New databases available

Albertsons Library is pleased to announce two new databases to our growing list of online resources:

• Journal Citation Reports "is a comprehensive and unique resource that allows you to evaluate and compare journals using citation data drawn from over 7,500 scholarly and technical journals from more than 3,300 publishers in over 60 countries."
• Chicago Manual of Style Online - based on the 15th edition, it includes the Chicago Style Q&A, the Chicago-Style Citation "Quick Guide," and "Tools," such as sample forms, letters, and style sheets. Access the e-book version from the library's catalog, or via the University of Chicago Journals from the library's A-Z list.

You can access this and many more databases from the Articles, Databases link from the Library's homepage. Let us know if you have any questions.

Thanksgiving holiday hours

The Albertsons Library will have reduced hours next week, but our online resources will be available 24/7. Check our calendar for library hours at http://library.boisestate.edu/calendar/main.php

Have a great Thanksgiving break!

Library reading 'Run' today

Stop by the library today to hear short readings from Ann Patchett's novel Run every hour on the hour, 9-4. We'll be just outside Starbucks on the first floor. Run is the First-Year Read book for 2009-10. 

And don't forget about author Ann Patchett's appearance tonight at 7pm in the SUB! You can pick up your free tickets at the SUB Info Desk.

For more information about the First-Year Read, visit the New Student and Family Programs website.

Announcing the Cenarrusa Papers and Exhibits

Longtime Idaho Secretary of State Pete Cenarrusa has donated his political and personal papers to Boise State University. Documenting an extraordinary career in public service in both Idaho and on the international stage, the papers fill nearly 100 boxes and span the entire second half of the 20th century.

The son of Basque immigrants, Pete Cenarrusa was elected to public office 17 times—9 times as a state legislator and 8 times as Idaho Secretary of State—compiling a record of 52 years of continuous public service, the longest tenure of any officeholder in Idaho history. In a career of more than fifty years, from 1950 to 2002, Pete Cenarrusa became one of the most popular politicians in the state. Over the course of that half century, both he and his wife Freda were active in numerous political, civic, and cultural causes, and Pete Cenarrusa used his influence as a senior American statesman of Basque descent to work for peace in his ancestral homeland.

Albertsons Library celebrates this gift from Pete and Freda Cenarrusa by showcasing a new online exhibit, "The Public Career of Pete Cenarrusa." The Special Collections Department has also mounted an exhibit of photos, plaques, and other memorabilia in their display windows on the 2nd floor of Albertsons Library. The exhibit can be seen whenever the library is open through the end of the year.

For more information contact the Special Collections Department at 208-426-1674.

Take University 106 in spring 2010!

Take University 106: Library Research (1 credit) and learn to find the information you need to succeed in course papers and projects. UNIV 106 will get you on the path to becoming an information ninja, able to slice through the web and maneuver the library’s rich information landscape to conquer projects. 

All courses are one-credit pass/fail and are taught by librarians. If you have any questions, please contact the instructor directly.

PoWeR Up!

ENGLISH 102 & UNIVERSITY 106 are teaming up to help you get a jump-start on your research skills.

Are you ready to take English 102 in the spring and looking for an enriched experience? Consider participating in PoWeR (Project Writing and Research)! What is PoWeR? It's what happens when writing instructors and librarians work together so that students benefit. In PoWeR, you will take both a specified section of English 102 *and* a one-credit (pass/fail) section of University 106: Library Research. 

All of the students enrolled in a designated section of English 102 will also be enrolled in an online section of UNIV 106, creating a hybrid learning community of researchers and writers.

Within this combined four-credit experience, you'll get a lot of support for both your writing and research through integrated assignments. The content of both courses is coordinated so that University 106 activities work towards the completion of English 102 writing projects. Now that’s PoWeR!

For a list of all spring 2010 University 106 offerings, including the PoWeR sections linked with English 102, please visit http://guides.boisestate.edu/univ106

Got questions? Contact Sara Seely at saraseely@boisestate.edu or 426-1263.

Research help is only a click away

Need help researching your homework assignments or class projects?

Librarian research assistance is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week via online Reference Chat.

Librarians can suggest related library resources and help track down those peer-reviewed articles on your paper topics that your professors require.

Save yourself time and frustration. Ask a librarian for help! Visit: http://library.boisestate.edu/reference.shtm to find out all the ways you can get in contact with Boise State University librarians including help 24/7 online instant chat services. 

Research help is only a click away!

Rick Stoddart,
Reference Librarian

University Author Recognition Deadline

Albertsons Library’s fifth annual University Author Recognition will take place from 3:30-5 p.m. February 25, 2010, with a short program beginning at 4 p.m. in the library. Citations are now being accepted for articles, books and creative works produced by Boise State authors between Sept. 1, 2008, and Aug. 31, 2009. The deadline for submission is November 15, 2009.

To submit a citation of your work, go to the Faculty Authors website and click on “Send Citations.” Faculty have the option to review and edit information before submitting citations, including multiple citations from a single creator. The draft bibliography is updated in real-time; please take a moment to look over the bibliography, as your citation may already have been entered by library staff.

Recognition events for the fifth annual bibliography include:

• A comprehensive online bibliography of scholarly and creative works by Boise State University faculty and staff created between Sept. 1, 2008, and Aug. 31, 2009
• A display of books, articles and creative works in Albertsons Library during January and February 2010
• A hosted reception in Albertsons Library with remarks by Provost Andrews and recognition from the university community
  

Please contact Barbara Glackin at barbaraglackin@boisestate.edu with any questions.

Faculty: Would you like to see better term papers?

Workshop: "Designing Assignments for Better Term Papers"
Interactive Learning Center
Thursday, Nov. 5 from 10:30am - 12:00pm
or Friday, Nov. 5 from 9:45 - 11:15am

Learn how to help students make a term paper more than just an information gathering exercise. This hands-on workshop for faculty will use sample assignments to provide practical advice on how to get students to ask engaging research questions, use discipline-specific information tools and library collections, and evaluate and synthesize findings. Using this approach teaches students transferable skills in the research and writing process. Bring along a term paper assignment, if you’d like.

Librarians Sara Seely and Melissa Kozel will facilitate. To register, go to the following link: http://ctl.boisestate.edu/default.asp?page=13

See you there!