Hobby researching with Discovery

Is there a hobby you're interested in learning more about? Try doing some searches using the library's Discovery @ Tarleton to gather the information you need!

I'm a knitter/crafter by night and recently have been curious about how commercial knitting works. A few searches for knitting and knitting machines brought up tons of articles, book reviews, images, and even ebooks. I found a really neat article about using 3-D graphic design software to create a pattern for a knitted stuffed animal. I also stumbled upon an article describing the use of a knitting techinque call intarsia and its application to garmets used in the healthcare industry. Some date filtering on my list of results gave me information on knitting machines from the 19th and 20th century. It was pretty neat seeing the diverse areas knitting has been used for.

If the mood of curiousity strikes you and you're interested in learning more about your pasttimes -- be it crafting, sports, cooking, etc.-- give Discovery @ Tarleton a whirl and see what you can find.You might be pleasantly surprised!

Library Lovers Month

Did you know that February is Library Lovers Month?
This annual celebration seeks to highlight all types of libraries: public libraries, academic libraries (that's us!), special libraries, etc.

Help us celebrate--stop by this month and tell us why you love libraries by leaving a post-it on our whiteboard.  While you're here, pick up a free Library Lovers Button. Be sure to come by on Valentine's Day to get some free candy. You can also use the hash tag #libraryloversmonth.

We love your feedback.  Leave a comment on this post, or follow us on Facebook and/or Twitter.

Happy Library Lovers Month!

Stop by the library Feb 5-28 to get a button.

Tarleton Thursdays: Did You Know?

Governor John Connally’s Inauguration!

On January 15, 1963, the Tarleton Color Guard, the Wainwright Rifles and Tarleton Texan Band marched in Governor John Connally’s inaugural parade.  Both groups were recognized by the Texas Senate!.  Then in April 1963 Governor Connally visited Tarleton, as shown in the photo above.

Senate Resolution 42 stated that “We were honored to have the famous drill team from Tarleton State College, known as the Wainwright Rifles, under the direction of Captain Thomas E. Mendel, to participate in the inaugural parade.  We officially recognize and commend these students.”

Senate Resolution 43 stated that “the inauguration was enhanced by the participation of certain young people…It is the desire of the Senate to express appreciation and congratulations to the Tarleton State College Band and their distinguished director Hilmer Wagner.”

Traveling in chartered buses, the groups left Tarleton at 8 a.m. for Austin, arriving in time to do some sightseeing before watching the inauguration.  Immediately after the inauguration, the Tarleton groups moved into parade position and were the leaders of Section G.  Other groups in Section G were from Stockdale, Itasca, Hamilton, Carrizo Springs, and Floresville.

Interestingly, the “leader of the band” was Stephenville music major Norman Deisher.  A member of the Wainwright Rifles was Stephenville’s own Don Jones, who recently retired as District Judge.  His then future wife Nicki, who is currently on the Tarleton Dick Smith Library Friends Board, was the Sponsor of Charlie Company.  Company Advisor was Master Sergeant B.G. Rutherford, Assistant Professor of Military Science, and he also made the trip to the inauguration.   

Another interesting note, after Master Sergeant Rutherford retired from the Tarleton Military Science Department in the late 1960s, he came to work at the Tarleton Library as the security officer.  His desk was at the entrance of the library, and he checked patron’s bags and purses as they exited the building..and probably got more than a few surprises!!

What a Small World!!

JTAC, January 15, 1963, February 5, 1963.

Tablet Computers

Today's post is seeking information.  Do you have a tablet computer?  (iPad, Surface, Kindle Fire, etc.)  How do you use it?  What do you like about it?

Many academic libraries are now loaning iPads or other tablets out for student use.  These come with limited applications and no personalization.  This idea leads to a bunch of questions:

• If the Dick Smith Library had tablets to loan out like we do laptops, would you use them? 
• Would they be beneficial to you as a student? 
• Would/Could you use them for academic reasons?
• What applications would you like/need on them?  
• What should the loan period be?  4 hours, 1 day, 3 days, etc.?

This service is very intriguing to me and I would like to know how others feel about the idea. Post a comment and share your thoughts. Thanks in advance for any feedback!! 

Limited and Local History Collections

One of the many services the library has to offer is found in our Limited and Local History Collections. Here are the many services we have to offer our patrons:

• Tarleton State University archives
• Tarleton State University theses and dissertations submitted for degrees
• Tarleton State University Grassburr yearbooks
• Displays of Tarleton State University artifacts
• Drs. Marie and Nathan Cedars Holocaust collection
• Edward Lear, Lewis Carroll, and William Morris collections donated by Dr. Joe R. Christopher
• Michael Moser collection
• Col. and Mrs. Milton P. Brooks bound volumes of The National Geographic
• Dr. C. Richard King books and materials
• Dr. Dick Smith books and materials
• Local history and genealogy collections
• Stephenville Empire-Tribune since 1882 on microfilm (some gaps)
• Microfilm records for Erath, Brown, Callahan, Shackleford and Stephens counties

As I was preparing for something to write for our LOL blog I started thinking about some of the services we provided and I went to The J-TAC (Tarleton State University Student Newspaper) online. I was curious to see if I searched for my name and the years that I was a student at Tarleton if anything would come up. I was surprised (and a little excited) to see my maiden name come up in several issues.

So, if you or someone you know was a student, faculty or staff member at Tarleton go and check out the The J-TAC (Tarleton State University Student Newspaper). You just might be surprised to find some interesting information!

Need Help with Debt?

If you're like me, you're struggling with debt. When I was growing up, my parents' always had money problems (and, to this day, they are still living paycheck to paycheck). I tried to use them as an example and go a different route, but, alas, credit cards and school loans came along, and I got sucked in. I've been working as hard as I can for quite a while to try and pay them off, and, at one point, I had them almost completely paid for, but then I had my own little "series of unfortunate events", and now I'm back to where I started again.

So, I started looking up personal budgeting ideas in the library catalog to try and find something that might help me out of my situation with money problems and might give me new ideas on what I can do to best manage my money. What I found was this great video from the Films on Demand database. The library subscribes to this database now, so we finally have access to it, and I thought it would be useful information to pass on. The film is called "Your Money, Your Life: Empowering Young Adults to Get Their Money Right." You can either click on the hyperlink above, view the video below, or visit the Dick Smith Library A-Z Database page, click on Films on Demand, and search for the film yourself, whichever you prefer.



This video is geared more towards college students now and just after graduation, but it still offers good ideas and good advice for anyone interested. I hope this helps someone out there. I know there's a few things I still need to change; so, good luck, and if you have any ideas on ways to budget better or cut back on spending, please post. I'm sure I could use the suggestion.

Twitter poetry

Here's something cool I stumbled across recently: Pentametron. It's a Twitter bot that crawls Twitter, finds tweets in iambic pentameter, and then arranges them into sonnets. The results can be strange, but it's amazing how well some lines work together.

Oh, and if you check and see one of the library's tweets in a sonnet, be sure and let us know - that would be awesome news!

Dance for Art!

What would life be like without art?  We would dress without style, simply utilitarian in purpose.   What would our houses look like?  They would be drab without color or architectural interest.  We’d have no need for ornamentation or decorations.  What would we do to entertain ourselves?  We’d have no music, no paintings, no sculptures, and no dancing.  We wouldn't have concerts halls or concerts in the park.  What kind of books would we have?  Would we have only manuals and documentation?  We’d have no poems, short stories, or novels.  Our lives would be devoid of so many things that enrich our lives. 
Obviously this little girl feels the impact of art in her life!

When I found this picture of this little girl dancing in front of Irish painter, John Lavery’s (1856-1941), painting of ballerina, Anna Pavlova, I was moved.   I know that I have felt exactly the same way when viewing a particularly expressive painting, but I’ve never been brave enough to show it. To see images of other painting by John Lavery or other artists, go to Tarleton’s database Oxford Art Online.

So today let’s all dance for art!

Delivery Services for Off-Campus Students, Faculty, and Staff

Did you know the library offers special delivery services for distance learners?

Courier Services

The library participates in courier service to our Fort Worth, Weatherford, and Waco locations every Tuesday and Thursday. Midlothian courier service runs every Monday and Wednesday. Courier Service of library materials is FREE to all Tarleton students, faculty, and staff.

Home/Office Delivery

The Dick Smith Library also offers home/office delivery of library materials for users without access to our main or remote campus locations. We'll even send you a pre-paid return label to mail your items back to us!

All materials for special delivery need to be requested via your ILLiad account.

To take advantage of our services, register with the library @ http://www.tarleton.edu/library/distance.html

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Databases

Now that classes have started again here is a list of the top ten databases of the more than 200 databases that the Dick Smith library has available. The figures come from actual use statistics and reflect actual use by students.
The databases are:
1. The Library Catalog
2. Discovery
3. Academic Search Complete
4. EBSCO Databases
5. JStor
6. Metalib Subjects
7. SFX Titles
8. Business Source Complete
9. Proquest
10. CINAHL Full Text-(Nursing)
So there are the top ten databases, but remember if you can't find what you need ask a librarian.

Social Media Galore at the Library

Did you know that the Library has 7 different social media outlets? You can use these outlets to communicate with us, see what is new in the Library, and just tell us how AWESOME we are.

• Twitter- Tweet Us @TarletonLib
• Facebook- Like Us
• Pinterest- Checkout our boards
• Blogger- Read about Library events, new staff members, and helpful resources
• Flickr- Check out pics of Library events
• FourSquare- win a free flashdrive after your 10th check-in
• RSS Feed- see Library updates

Use one, use all! We love to see your tweets and comments. If you need assistance with anything, we are here to help you. You can also call the information desk at (254) 968- 9249 or email reference@tarleton.edu.

"There's an app for that..."

Did you know that Tarleton Libraries offer a wide variety of apps to meet your information needs on the go?

Check out the available apps here*

*There are different apps for different devices (android, iPhone, smartphones).

The library also has a mobile friendly website which allows you to:

•  find journal articles
• save citations to your bibliography
• keep up with current events
• keep library resources a thumb-click away
• renew your checked out materials

The library is wherever you are or want to be. 

Dick Smith Library Can Help You Get What You Need

In addition to the useful library resources and services described in yesterday's post, the library strives to help you get what you need when you need it:

• Online library catalog so you can locate items (print and electronic) in our collections.
• Databases so you can locate articles, films, reports, books, and more.
• Use your NTNET login to access databases when off-campus.
• Use Discovery@Tarleton to search 85% of the library's databases with one click.
• Choose specific databases from our A-Z database list.
• Choose recommended databases from our topical Subject Research Guides.
• Mobile apps and resources so you can get what you need while on the go.
• Off-campus and distance services so Tarleton students, faculty, and staff at satellite campuses and/or in online classes can take full advantages of our resources.
• Interlibrary loan services so you can obtain items not in the library's collections
• TexShare card program so you can get borrowing privileges at libraries across the state.

Remember, we're here to help you and glad to do so.  Just give a call (254-968-9249), send an email (reference@tarleton.edu), or stop by (hours).  You can also check in with the library through various social media venues (linked from the library's homepage).

Dick Smith Library staff wishes you an excellent Spring 2013 semester.

Top Ten Tuesday - Library Resources & Services

Welcome back!  Here is a list of ten things (in no particular order) the library has to help make your semester a success.

charging station

• Charging station for your mobile devices - on the main floor.
• Mobile whiteboards - available on all floors.  You can check out markers and erasers at the Circulation Desk on the main floor.
• Vending machine - for scantrons and other supplies - in the student lounge near the coffee bar, main floor.
• TexShare cards - get yours at the Circulation Desk, main floor.
• Comb binding machine - in the curriculum workroom on the lower level.
• Die cuts - also in the curriculum workroom.  We have a new die cut machine - ask us how to use it!
• Presentation practice room - also downstairs on the lower level - reserve it there or at the Circulation Desk on the main floor.
• Discovery -  the library's search tool that allows you to simultaneously search the library’s catalog and most of the databases using one interface - http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=ip,uid&profile=eds - accessible 24/7 from anywhere.
• Apps and mobile-friendly resources - also available any place, any time.
• Research Guides - to help identify which resources might be helpful for your assignments - also available 24/7.

new die cut machine

comb binding machine

Have a GREAT semester, and please remember the library is here to help you! The library is open 101 hours per week (more during finals and the week before them).  You may get help and ask questions in person at the library, by phone at 254-968-9249, by email at reference@tarleton.edu, or via the web at http://www.tarleton.edu/~library/askaref.html