2010 news stories

New materials for November 2010 posted

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 07:00:00 -0500

New materials lists for items cataloged in November 2010, have been posted.

JSTOR releases mobile interface

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 07:00:00 -0500

JSTOR Mobile is now available as a beta release. JSTOR Mobile is best used for searching the whole JSTOR archive while you're on the go, and then emailing the citations to yourself so you can read the articles later on a computer. You can zoom in to see pages if you connect through Off Campus Sign In (so you are recognized as a member of the Virginia Tech community) and your phone supports zooming.

NVivo 9 software now available in the library

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 07:00:00 -0500

The newest version of NVivo is now available for patron use in the library in two locations: the Data Services Room (Newman 2030) and in the ECS Lab (3320 Torgersen, on the library side of the Torgersen Bridge). NVivo allows researchers to organize and analyze their qualitative data in one digital location.

MetaLib from GPO allows searching multiple federal databases

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 07:00:00 -0400

Use the MetaLib federated search engine from the Government Printing Office to search across multiple government databases simultaneously (currently 53 databases, including reference databases, digital repositories, or subject-based Web gateways) to find reports, articles, and citations.

New materials for September 2010 posted

Sun, 03 Oct 2010 18:00:00 -0400

New materials lists for items cataloged in September 2010, have been posted.

New materials for October 2010 posted

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:00:00 -0400

New materials lists for items cataloged in October 2010, have been posted.

Enhancements made to Company Dossier database from LexisNexis

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 07:00:00 -0400

Several new enhancements were added to the Company Dossiers from LexisNexis this month.

Thomson (ISI) products useful in promotion and tenure

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 07:00:00 -0400

The University Libraries subscribe to two databases offered by Thomson Reuters (formerly produced by ISI, the Institute for Scientific Information) that can play an important role in assessing the scientific and scholarly influence of article authors and of specific journals. With proper searching and informed interpretation of results, each of these products provides data which can contribute to responsible and appropriate evaluation in the promotion and tenure process.

Newman Library first floor entrance now open

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 07:00:00 -0400

In preparation for the eventual opening of the Study Café on the first floor of Newman Library, the door closest to the elevators can now be used to enter and exit the building.

New materials for August 2010 posted

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:00:00 -0400

New materials lists for items cataloged in August 2010, have been posted.

Dissertations and Theses from ProQuest replacing Dissertation Abstracts

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:00:00 -0400

Our primary search tool for theses and dissertations has changed from Dissertation Abstracts to Dissertations & Theses from ProQuest . This new database brings many enhancements, including full-text access to many documents. Funding has been provided through a partnership of colleges and universities across Virginia working together with the Virtual Library of Virginia.

Tips for new students

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 07:00:00 -0400

The University Libraries would like to welcome new students to Virginia Tech: freshmen, transfer students, and new graduate students. We have a lot of services and resources to offer you during your career here at Virginia Tech. Here are some tips and frequently asked questions (and answers!) for new students.

What's new in the University Libraries

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 07:00:00 -0400

There's been a lot of changes since the end of the spring semester. Here's a round up of announcements:

Psychology databases changing platform; retrieve saved citations before Aug 20

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:00:00 -0400

Several psychology databases, including PsycInfo, PsycArticles, and now PsycBooks, are moving from the EBSCOhost platform to the PsycNET from APA platform. While the search interface will change, the underlying data in the database will be the same. However, if you had created a profile on the EBSCOhost platform and saved list(s) of citations using the My Folder feature available there, these lists will no longer be accessible after August 20, 2010. (Lists from other EBSCOhost databases will continue to work as before.)

Finding textbooks in Addison

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:00:00 -0400

The library carries some textbooks, either as part of the regular collection or in Reserve if placed there by faculty. Using the list of textbooks at the University Bookstore site, you can search Addison, the library catalog, to see if any are available for check out.

Note that the library owning a copy of your textbook does not mean you can avoid purchasing your own copy. Textbooks kept on reserve will have a short check out period: two weeks or two days for most books. Textbooks in the regular collection will commonly be recalled by other students in your class, also shortening the length of time you can have an item checked out.

ScanPro 2000 microform scanner now available

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:00:00 -0400

The library has acquired a ScanPro 2000 microforms scanner that works with many formats, including 16mm and 35mm roll film, microfiche, ultrafiche, and microcards (aka micro-opaques).

Addison upgrade: My Library Account

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 07:00:00 -0400

Login to My Library Account from any Addison screen or library website page. Once logged in, you'll have access to your account information, including checked out items; status of requests; and lists of fines, My Lists, Reading History, and Saved Searches. Searching the catalog while logged in will also save steps when requesting, adding to My Lists, and filling out circulation-related forms.

Addison upgrade: Reading history

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 07:00:00 -0400

Reading History is a service that records the title, author, and checkout date of materials you have checked out of the University Libraries collections. This is a frequently requested feature and is now available in the updated version of Addison. You must Opt In to the service before any items will be listed; only items checked out AFTER opting in will appear in the list.

Addison upgrade: Addison Mobile

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 07:00:00 -0400

Addison Mobile has been available since mid-spring 2010, but it's worth mentioning again as we highlight new and upgraded features in Addison.

Addison Mobile

Addison Mobile provides a lightweight view of Addison customized for users of wireless PDA's, such as the Palm or Blackberry handheld devices, and Internet-enabled cell phones. The Addison Mobile server will attempt to detect the type of PDA you are using and deliver displays formatted for that device, without extra graphics, JavaScript, or cookies that can confuse some PDA's. Addison Mobile may also be useful for users of screen readers or special software designed to aid visual handicaps.

Addison Mobile allows you to search Addison from any location with wireless access. You may search the catalog from the classroom, while browsing the stacks, or from an Internet cafe. You may place requests for books, renew books, cancel holds, and view pending requests on library materials.

Addison Mobile does not display subject headings, added titles and authors, and other fields that typically display below the item or holding box. It does display journal holdings (print and online) as well as links to other online materials like ebooks.

Addison upgrade: Linked forms

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 07:00:00 -0400

If you search Addison while logged in to My Library Account, you will see links to service-related forms in the External Links box on individual item record screens. The External Links box typically shows information related to the item being viewed: the book jacket image (which is linked to additional information including table of contents, author information, book reviews, and summaries or first chapters), links to relevant Subject Guides, and a link to commonly used citation styles. Searching while logged in allows additional links to appear, particularly to forms you would otherwise have to fill in manually.

Addison upgrade: Sharing records

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 07:00:00 -0400

The upgraded Addison now offers more options for sharing records: on social networking sites, personal portal websites, and via email without requiring an additional program. Using the Add This button near the bottom of the record, you can share the link to the record on hundreds of possible sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Delicious. You can also email the link (and the title of the item) directly from that screen by entering the email address and a note.

Addison upgrade: My Lists

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 07:00:00 -0400

A new feature in Addison is My Lists, which allows for creating lists of records and saving them to your account. We have long had the ability to mark records to a temporary list that could be printed, emailed, saved, or exported to EndNote. However, that list would disappear after 20 minutes of inactivity. My Lists are connected to My Library Account, requiring you to log in to that account and choose (or create) a list to add records to. Once created, My Lists remain until you delete them manually or when your account is deleted (after you have left the university or several years of no use). This new feature is similar to the ability to create lists of citations in many of our databases that allow creation of personal profiles.

New materials for July 2010 posted

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 07:00:00 -0400

New materials lists for items cataloged in July 2010, have been posted.

Pickup and return ILL materials from Newman circulation starting July 26

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 07:00:00 -0400

Beginning Monday, July 26, 2010, books and other materials obtained through Interlibrary Loan can be picked up from and returned to the Newman Library Circulation Desk.

New materials for June 2010 posted

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 07:00:00 -0400

New materials lists for items cataloged in June 2010, have been posted.

EndNote X4 for Windows now available for download

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:00:00 -0400

EndNote version X4 is now available for downloading from the ITA Software Distribution Office site. Download EndNote (from campus network) .

EndNote tutorial screencasts posted

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 07:00:00 -0400

Screencast tutorials for EndNote X3 have been posted to our screencast site. You can watch a screen capture of common features of EndNote, such as importing citations or the Cite While You Write option in several word processors.

2009 data now available for Journal Citation Reports

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:00:00 -0400

2009 data has now been loaded into JCR - Journal Citation Reports from Thomson Reuters Web of Knowledge . Journal Citation Reports allows you to evaluate and compare journals using citation data drawn from over 9,100 scholarly and technical journals from more than 3,300 publishers. It can show you the most frequently cited journals in a field, highest impact journals in a field, and largest journals in a field. Search or browse in JCR Science Edition or JCR Social Sciences Edition. The library does not subscribe to the Arts & Humanities Edition.

Gale literature databases now available

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 00:07:00 -0400

Two literature databases from Gale are now available: Literature Criticism Online and Something About The Author.

New materials for May 2010 posted

Sat, 29 May 2010 07:00:00 -0400

New materials lists for items cataloged in May 2010, have been posted.

Library access after graduation

Sat, 15 May 2010 07:00:00 -0400

Congratulations to all of our graduates. We frequently get questions about what happens to library access after graduation.

Remember to turn in items before leaving town

Sun, 09 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Remember to turn in any items checked on on your account (library or Interlibrary Loan books, DVDs, videos or CDs) before you leave town for the summer. Often students forget to turn in items, and then accumulate fines for overdue fees or for recalled books. Check your library account online to see if there are any library items checked out to you. Check your Interlibrary Loan account for ILL items as well.

Top 25 checked out CDs

Fri, 07 May 2010 07:00:00 -0400

Here are the top 25 most frequently checked out CDs for the 2009-2010 academic year:

Top 10 databases searched this year

Thu, 06 May 2010 07:00:00 -0400

The top 10 searched databases subscribed by the University Libraries for the 2009-2010 academic year are:

Top 25 checked out DVDs

Wed, 05 May 2010 07:00:00 -0400

Here are the top 25 checked out DVDs for the 2009-2010 academic year:

Top 20 books checked out of Newman Library

Tue, 04 May 2010 07:00:00 -0400

Here are the top 20 most frequently checked out books from Newman Library for the academic year 2009-2010:

New materials for April 2010 posted

Sat, 01 May 2010 07:00:00 -0400

New materials lists for items cataloged in April 2010, have been posted.

Humanities & Social Sciences Index Retrospective database now available

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 06:00:00 -0400

Humanities & Social Sciences Index Retrospective offers the ability to search a wide range of important journals in the humanities and social sciences as far back as 1907. Coverage also includes content from H.W. Wilson's International Index.

New materials for March 2010 posted

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:30:00 -0400

New materials lists for items cataloged in March 2010, have been posted.

Newman bound journal checkout period extended

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:00:00 -0400

The checkout period for bound journals in Newman Library has been extended from three days to seven days. (Bound journals from the Storage Facility still checkout for 21 days; bound journals from the branches may have different checkout periods.)

netLibrary allows placing holds on in-use ebooks

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

We have access to nearly 50,000 ebooks from netLibrary. Only a single user can view a given netLibrary ebook at a time. If an ebook is in use, you now have the opportunity to place a hold on that ebook and then be notified when it is available for your use. The ebook will be held for your exclusive use for a limited time.

New materials for February 2010 posted

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:01:00 -0500

New materials lists for items cataloged in February 2010, have been posted.

Westlaw passwords are available to Virginia Tech faculty, staff, and students

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:00:00 -0500

Westlaw is an online legal research service available to Virginia Tech faculty, staff, and students. To request a Westlaw password, please contact the law librarian, Dave Beagle (540-231-9231). Because there are a limited number of passwords available, in certain cases sharing may be necessary. This is most common in classroom situations where the number of students exceeds the allotment of passwords in the Library’s account.

General Social Surveys, 1972-2008 now available from ICPSR

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:00:00 -0500

General Social Surveys, 1972-2008 is now available from ICPSR. The General Social Surveys (GSS) were designed as part of a data diffusion project in 1972. The GSS replicated questionnaire items and wording in order to facilitate time-trend studies. You must create a MyData account at ICPSR before downloading the data.

IEEE Xplore debuts new interface

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 08:00:00 -0500

A new interface for IEEE Xplore Digital Library debuts today. Designed for improved navigation and functionality, the new interface enhances the search and browse tools in a clean, simple and more efficient design. A prominent browse tab and search box on every page provides quick access to valuable research.

New materials for January 2010 posted

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:00:00 -0500

New materials lists for items cataloged in January 2010, have been posted.

Faculty and GTAs can submit course reserve request directly from Addison

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:00:00 -0500

Faculty and GTAs with Proxy privileges can now submit library owned items for course reserves directly from Addison. Simply log in to My Library Account, then perform a search in Addison for the book, video, or other item you need to place on reserve. When you are logged in and view the item's record, you will see Add to Course Reserve (Faculty and GTAs only) link in the External Links box to the right of the screen. This link will bring up a reserve request form and will pull information from Addison to fill out the Item Information section of the form for you. You will no longer need to copy and paste between screens to enter this information.

Journal Title Database is now the most complete listing of periodicals

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:00:00 -0500

The Journal Title Database (formerly called the Ejournals Database) now offers the best means of locating journals (including magazines and newspapers). For many years, we have recommended starting your search in Addison, since you could view both online subscriptions and physical copies. Now these physical copies (both print volumes and microform formats) have been loaded into the Journal Title Database.

Web-based version of SciFinder Scholar now available

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:00:00 -0500

There is now a web-based version of SciFinder Scholar available for your use. This features all the functionality of the traditional client plus some new ones including greater personalization. We are still in the testing phase but early results have been promising. Over the winter break while things are slower and demand is down may be a great time for you to explore what the new version has to offer. Registration is required for use; be sure use your VT email account when signing up.