The Inside Cover

Student Edition of Library Newsletter

 january 2008

Volume 1, Number 5

A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face.  ~Edward P. Morgan

 

 

 

Get ready @ your library

 

Welcome back!  Are you ready for the new semester?  ‘Cause the library is ready for you!  So is this month’s edition of the The Inside Cover.  Enjoy the new year!

 

—The Library Staff

 

 

It’s ready!

 

Unless you’re living in an igloo, you must know about the library’s new homepage. If you are living in an igloo, it’s time to come out of hibernation and go to:

 

http://eagles.midway.edu/library/default.htm

 

 

She’s ready for reference

 

She can wield unfathomable power over databases and catalogs, create order out of chaos, and bring wisdom to the masses. Her reference skills are as potent as… some of that eggnog you had for the holidays????  Please welcome Carrie, former circulation supervisor, to her new job as reference librarian.

 

 

We’re ready to take orders from you

 

The library encourages all students to suggest titles of books to purchase. If you can think of a book to add to the library’s collection, email Cathy at creilender@midway.edu .  We do not buy textbooks however.  Each suggested book will first be evaluated to see that it meets the needs of the college’s curriculum.

 

 

Don’t get caught in a World Wide Wikipedia Web!

 

Did you hear that Sinbad is dead? Wikipedia was the first to report it. He’s actually still alive, which means you can’t always trust those Web encyclopedias. That’s one reason why professors cringe anytime they see Wikipedia references in a bibliography.

 

Try using a specialized encyclopedia in the library’s reference section on the first floor. They’re reliable, scholarly, and will make your professors spring from their chairs with pride. Dr. Judith Hatchett, professor of English, says, “Students underestimate the value of the reference section of the library. Many articles in reference works contain their own bibliographies, thus directing researchers to new sources.”

 

Next time you’re tempted to trust Wikipedia, try using one of these:

 

All subjects

 

Encyclopedia Britannica, call number REF 031 B777 2005

Also online at http://search.eb.com/

 

Science, technology, and medical

 

Encyclopedia health care management, REF 362.1068

Encyclopedia science and technology, REF 503 M178 2002

Encyclopedia of chemistry, REF 540 M178p

Encyclopedia of genetics, REF 576.503 En 19 2004

Encyclopedia of evolution, 576.803 En 19o 2002

Encyclopedia of sports science, 613.71 En 19z

 

Business

 

International encyclopedia of business and management, REF 650.03 In8w

Encyclopedia of business, REF 650.103 En 19m

 

Social sciences

 

Encyclopedia of educational research, REF 370.3 En 19

International encyclopedia of the social sciences, REF 300.3 In8

Encyclopedia of the social sciences, REF 300.03 En 19

Encyclopedia of American social history, REF 301.0973 En 19

International encyclopedia of communications, REF 302.203 In7

Women’s studies encyclopedia, REF 305.4 W842

Encyclopedia of world cultures, REF 306.097 En 19

Encyclopedia of marriage and the family, REF 306.803 En 19m

Encyclopedia of U.S. national security, REF 355.033073 En19s 2006

Encyclopedia of environmental issues, REF 363.7 Ency19 2000

 

Humanities

 

Encyclopedia of religion, REF 200.3 In8

Student encyclopedia of music, REF 780.3 B178

Encyclopedia of popular music, REF 781.63 G947L

Encyclopedia of world literature, REF 803 En19

Encyclopedia of world authors, REF 809 C992

Encyclopedia of American literature, REF 810.3 Ox2am

Current biography, REF 920 C936

 

 

Googling yourself to death?

 

No fret, no flips, with Google’s search tips. This handout is now available online at http://eagles.midway.edu/library/googletips.htm . With billions of pages out there, how do you find the best ones? By narrowing, refining, and using advanced search features. Did you know Google will even do your math for you? Just type in your equation and press enter. Learn how to:

  • Search a date range

  • Eliminate terms or indicate essential terms

  •  Proximity searching

  • Tell Google to look for synonyms of your terms

  • Search the full text of books or scholarly papers

  • “get lucky”

 

Full text journals on the web

 

DOAJ Directory of Open Access JournalsThe Directory of Open Access Journals www.doaj.org is a multi-disciplinary database with 2897 journals—all articles are in full text. 

 

Ignore the message about becoming a member. You can get free access without registering. Click on “Find Articles” and just start searching.  Or, scroll down the homepage to get a list of journals by subject—biology, nursing (under “health sciences”), business and economics, education and psychology (both under “social sciences”), and several others.

 

This site originates in Sweden, so some of the journals are in foreign languages, but many are in English.

 

 

100 unique paper topics

 

If you need a topic for a research paper, go to http://eagles.midway.edu/library/topics.htm . Or, stop by the library to pick up a paper copy. There are topics for all disciplines.