Study cafe announcement!

It's official!  VT Libraries has contracted with Greenberry's Coffee & Tea Company, and the construction on the actual coffee shop area will begin over Winter Break:

A few "fast facts" about the study cafe construction:

• The vendor for the new study café will be GreenBerry's Coffee and Tea Company, based in Charlottesville, VA.
• Current timeline: Construction on the servery area will start during Winter Break. The anticipated opening date is in the Spring semester.
• The entire study café area will take up about 3500 sq ft. The actual café will cover 500 sq ft, while the remainder will be seating and study space.
• The café will provide between 90 to 100 additional seats to Newman's current capacity.
• Thomas and Ann Clark provided the initial funding for the creation of the café.
• The University Libraries join a number of peers that have built cafés and lounges in their buildings to meet needs of today's college students.

Need research help?

Have a research paper due soon?  Need some help finding resources, editing your citations, or using EndNote? Set up an appointment with me in Newman Library!  Librarian Office Hours in Wallace Hall have ended for the semester (since today is  reading day); if you missed me this semester, don't worry, I'll be back next semester for more research helping, EndNote consulting, and friend making.

Also, don't forget that Newman Library is offering extended hours and FREE COFFEE each night before exams, starting tonight (December 9).

Good luck on your end of semester work!

New Books: November 2010!

It's that time again...even though the semester is wrapping up, VT Libraries is still busily acquiring new books for your research and reading pleasure!  Visit the library website in order to check out our entire list of new materials from November 2010, and take a few moments to check out a few of the highlights from this list, posted below. As a reminder, some of the reviews posted below may only be accessible through subscription resources, meaning that you may need to log in through Off Campus Sign In if you're reading this from off campus.  Enjoy!

Culinary Careers:  How to get your dream job in food with advice from top culinary professionals

Read a quick summary!

Will Write for Food:  The complete guide to writing cookbooks, blogs, reviews, memoir, and more

Read a quick summary!

Food Safety Culture:  Creating a behavior-based food safety management system

*Note:  this resource is electronic--read it online.

Nutrition and Disease Prevention

Read a quick summary!

The Lab:  Creativity and Culture

Read several summaries!

Database trial: Sage Research Methods Online

Until December 31, VT Libraries has trial access to Sage Research Methods Online.  A full description of the database, and VT's trial, can be found here.  Essentially, this database represents a great reference tool, housing over 1400 qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods topics and terms.  Some of the popular features of the database include a methods map (a visualization tool that can be used to discover relationships between methods, discover new methods, and find related content), faceted search tools, and videos that explain research methods concepts like incorporating real-time online interviews into research design and designing qualitative research projects.  Check it out, and let us know what you think!

Contact Bruce Pencek or me with feedback on this database.

Another cookbook list!

The 2010 cookbook lists keep coming!  I'm not sure how I missed this one from the Washington Post (11/29), but there are some delicious sounding titles on here.  Some of the titles are the same ones that were listed on the NPR cookbook list of 2010.  There are definitely a few that we don't have here at Newman Library; remember, if you're interested in recommending a book for me to purchase, simply contact me or use VT Libraries' Suggest a Book form.  Happy (and yummy) reading!

Office hours today!

Don't forget--Librarian Office Hours from 3-5 p.m. in Wallace 342-A.  TODAY!  See you there!

I will also be there NEXT Thursday, even though classes will have ended, so that I am available to assist with any research papers, etc.

Calling All VT (Book) Authors!

From University Libraries:

The University Libraries, in partnership with the Provost's Office, the Office of the Vice President for Research, and Virginia Tech's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, are co-sponsoring and coordinating the sixth annual Virginia Tech Authors Day to honor the authors' academic contributions to the university. 

The occasion will be marked by an introduction of the authors, a display of representative books, and a presentation by Katrina Powell of the English Department, who will discuss the books for which she was awarded Phi Beta Kappa’s 2010 Albert L. Sturm Award for Excellence in Faculty Research, followed by a reception. The event is scheduled for Thursday, February 17, 2011, at 4:30 p.m. in Newman Library. Please save this date, formal invitations with details of the event location and program will be mailed in January, 2011.

We would like to solicit your assistance in obtaining a list of books (not journal articles or book chapters) that you have authored/co-authored or edited, that have a publication date of 2010. Please send names and lists of publications to Lori Lee, secretary in the University Libraries Research and Instructional Services department, for inclusion in the event.

We request that you respond by Wednesday December 22, 2010 to allow library staff sufficient time to compile the list and where possible secure copies of the publications not already in our collections. The compiled list will be displayed online and updated regularly,.