8.29.2008

EndNote Web training in the Library

Albertsons Library is pleased to announce EndNote Web training for both faculty and graduate students. EndNote Web is a online reference organizer which offers reference storage and instant bibliographic formatting. It's available to the Boise State Community and is fully integrated with the Web of Science database system. Workshops are offered on the following dates:

Tu, Sept 16, from 1:40 - 3:00 (Grads)
We, Sept 17, from 11:40 - 1:00 (Grads)
Th, Sept 25, from 9:15 - 10:30 (Faculty)
Fr, Sept 26, from 12:40 - 2:00 (Faculty)

All workshops will be held in Library 203. Spaces need to be reserved and will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Classes are limited to 20 participants. To attend, please e-mail Melissa Kozel with your name and department. For further information, call Melissa at 426-1973.

8.27.2008

What Albertsons Library can do 4 u

Well, the new school year is off and running! I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted already. So the bloggers here at the library thought we’d take a moment to remind you of some of the ways the library can help you out not only with your academic and research activities, but with leisure activities as well!

  • If you’re already overwhelmed with the start of the year, you might want to stop by the Starbucks located just inside the library to the right of the main entry. Sit for a while and enjoy the music and a Vivanno, a nice refreshing iced tea, or any of your other favorite beverages.

  • While you’re in the area, take a walk over to the browsing room in the front corner of the library (take a right on your way out of Starbucks). There we have plenty of chairs (including several of the raved about “comfy black chairs,” more of which are located on floors 2-4) and tables for lounging. Here we also have a browsing collection full of popular fiction and non-fiction titles for a nice escape from reality as well as lots of newspapers from all over the world.

  • Maybe you just want to relax and listen to some music, whether you’re in the library, your dorm room, or someplace else. We can help you there too! We have 5 databases full of audio files for your listening pleasure including genres from classical to zydeco and American folk, jazz & blues to calypso & reggae. Check them out here - just scroll down to the middle of the page to the box labeled “Listening Databases.”

If you’re heading somewhere for the holiday weekend, you might be interested in our e-collections.

  • We have a large collection of e-audio books that you can download. Simply navigate to the Basic Search page in our catalog and set the “Quick Limit” to “BSU/ICFL e-audiobooks” from the drop-down list. Then search by title, author, or keyword.

  • “That’s nice,” you say, “but I don’t have a non-IPod MP3 player to listen to the books on.” No problem! We have several e-audiobook compatible MP3 players that you can check out with your student ID (for 3 weeks!) by going to the CRC desk on the second floor of Albertsons Library.

  • If you’re not into listening to your books and would rather read an electronic copy, you should check out our e-book collection. Simply navigate to the Basic Search page in our catalog and set the “Quick Limit” to “BSU e-books” from the drop-down list. Then search by title, author, or keyword.

That’s it for now, but I hope you’ll stay tuned for our next “What Albertsons Library can do 4 u” post. In the meantime, enjoy the long weekend and try to catch your breath, there’s a long exciting semester ahead!

8.22.2008

What's new for Fall 2008 at your library

Albertsons Library welcomes you to another exciting fall semester! We work hard to make the library a comfortable place to study and a resource to power up your research endeavors.

Here are some of the things we have in store for you for this semester:

  • Scores of great new research databases! Access articles from thousands of journals and magazines in our growing collection of databases, such as Literature Criticism Online, Philosopher's Index, the backfiles of Web of Science, Ethnic NewsWatch, and Early English Books Online, to name a few. You can check out the list of our new databases, or view the A-Z list of everything we offer.

  • Extensive interactive subject guides in Anthropology, Public Administration, Economics, Kinesiology, and many more via Alberstons Library's new LibGuides system.

  • You wanted more computers? You got it! We added 20 computer stations on the second floor next to the Curriculum Resource Center desk. We're also adding two multimedia stations that students can use to create and edit multimedia projects.

  • Want a laptop? In the coming weeks we'll be launching our laptop checkout program so that students will be able to check out laptops from the library's Circulation desk and use them in the library.

  • New digital screens in presentation rooms on the first and second floors, so you can plug in your laptop and view your presentation on the big screen.

  • You'll see more art on the walls and digital signage showcasing library resources.

  • All student computer stations now have Microsoft Office 2007.

  • We're creating more helpful video tutorials on how to use library resources.

  • A revamped UNIV 106 course, a.k.a. Library Research, is now available as a distance course as well as two in-person courses.

  • Implementation of the "Find it" button -- search and locate full text articles across multiple databases.


We're excited by these improvements, and hope you will be, too! We have even more up our sleeve for the upcoming year. After all, we're here to support you. Let us know if there are other ways we can help you succeed here at Boise State University and beyond.

8.15.2008

Meet our new Librarian/Archivist!

My name is Erin Passehl, and I am the new Librarian/Archivist as of August. I work in Special Collections on the 2nd floor of Albertsons Library.

One of my primary responsibilities will be to assist in overseeing the digital collections created using materials from University Archives and Special Collections.


I have just arrived from the Midwest, most recently from Milwaukee, WI, where I was a librarian at a small private university (notable moment: dressing up as a California Raisin for Halloween and winning 1st prize).

A native of Wisconsin, I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor degree in history and political science. I received my Master of Science in Information (MSI) from the University of Michigan with a specialization in archives. Needless to say, I am a major Big Ten college sports fan (but Badgers come before Wolverines)! I can’t wait to get to a few football games here.


So far I am really enjoying Boise. I am making my way slowly through the city, identifying interests of mine (bicycling on the Green Belt, live music, dining, knitting, outdoor activities), so if you have any suggestions, lay it on me!

Come on up to Special Collections and enjoy all the great materials we collect. You can contact me at 426-1674 or at erinpassehl[at]boisestate.edu. I look forward to school starting and meeting everyone.

8.11.2008

New digital collection: The Broncos Are Dancing!


BSU Library and Special Collections are pleased to announce the first digital collection entitled "The Broncos Are Dancing!" You can view the collection at http://library.boisestate.edu/Special/BroncosDancing.htm.

Dances have been an important part of student life at Boise State since the junior college days. The Broncos Are Dancing! offers a glimpse into student life and changes to campus over the span of almost fifty years, 1930s to 70s, from the swing era to disco. Included are photographs, dance cards, and excerpts from the student newspaper, Roundup. Photographs include scenes of students dancing at numerous school sponsored events, including Homecoming, President's Ball, Christmas Formal, Sweethearts Ball, Christmas and Spring Formals, and school mixers. The images and objects in the The Broncos Are Dancing! collection represent only a fraction of holdings in BSU University Archives related to dance.

Erin Passehl
Librarian/Archivist


Homeland Security Digital Library




















The Library has added a new database to its Find Government Information page, the Homeland Security Digital Library .

In addition to searching for documents related to homeland security policy, strategy and organizational management, you can also browse the Featured Topics section for documents on Agroterrorism, Border Security, Climate Change, Energy and Immigration.

For more information, contact Elaine Watson, Documents/Reference Librarian.

8.08.2008

Check us out on Flickr

Hey, we've got photos! We've got photos from events, photos of people, photos from projects. When we interviewed a recently graduated Master's student, Sarah Lenz, we took a whole bunch of photos of her work in Special Collections. We've got library photos from all seasons. And last year when they put in Starbucks we documented the whole process in two sets of construction photos -- it's fun to see how the coffee shop went from a pile of lumber to a real live business!

Did I mention we've got photos?

And they're all on our Flickr account, albertsons_library. So check 'em out, become our contact, and see for yourself what's going on @ the library!