Library Tip - Return Day

Friday, December 7th is library return day. All library items should be returned that day to avoid fines and lost item charges. If you need an item beyond Friday, please consult with the Circulation Department.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 14
www.clarion.edu/library/news/index.htm

Library Tip - Protect Your Valuables

The end of the semester and the Holiday Season are times when you should take extra care to protect your valuables. Don’t leave textbooks, backpacks, purses, MP3 players, computers, or other valuables unattended. They could disappear before you know it.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 14

www.clarion.edu/library/news/index.htm

It's Not Too Late

It’s not too late to get help with end of the semester papers and research projects.

While they won’t be available in the wee hours of the mornings, the reference librarians at Carlson and Suhr Libraries will be available during weekdays and most weekday evenings until 9:00 p.m., as well as on Saturday at Suhr Library and Sunday afternoon in Carlson Library. Stop by the libraries or call Carlson Library at 393-2490 or Suhr Library at 676-6591. Distance Education Students may use the special toll-free number provided just for you.

If immediate feedback is not crucial, or if it’s a time when the reference librarians are not on duty, you may also submit requests for assistance using our Ask a Librarian online reference form. It is available at the library Website, http://www.clarion.edu/library/ under the “Services and Collection” heading.

Don’t forget about all the tutorials and resource lists also available at the library Website.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 14
www.clarion.edu/library/news/index.htm

Carlson Library Open 24 Hours!

If you need a place to finish a research paper or to prepare for finals, Carlson Library is the place to be.

Carlson Library is now open 24 hours a day through Finals Week, with the exceptions of closing at 9:00 p.m. on this Friday and Saturday evenings. Databases, computers and borrowing services are available around the clock.

Reference Services are limited to:
Monday – Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 -5:00 p.m.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 14

www.clarion.edu/library/news/index.htm

Interested in Chinese?

No, not just the food, but the full range of South East Asia Cultures and Languages.

Sandy Chen, Serials and Electronic Resources librarian, has compiled a series of Chinese Language and Culture Websites. From time to time we will share with you topic-oriented links that range from “Learning How to Speak Chinese” to “Chinese Regional Food Cuisine”.

The first topic is "Learn How to Speak Chinese." If you have any questions about getting started, please contact Sandy Chen at x2748. She is more than happy to assist you.

Conversational Mandarin Chinese Online:
http://www.csulb.edu/~txie/ccol/content.htm

Chinese Multimedia Elementary-Intermediate Level:
http://www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/Chinese/lessons.htm

China Through a Lens (27 lessons w/sound files):http://www.china.org.cn/e-learning/1.htm

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 13
www.clarion.edu/library/news/index.htm

Library Tip – Avoiding Fines

How can you avoid library fines?

That’s easy, return borrowed items on time. Others may be waiting to use them. Book fines are only 20 cents per day, but fines for other items can be $1 per day and late laptop computers and power cords are $2.50 per hour (each) at the Carlson Library and $25 per day at Suhr Library. Fines can add up quickly, so get your library materials back on time.

The last day that library items are due back this semester is Friday, December 7.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 13

www.clarion.edu/library/news/index.htm

Papers Due?

Need assistance with that research paper or project that’s due next week?

The reference librarians at Carlson and Suhr Libraries can help. Stop by the libraries or call Carlson Library at 393-2490 or Suhr Library at 676-6591. Distance Education Students may use the special toll-free number provided just for you.

If immediate feedback is not crucial, or if it’s a time when the reference librarians are not on duty, you may also submit requests for assistance using our Ask a Librarian online reference form. It is available at the library Website, http://www.clarion.edu/library/ under the “Services and Collection” heading.

Don’t forget about all the tutorials and resource lists that are also available on the library Website.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 13
www.clarion.edu/library/news/index.htm

Extended Hours

Beginning this week, Carlson Library will return to the practice of closing at 5:00 p.m. on Fridays instead of 4:00 p.m. The earlier closing time was imposed because of staff vacancies. New staff is now on board, so we will stay open longer.

Beginning next Monday, Carlson Library will be open 24 hours per day until midnight on the Thursday of Finals. The exceptions to this will be 9:00 p.m. closings on the Friday and Saturday between the last week of classes and Finals.

These changes are the result of suggestions by students and student groups. Please spread the word that the libraries are a good place to finish papers and study at the end of the semester.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 13

www.clarion.edu/library/news/index.htm

Library Tip -- E-Books

To better support those of you needing library resources from afar, Clarion University Libraries have more than 16,000 books available in electronic form. They include fiction and non-fiction, books on literature, works on business, education, history and almost any subject, including an increasing number of reference titles. They can be accessed through PILOT, the online catalog of the University Libraries, or through NetLibrary, found either under the “Electronic Books and Web Resources” or “Find an Article” sections of the library Web site.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 12

www.clarion.edu/library/news/index.htm

Thanksgiving Break Hours

With Friday classes meeting next Tuesday and no classes being taught next Wednesday, Carlson and Suhr Libraries will operate on special hours:


Carlson Library
Tuesday November 20 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday November 21 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Thursday – Saturday November 22-24 Closed
Sunday November 25 1:00 p.m. – Midnight

Suhr Library
Tuesday November 20 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday November 21 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Thursday – Sunday November 22-25 Closed

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 12
www.clarion.edu/library/news/index.htm

Four Weeks & Counting

At this point, most people are looking forward to the end of the semester and thinking about what they need to do between now and then. If you have a research project that’s stalled, maybe the reference librarians at Carlson and Suhr Libraries can help.

Stop by the libraries for tips and one-on-one instruction that can save you time – and a lot of frustration. If getting to the library when the reference librarians are on duty is a problem, call Carlson Library at 393-2490 or Suhr Library at 676-6591. Distance Education Students may use the special toll-free number provided just for you.

If immediate feedback is not crucial, or if it’s a time when the reference librarians are not on duty, you may also submit requests for assistance using our Ask a Librarian online reference form. It is available at the library Website, http://www.clarion.edu/library/, under the “Services and Collection” heading.

Don’t forget about all the tutorials and resource lists that are also available at the Library Website.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 12

www.clarion.edu/library/news/index.htm

Computer Tip -- Print From YOUR Laptop

You bring your laptop computer to the library, do your research, and knock out a brilliant paper for that class assignment. What do you do next? Email it to yourself so you can print it out? That will work, but why not print it directly from your laptop? Here’s how:

* Open a web browser like Internet Explorer
* In the address bar, type the URL: www.clarion.edu/webprinting
* Choose the “Print Area”
* Print Area:1 – Carlson Library
* Print Area:4 – Suhr Library
* Double Click the printer you wish to use
* The printer drivers will install on your computer
* That printer will be available from the document print screen

That’s all there is to it! Go back to your document, and “print” the document. Then use the print release station to pay for, and actually print, the document.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 11
www.clarion.edu/library/news/index.htm

Library Tip -- Author Searching

When searching PILOT (the online catalog), author searches are formulated by typing the surname first, followed by a comma, a space, and the author’s given name. For example, John Grisham, should be typed in as: “Grisham, John” (without the quotation marks). Unfortunately, the libraries’ software is not as sophisticated as a Google or Yahoo type search. Therefore, if you type in an author’s name as it is spoken, (given name, surname – John Grisham) the computer will search for works by: Grisham John.

Remember to select “Author Search” in the “Search By” drop-down box on the right-hand side of the search screen.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 11

www.clarion.edu/library/news/index.htm

Tutorials Online

Need help finding the information that you need when the library is closed? Can’t navigate the databases that should have the things your need? Check out the tutorials and resources lists available at the University Libraries Web site. They are accessible under the “Tutorials and Pathfinders” drop-down box on the right-hand side of the screen. Some of the topics covered include:

Searching EBSCOHost Databases

Using PILOT to locate books and audio/visual resources

Using E-ZBorrow and UBorrow inter-library borrowing services

Finding journal articles

There are more than a dozen tutorials available, including a series of video presentations designed for Distance Education Students.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 11
www.clarion.edu/library/news/index.htm

University Libraries Blog

If you like to get your news via Blogs, or if you would find it easier to communicate with us via a Blog, check out our new “web Log” – the CU Libraries Insider.

Reach the CU Libraries Insider anytime using the link on the University Libraries’ homepage. Our Blog offers timely news and updates about library resources and services. If one of our posts prompts a question or comment, please click the link and let us know about it, and we will respond.

If you have comments or questions about a non-Blogged subject, let us know through the Suggestion Box link on our home page and (as appropriate) we will post and reply to it on the CU Libraries Insider Blog.

You may subscribe to CU Libraries Insider posts via an Atom RSS feed located at the site.

(Please note: the CU Libraries Insider is a “moderated” Blog and comments do not immediately show up on the site.)

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 11

http://www.clarion.edu/library/news/home.htm

Library Tip -- Renewal of Borrowed Items

You may renew borrowed library materials for a second loan period if no hold has been placed on it. Most items may be renewed by calling the circulation desk (Carlson Library: 393-2301, Suhr Library: 676-6591) prior to the due date.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 10
http://www.clarion.edu/library/news/home.htm

Library Quiet Zones

Need a quiet place to study or work on a research paper?

Levels 2 & 3 of Carlson Library are designated as Quiet Zones. In accordance with student preferences and campus culture, the Entrance Level and Level A are more open for group work and social interaction.

We ask all library users to help us offer alternatives for all preferences. If you are seeking a quiet location to study, please use Levels 2 & 3. If there are problems on Levels 2 & 3 with noise, we need your assistance and cooperation. If you receive a cell phone call or a friend stops by, please keep it quiet and brief or take the conversation elsewhere. If someone else is not maintaining the Quiet Zone atmosphere, please ask that person to do so. If the noise persists, please notify the staff at the Circulation Desk. If staffing permits, they will investigate.

Library staff members also attempt to enforce moderation on Levels 1 and A. If you think that it is too noisy there, please consult with our staff.

Library staffing is often limited, so please help to maintain Carlson Library as a desirable place to be.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 10

http://www.clarion.edu/library/news/home.htm

Documentary Film Maker To Speak

Join us Thursday, November 1 at 7:00 p.m. in the Rhoades Center Auditorium on the Venango Campus to hear documentary film maker, Lisa Gensheimer, present the program, “Turning the Tables: 20 Questions for Miss Tarbell.” Gensheimer researched, wrote, and produced the documentary film, Ida Tarbell, All in the Day’s Work. She will provide insight into the life and times of Tarbell and how she might respond to timely questions of her day and react to some to the events of today.

Tarbell, America’s pioneering investigative journalist, was a native of Titusville. She was one of the most feared and admired women of her time. Her investigative work into the business practices of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company helped to convince the Justice Department that Standard Oil engaged in monopolistic business practices and should be broken up. Her exhaustive biography of Abraham Lincoln established a standard for other award winning writers to follow. Tarbell’s accomplishments and body of work gained her world-wide notoriety.

Gensheimer is an award-winning documentary producer and writer. Her career spans 30 years and endures in a range of media. She is a regular contributor to many regional and national publications and gained much recognition for her documentary, Safe Harbor, A Story of the Underground Railroad.

The Barbara Morgan Harvey Center for the Study of Oil Heritage, based in Suhr Library, is devoting the annual Barbara Morgan Harvey Lecture to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ida M. Tarbell.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 10
http://www.clarion.edu/library/news/home.htm

Library Tip -- Group Study Rooms

When you’re working on a group project, check out one of the nine Group Study Rooms available in Carlson Library. They are located on Levels A, 1, and 3. The rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Our policy states, “Study rooms are available for either individual or group use. Priority for study room space is normally given to groups of 3 or more. Library staff may request that an individual study elsewhere when the space is requested for group use.”

In the event that groups need a study space and the room is occupied by fewer than three people, group members should first check the availability of other study rooms on Levels A, 1, & 3. If another room is not available, please request that Circulation Desk staff (Level 1) ask individuals to relinquish the room for group use.

Level 3 is a Quiet Zone, so if you expect to have a spirited discussion, please do so quietly or use a Group Study Room on Levels A or 1.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 8

http://www.clarion.edu/library/news/home.htm

Remaining Library Instruction Sessions

PILOT and General Periodical Databases--Wednesday--4:30 p.m.
Education Research--Thursday--9:30 a.m.
Overview of Information Sources--Thursday--4:00 p.m.

For other help, contact a reference librarian at 393-2490 (Carlson) or 676-6591 (Suhr).

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 8
http://www.clarion.edu/library/news/home.htm

Avoiding Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a hot topic on campuses across the country. It’s easy to cut and paste information from electronic resources into term papers. It’s just as easy for faculty members to use software programs to detect plagiarism.

On Wednesday morning at 9:00, Carlson Library will present its last session of the semester on “Avoiding Plagiarism.” It includes a discussion of plagiarism, possible repercussions of plagiarism, a broad overview of style manuals, and tips for avoiding plagiarism. Learn how to prevent serious mistakes by attending this session.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 8

http://www.clarion.edu/library/news/home.htm

Library Tip -- Closing Routine

Those of you who are late evening library users or late afternoon users on Fridays and Saturdays, may already know that Carlson Library has a special closing routine.

To allow our small staff to clear an enormous building, Levels A, 2, and 3 are closed 15 minutes before the building closing time. Level B normally closes at 9:00 p.m. in the evenings or 30 minutes before closing on other days.

Level 1, the entrance floor, remains open until the posted closing time. We ask your cooperation in helping to clear the floor promptly.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 8
http://www.clarion.edu/library/news/home.htm

Library Acquisitions

Students and faculty sometimes ask how they can prompt the library to acquire resources they think it should have. Here’s how:

Students: Make your suggestions to a reference librarian, in writing through our Suggestion Boxes in Carlson and Suhr Libraries, or through the Online Suggestion Box located on the library homepage.

Faculty: If you have identified specific titles, please submit your requests through your departmental library liaison, who will submit them to the library faculty member assigned to your department. If you would like to discuss your needs, please contact the library faculty member assigned to your department or Connie Gamaluddin (393-2329 or cgamaluddin@clarion.edu).

Funds are available to support the acquisition of reasonable requests for books, various types of media, and reference materials important for student instruction and research. Journal and database subscriptions require an ongoing commitment of funds, something that has been in short supply in recent years. Increased funding this year has enabled library faculty to work with academic faculty to identify subscription priorities. If you have not already passed along your suggestions to a library faculty member, please do so today.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 8

http://www.clarion.edu/library/news/home.htm

Last Call For Instruction Sessions

Carlson Library instruction sessions will conclude next week.

Remaining topics include:

• Developing a Research Strategy and Narrowing a Topic
• PILOT and General Periodical Databases
• Evaluating Web Sites
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Education Research
• Overview of Information Sources

For days and times, check out the Library Instruction Schedule on the Library’s Website under the “Services and Collections” menu or call the Reference Desk at 393-2490.

If you need help getting started with a research project, check with the reference librarians at Carlson and Suhr Libraries. Stop by the libraries or give them a call at 393-2490 (Carlson) or 676-6591 (Suhr).

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 8

www.clarion.edu/library/news/home.htm

Library Tip -- Journal Alerts

Do you want to keep up with the current issues of your favorite journals? It’s easy to set up journal alerts through the EBSCOHost interface. Many of the periodical databases provided by the libraries are available through EBSCO. See www.clarion.edu/library/guide/Ebsco.pdf for a complete list.

To begin, you must set up an account within EBSCO. To do so:

1. Access the EBSCO database of your choice from www.clarion.edu/library/journals.shtml
2. After accessing a database, click the “Sign-In” link at the top of the screen.
3. Then, click the “I’m a New User” link and follow the on-screen prompts to set up your account.

Then, to set up a journal alert,

1. Access the EBSCO database of your choice.
2. Click the “publications” link in the green banner near the top of the page. Note: Unfortunately, a publications link is not available in every EBSCO database.
3. Type the title of the desired journal in the “Browse Publications” box and click the “Browse” button. If the journal is indexed in the database, it will show up at the top of the result list. Under the journal title, you will see dates for which bibliographic records and/or full-text is available in the database.
4. Click on the journal title.
5. Click on the “Journal Alert” link to sign into your EBSCO account. Then follow the prompts to set up an e-mail alert for the selected journal. For best results, select HTML as the “E-mail results format.”

Please feel free to contact a reference librarian at 814-393-2490 with any questions.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 7

www.clarion.edu/library/news/home.htm

Research Help -- It's Later Than You Think!

Mid-Semester Break is behind us and the second half of the semester will pass by quickly. If you need help getting started with a research project, the reference librarians at Carlson and Suhr Libraries are here for you. Stop by the libraries or give them a call at 393-2490 (Carlson) or 676-6591 (Suhr).

The subject-oriented instruction sessions offered by Carlson Library will soon end. The remaining areas to be covered include Education and Women’s Studies, as well as the topics of “Avoiding Plagiarism,” “Developing a Research Strategy,” “Evaluating Web Sites,” and “Overview of Information Sources.” A few of the sessions on “PILOT and General Periodical Databases” will also be offered.

Don’t wait! For days and times, check out the Library Instruction Schedule on the Library’s Website under the “Services and Collections” menu or call the Reference Desk at 393-2490.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 7

www.clarion.edu/library/news/home.htm

New Database: Choice Reviews Online

Choice Reviews Online is a new database available to Clarion students and faculty. It contains thousands of reviews for academic oriented books, electronic media, and Internet resources that have appeared in Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries. The database can be searched by title, author, editor, and keyword. Reviews date from 1988 to the present.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 7

www.clarion.edu/library/news/home.htm

Library Tip -- Electronic Journals

Did you know that you have access to more than 20,000 magazines, journals, newspapers, and reports through library databases? The full text of the articles in these publications is available through dozens of electronic databases that the library subscribes to. You may locate what you need in several ways.

Begin by going to the library Web page at: http://www.clarion.edu/library and clicking on the “Find Articles” drop down menu.

“Databases by Title” provides information on the major databases the library subscribes to. Two databases that include thousands of academic journals are Academic Search Complete and ProQuest Direct. Most other databases have a theme or focus. For these, try “Databases by Subject” for groupings in broad subject areas.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 6

www.clarion.edu/library/news/home.htm

Research Help & Instruction -- Few Sessions Remain

Next week additional subject specific instruction sessions will be offered in Carlson Library. They will cover the fields of Business, Chemistry, Education, and Women’s Studies, as well as the topics of “Avoiding Plagiarism” and “Evaluating Web Sites.”

Don’t wait, three of these will be the last sessions of the semester on the topic. For days and times, check out the Library Instruction Schedule on the Library’s Website under the “Services and Collections” menu or call the Reference Desk at 393-2490.

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 6
www.clarion.edu/library/news/home.htm

Library Mid-Semester Break Hours

Friday through Sunday Clarion University will observe Mid-Semester Break (a.k.a. Autumn Leaf Festival and Homecoming). The Libraries will have special hours on Thursday and Friday and will be closed on Saturday.

CARLSON LIBRARY
Thursday ... 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday ... 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday ... Closed
Sunday ... 1:00 p.m. – Midnight
SUHR LIBRARY
Thursday ... 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday ... 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday ... Closed
Sunday ... Closed

Library Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 6
www.clarion.edu/library/news/home.htm