Exciting Changes at Newman Library!

It's a new year, and a new Newman Library!  We're expanding our hours and our services, and are excited to let you know about the new ways that we are able to support you.  As many of you are probably now aware, Newman Library is now open 24/5.

Last night was our first night staying open ALL night, and the building is still standing.  So, for all those night owls out there, we are now available as a study space throughout the night and the wee hours of the morning.  You can view a full calendar of our current semester hours here.

In addition to our new hours, we have several other exciting changes that we hope will make life easier for you and help you succeed in your research and other studies.  First of all, we now offer text messaging for library notices (courtesy notices, overdue notices, and hold/pickup notices).  To take advantage of this system, you need to opt into receiving text messages from us; you can find information on how to do that here.  Speaking of hold/pickup notices, we now also have a new way for you to request items.  Previously, you could only request items if they were currently checked out or if they were in storage.  Now, all items in Newman Library can be requested through Addison, and held for pickup at the Circulation Desk.  We're calling this service Request It, and you can read all the details about it here.  This should save you lots of time--instead of searching for books yourself, simply request it, and pick it up at the Circulation Desk when you're ready for it!

In addition to checking out books from the library, you can now check out all sorts of of electronic devices, including iPads, cameras, Macbooks, digital video cameras, digital voice recorders, and calculators.  You can read about the check out periods and other details here.

Finally, we have an entirely new printing/photocopying/scanning system.  The printing is no longer centralized on the 4th floor of Newman Library.  Rather, there are printers on every floor of the library, and these printers can print, photocopy, and scan.  We now have a wireless printing system, which means that you no longer need to search for a public computer to print.  You can print from a laptop, or directly from a flash drive--simply plug it right into the printer itself! Information about updated fees for printing and photocopying are available, as are instructions for connecting to the wireless printing network.

I think that's enough for now, but stay tuned for more exciting news about new services and resources from University Libraries!

Best Science Books of 2011

Last week, I started celebrating the break by posting a few of the "Best Books of 2011" lists that I came across. This week, we'll celebrate with a few "best science books" of the year lists!  As always, don't forget that if you see something on one of these lists that you like, but that we don't have at the library, request it!  

• 2011's Best Cookbooks (NPR)
• On Science: Best Books of the Year (Boston Globe)
• Top 10 Books of 2011 (Physics World)
• 11 Best Science Books of 2011 (Brain Pickings)
• Notable Nonfiction of 2011 (Washington Post)
• Best Books of 2011 Science (Amazon)
• Books of the Year (scroll down to "Science and Technology;" The Economist)

Another science librarian blog, Confessions of a Science Librarian, keeps a running list all year long of the Best Science Books.  Check out his list of lists here!  

Wait...Finals are Over?!

When did this happen?  When I walked into the library this morning, there was a noticeable quietness.  Gone were the busy students, frantically turning pages and typing away.  Then I realized that my intent to develop a full series of posts never materialized.  No matter--now that it's officially moving into the holiday season, I can start back up my traditional series of "best books" posts, now that you all actually have TIME to read something for pleasure.  Or, use these lists for gift ideas for your favorite bookworm (or librarian!).

Without further ado, here is a first go-round of "best books" lists from 2011.  Next week, I'll dig out some science specific lists, but for today, check these out:

Image from readingpl.org

• NY Times 100 Notable Books of 2011
• Notable Children's Books of 2011
• The Guardian's (UK) Books of the Year 2011
• NPR's Best Books of 2011
• Amazon's Best of 2011 (so far)
• Publishers Weekly Best Books 2011
• Slate's Best Books of 2011
• The Washington Post's Best Books of 2011

Now, if I were really slick, I'd go through and pull out the books that appeared on all the lists, and then link those to the Addison records.  Maybe next week...until then, though, happy pleasure reading!  

Help! I'm Really Stressed Out!

And now, for the second post in this "finals" series (and the obligatory cat picture):

    Help!  I'm Really Stressed Out!

Image from:  cheezburger.com

Lack of sleep?  Anxiety?  Pages and pages of tests and papers all due in the next week? Newman Library has just the thing for you:  our Reading Day Stress Relievers! (and other resources)

Tomorrow, December 8, Newman Library will be hosting several events especially geared toward relieving your stress:




11:45 a.m.-12:15(ish):  EnCorps, the string ensemble of the Corps of Cadets and the Brass Quartet, will play near the 2nd floor entrance of Newman Library.  Be sure to stop by and listen!

2:00-7:00 p.m.:  The Reiki Club will help melt your tensions away through energy movement.  They will also be near the 2nd floor entrance of Newman Library.  First come, first served--there will be a welcome/waiting area!

9:00 p.m.-late, late, late:  Newman Library hosts its first free hot chocolate/coffee/tea night of the semester!  We will be offering these free beverages from tomorrow night, and then December 11-14.  Make this caffeine stop before starting your serious studying.

What else do we have to offer to ease your anxiety?

Librarians and library staff, of course, are available through midnight in order to help you with your research.  Stop by the 4th or 2nd floor reference desks for help.  If you're not into one-on-one help, check out a few books geared toward stress relief and study strategies.  Click the titles to view the Addison records and check them out!

• Coping with Stress at University:  A Survival Guide
• Motivation and Learning Strategies for College Success
• Becoming a Master Student
• Professors' Guide to Getting Good Grades in College
• The Smart Study Guide
• The 10-Step Method of Stress Relief
• Yoga for Stress Relief
• Manage Stress
• Managing Stress:  Expert Solutions to Everyday Problems

Help! I Have a Paper Due Really Soon!

As I promised last week, this post marks the beginning of a series of posts discussing study and research tips!  It's the end of the semester, and, as I sit at the reference desk and look out at all the students working, talking, and studying on the 4th floor of Newman Library, I see many stressed, focused faces.  The series of posts that will run now through the end of exams is entitled Help! and will focus on services and resources that the library has to offer in your most dire research situations.

Help!  I Have a Paper Due Really Soon! 

Image from:  georgiatechhts.blogspot.com

Although nearly every seat in the library is taken, the reference desk is eerily quiet.  I know that most of you researchers and study-ers are well into your projects at this point, but resources and services at the library can help save you time and frustration.  The Writing Center can help you with all types, levels, and stages of writing projects.  The Writing Center has had a night outpost in Newman Library for quite some time, and in January 2012, it will be permanently relocating to Newman Library full-time!

For the rest of this semester, you can take advantage of the Night OWL at Newman Library:  http://www.composition.english.vt.edu/wc/After_Hours.html.  Additionally, you may want to look for one of the many writing guidelines, manuals, and handbooks that we have here at Newman Library and online to help you develop a strong, cohesive paper:

• Last  Minute Term Papers
• Writing Guidelines for Engineering and Science Students (Penn State website)
• The Transition to College Writing
• A Student Handbook for Writing in Biology
• The craft of Scientific Writing
• Communicating in Science:  Writing a Scientific Paper and Speaking at Scientific Meetings
• Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences
• MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
• The Foundations of Research
• Preparing Research Articles
• Research Strategies:  Finding Your Way Through the Information Fog
• A Short Guide to College Writing
• Improve Your Writing

If these don't help, remember that the Reference Desks in Newman Library stay open until midnight during the week, and that we're always here to help.  Stay tuned for the next in this series of posts:  Help!  I'm Really Stressed Out!  

A Few Noteworthy Items...

I can't believe that Thanksgiving was last week, and that we're already finishing up the last full week of classes for the semester.  This post is mainly a hodgepodge of news and events related to the library--next week, I'll begin a week-long series of posts on research and study tips, but for now, here's what we have going on in the library that you may want to know about:

• HNFE Librarian Office Hours:  I will be holding ONE more office hours session in Wallace Hall this semester (note:  there will be no office hours on Tuesday, 12/6).  I will be in Wallace Atrium next Wednesday, December 7 from 9:00-10:30 a.m.  Please stop by if you have any research or other questions for me!  Otherwise, don't hesitate to schedule a consultation session with me.  I'll be here up until the University closes on December 23, so just let me know how I can help!

• VT Author Recognition Day Announcement:  Did you publish or edit a book during 2011?  Make sure we know about it so we can recognize you in February at our annual Author Recognition event!

• Free Coffee is Back:  From December 8 (next Thursday) through December 15, Newman Library will have extended hours for exams AND FREE COFFEE!  If you're up late studying, be sure to swing by.

• The Grateful Gobbler is also Back:  Through January 3, we will be collecting food for the Giving Tree Food Pantry (a local charity).  Be sure to donate, especially if you don't want to leave any food in your dorm or apartment over break!

• Changes in Library Hours:  During exams, and then break, Newman Library will have varied hours.  Always check the website (linked above) to see what the hours are on any given day!  

There are a lot of exciting changes happening at the Libraries over the next few months, so I imagine that I will be writing about a few more noteworthy items very, very soon.  Until next week:  happy writing, studying, researching, and relaxing!  

Google Scholar Citations

Today, Google publicly launched its Google Scholar Citations service.  Although the service has been available for beta testers for the past few months, today is the first day that people in the general public (like me) have been able to create a profile and start adding publications (see image below!).

According to a post to the Google Scholar blog earlier today, authors will be able to easily add their publications, and then track the impact of their citations over time.  From the image below, you can see that My Citations will calculate the total cites a person has had, an author's h-index, and an author's i10 -index.

I have discussed impact factors and other types of citation metrics on this blog before (and with many of you in person), and I think that this new tool developed by Google has a lot of potential for helping researchers, scholars, and faculty members track their scholarly impact.  We'll have to see how it evolves, but I for one am excited about this tool, and encourage you to check it out!