference Center
Curriculum Resource Center
Bloom's Literary Reference
Ferguson's Career Guidance Center
Personal and Business Forms
The URL to access our site via username/password is:
http://www.fofweb.com/demo
*. Enter your Username: Goodwin
*. Enter your Password: Trial
American History
American Women's History
African-American History
American Indian History
Modern World History
Ancient and Medieval History
World Atlas
Science
Health Reference Center
Curriculum Resource Center
Bloom's Literary Reference
Ferguson's Career Guidance Center
Personal and Business Forms
The URL to access our site via username/password is:
http://www.fofweb.com/demo
*. Enter your Username: Goodwin
*. Enter your Password: Trial
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Put Another President in Your Pocket
Put Another President in Your Pocket
"Third time’s a charm? The U.S. Mint is set to give the $1 coin another go, but this time they’re using the power of dead presidents. Starting with Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison in 2007, the Mint will release four presidents each year, in the order in which they served—much like the state quarters, which were released in the order in which states joined the union."
Source: the World Almanac blog
"Third time’s a charm? The U.S. Mint is set to give the $1 coin another go, but this time they’re using the power of dead presidents. Starting with Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison in 2007, the Mint will release four presidents each year, in the order in which they served—much like the state quarters, which were released in the order in which states joined the union."
Source: the World Almanac blog
People Places Plants, Oh My
This blog is way too serious. So here is a change of pace. The early spring issue of People Places Plants is now in the library. Find out about all the glorious flower shows of the Northeast. The Connecticut Flower and Garden Show moves this year to the Convention Center and runs from February 22-25. Visit the web page www.ctflowershow.com for more information.
The New England Spring Flower show at Boston's Bayside Exposition & Executive Conference Center features its larget garden in a decade showcasing the principles of xeriscaping--the cover article in the magazine. If you are headed for Logan Airport with a ticket for out of state between March 17-25, you will miss it! The theme of the show this year? "Yes You Can!" The web page is www.masshort.org.
The New England Spring Flower show at Boston's Bayside Exposition & Executive Conference Center features its larget garden in a decade showcasing the principles of xeriscaping--the cover article in the magazine. If you are headed for Logan Airport with a ticket for out of state between March 17-25, you will miss it! The theme of the show this year? "Yes You Can!" The web page is www.masshort.org.
Health Care Tax Deductions
A new analysis released by the Tax Foundation suggests that tax deductions for purchasing healthcare insurance would help less than half of the uninsured. Fifty-three percent of Americans without health insurance pay nothing in federal taxes and would therefore be unable to take the deduction, according to the study by staff economist Gerald Prante.
Health Care Tax Deductions Would Reach Less than Half of Uninsured
Source: Tax Foundation“
Health Care Tax Deductions Would Reach Less than Half of Uninsured
Source: Tax Foundation“
Homeland Security Information
Rethinking Research, Development, and Acquisition for Homeland Security
In 2004, a joint research project by The Heritage Foundation and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) offered extensive recommendations on how to improve the organization and operations of the newly established Department of Homeland Security (DHS)[1]. After appointment as Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff undertook a “Second Stage Review” that adopted many of the recommendations in The Heritage Foundation/CSIS report.
However, both efforts at rethinking the department gave scant attention to the Directorate for Science and Technology (S&T Directorate). At the time, the directorate was still establishing its organization and research priorities. Now, five years after its creation, its track record is clear enough, and it is not good. Reorganization of the S&T Directorate is unfinished business that the department can no longer ignore.
Source: The Heritage Foundation
In 2004, a joint research project by The Heritage Foundation and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) offered extensive recommendations on how to improve the organization and operations of the newly established Department of Homeland Security (DHS)[1]. After appointment as Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff undertook a “Second Stage Review” that adopted many of the recommendations in The Heritage Foundation/CSIS report.
However, both efforts at rethinking the department gave scant attention to the Directorate for Science and Technology (S&T Directorate). At the time, the directorate was still establishing its organization and research priorities. Now, five years after its creation, its track record is clear enough, and it is not good. Reorganization of the S&T Directorate is unfinished business that the department can no longer ignore.
Source: The Heritage Foundation
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Preventing Plagiarism Tips
New out this week, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Preventing Plagiarism: Tips and Techniques offers secondary and college teachers effective strategies for heading off plagiarism at its sources. Read chapter one of the book, "The Rewards of Original Thinking," online now!
Source: NCTE
Source: NCTE
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Video Lecture: Introduction to Chemistry
Introduction to Chemistry
Video Lectures: Course Chem 1A (Berkeley)
Course Website
Course covers:Atoms, Molecules, Stoichiometry, Atomic Structure, Molecular Formulae, Reactions in Solution, Light waves, Absorption, Emission, Light, Particles, Photons, Matter: Particles/Waves, Quantum Particles in 1-Dimension, Quantum Mechanics: H Atom, QM Orbitals, Radiation and Matter, Many Electron Atoms, Spin, Pauli Principle, Electronic Configuration, Periodic Properties, Trends, Chemical Bonds, Lewis Structures, Covalent Bonding, Resonance, Oxidation Numbers, Formal Charge, Molecular Structure, VSEPR, Isomers, Colavent Bonding, Molecular Orbitals, Hybridization, Molecular Orbitals, Resonance, Ideal Gases, Kinetic Theory, Absolute Temperature, Real Gases, Phase Transitions, Thermodynamics: First Law, Thermochemistry, Enthalpy, Calorimetry, Human Thermochemsitry, Bond Energies, Entropy, Second Law, Free Energy, Direction of Change, Equilibrium, Mass Action, Equilibrium, Temperature, Le Chatelier, Free Energy, Equilibrium Constant, Heterogeneous Equilibrium, Strong Acids and Bases, Weak Acids and Bases, Titration of Weak Acids, Buffers, Indicators, Acid Strength, Amino Acids, Polyprotic Acids, Reduction Potentials, Galvanic Cells, Chemistry vs. Biochemistry, Nuclear and Radiochemistry, Nuclear and Radiochemistry, Nuclear Applications, UC Berkeley and the Actinides
Source: Free Science and Video Lectures Online
Video Lectures: Course Chem 1A (Berkeley)
Course Website
Course covers:Atoms, Molecules, Stoichiometry, Atomic Structure, Molecular Formulae, Reactions in Solution, Light waves, Absorption, Emission, Light, Particles, Photons, Matter: Particles/Waves, Quantum Particles in 1-Dimension, Quantum Mechanics: H Atom, QM Orbitals, Radiation and Matter, Many Electron Atoms, Spin, Pauli Principle, Electronic Configuration, Periodic Properties, Trends, Chemical Bonds, Lewis Structures, Covalent Bonding, Resonance, Oxidation Numbers, Formal Charge, Molecular Structure, VSEPR, Isomers, Colavent Bonding, Molecular Orbitals, Hybridization, Molecular Orbitals, Resonance, Ideal Gases, Kinetic Theory, Absolute Temperature, Real Gases, Phase Transitions, Thermodynamics: First Law, Thermochemistry, Enthalpy, Calorimetry, Human Thermochemsitry, Bond Energies, Entropy, Second Law, Free Energy, Direction of Change, Equilibrium, Mass Action, Equilibrium, Temperature, Le Chatelier, Free Energy, Equilibrium Constant, Heterogeneous Equilibrium, Strong Acids and Bases, Weak Acids and Bases, Titration of Weak Acids, Buffers, Indicators, Acid Strength, Amino Acids, Polyprotic Acids, Reduction Potentials, Galvanic Cells, Chemistry vs. Biochemistry, Nuclear and Radiochemistry, Nuclear and Radiochemistry, Nuclear Applications, UC Berkeley and the Actinides
Source: Free Science and Video Lectures Online
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Recommended Sociology Internet Resources
Dictionary of Social Sciences
http://socialsciencedictionary.nelson.com/ssd/default.html
This dictionary is designed for undergraduate students and the entries cover basic concepts and events relevant to the study of anthropology, sociology, criminology, political science, and women’ studies.
American Sociological Association
http://www.asanet.org/index.ww
There is a student section that gives you access to the Student Sociologist, A semi-annual newsletter for students and their departments from the American Sociological Association. The December 2005 issue has an article “Teach for America: Using Sociology in Education” that includes a fascinating list of websites designed to enhance the learning of sociology.
Internet Resources for Sociology (University of Delaware Library)
http://www2.lib.udel.edu/subj/soc/internet.htm
This helpful site has organized internet sites into general resources, social theory resources, social research resources, associations and organizations, discussion groups, electronic journals & newsletters, and resource centers.
Sociology Timeline
http://www.ac.wwu.edu/%7Estephan/timeline.html
A “quirky" list from Western Washington University
Sociology Tour through Cyberspace
http://www.trinity.edu/%7Emkearl/index.html#re
This is a must--a stimulating site from Trinity University in Texas.
It includes general sociological resources, sociological theory, data resources and other useful websites, methods and statistics, guide to writing a research paper, exercising the imagination (subject based inquiries) I like the section on stimulating the sociological imagination. This is just a super site!
Statistical Resources on Sociology
http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/stsoc.html
University of Michigan Library
Top Twenty Sociology Sites
.http://www.top20sociology.com/
This is a commercial site, but has useful information
WWW Virtual Library of Sociology
http://socserv2.mcmaster.ca/w3virtsoclib/ (McMaster University)
United States National Library of Medicine
http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov
Gateway is "One-stop shopping" for an increasing number of the information resources of the National Library of Medicine (NLM). It is targeted to the user who comes to NLM not knowing examly what is there or how to search for it. But many students find that one resource, such as PubMed or MedlinePlus, has information they would like to know more about. they may then choose to go straight to that resource for a more focused search.
http://socialsciencedictionary.nelson.com/ssd/default.html
This dictionary is designed for undergraduate students and the entries cover basic concepts and events relevant to the study of anthropology, sociology, criminology, political science, and women’ studies.
American Sociological Association
http://www.asanet.org/index.ww
There is a student section that gives you access to the Student Sociologist, A semi-annual newsletter for students and their departments from the American Sociological Association. The December 2005 issue has an article “Teach for America: Using Sociology in Education” that includes a fascinating list of websites designed to enhance the learning of sociology.
Internet Resources for Sociology (University of Delaware Library)
http://www2.lib.udel.edu/subj/soc/internet.htm
This helpful site has organized internet sites into general resources, social theory resources, social research resources, associations and organizations, discussion groups, electronic journals & newsletters, and resource centers.
Sociology Timeline
http://www.ac.wwu.edu/%7Estephan/timeline.html
A “quirky" list from Western Washington University
Sociology Tour through Cyberspace
http://www.trinity.edu/%7Emkearl/index.html#re
This is a must--a stimulating site from Trinity University in Texas.
It includes general sociological resources, sociological theory, data resources and other useful websites, methods and statistics, guide to writing a research paper, exercising the imagination (subject based inquiries) I like the section on stimulating the sociological imagination. This is just a super site!
Statistical Resources on Sociology
http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/stsoc.html
University of Michigan Library
Top Twenty Sociology Sites
.http://www.top20sociology.com/
This is a commercial site, but has useful information
WWW Virtual Library of Sociology
http://socserv2.mcmaster.ca/w3virtsoclib/ (McMaster University)
United States National Library of Medicine
http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov
Gateway is "One-stop shopping" for an increasing number of the information resources of the National Library of Medicine (NLM). It is targeted to the user who comes to NLM not knowing examly what is there or how to search for it. But many students find that one resource, such as PubMed or MedlinePlus, has information they would like to know more about. they may then choose to go straight to that resource for a more focused search.
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