Kid Snippets: "Library" (Imagined by Kids)

You Don't (Always) Have To Read The Whole (Print) Book

Do you avoid searching for books when you have a paper because you're short of time?
Your desired information can often be located within a book chapter.  It may only be a few pages long.

Once you have found your book on the shelf, there are 2 quick ways of looking for information:

1)  The table of contents (front of the book)
This is a list of all the chapter and section titles in the book.
You can sometimes tell by the titles if your topic is included.
Let's say your topic is the Watergate scandal, and that you have selected this book: Richard Nixon and His America, by Herbert S. Parmet.

Let's take a look at the table of contents:

Table of contents

Unfortunately, none of the chapter titles look helpful. Time for our second option.

2). The index (back of the book)
This is an alphabetical listing of all the topics covered in a book.
A good index can be extremely helpful.

To use an index:
--Flip to the back of the book.
--Look up your word alphabetically. 
Next to it, you will see page numbers where your topic is mentioned.
--Go to those pages.
Note:  If you can't find your topic, try looking up related words.

"Watergate scandal" is in the index.

Library Database: WorldCat

Did you know that the library has access to several databases on a wide variety of topics? With so many choices, the A-Z database list may seem intimidating. 

Here's a quick look at one of the databases which is helpful and easy to use: WorldCat.

Let's start with what you can do with WorldCat (and no, it's not a database of cats; however, you could find an abundance of resources on cats and wild cats if you're curious).

WorldCat is "the world's most comprehensive database of library materials" which means you can look up any item to see libraries who possess it within their holdings. This is extremely useful for people who use TexShare as they can find a local library to check out materials from when they are not near a Tarleton library or if a Tarleton library does not have an item they are seeking.

Here's a look at WorldCat's Advanced Search. From this search page, you can look up an item by title, author, material type, ISBN, ISSN, etc. You also have other choices such as limiting the results to year, item type, language, number of libraries, and more.

Here's an example of a search for a book by title. The title, Zelda: a Biography, is one that we have in the Tarleton Libraries' holdings. 

When you select search, WorldCat will automatically select Tarleton Libraries as your default library so you should see Tarleton Libraries displayed within the availability results first.

WorldCat is a helpful tool to use especially if you know the exact item that you're seeking. If you are a frequent TexShare user, I believe that you should become familiar with this database as it could save you a trip or help you locate an item faster.

If you have any questions about WorldCat or how to use it, contact the Reference Department: 

(254)968-9249 or reference@tarleton.edu

Learning Commons Renovation Timeline

Here's a timeline (created with TimelineJS) of the Learning Commons renovation project.  Check this post later for updates to the timeline!

Dallas ComicCon & Icons of the American Comic Book

Dallas Comic-Con 2014 Program

Dallas ComicCon is coming this weekend. You will find special guests like the cast of Firefly and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Stan Lee will also be in attendance at this years Dallas ComicCon. There are activities like the Cosplay Masquerade and there will be shops to purchase comic books and more.

Can't make it it ComicCon this weekend? The library has Icons of the American Comic Book. You will find the two volumes in the reference collections along with a few other comic book encyclopedias. Take your library experience to the next level and come dressed as your favorite characters (cosplay) while you read over the reference books! 

Need assistance?

Email reference@tarleton.edu or call 254/968-9249.

Tell us who your favorite comic book character is @tarletonlib

“Were” or “Was”; “Myself” or “Me” and Library Resources

“Were”: In writing a sentence which pertains to being wishful, use “were”, not “was” in the phrase, “If I were going to become a good student, I would study a lot.”  The key is being wishful or having a possibility of.

“Was”: In writing a sentence which uses the past tense verb of “being”, write, “I was a good student because I studied a lot.” The key is being in the past.

“Myself”: Using the word “myself” in a sentence of this type is incorrect: “If you have any questions, get in touch with myself or the secretary.” 

“Me”: The sentence should be “If you have any questions, get in touch with me or the secretary.” 

What’s the key? Ask yourself how the sentence would be if you were the only one involved.  The resulting sentence is “If you have any questions, get in touch with me.” Simple!

When, then, should you use “myself”? Use it to give extra emphasis to your statement such as in this sentence, “I, myself, would rather study than get poor grades.”

Library Resources: If I were going to become better with my usage of these words, I, myself, would look in Discovery@Tarleton.edu and use some of the 903 resources!

Coming Soon to the Library's Shelves: Hairstyles!

We always have interesting new books being added to the collection, so I figured I'd spotlight a few. If you love vintage hairstyles or hairstyling in general, you're going to love these. Each of these books contain step-by-step, illustrated instructions on how to create various hairstyles and will be available for checkout soon!

The Art of Finger Waving by Paul Compan - Includes such styles as "The French Cocktail Bob," "The Varsity Bob," and "The Extreme French Swirl."

 Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Styles with Step-by-Step Techniques by Lauren Rennells - This book includes full-color pictures and is a lot of fun to look through, even if you don't plan on recreating the hairstyles. It also includes sections on how to do vintage makeup and nails.

 Beautiful Braids by Patricia Coen and Joe Maxwell - Like the title says, this one is all about braids. It includes braiding tips and step-by-step line drawings.

Wig Making and Styling: A Complete Guide for Theatre & Film by Martha Ruskai and Allison Lowery - Okay, so this one isn't quite hair, but it's close. It includes information on how to create a wig from scratch, alter an existing wig, and more. Oh, and it also covers facial hair!

What is peer review?

Have your professors ever asked you to look for "peer-reviewed" articles to use for your paper? Perhaps you nodded thoughtfully and took notes, all the while wondering, "What the heck is peer review?!"

What Is It?
First, you should know that an academic journal is a periodical (newspaper, journal, or magazine) with articles written by academics or scholars on a specialized topic.

Second, although most periodicals have an editing and review process, academic journals with peer review take this a step further.  Published articles must pass a rigorous review by the scholar's peers, who are experts on a given topic.  Peer reviewers often use criterion such as research methodology, relevance to the field, the author's credentials, and more. 

Academic/scholarly vs. peer-reviewed journals
The phrases academic journal, scholarly journal and peer-reviewed journal are often  used interchangeably*.  However, not all academic journals use peer review. 

How to check your article for peer review
If you click Peer-reviewed when searching any of our databases, the articles in your results should fall into this category. 

To double-check that your article is peer-reviewed, enter the EXACT title (with quotation marks around it) into Ulrich's database (click Databases: A-Z on our homepage to find it).  If it is peer-reviewed (also known as "refereed") you will see a black and white referee shirt icon like the one in the picture.

Note: multiple search results for the same title often occur for different formats, such as print, online, and microform.  For a more detailed search, use the Advanced Search feature.

A "referee shirt" icon indicates that a periodical is peer-refereed (or reviewed).

*Some academic or scholarly journals can also be "open-access," which means that you do not have to be subscribed to a database to read them. Here is an example.

Anthology: Digitized & New Volume Published

Volume 20, 2014
cover

Volume 20 of Anthology Published
In case you missed the announcement last week, you should know that the Volume 20 of Anthology has been published and it showcases Tarleton students' exceptional creative talents.

A forum for student prose, poetry, and visual arts, Anthology began to take shape in 1994 through the efforts of two undergraduate students, Cris Edwards and Jimmy Hood, and two English and Languages Department faculty members, Benedda Konvicka and Marilyn Robitaille.

This dedicated team championed their vision, secured university funding and support, solicited and judged submissions, recruited help, designed the journal, and began ensuring their dream would withstand the test of time -- which it definitely has.


Volume1, 1995
cover

Anthology's first volume was published in 1995; a new volume has been published each April since. Each volume offers carefully selected works and is celebrated with Creative Arts Day festivities that include an editors' luncheon, readings by a renowned author, a contributors' reception, and Editors' Choice Awards. The 2014 Creative Arts Day featured Oklahoma Poet Laureate Nathan Brown as guest speaker.

While Anthology has been available in print and online for quite some time, its distribution range has been fairly limited -- until now. 

A recent Dick Smith Library digitization project has broadened access to this publication and created a searchable version of Anthology through The Portal to Texas History, which is created and maintained by the University of North Texas Libraries' Digital Projects Unit.

How to Access & Search Anthology
-- Click "Services and Resources" on the Dick Smith Library homepage.
-- Choose "Anthology Creative Arts Journal Archive."
   ---- Browse issues by year.
   ---- Search for items by title, creator, or keyword.

Let us know if you have questions: reference@tarleton.edu | 254-968-9249

Final Exam & End-of Semester Tips
Looking for inspiration? Need to get your creative juices energized? Need a mental break? No worries. Help is at hand:
-- Check out the Finals Frenzy resources and follow @TarletonExams on Facebook.
-- Peruse others' tips and share your own with the #TSUFinalsFrenzy hashtag on Twitter.
-- Enjoy a cup of coffee at the library and other hydration stations.
-- Take advantage of the library's extended hours.
-- Contact library staff if you have questions: "Ask a Librarian" | reference@tarleton.edu | 254-968-9249

Finals Frenzy!!

Check out the Finals Frenzy events that are available to help you with your exams!

 

 

Have you heard the news?

Last Wednesday the library hosted its fifth annual READ event, revealing the Tarleton Aeronautical Team and the Collegiate FFA as this year's lucky groups to be included in the library's READ posters.  

Each year, the library selects two outstanding groups/individuals from the Tarleton community to participate in promoting reading and literacy.  Participants appear in posters with some of their favorite books.  The participants and posters are kept secret until the big reveal during National Library Week.

If you didn't get a chance to stop by the reveal party, you still have time to enjoy the posters!  Stop by the library's Administration Office in the upper level to get a close up view of the full sized posters.  You can still snag free mini-posters at the Circulation desk on the main level, which also include information about the organizations on the back.


 

On This Day in History...The Battle of San Jacinto

On this day in Texas history, Texas wins the Battle of San Jacinto in about 18 minutes.

Spending weeks drawing Santa Anna east across central Texas, on April 21st, while the Mexican army was having their afternoon siesta, the Texas army led by Sam Houston attacks shouting "Remember the Alamo".  The battle lasted only about 18 minutes. 

To learn more about the Battle of San Jacinto and the Texas Revolution check out the library's Discovery Tool.

Digital Public Library of America

We told you a couple of months ago that the Tarleton Grassburrs are now online, through the Portal to Texas History. Did you know, though, that because they are in the Portal to Texas History, they are also included in the Digital Public Library of America? You can find them in the DPLA using this search link.*

Screenshot of DPLA Homepage 4/17/2014

The DPLA is a nationwide digital library that partners with regional digital libraries, such as the Portal to Texas History, and institutions like the New York Public Library and the Smithsonian to bring you content from all over the country in one place. You can search by date, keyword or by place. As you can see below, there are many items from the Stephenville area in the DPLA!

So, get out there and explore the DPLA!  You might find the perfect picture, newspaper article, book or other primary source for your research, or discover something completely new about your home town.

*Updated 4/18/2014 to add direct link to Grassburrs.

       Find out who’s featured on the

Dick Smith Library 2014 READ posters!

            Join the Fun & Be In the Know
             ¯Wed., April 16 @ 3:00 p.m.¯
          Downstairs in the Dick Smith Library

       2014 READ Poster Reveal & Refreshments

Get souvenir READ postcards & take pictures with this year’s honorees.

              ¯Celebrate Libraries & Reading¯

                    National Library Week -- April 13-19