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Library News & Events

NEWS UPDATED 2/20/12                         Follow the Shelton State Libraries on Facebook.  



Building an Online Reference Collection
NEW Ebooks available through the Shelton State Libraries
Using Laptops In Campus Libraries
Download Ebooks to Your Own Devices!
Read-It-Forward!
The Big Read and You!
Printing in Campus Libraries
Discover the power of library search
New Printing Procedures
Gallup Brain Now Available Online
Migrating to Millennium
@ Your Service -- Shelton State Librarians "Rove" the Food Court
International Perspective added to CQ Researcher
New VISUAL SEARCH
Life Skills Pamphlet Series
Handy Baskets Available for Your Use
Open Lab Now Available!
Got Homework?
LOUISE BOYD LEWIS LIBRARY Now Open For Business in New Location




 

Building an Online Reference Collection

The Shelton State Libraries are building again -- building an online reference collection, that is.  As more and more titles become available electronically, the Shelton State Libraries will make those titles available to users in two ways.  First, there will be direct links on the Articles/Reference From Campus page, and, second, links will be added to the online catalog.  Be looking for more of these types of resources to serve you better.  At present, most of the resources will only be available on campus but, as Shelton State implements its new student interface, things will change! 

New Ebooks Available Through the Shelton State Libraries 

The Shelton State Libraries now offer two ebook collections.  One focuses on resources that support instruction (available through EBSCOHost) and the other focuses on best sellers and leisure reading (available through OverDrive.Com).  The EBSCOHost ebooks are accessible via any device that is compatible with Adobe Digital Editions (but not Kindles).  Some of the titles in the OverDrive.Com collection are accessible via Kindles.  For more information, see directions on how to download eBooks.

Using Laptops In Campus Libraries

Shelton State offers wi-fi access to its network throughout each campus.  Recent security changes now require a login and password for wi fi access.  Be prepared to show your current student ID and ask for this information at the circulation desk in either campus library.  Be aware that you may not print on campus when using your laptop and be aware that some library resources will require an additional library login and password because you will not be recognized as an on-campus user.  In most cases, the login is your name (first name   last name, as in John Smith) and your library barcode number (as in 23626000305949). 

Downloading Ebooks

Ebooks have been available in the Shelton State Libraries for several years but now you can download them to your own devices!  There are a few steps to follow to prepare your own computer (home PC or laptop) or portable device (Sony readers or Nooks), but you only have to do the setup once.  For more details and directions on how to download eBooks, click here.

The Big Read and You! [Completed in February 2011; no longer active]
The Shelton State Libraries are sponsoring a series of events as part of the NEA Big Read project, designed to promote reading in America.  One activity is the Mark Twain poster exhibit in the Brooks-Cork Library on the Martin Campus, which also a pamphlet with quotations from one of America's best-loved humorists.  Don't miss the period costume exhibit in the Brooks-Cork Library on the Martin Campus.  These costumes were used for the April 2010 production of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by The Tuscaloosa Children's Theatre.  

 
Read it Forward!
As part of the Big Read, the Shelton State Libraries are offering a number of copies of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer in a Read-It-Forward project.  Simply come by the library on either campus, pick up a copy, take it home, read it, and pass it on to another reader in your family, the community, or your classes.  If you don't want to pass it along, simply return it to the library on either campus.  There is no need to check out any of these special books, which are easily located in either campus library.


Printing in Campus Libraries
Although publishers are now allowing online access to textbooks, Shelton State students may NOT print out chapters or entire books of any kind in the campus libraries.  Doing so may cause you to lose printing privileges altogether.  While we understand that this may be a less expensive alternative to you the student, the library has limited funds for student printing and there is a real possibility that funds may run out before the end of the fiscal year.  Please be aware of this and help us conserve our funds for printing research and homework assignments but not textbooks and unrelated materials.  We further ask that you limit printing from faculty pages or Blackboard to outline or handout format and not full slides or color pages.  If you need assistance in changing the format for printing, please see a member of the library staff.  Finally, you must be currently enrolled at Shelton State to have printing privileges in the campus libraries.  If you are not currently enrolled, you may not print anything in the campus libraries.   Furthermore, Shelton State students must limit their printing to Shelton State research or materials related only to Shelton State classes.  You may not print resources from classes at other colleges or universities.

Discover the power of library search using Encore Discovery Platform!
Experience library searches like never before -- powerful and information-rich, yet highly intuitive and simple to use.  The Shelton State Libraries now provide Encore, a discovery platform with these useful features. 
    *Starting with one simple search box, you can find all the library has to offer. 
    *Simple, easy-to-use design makes finding information a snap. 
    *Cool Web 2.0 features -- like tag clouds -- help you focus your search by format, collection, subject headings and lots of other ways. 
    *Google-like relevance ranking ensures the best answer rises to the top of your search.  You'll see highlights of suggested titles, and best of all, no advertisements! 
    *Great detailed information is now just a click away. 
    *"Did you mean?" feature eliminates confusion and corrects common spelling mistakes. 
    *Quick pre-selected links to the library's electronic and web-based resources.

And much, much more!  What will you find in the library with Encore?  The power is at your fingertips!  Be sure to get your library barcode to access expanded services for managing your account.


New Printing Procedures
Effective September 11, 2009, new printing procedures have been implemented in the Brooks-Cork Library on the Martin Campus.  When Print is selected, library users will see a box pop up for user and password.  The User ID is the student number and the password is the student's birthday (mmddyyyy).  Non-students may request assistance from a member of the library staff.  These procedures will be established in the Lewis Library on the Fredd Campus soon.

Brain Now Available
The Gallup Brain is a searchable, living record of more than 70 years of public opinion. Inside, you'll find answers to hundreds of thousands of questions, and responses from millions of people interviewed by The Gallup Poll  1935-- October 22, 2007.  This unparalleled public opinion database also houses Gallup Poll and Gallup Management Journal articles that feature in-depth public opinion and management data analyses.  This service is available on campus only.

Migrating to Millennium
The Shelton State Libraries will migrate to a new computer catalog system in June 2009.  This system will include user-friendly features and state-of-the-art search capabilities for all of the libraries holdings.  Please bear with us as we customize our new system to meet the needs of Shelton State's students and faculty.

@ YOUR SERVICE -- Shelton State Librarians "Rove" the Food Court -- Dates to be announced
Based on response to a survey last year, Shelton State Librarians offer "roving" research assistance in the Food Court on the Martin Campus.  Equipped with a laptop and printer, librarians will be available in the Food Court for an hour or two in the mornings (Monday -- Thursday) to help students with research requests.  Come by and see us!

International Perspective Added to  Researcher!
The Shelton State Libraries now offer enhanced access to CQ Researcher by adding CQ Global Researcher, which provides international perspectives on global issues.  CQ offers award-winning sources that analyze issues shaping our world -- everything from AIDS to baby boomers to Iraq to drugs in sports.  Each report provides overviews, in-depth discussion, pros/cons, outlook, and more.  Shelton State has added the Global Researcher, which extends coverage to worldwide issues -- such as radical Islam, the new Europe, and oceans in crisis.  Easy to use and suitable for all types of research, this resource can be used for most assignments that require research or supporting information.  Citation tips provided on the CQ Researcher site.  Available on campus only.

NEW VISUAL SEARCH
Experience two new Visual Search styles in the AVL's EBSCOHost databases: navigate among articles in a block format, with compass zoom controls and a mini-map of the entire Result List. Or, navigate among articles using gliding columns and a clear breadcrumb trail. Both styles allow users to stack by publication or subject, narrow results by subject, sort them by relevance or date, and dynamically filter results using a date range slider bar.  The following databases allow for Visual Search:
   Academic Search Premier
   Business Search Premier
   Health Source-- Consumer Edition
   Health Source:  Nursing/Academic Edition
   MasterFile Premier
   Military & Government Collection
   Newspaper Source
   Professional Development Collection
   Regional Business News
   Vocational & Career Collection


Shelton Libraries on del.icio.us
See our favorite bookmarks and share yours with us!  Go to del.icio.us/sheltonlibraries .


Let's Talk About It!  Jewish Literature Series at UA (ended)
The Shelton State Libraries is partnering with University of Alabama Libraries, Tuscaloosa Public Library, and the Sheppard Library of Stillman College to sponsor a five-part reading and discussion series, Jewish Literature: Identity and Imagination.  For more information on discussion dates, times, and locations, see the web site at http://www.lib.ua.edu/events/JewishLit/ .  Books are available in each of the participating libraries.

Neighbors:  The World Next Door:  The delicate, often tortuous relationship between neighboring cultures animates these works of history and fiction, which trace the Jewish experience from Muslim Spain to Bolshevik Russia to contemporary America.
 
        Titles included in the series (with Shelton State Libraries call numbers):

  • A Journey to the end of the Millennium / A. B. Yehoshua (PJ 5054 .Y42 M3713 2000)
  • Red Cavalry / Isaac Babel (PG 3476. B2 K613 2003)
  • Neighbors: The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland / Jan T. Gross (DS135.P62 J44913 2002)
  • The Assistant / Bernard Malamud (PZ 4 .M237 As)
  • Mona in the Promised Land / Gish Jen (PS 3560 .E474 M66 1997)

Multiple copies of these titles are available from UA Libraries, and each title is available in the Shelton State Libraries, the Sheppard Library (Stillman College), and Tuscaloosa Public Library.


Life Skills Pamphlet Series
A collection of pamphlets is now available for your use in each campus library.  These items cover topics such as job searches, military life, family issues, substance abuse and more.  Check them out!


Handy Baskets Available for Your Use
Handy wire baskets are now available for your use in the library to help you gather materials.  These baskets are available in the books stacks and at the circulation desk at the Martin Campus.


Open Lab Now Available!
Students may now use the electronic classroom located in the rear of the Martin Campus library for word-processing and other computer functions.  These computers are loaded with MS Office, which includes Word, Powerpoint, and Excel.  In addition, students may access My Math Lab, Internet, and a scanner.  Students are asked to be aware of printing and conserve resources as much as possible.  At posted times, the lab will be closed for classes and other activities; otherwise, the electronic classroom is open during all library hours.


Got Homework?!  Try www.homeworkalabama.org for free online tutorial assistance.
Alabama students may connect to free online homework assistance for fourth grade through twelfth grade and some introductory level college courses (math, English, sciences).  This service is provided through local public libraries and the Alabama Public Library Service but can be accessed anywhere.  Technical requirements and other information about this free service is available at the APLS site.  Click here for details.


LOUISE BOYD LEWIS LIBRARY NOW OPEN @ FREDD CAMPUS
On May 4, 2006, the branch library on the Fredd Campus was officially named in honor of Mrs. Louise Boyd Lewis.  Mrs. Lewis was instrumental in establishing library services on the Fredd Campus and served the college for many years in various administrative capacities.  The Lewis Library is located in the newly renovated Administration Building on the Fredd Campus.