Tag Archives: Hot Topics

Refworks 2.0 launched today

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Refworks is the citation management program that the Temple University Libraries offers to the university community that makes it easier to store, organize, annotate, and output citations as bibliographies. On Monday, August 23, the Libraries’ switched over to the new Refworks 2.0 interface, which provides a more intuitive and efficient user experience. Anyone familiar with the first version of Refworks (now called Refworks Classic) should be able to make this transition with relative ease. (The Refworks Classic interface will be available until December simply by clicking on the “Refworks Classic” link in the upper right corner of the Refworks 2.0 interface.) As before, users can access Refworks 2.0 from the Libraries’ homepage under “Find Articles.”

Here are some of the improvements in Refworks 2.0:

  • Shortcuts that allow quick access to important features
  • Reduced menu bar that includes only the most important items
  • Tabs for quick access to (all) References, Folders, and shared folders

In Refworks 2.0 you don’t need to constantly shift from one page to another to perform simple functions, as was often necessary in Refworks Classic. The same great features are now easier to find and use. Take a spin on Refworks 2.0!

Here’s a Refworks 2.0 preview.

Announcing Changes at Science, Engineering & Architecture Library (SEAL)

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Effective immediately, the Science, Engineering & Architecture Library (SEAL) will be renamed the Science and Engineering Library (SEL). This change is precipitated by soon to begin physical renovations to SEAL. Approximately 40% of SEAL’s existing footprint will become a new bio-engineering program space for the School of Engineering. In order to manage the loss of space, all of the architecture material is being integrated into the Paley Library collection. In addition, selection of architecture materials and liaison services, going forward, are now the responsibility of Jill Luedke, Art & Architecture Librarian. SEL will continue to provide all existing services and resources to the students, faculty and staff of the School of Engineering and the College of Science and Technology. The collection in SEL will include science and engineering books published after 2007, key reference materials, course reserves and print current periodicals. Computers and study spaces will continue to be available. The Library Systems & Technology Office is in the process of updating all references to SEAL on our website and in the library catalog. Please contact Gretchen Sneff, Head of the Science and Engineering Library, at gsneff@temple.edu or 1-7828 with any questions or concerns.

Researching Oil Spills

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Those interested in looking beyond today’s headlines and delving deeper into the hot topic of oil spills and restoration and recovery from spills, both in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere, should check out a recently released bibliography prepared by staff at NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Resources on Oil Spills, Response and Restoration: a Selected Bibliography is over 200 pages in length and includes hundreds of active links to online studies, maps, and websites, as well as citations to hundreds of printed studies.

Some of the print studies will be available at Temple (search Diamond the online catalog for these) while others can be requested through interlibrary loan (search Worldcat). This well produced bibliography is just one example of the incredible wealth of carefully vetted scientific, technical, and statistical information produced by the U.S. government which we receive as a federal depository library.

Jonathan LeBreton, Senior Associate university Librarian: jonathan@temple.edu

Refworks 2.0 beta available

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When you log into Refworks, you now have the option to try out the Refworks 2.0 beta version. Just click on the link in the upper right corner for “Refworks 2.0.” When using Refworks 2.0, you will have access to all the citations in your Refworks database. From Refworks 2.0, you can switch back to the traditional interface by clicking “Refworks Classic” in the upper right corner. Make sure you save any new work before switching between the two interfaces.

Refworks 2.0 preview RW2.jpg —Fred Rowland

Penn’s Van Pelt Library Will Restrict Access During Exams

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We recently received a notice from our colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania Van Pelt Library informing us that they will be instituting a restricted access policy for Van Pelt-Dietrich Library during reading days and the final exam period, This new policy will be enforced between April 28 and May 11. Weekdays beginning at 3 pm and all day on weekends, access to the Van Pelt building will be limited to PennCard and Library Courtesy Card holders. This policy change is being enacted to ensure that all seating in the building is available for Penn students during the busiest time of the semester. If you regularly visit the Van Pelt Library for research or to study there, please know that their door guards are distributing flyers that detail the change in policy to all visitors.

Temple Selected to Participate in Project Information Literacy Study

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Temple is honored to have been selected to participate in the University of Washington’s Project Information Literacy program! This week, a survey will be deployed to a random sampling of sophomores, juniors and seniors, seeking information on what it’s like to be a college student in the digital age. If you are selected, we encourage you to participate, and not just because you will be eligible for a $150 gift certificate from Amazon! PIL is a national study about information-seeking behaviors, competencies, and the challenges. The survey will help us learn more about the opportunities and challenges that online research presents to you — and the strategies you’ve developed to find information for course work and for use in your life. This information will help the Temple Libraries to better serve you. Watch your email for the survey announcement. Just be sure to complete the survey by the April 28, 2010 deadline.

Update on Bibliography of the History of Art (BHA): Now Available for Free

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A recent press release by the Getty announced that the art database, Bibliography of the History (BHA) will now be available free of charge via the J. Paul Getty website. You can read the entire release here. Please note that the content available is only the archive of BHA. The database is currently not being updated. There is a sigh of relief in the art research community over this news. Despite the lack of updated content, BHA remains one of the most useful resources for art historical research.

Bibliography of the History of Art Ceases Publication

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The Temple University Libraries were notified today that the Getty Research Institute has discontinued publication of the Bibliography of the History of Art (BHA), a critical database in the field of art history. Furthermore, we regret to report that the Getty will switch off all access to the BHA at the end of March 2010. Proquest, the distributor through which Temple has had access to the BHA, confirmed in writing to us that the Getty had been looking for a buyer for the database but that as of last week, no other publisher was willing to buy and continue the database. So Getty is pulling the plug. ProQuest maintains that no extension of access for any customers will be possible after March 31.

Alternatives:

  • The Bibliography of the History of Art is a superior database and its coverage has not been duplicated in any single database available to us, but the Temple University Libraries can offer you some alternative databases that provide some overlap of BHA content.
  • ARTbibliographies Modern: Covers around 150 of the journals on BHA’s list, with unsurpassed strengths in areas such as modernism, contemporary global art and photography
  • British Humanities Index: Covers around 80 BHA journals, covering subjects such as fine art, antiques, museums, classical studies, European studies and interdisciplinary studies
  • Design and Applied Arts Index (DAAI): Covers 40 BHA journals, with overlapping subject strengths in costume and dress, decorative arts and interiors

Again, all access to the Bibliography of the History of Art (BHA) will cease on Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Please continue to use this resource until then.

— by Jill E. Luedke, Reference & Instruction Librarian / Art Subject Specialist

Welcome Back! Preview Our New Homepage

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The staff of the Temple University Libraries welcomes all of our new students and faculty and all those returning to campus. We look forward to being your partner in helping everyone to achieve academic success this fall. Over the summer we have worked to improve the Libraries. You will find new computers in many areas of the Libraries. All of the computers at the Science, Architecture and Engineering Library are new. We have also replaced many of our laptops, added additional laptops and even a few netbook computers – all availble for loan at our Circulation/Reserve Desk. One of our big summer projects was to develop a prototype for a new Libraries homepage. We hope you will look at our preview and provide us with your feedback. We will introduce the new homepage at a later date. Best wishes for a great fall semester and academic year.

Text Message Feature Added to Library Catalog

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You finally found that book you’ve been wanting to read or that DVD that the rental shops don’t stock right here in your library…and it’s available! All you have to do now is find a piece of scrap paper, hunt down a pen that has ink, and write down the call number to take with you to the book stacks or Media Services desk. Or, you could text it to your phone!

Save yourself time and be green with the latest feature in Diamond: the library catalog. While viewing any item, just click the “Send via Text Message” button. A new screen will appear – see the example below. Just enter your mobile phone information, and click “Send.” In seconds, you’ll get a text message with the location, call number, and title of the item. Normal carrier charges may apply.

We hope you enjoy this new feature in our library catalog. Please share any comments or concerns with Steven Bell, Associate University Librarian for Research & Instruction.

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