Ghost Book - or why you should always check the catalog

Check out this video on YouTube, from Georgia, which explains why you should check the online catalog to see where a book can be found.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUrfgNoPEBY

New Database Resources

A new link has been added to the Library Electronic Resources Web Page.

http://www.ndscs.nodak.edu/library/reference.jsp

Following a Free Trial, we recently added two new databases to our electronic reference materials. One is called Culture Grams, the other is the SIRS Researcher.

Culture Grams is useful for many areas, where finding out about a country and the customs of the citizens is necessary for understanding.

The SIRS Researcher is a well-respected grouping of articles on leading issues, which are often used for research papers, opinion papers, and debate questions.

Last year we purchased the AP Images database, which features materials from the Associated Press over many years. It hasn't been used extensively, but it should be useful for many types of projects. Have a look.

Do you love your librarian?

Then nominate her (or him)!

The Carnegie Corporation and The New York Times sponsor the I Love My Librarian competition. The web site is at

http://www.ilovelibraries.org/lovemylibrarian/cccu.cfm

Here is what they have to say about it:

The Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award encourages library users to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, or university librarians. The awards program will demonstrate how librarians are improving the lives of the people in their communities.

Up to ten winners will be selected annually and will receive a $5,000 cash award, a plaque and $500 travel stipend to attend an awards reception in New York hosted by The New York Times at TheTimesCenter on December 9, 2008. In addition, a plaque will be given to each award winner’s library.

The award is administered by the American Library Association with support from Carnegie Corporation of New York and The New York Times.

So if you have some nice things to say about one of the MJ Library staff, we hope you will consider filling in the nomination form and letting the world know!

The September Project

"Connecting the world one library at a time"

The September Project is a grassroots effort to encourage events about freedom and democracy in all libraries in all countries during the month of September. September Project events are free and organized locally.

The September Project was begun in 2004 to break the silence following September 11, and to invite all people into libraries to consider topics of patriotism, democracy, and citizenship.

Initially, events focused on September 11 and largely took place on September 11. As the project evolved, events spread throughout the month of September and focused on issues of freedom and democracy. Mildred Johnson Library participates in the Project in a small way by presenting information about Patriotism, Democracy, and Citizenship in relation to Constitution Day on Sept. 17; Banned Books Week from Sept. 29 - Oct 4, 2008; and the upcoming 2008 Presidential Elections.

BUS-eum 3 - German POWs in the Midwest

For the third year in a row, Mildred Johnson Library will be sponsoring a visit from the traveling TRACES exhibit, known as the BUS-eum. The TRACES museum in St. Paul focuses on events of the Second World War that relate to the MidWest region of the United States. Although far from the action on the battlefield, even this part of the country was directly impacted by Prisoners of War on both sides of the conflict.

On Tuesday, September 9, from 11-2, the BUS-eum will be back with exhibits about German POWs held in this part of the country. There were several POW camps in this region, and many local residents still remember them and the impact they had on local communities. The exhibit will also be at Leach Public Library later in the afternoon and evening.

Here is the link to the TRACES web site on this exhibit –

http://traces.org/Buseum_3_tour/buseum_3.html

It's a great opportunity see and compare what happened half a century ago with what is going on now in regard to Prisoners of War in our country.

Help in searching online - Tutorials

As we have more online sources, it gets harder to know the best ways to search each one. Have a look at the North Dakota State Library’s Instructional Tutorial Page. These tutorials are designed to instruct you in using the ODIN catalog and the Online Library Resources. If you are having trouble viewing the tutorials, you may have to adjust your computer display settings. You may need to download Adobe Flash Player, install Microsoft PowerPoint (ppt), or adjust your volume to view some tutorials.


http://ndsl.lib.state.nd.us/OnlineTutorials.html

Copyright "Slide Rule"

The legal issues of Copyright are confusing, and just about as complicated as the US tax code. Most of us want to do the right thing about getting permission, but we aren't always sure what that "right thing"might be. As an aid in determining if an item requires permission for use, the American Library Association has come up with a slide rule that gives a basic answer this question. It isn't enough by itself but should give you an idea of what needs to be done. The link is listed in the Copyright sidebar on this blog, as well as here"

http://librarycopyright.net/digitalslider/