Penn State Abington Library

Librarians are still "invaluable guides" for exploring information

2009-06-02T16:17:00.002-04:00

In a recent article published in Penn State's online magazine of scholarship and creativity, ResearchPennState, Assistant Dean for Scholarly Communications, Michael Furlough, and Assistant Dean for Technical and Collections Services, Lisa German, discussed the future of libraries in the age of computers and digitized media.

According to the article, recent studies suggest that digital media has "promoted more networked modes of learning" by not only drawing people into the libraries with updates and changes, but also by pushing the materials available in libraries out to those people by way of the internet.

German and Furlough agree that the future of the library and librarians will lie in helping people "navigate a vast and shifting sea of information."

To read the full article by Jesse Hicks, please visit http://www.rps.psu.edu/probing/todayslibraries.html. Photo Credit to Dan Chibnall.

Calculate Your Environmental Footprint!

2009-05-23T14:07:00.003-04:00

Log on to the Earth Day Network's website at http://earthday.net/footprint/ or the EPA's wesbite at http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html to calculate your environmental footprint, and learn how to reduce your household's greenhouse gas emissions! The quiz takes about 30 minutes to complete, and you will need your most recent gas and electric bills to answer the questions.

The U.N.'s World Digital Library Online

2009-04-20T17:39:00.003-04:00

The U.N. World Digital Library is now up-and-running online. The purpose of the library is to "display and explain the relics of all human cultures."

The new digital library, which is located at www.wdl.org, was created to make many resources available - including the first novel in history and the Aztecs' first mention of the Christ child - on an easy-to-navigate site.

The resources on the website are free for scholars as well as all curious people. The collection of primary documents from the planet's leading libraries will be officially inaugurated tomorrow at the Paris headquarters of UNESCO.

Check it out at www.wdl.org!

Tell the library what you think!

2009-04-09T13:32:00.005-04:00

The library is conducting a survey to determine if the new library hours are satisfactory. The questionnaire will take no more than 10 minutes. Just click on the Survey link! All responses are anonymous. Paper copies of the survey are also available at the circulation desk in the library.

Thank you very much for your help!

College Students Are Reading...More?

2009-04-07T17:44:00.004-04:00

A recent article from Iowa State University News Service mentions a study on the reading habits of undergraduates in this technologically-obsessed world. Apparently, students are reading more frequently than they were 10 years ago.

"...students reported spending 7.98 hours per week on recreational reading and 15.19 on academic reading -- considerably higher than the amount spent by college students in comparative studies conducted in 1999..."

The reason for this jump in student recreational reading? Because the internet offers easier access to information, students have more time on their hands, and are using that time wisely, according to this study.

Check out the article at http://www.public.iastate.edu/~nscentral/news/2009/mar/readingstudy.shtml.

Using Twitter to Teach?

2009-04-07T17:27:00.003-04:00

In a new article from Chronicle.com, Jeffrey Young introduces 10 college administrators - and avid twitterers - who are quickly changing the world of higher education one "tweet" at a time.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, Twitter is a social networking tool - much like Facebook - except instead of "friends" you collect "followers" and instead of posting "status updates" you "tweet."

Twitter is free to join and easy to use; most people just post what they had for breakfast and their agenda for the day, but several administrators from the world's biggest and best universities are using Twitter for educational purposes. Professors and staff members from the University of California, NYU, Fordham University, the University of Texas are using Twitter; even the President of Ohio State University is tweeting.

Check out the article at http://chronicle.com/free/v55/i31/31a01001.htm, and sign up for a Twitter account at http://twitter.com/.

Check Out Our New Display - Make the Most of Your Time on Earth!

2009-03-31T20:57:00.004-04:00

Located on the first floor of Abington Library is our new display - Make the Most of Your Time on Earth, which features travel materials showcasing Abington's Study Abroad program and the travels of the faculty and staff members. A few titles in our new display are: Contemporary Italy, Japan, Famous Homes of Great Britain, and Culture and Customs of Ireland. Come on in and check it out!

Check Out Our New Display - Technology and Society!

2009-03-31T20:53:00.007-04:00

Located on the bottom floor of Abington Library is our new display - Technology and Society, which features materials on the rise of the internet, blogging, television, and online societies. A few titles in this display are: How America Got Online, Blogging, and Virtual Society: Technology, Cyberbole, Reality.

Show Your Power and Participate in Earth Hour!

2009-03-19T17:20:00.006-04:00

On Saturday, March 28 at 8:30 pm, please do your part to stop global warming by participating in Earth Hour's "Lights Out" across the globe.

Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia in 2007 when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. That year, the city's carbon consumption dropped by more than 10% during Earth Hour. Maintaining that level of energy reduction would be equivalent to taking almost 50,000 cars off the road.

By 2008, the message had grown substantially and 50 million people in 35 countries switched off their lights for one hour. Even landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the Colosseum, and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness for one hour.

For more information or to pledge your support, visit www.earthhour.org.

Check out MediaCloud.org!

2009-03-14T00:49:00.000-04:00

http://www.mediacloud.org/
http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/index.php?id=3654

British search engine WolframAlpha.com will be "as important as Google"

2009-03-14T00:42:00.001-04:00

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1160667/Revolutionary-British-search-engine-important-Google.html

Search The Cat on Facebook!

2009-03-05T18:30:00.004-05:00

If you're unfamiliar with the University Libraries homepage, or it just seems too complex to even look at, why not search Abington's catalog of sources right on Facebook?

If you're looking to search the library's databases, hoping to find our hours, or searching for a librarian to speak to right from the comfort of your own home, add the University Libraries application on Facebook. The application is located at http://apps.facebook.com/psulibrary/.

From this application, you can virtually speak to a librarian through instant messages, search for your course reserves, or browse our databases (check out Proquest and WorldCat for amazing results!) right from home, work, class, or wherever.

For more information, come on in to the library and ask for assistance!

Come in and check out our new display for February celebrating Black History Month!

2009-02-10T17:05:00.003-05:00

Located on the bottom floor of Abington library is our newest display celebrating Black History Month!

Black History Month was originated in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson as "Negro History Week." Woodson chose to celebrate the important people and events in African American history in February because it marked the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, who both greatly influenced the lives of African Americans.

Included in the display is "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by contemporary poet and author Maya Angelou, "American Negro Poetry" by poet, author, and librarian Arna Bontemps, "Malcolm X : the man and his times" by Peter A. Bailey, "Giant steps : the new generation of African American writers," and February's issue of 'The New Republic.'

Come on in and check it out! Also, don't forget to come in between 8 pm and 10 pm to enter February's raffle for a chance to win some PSU gear!

How to get your library fees waived? Ask Sully.

2009-02-07T14:10:00.001-05:00

Check out this article from the Los Angeles Times Blog:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2009/02/how-to-get-your.html

Check out our new display - Environment, Power and Society!

2009-01-26T18:36:00.001-05:00

Come check out our newest display, Environment, Power and Society, located on the first floor of the Abington library. This display features Astrology and Environment magazines, as well as several titles on conservation, wind power projects, contaminated waters, and environmental chemistry. A few titles featured are: Developing Wind Power Projects: Theory and Practice by Tore Wizelius, Water, a shared responsibility: the United Nations world water development report 2 published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and Elements of Environmental Chemistry by R. A. Hites.

Remeber to Enter Our Raffle Before December 19th!

2008-12-04T21:29:00.002-05:00

On December 19, we will be drawing the last raffle winner of the fall semester. Don't forget to stop in to the library between 8pm and 10pm to enter! The winner will receive PSU gear!

Happy Holidays!

Abington Library Has Been DIGITAL_ly Remastered!

2008-11-13T17:14:00.004-05:00

Abington Library's state of the art video production and editing suite, the Digital Commons, is up and open for business! Located on the main and lower levels in rooms 6 and 104, the Digital Commons is a creative haven for students, faculty, and staff. For those interested in honing their audio and video production skills, as well as those hoping to improve their course assignments, the Digital Commons is the place to be!

The Digital Commons is open Monday through Thursday 7:30 am to 10 pm, Friday 7:30 am to 5 pm, and Saturday and Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm. To make a reservation, please call 215-881-7424.

For more information log on to http://digitalcommons.psu.edu/abington for tutorials and lesson plans. Also, don't forget to join our very own Digital Commons Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2385613950.

Your FAQ's About the Cat...Answered!

2008-10-22T17:48:00.003-04:00

At least once a night, a student or a faculty member come to the library looking to perform research on a number of topics. (Most recently, I have had requests for information on Monet, gay marriage, and the Civil War) Those that are brave enough to ask for help also learn exactly how to find what they're looking for; but for those who are a little shy when it comes to asking for help, here are a few frequently asked questions and answers about the Cat.

Q: What is "the Cat?"

A: The Cat is Penn State's entire catalog of books, videos, electronic resources, magazines, etc. and it can be used to locate any source at any Penn State library.

Q: How do I use the Cat?

A: You can use the Cat to search for information by keyword, author, and title, as well as by library, just by typing a general or specific topic(s) in the keyword box. You can also view an online tutorial of the Cat by logging on to http://extranet.libraries.psu.edu/instruction/tutorials.htm, and clicking on "the Cat Tutorial"

Q: Where can I find the Cat?

A: The Cat can be found by logging on to http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul.html, and clicking on "The Cat," located in the left hand corner under "Find Books."

Do you have any other questions about the Cat? If so, please comment this blog and ask me!

Come check out our newest spooky and political displays!

2008-10-20T17:51:00.007-04:00

If you're looking for frightening fun, come on in to the library and check out our creepiest display of the year. Located on the first floor of Abington's library, our Halloween display features the Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe, 1809-1849, Poems: Volume 1, Last Things: Death and the Apocalypse in the Middle Ages by Caroline Walker Bynum, and Salem Possessed: the Social Origins of Witchcraft by Paul Boyer.

With the Presidential election just two weeks away, a trip to the library to brush up on your political science may be in order. Located on the second floor of Abington's library, our display, which is dedicated to voting, features Why Americans Still Don't Vote: and Why Politicans Want it That Way by Frances Fox Piven, Votes for Women: the Struggle for Suffrage Revisited by Jean H. Baker, and the October issue of Political Science and Politics.

Also, please stop in and enter our raffle for your chance to win some PSU goodies! The drawing will be held on November 3rd, so stop in Monday through Thursday between 8pm to 10pm!

Give us a piece of your mind! Are you more or less satisfied with the library's extended hours? Please leave a comment on this blog and let us know your thoughts!

Information Resources...are your friends.

2008-10-07T17:24:00.002-04:00

Mid-terms. Ugh. Although heading back to school is not any student's idea of a good time, there is nothing worse than mid-terms. For those of you who are frantically writing papers, cramming for tests, and spending every spare moment finishing labs, projects, and presentations, before you head on over to Google and use the top three results as your only sources, check out PSU's library homepage, www.libraries.psu.edu.

Here you can find Research Guides by Subject (including Early Childhood Education, Genetics, and Historical Speeches) Encyclopedias (try 'World Press Encyclopedia') Datebases by Title (check out 'JSTOR' for all of your researching needs) and of course The Cat.

Everything you need is available right here in your own library, so before you begin with 'WWW,' give 'LIBRARIES' a try.

Fall is Here!

2008-09-24T19:53:00.003-04:00

Fall is officially upon us. Although summertime pool parties, backyard barbeques, and tall glasses of ice cold lemonade are behind us, Halloween hayrides, perfect pumpkin patches, and mugs of apple cider are ahead! With a month of classes in the bag, treat yourself this weekend, and curl up on the couch with a good book, or a scary movie, and enjoy the long, cool fall nights!

It's football season, and for those of you who are die-hard fans, you may want to check out Football U: Spectator Sports in the Life of the American University by Douglas J. Toma, located in Abington's General Collection. A great read for national football fans, or those who love to cheer on those Lions!

For those who enjoy non-fiction, Arthur Miller, or ghost stories, come in and check out the Salem: Place, Myth, and Memory by Dane Anthony Morrison, Collected Plays by Arthur Miller, or Ghosts by Time-Life Books, all located in Abington's General Collection.

And last but not least, for those who cannot resist a good scary movie, a little bit of Halloween history, or a fantastic arts and crafts project, check out The Shining, located in the video recording cases on the first floor of Abington, Halloween and Other Festivals of Death and Life by Jack Santino, located in Abington's General Collection, or Pumpkin Carving by Ed Palmer, loctaed at Penn State Hazleton, which can be reserved and sent to Abington before October 1st!

Also, don't forget to stop into the library Monday through Thursday between 8pm and 10pm to enter our raffle! You could win some great PSU goodies, including hats, t-shirts, school supplies, travel mugs, and much more! The first drawing will take place on October 1st, so stop into the library to enter for your chance to win!

Decision 2008

2008-09-04T21:06:00.002-04:00

As I am sure you all know, the 2008 Presidential election is quickly approaching. For those of you who are politically savvy, congratulations and happy voting! For the rest of us, it may not be such a terrible idea to brush up on America's past - and present - before November 4th.

If you're a registered Independent, Democrat, or Republican, you may want to swing in to the library in the coming weeks and take a look at Abington's collection. For an abridged version of high school U.S. History, pick up The Price of Power: America Since 1945 by Herbert Agar, located in the General Collection. For a look into the difficult times for the middle-class, check out Boiling Point: Republicans, Democrats, and the Decline of Middle-Class Prosperity by Kevin Phillips, also located in the General Collection.

If religion is what interests you, check out Strategic Extremism: Why Republicans and Democrats Divide on Religious Values by Edward Glaeser, available in Online Content.

Lastly, for a closer look into the lives and policies of the Democratic and Republican Presidential nominees, check out Barack Obama: This Improbable Quest by John K. Wilson, located in the General Collection or John McCain: An American Odyssey by Robert Timberg, located at the Pattee Library. To have a copy sent to Abington, stop in to the library and use the Cat to request it.

For those of you who would like to participate in this year's historic election, please make sure to register to vote at www.rockthevote.org.

We are now open until 10 PM!

2008-08-28T21:33:00.002-04:00

It is the first week of class, and so far the nights are slow. Between 5 PM and 7PM, the library is busy and bustling with students studying and computing, but everything goes pretty quiet by 7:30 PM. It seems like the most quiet hours - 7:30 PM to 10 PM - are the best hours to stop in and get some school work finished.

Please stop in and take advantage of our new hours! We have been giving away lots and lots of candy, and between the hours of 8 PM and10 PM, we have been holding our raffle for a $20 Barnes and Noble gift card!

Don't miss out on this opportunity to win! We will draw a winner on October 1st! No book check-outs necessary!

Stay Out Late at the Library!

2008-07-28T19:48:00.002-04:00

Beginning this Fall, Abington Library will remain open until 10 pm!

In September, more information will be posted around campus on our upcoming gift card raffles and candy giveaways!

Check out our newest displays...

2008-07-15T18:54:00.002-04:00

We have just updated our display cases - located on the first and ground floors - with some new and fascinating materials, including biographies, DVD's, and magazines.

On the first floor of the library, stop in to see Living With Art, which features The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo on DVD from PBS Home Video, Edward Hopper: An Intimate Biography by Gail Levin, and The Summer 2008 edition of ARTnews, which features the world's top 200 collectors.

On the ground floor, check out First Love, then Marriage (?), which features Brokeback Mountain and Romeo and Juliet on DVD, the June/July 2008 issue of Working Mother, and Modern Love by David R. Shumway.

Stop in the library and check out these displays! They will remain up until the end of the summer.