Preparing for midterms?

Since the library has been pretty packed lately, we're assuming that a lot of students have midterms either going on or coming up. Lifehacker must have noticed it's that time of year too, because they've been doing a lot of posting on test prep lately. The site has a great section on study tips, including online flash card creators, memory hacks and time management tools and tips.

Also, check out the Academic Support Center for upcoming workshops on getting organized, avoiding procrastination and succeeding academically.

Good luck on exams, and remember, spring break is on its way!

ACS features nanotechnology videos

The American Chemical Society's Nanotation division (tagline: "assembling the community of nanoscience") has launched a new video channel on their website. The ACS Nanotation NanoTube gives users the opportunity to create and star in their own videos about nanoscience and nanotechnology.

The site is also currently holding a contest that could net you 500 bucks if you win. Send them your original video answering any of the questions: what is "nano"? How is "nano" best visualized? Where is "nano" headed? Video submissions will be accepted from January 5 - March 15, 2009, must be 3 minutes in length or less, and will be judged on creativity, scientific clarity of explanation, originality and quality of the video. See the contest homepage here.

Here are some videos that have been submitted:


Small can be big - a french cheesy perspective


The Nano Song from nanomonster on Vimeo.

Expanded Humanities coverage in Scopus

From their recent press release:

Elsevier announced today that its flagship product Scopus, the world’s largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature, will be nearly doubling its Arts & Humanities (A&H) titles. Access to the new journals will be available to Scopus users in April 2009. Currently the Scopus database contains 1,600 titles in A&H and related fields.

Many countries will be better represented as a result of these added titles and researchers will have enhanced access to international A&H content. Journal subjects include literature and literary theory (30% of new titles), general arts and humanities (22%), history (17%), visual/performing arts (16%), among others. read more...>>

Springer journals now available!

Springer journals are now available through the Library!

The Samuel C. Williams Library Staff is pleased to announce that we have acquired a subscription to the Springer journals package!

These journals are now available through the SpringerLink database.

SpringerLink highlights:

• Full text online access to almost 1,700 Springer journals

• Lecture Notes in Computer Science back to 1996

• Full text online access to all Springer e-books published in the English language between 2005 and 2008

Subject areas covered by the Springer journals and e-books:
Architecture and Design
Behavioral Science
Biomedical and Life Science
Business and Economics
Chemistry and Materials Science
Computer Science
Earth and Environmental Science
Engineering
Humanities, Social Science, and Law
Mathematics and Statistics
Medicine
Physics and Astronomy
Professional Computing and Applied Computing


• To use the SpringerLink database, go to the Library website, click on Search Tools, and click on Online Resource A-Z List. Select SpringerLink Collection from the list, and you’re ready to search the database. Please note that the subscription does not include access to Springer Protocols.

• The 2008 Library Online Resources Survey results indicated several databases most desired by students, faculty, and researchers. The Springer journals package was among the most-requested databases.

• If you would like to use the databases from off-campus locations, please go to our Connecting from Off-Campus page for instructions for setting up a VPN.

• If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact a Reference and Research Services Librarian. The Library Staff welcomes your comments and questions about our resources and services.

New Saturday Library hours

The Samuel C. Williams Library has extended its Saturday evening hours so that the Library now closes at 9:00 p.m. Please see the Library hours schedule for full information.

Job opening for graduate student worker

- NOT ACCEPTING ANY MORE APPLICATIONS AT THIS TIME -

A graduate student position is available in the library’s collection development and special collections departments. The job is for 20 hours/week. Ten hours are in the collection development department, and 10 are in the special collections department. Some heavy lifting of material up to 50 pounds will be required on occasion, and some carrying of material up and down stairs will also be required.

Collection development responsibilities:

• re-shelving books and maintaining the appearance of the reference, new books, and 2^nd floor collection
• shelf reading
• relocating new books to the second floor collection
• helping with book sale
• other duties as assigned

Special collection responsibilities:

• photocopying of fragile material
• processing thesis & Ph.D.s for binding and microfilming
• assisting with complex research questions
• updating databases
• scanning
• filing and organizing
• miscellaneous errands

Preferred qualities

• strong attention to detail
• familiarity with Library of Congress classification system
• graduating no earlier than January 2010
• ability to work independently

Interested students should fill out a job application and submit it to the circulation services desk in the library. Please circle “special collections” and “shelving” on the application. Deadline for applications is Tuesday, February 10.