Search by document type

One of the quickest ways to narrow the scope of your search is to limit it by document type. For example in the EBSCO

databases look for links above your search results that allow you to narrow your search down by document type.

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Need help with your writing?

Did you know that Regis University has a Writing Center that can offer valuable assistance to students? Take a look at their webpage to view all the services they offer:

http://www.regis.edu/regis.asp?sctn=ars&p1=wc

Another website worth mentioning is the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University.

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If you think this is about library fines…

A little humor to start the Fall semester:

P.S. Did you know you can have your fines voided at Dayton Memorial Library if you provide a canned food donation!

Library Advocate: Ted Koppel

Ted Koppel does an excellent job in this video explaining the need for information literacy. Simply put, we live in an age where we as a society produce seemingly infinite amounts of information and data. Who can help us figure out where quality information resides? You guessed it, the library!

http://www.blip.tv/file/105312/

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Who’s in control?

More news about Wikipedia. Cal Tech graduate student Virgil Griffith has created a now rather famous website called Wikiscanner that allows you to gain a snapshot of which organizations and persons are editing articles on Wikipedia. Virgil is rather forthcoming about his motivation, but the end result of his project opens up many questions about how we perceive, trust, and scrutinize online information. Here are some other blog posts and articles that help round out the discussion:

• Computing Wikipedia’s Authority by Marc Meola at the ACRLog
• The Trouble with Anonymity on the Web by Annalee Newitz

So what does this mean for you as a Regis University student? First, you have a wealth of quality electronic and print information sources available to you via the Regis Libraries, and they are worth exploring! You might feel very comfortable using Google to find information on the Web, but the library has much scholarly content to offer that you cannot find using Google. Plus, you’re paying for these sources and services with your tuition, so you might as well use them! Second, take the time to compare a peer reviewed journal article or book you find in the library with an entry from Wikipedia. Ask yourself these questions: What are the differences? What are the appropriate uses for each type of source? Who do you trust and why? We can’t stress it enough, but in today’s world students need to be information literate and gain the critical and analytical skills necessary to evaluate information and its sources. These skills also transcend the student experience into work and other areas of life. For more on this, check out Distant Services Librarian Tom Riedel’s article Are Wikipedia and Google Scholar the Devil?

A web of knowledge?

Wired magazine has a interesting article that examines the average American’s knowledge of current events in the age of the internet. Despite what most people assume, it doesn’t seem the web has made us any more knowledgeable about certain issues. Take a look for yourself:

http://www.wired.com/culture/culturereviews/magazine/15-07/st_infoporn

Something tells me being “information literate” is more than just having access to technology. In fact, its the abundance of information that is made available via technology that necessitates critical thinking and analysis on our part.

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Audiobooks on the web…

Still looking for some entertaining audio to fill up your ipod while vacationing this summer? Take a look at the audiobook podcast directory from the Openculture website.

http://www.oculture.com/2006/10/audio_book_podc.html

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What is Social Bookmarking?

Another great video from Lee Lefever and the folks at Common Craft. This time they cover the subject of social bookmarking. Learn all the basics in less than four minutes!

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APA Exposed (all for you!)

Here’s a link to a great tutorial about the APA citation style. The APA style is used in all Regis University classes, so chances are at some point you’re gonna need to familiarize yourself with it. This particular tutorial seems to cover the issue in depth, with a total running time of 40+ minutes. However, there is a very handy menu that lets you jump to sections that interest you. Take a look for yourself:

http://gseacademic.harvard.edu/%7Einstruct/articulate/APA/player.html

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The participatory Web and you.

An interesting chart from the Business Week website about internet users and their characteristics. As adult learners, where do you fall on this chart?

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_24/b4038405.htm

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