What's Going On With the Databases?!

As I'm sure you notice sometimes when you log onto Facebook, let alone even on Google, sometimes the interface in front of you has changed, and sometimes even the NAMES of the databases have changed. These days, these changes seem to happen overnight that even us librarians are not prepared!

Given that, here are the updates of what's going on with our databases since January of this year:

1. Project MUSE is no longer a subscription database at Chabot due to budget cuts.

2. In the Spring, with small monies, we were able to get the Arts and Sciences II version of JSTOR. It is a TINIER and more SUBJECT LIMITED version of MUSE, let alone all of JSTOR as well as more of a NON-CURRENT database (there is an embargo of five years on most titles, meaning the newest issue will most often be at least five years old). This database focuses primarily in the fields of Political Science, Anthropology, Family Studies, Classical Studies, and History. For more information, look at the title list.

3. The Library began purchasing/owning E-books which are accessed through the new Gale Virtual Reference Library platform.

4. EBSCOhost has changed its interface. When you use our tutorials on EBSCOhost, some information is now out of date, but not so radically different. It's mainly the search results page where all information to limit your search, whether it be to peer-reviewed or by subject, will now all be on the LEFT side.

5. JSTOR has changed its interface. You need to UN-CHECK the lower selection that says "Include Links to External Content" as most of that content is currently NOT free.

6. Pop Culture Universe has been bought by another company and we now have two database products. At present, the one with more detail is the E-Books database called Pop Culture E-Books. The new Pop Culture Universe should mainly be used for quick reference check-ups, news, or decades information.

7. The Gale vendor is currently in the process of replacing its "Resource Center" products with the new "In Context" products. Biography Resource Center is now Biography In Context with a brand new interface. We expect Literature Resource Center to eventually have the name change and similar interface changes as well, but we do not know when.

8. LexisNexis Academic's new interface is now the official interface. To learn more on how to use it, check out the YouTube instructional tutorials.

If you need help sorting all of this out, please contact a librarian. Even if we have just been faced with a sudden change, we are very adaptable and can quickly help you figure out any of the new quirks of the new databases. You can see us at the LEFT side of the main desk, chat with us below, or call us at 510-723-7006. Happy searching!

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New Password to Get into Databases and Look Upo Your Record

As of June 3, 2010 there is now a new way to get into our databases and to look up your record (to renew books, etc.) in the Library Catalog.

When logging into databases off campus there is now a new password.

The username is still your W ID number and it must begin with a capital W. If you do not know your W ID number, look up your record on Class-Web: https://bw6.clpccd.cc.ca.us/pls/OWA_PROD/twbkwbis.P_WWWLogin

After logging in, the first item listed will be what is my W ID?

The password is the following:

The first TWO letters of your first name, the first TWO letters of your last name, and the LAST FOUR DIGITS of your W ID number.

For example, if your name is Jane Chabot and your W ID number is W98765432

It would be this:

Username: W98765432
Password: jach5432

To look at your patron record in the Library Catalog go to:

http://chla.sirsi.net/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/CHABOT/0/1/488/X/BLASTOFF

Where it says PIN be sure to type in the password as listed above.

While the password is the same as the default password to Blackboard, it is NOT the same password as getting into Class-Web or The Zone.

If you have any questions, please contact us

Where is Project MUSE?

As you know, all state funded institutions in California have been suffering by budget cuts. While the Library believes you should have as many resources online as possible, we did not have the funds to renew this important database for the 2010. This means for the Spring semester full text articles for Project MUSE are not available. As Project MUSE was a unique subscription as we had what was called "perpetual access," once the DVD-ROMs are available around June, we will have copies of all articles up to 2009 from our past database subscription in that format (a librarian would then retrieve an article for you). Unfortunately, we will not receive these DVD-ROMs until likely June.

If your instructor asks you to use Project MUSE, search in one of our other many current database subscriptions instead. They are available at: http://www.chabotcollege.edu/Library/abby/dblist.html

EBSCOhost Academic Search Elite has articles similar to what you would find in Project MUSE and for literary criticism, use Literature Resource Center.

If you still need to use Project MUSE, the CSU East Bay Library currently subscribes to it. You will need to be on the CSU East Bay campus, itself, to use it, however.

Chabot Library Now Has a Widget for ProQuest Diversity Databases!

Our database vendors are slowly but surely coming up with widgets with search boxes, and ProQuest is the first to provide you the ability to search off campus through our proxy server:

Enter your search terms:

We have added the search widget to our right column. When searching off campus be sure to enter your username and password where it prompts you.

Instructors or students--if you'd like to add this widget to your web page or blog, be sure to read the code on this page or contact us and we will send you the code!

New Students, Welcome to the Fall Semester!

The Library welcomes you to the Fall semester. We will be open Mondays through Thursdays 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

We welcome you to a wonderful education at Chabot College. If you ever need help in your research, a librarian is available for you, on the left side of the main desk.

The Library provides many resources, both in print and electronic. Print resources can be checked out with your student ID card and you can find them in the Library Catalog. Electronic resources are available to you from the Library Databases page (as well as other pages). Go to How to Get Into Databases Off Campus to learn how to access them from your home.

The Library is also a study area, so please do not have loud conversations and have your cell phones on vibrating. If you receive a call, politely step outside to have your conversation.

Study rooms are available for groups of two or more. The sign up sheet is available at the reference desk. You can sign up to one week in advance.

Your library card is your student ID card. Have your picture taken in the photo ID center, located just above the cafeteria. You will need your Student ID card to check out books, for other on campus needs, let alone some movie houses out there will actually give you a student discount if you show it to them! So keep your student ID card in your wallet.

Books are purchased at the Chabot bookstore, not the Library. The Library has SOME textbooks available on reserve, but only if your instructor(s) have placed them there. They are most often available for only ONE HOUR checkout and are NOT to leave the Library (the time is there for you to make photocopies). Do NOT assume it will be there, even if the textbook is sold out at the bookstore. If the textbook is NOT in the Library's reserves collection, be sure to notify your instructor.

If you have any questions, please be sure to see a librarian on the left side of the main desk.

LIBRARY WEBSITE AND DATABASES MAY BE DOWN AT TIMES FROM JULY 31 TO AUGUST 4

Quick links for Library Research or to find your Blackboard Course

The Library has learned that the Chabot Las Positas Community College District is going through a current server emergency upgrade. This means that there will be times that servers will be down and you may not be able to access the College web site, the Library web site, and Chabot Library's subscription databases.

The server down times are currently slated for the following:

Thursday, July 31st after 3 p.m. to the rest of the day.

Friday, August 1st before 8 a.m. After 8 a.m. all servers should be running for the rest of the day.

Saturday, August 2nd after 11:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 3rd, ALL DAY. No access to the college web site, Library web pages, Class-Web, or databases.

Monday, August 4th, before 7 a.m.

Here is what the Library recommends you do, so you can find access to your Blackboard courses, and be able to search two of our databases (EBSCOhost and Proquest), or other options you can do for library research when the servers are down.

1. Bookmark the blog. You will get the latest information on this page, as well as key links.

2. The link to your Blackboard courses is: http://clpccd.blackboard.com/

3. For Library research purposes, you have access to one of the following:

a. The Library Catalog can be searched at: http://tinyurl.com/8mo5z

b. Proquest Diversity Databases: http://tinyurl.com/8mj36

c. EBSCOhost Databases: http://tinyurl.com/65ztma

The username and password for EBSCOhost is different. To get this information, Email the Library at: chabotref "at" clpccd.cc.ca.us

d. Find sources that have been selected for quality by searching Public WWW Sites Selected by Librarians at: http://tinyurl.com/yugjcn

e. With your Alameda County Library card, enter your library card number for a desired database at: http://tinyurl.com/6yk6h8

We apologize for this inconvenience.

The Chabot Library

Databases Update: Find Full Text Articles with More Ease!

Chabot Library is proud to announce a new feature where you can find full-text articles with more ease than before! With our new service provided by Serials Solutions, called 360 Link (also known as "Article Linker"), you will now be directed to articles in other databases and the free Public World Wide Web.

Here is how it works:

1. You come across an article you want that is NOT in the current database. In Ebscohost, you would click on “Check to see if Full Text is in Chabot’s Other Databases”

2. If the article is available in another database, you godirectly to that article. No further searching, no need to navigate back to a databases page. The link goes directly to the article!

3. If the article is not available, you are then led to options that include finding the title in print at a local library!

In addition to being able to link to articles between databases, you can also link to articles from Chabot full-text databases right from Google Scholar! To set up Chabot Library directly in Google Scholar preferences, go to http://tinyurl.com/3v74pa Click on the "Save Preferences" button. When you perform a search in Google Scholar, on the right of some of your Google scholar entries there will be a link that says "Chabot Library Databases". Click on that link, and in most cases, you will go directly to the article (if you are off-campus, enter your username and password, then be led directly to the article!)

Library Party for Faculty and Staff Only This Friday

Wine, Weed & Weep” Party
May 2, 2008 2-5 pm

TO ALL FACULTY:

Don’t miss the Library’s THIRD “Wine & Weed” party Friday afternoon May 2! We will CLOSE EARLY at 2:00pm! Please join us for refreshments, conversation with colleagues and a little work revitalizing our collections. We’ll teach you how to “WEED” in a library—the rewards are great!

WHY WEEP?
After 38 years at Chabot, Barbara Lawrence has decided she’d rather be at her new home in Nevada City than come to Chabot every day. This is your chance to come lift a glass in honor of our one and ONLY Library Goddess, She Who Can Never Be Replaced!

SPECIAL FUN ACTIVITY!
In addition to working on renewing the book collection we’re asking for help with our PRINT PERIODICALS! As more and more periodicals are available in full-text format in subscription databases we don’t need or want to buy so many titles in paper format. Come help us decide which paper subscriptions we can let go in your discipline and perhaps what new things we can add! Also please take a look at the last day of some of our database trials!

*Wine/Weed event is for Faculty/Staff only*

New Lexis-Nexis Now Live

The Library would like to announce that the new Lexis-Nexis Academic is now live. As time goes on, other links on our other pages will be linking to the new Lexis-Nexis. When searching Lexis-Nexis, keep this in mind:

1. Type in the box search terms. Do NOT type in the box as if you are filling a form.

2. When using phrases surround them with quotation marks such as "Chabot college"

3. When looking at your search results, pay attention to the menu on the left--use the pull-down menu to narrow your results.

Tutorials for the new Lexis-Nexis Academic are available at http://tinyurl.com/yozyhn

For any other questions, please contact a librarian or reply to this post (contacting a librarian in person or by phone directly will give a more prompt response).

Update on New Interfaces: Lexis-Nexis and Literature Resource Center

By the end of this summer, two of our databases will have a new makeover--where your searching experience in them should be easier than ever. The new interface to Lexis-Nexis Academic should appear on July 9 or shortly thereafter. The new interface to Literature Resource Center is slated to appear by late August. We will submit a new post when live with further discussion on the new searching features.

Technology Is Fine, But What About Books for the Summer?

Ah yes. Nothing to enrich the mind as reading a good, literary novel. In fact, just behind the main desk are shelves of suggested works of fiction you just may enjoy. Granted, we're closed until June 11-- but do take a look when we're open again.

In the meantime--want a sample of especially what are the "greats"? Well, everyone has an opinion--but renowned literary critic Larry McCaffery, happens to have a list that he calls The 20th Century Greatest Hits: 100 English- Language Books of Fiction. Take a look--then go to a public library to check one of these out. Happy readings!

Make This Summer a Technology Summer!

Students, faculty, staff, and yes, even librarians-- We are supposedly in a Web 2.0 world now, and we probably are not even totally aware as of yet what that means for our teaching and learning.

But in this world where we can simply "type in a box" the opportunities to improve our learning and teaching are here. There's so much to share. So below is a laundry list of what tools are out there, and as the summer and fall progress--some of these tools will be discussed in detail. We've discussed Picnik, already.

For Instructors Who Teach DE or Are Curious About DE
Top 10 Things to Do This Summer

Introductory YouTube Videos to Web 2.0 Technologies
What is all this?
Web 2.0: The Machine is Us/ing Us
RSS in Plain English
Are You Blogging This?

Create Your Own Web 2.0 Site
Host your forum, invite participation
Blogger
PBwiki

Present What You've Found On the Web
Trailfire

Sharing Photos, Editing Them, Tagging Them
. . . and Turn Them Into Discussion Forums (Team Projects, Instructors and Students)
Flickr
Picnik

Sharing Videos
Submit your closed captioned video or also include a transcript, when teaching
YouTube

Sharing Your Bookmarks
View your favorite sites from any computer and learn new ones from your new found online friends.
Del.icio.us
Stumble Upon
Blackboard scholar (not currently available at Chabot or Las Positas)

Sharing Attachments
Without clogging Email boxes
YouSendIt

Make It Come To You: RSS Feeds
Really Simple Syndication
What is RSS?
RSS Readers
How to Create an RSS 2.0 Feed
Bloglines

Send URL's People Can Easily Copy on Paper
TinyURL it
TinyURL

Share Your Word Processing Documents and Spreadsheets
Teams work together from one file. Instructors, provide feedback to revisions
Google Documents

Roll Out Your Own Search Engines
Create subject-oriented search engines that only retrieve the reliable sites you know
Google Custom Search Engine

Find More Music You Like and Share It
Turn your favorite song into a radio station for similar songs, or share what you're listening on ITunes
Pandora Radio
ILike

Social Networks
Librarians using web 2.0 technology use Ning and Facebook
Ning
Facebook

Tag . . . You're It!
Find what you've created, easily. Enter text or search a file to see what keywords will make your photo, web page more easily found.
TagCrowd


Want more insight? Podcasts, PowerPoints and links to tools are available at http://ic.arc.losrios.edu/~ccli/Much thanks goes to the presenters of this year's California Clearinghouse of Library Instruction workshop--librarians and educators David Silver, Anne-Marie Dietering, and Michele Mizejewski. Thanks also to Eileen O'Shea from InfoPeople for the wonderful workshop she gave to California community college librarians back in April.

And in the meantime, share your experiences with these tools. Hit the Comments link--how can these tools enhance your learning or teaching? Part of Web 2.0 is sharing what we have found and learned.

The Computer Lab and the WRAC Center: The Transition Begins

If you are wondering what is going on at the mezzanine--the computer lab is still open--it is now available in the center of the mezzanine near the Audio Visual Center. If you see signs that say closed off, the Computer Lab is not closed--It is open today from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. , tomorrow 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and it will be there open during regular Library hours, as always (June 11 to August 2-- 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.).

The WRAC Center will move to the Mezzanine of the Library in the coming weeks as the College begins its major renovations as provided by the Facilities Bond that was passed back in 2004. It will be situated on the left side--the computer Lab will be in the center--and the Audio Visual Center will continue to provide services to the right.

Whenever we are open, there will still be computers available on the mezzanine for writing, spreadsheets, Blackboard course work, web browsing, Email, online communities--this will not change. The ten computers around the reference desk will also continue to be available for library research purposes, with a librarian near by who can assist you in finding relevant, quality information from our databases and the Web (and do not forget our own Google Search Engine--it's there on the right menu of this blog. If you do not see it, hit reload. It will show up!)

Please let us know if you have any questions. During this period of transition, keep in mind that for you as a student, you will be able to get assistance on how to improve writing your papers from the staff of the WRAC Center, and just downstairs you can get assistance on how to improve your research for those same papers and projects, from a librarian. Not too bad, huh?

Open Reference Thread

Do you have a research question related to your assignment? Have a question about the Library and its services? Ask them here and we'll be more than happy to help you. Click on the "Comments" link below this post, type in your question, and click on the Publish button below. Responses take at least 24 hours. If you want to ask us more privately, contact information is available at Contact Us.

Amnesty Days In the Library

STUDENTS: Have you been holding onto overdue library books to avoid paying the fines? We've got a deal for you!!

All students that return their overdue library books the week of finals, from Monday, May 21 through Friday, May 25, 2007, will get their records cleared without paying any fines.

This offer EXCLUDES Reserve materials.

Summer Hours

After May 25, the Library will be open:

June 11 to August 2nd
Mondays through Thursdays
9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

We will be closed on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesday, July 4.

Please make a note on your calendar. Do remember that our website and our databases are available 24/7.

On the New Books Shelf This Week

On most weeks during the semester, we like to feature the latest books we have received. They are located on the "New Books" shelves, in stands you'll find just left of the main desk. Here's what's new this week.

Peddie, Ian. The Resisting Muse: Popular Music and Social Protest
Currently on New Books Shelf.
ML 3918 .P67 R47 2006
"Popular music has traditionally served as a rallying point for voices of opposition across a variety of genres. This volume examines the various ways popular music has been deployed as anti-establishment and how such opposition both influences and responds to the music produced."

Other New Books

Moore, Robin D. Music & Revolution: Cultural Change in Socialist Cuba
Currently on New Books Shelf.
ML 3917.C9 M66 2006



van Wormer, Katherine Stuart and Clemens Bartollas. Women and the Criminal Justice System
Currently on New Books Shelf.
HV 9950 .V38 2007


Herbert, W.N. and Matthew Hollis. Strong Words: Modern Poets on Modern Poetry
Currently on New Books Shelf.
PN 1064.S85 2000

Harris, Mary B. School Experiences of Gay and Lesbian Youth: The Invisible Minority
Currently on New Books Shelf.
LC 2575.S36 1997

Simon, Michele. Appetite for Profit: How the Food Industry Undermines Our Health and How to Fight Back
Currently on New Books Shelf.
TX 360.U6 S56 2006


More books listed in Part 2

On the New Books Shelf Part 2

This continues Part 1 of our New Books Shelf Announcement for the week of May 14.

Waltman, Jerold L. The Case for the Living Wage
Currently on New Books Shelf.
HD 4918.W264 2004



Koff, Clea. The Bone Woman: A Forensic Anthropologist's Search for Truth in the Mass Graves of Rwanda, Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo
Currently on New Books Shelf.
GN 69.8 .K64 2005


Tuominen, Mary C. We Are Not Babysitters: Family Child Care Providers Redefine Work and Care
Currently on New Books Shelf.
HQ 778.5 .T86 2003


Dionne, E.J. Jr., Jean Bethke Elshtain, and Kayla M. Drogosz. One Electorate Under God?: A Dialogue on Religion & American Politics
Currently on New Books Shelf.
BL 2525.O53 2004


Want to find reviews of these books? Go search in Book Reviews Databases

Books are ordinarily available for two weeks checkout, but as it is the end of the semester, we ask that you return the book on Friday, May 25. These same books will also be available in the stacks, when we re-open on Monday, June 11.

Hungry to Resize That Image? Go on a Picnik!

At the reference desk, we often get a question from one of you who have found that perfect image for your project--but want to resize it. And often, many computers on campus do not have a photo editor like Photoshop. Well, where have you been? It's a Web 2.0 universe now and you should expect to find a site you just go in and visit, register if you want to save your work, to do what you want-- right?

Well, there is a new site--currently in beta mode but in this site you are able to do simple photo and image editing functions. It's called Picnik. Go to http://www.picnik.com/app, upload the image you have found--and you can rotate, crop, resize, modify colors, sharpen, reduce red eye-- in other words, be able to do what you most often want to do with your photos and images. You can set up an account to save your photos and images and variations as well. And there's a tab where you can easily get your photos that you have saved on Flickr.

The Library would like to remind you--however, to keep in mind copyright restrictions when planning to use images. They're fine for projects you present for class--but for websites, if they're not clipart, check for permissions and ask the site owner from where you got it.

Again, enjoy your picnik: http://www.picnik.com/app . This is one where you certainly will not get ants (unless it's a picture of them you want to resize). And at home, if you think you'll use it often, check out Picnik tools at: http://www.picnik.com/info/tools

We Now Have a Browsing Magazines Section

Did you know that Chabot Library now has a browsing magazines section? The most recent issue of select magazines are now available in the center of the Library, on a rack, right in front of our Pamphlet cabinets. They are to be enjoyed the same as a reference book, in-house only.

As always, print journals and older magazines are available for a 7 day checkout period. Come to the right side of the main desk (the Check Out) side to look at and/or check out the issue you need.