Randolph Community College Library

Announcing: Phi Theta Kappa Book Bag Raffle

2011-08-16T14:38:00.000-04:00

Beta Theta Rho, RCC's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, is selling raffle tickets for a back pack valued at over $250.00. This back pack is stocked full of school supplies to get a student through fall semester and beyond. Several of the items in the back pack are a TI-84 Graphing Calculator, a $30.00 gift card for Staples, $20,00 gift card for the RCC Campus Store, $10.00 gift card for Sheetz, $10.00 gift card for the Armadillo Cafe, and a $3.00 copy card for the Library. The back pack also contains an assortment of supplies such as a 4G Flash Drive, pencils, pens, index cards, stapler, umbrella, planner, file folders, pocket folders, composition notebooks, etc.

Raffle tickets may be purchased from Phi Theta Kappa members and Phi Theta Kappa Advisors (Mr. Waymon Martin, Mrs. Melissa Earliwine, and Mr. Clark Adams) between August 15-August 25. The cost of the tickets is $1.00 for 1 ticket or 6 tickets for $5.00. The drawing for the winner of the back pack will be held on August 29.

What better way to start your fall semester than to have all the supplies you need? Get your raffle ticket today!

• How are you using the library?

2011-05-18T09:10:00.002-04:00

• 5 Moderately Interesting Facts about the Library

2011-05-11T10:03:00.007-04:00

Here are 5 things you may not know about the library:

1. In an average week, 1,500 people visit the library.

2. In an average year, users check out nearly 12,000 items.

3. We operate an Ask a Librarian chat service where users can ask librarians for help.

4. During an average week, the Library staff answer over 150 reference questions.

5. Academic Search Premier, which is one of over 90 databases available to students, contains more than 4,600 full-text journals.

• Database Password

2010-08-12T09:38:00.007-04:00

To obtain the required password to access library databases off-campus, visit the Library Services page (located under the Student Services tab) in Campus Cruiser, e-mail the library or call 336.633.0204.

• Student Wireless Access

2010-06-30T17:32:00.004-04:00

To access RCC's wireless network on your laptop in the library:

Connect to the "ARMADILLO_AIR" network, open a browser window, and login.

Your login ID is the same as your CampusCruiser login ID.
Your password is your birth date MMDDYYYY.

• Google Wonder Wheel

2010-04-29T08:55:00.007-04:00

Did you know there's a more visual way to search Google? The Wonder Wheel allows you to see your results in a graphical way.

Take a look at Google Wonder Wheel in action:

Video from larrywrighter

• Library Help is a Text Away

2010-02-23T13:03:00.002-05:00

Can’t come to the library in person? Taking online classes from home? The library website offers an "Ask a Librarian" chat / text feature where anyone can have a "text" session with a librarian. Find the answers you need at your fingertips! We can even send a file via the text window interface in case we have a digital file that you need. CUL8TR!

• Got Research? BOOK-a-Librarian!

2010-01-21T19:22:00.006-05:00

You can "book" your very own librarian! Using Eventbrite, you can schedule time with your very own librarian for one-on-one assistance with library research for your classes.

Once you have booked a librarian, the library staff will adjust their schedules to assist other visitors so that you will have a librarian's undivided attention.

Time slots are available for both morning and evening appointments. Suggestions are for one 30-minute session for basic help with finding books or a few resources, or schedule a full hour for more in-depth projects and an expanded selection of sources.

In tough economical times, one place we will not take shortcuts is with assisting our students! So do yourself a favor and BOOK-a-Librarian soon!

• Due Date Notices

2010-01-09T11:28:00.003-05:00

Spring green comes a little early at Randolph Community College Library. Effective spring semester 2010, the Library began

sending electronic notices to students using Campus Cruiser email addresses, so check your Campus Cruiser email frequently.

Thank you! Have a great spring semester!

Thursday's Popcorn Shrimp

2009-04-16T18:44:00.004-04:00

It has been quite a dry spell for the good old RCC Library Blog, but that just goes to show how busy we have been!

Another semester is about to end, and we will soon be bidding fondest wishes and good luck to the Class of 2009!

But until then, here are another few of our Thursday links to give you something to do in your "spare time."

Celebrate National Library Week! This is National Library Week, and at RCC Library, we are holding a drawing for prizes for our students. Enter to win soon, because the drawing takes place on Monday!

Tokens & Treasures - Highlights gifts given from countries around the world to United States presidents

With the introduction of the new First Pooch, take a look at some of the past presidential pets - some of them may surprise you!

Welcome to the Hagley Digital Archives POST CARD COLLECTION!

Obama Knows Storytime

At the White House Easter Egg Roll this past Monday, President Obama read Where the Wild Things Are to a large audience. While reading, he stood, projected, moved around, asked kids questions about and engaged them in the text, and generally performed as though he'd passed Early Literacy-Focused Storytime training with flying colors. Click here to view Obama's "storytime"--his wild rumpus sound effects (more cute than wild) are not to be missed.
(Courtesy of Library and Information Science News).

Nifty Links

2009-03-10T21:28:00.002-04:00

NEW! RCC Library's Assignment Calculator!

10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know

Favicon Generator

25 Librarians Who Changed History

Thursday's Roundup Soup

2009-02-05T21:37:00.004-05:00

dynastree - create a surname map or a family tree for free

Vintage Valentines

The Jefferson Encyclopedia

Thursday's Roundup Soup

2009-01-29T16:22:00.002-05:00

The Mask of Lincoln from the National Portrait Gallery

How to Get the Best Sound from In-ear Headphones (hint: if everyone else can hear it, chances are you are wearing them wrong!)

4 Realistic Things you Should Know on International Data Privacy Day (just one day late)

1981 Report on Birth of Internet News

Just Two Tuesday

2009-01-27T18:57:00.001-05:00

Green Grannies

The Original iPod

Thursday's Roundup Soup

2008-12-11T20:25:00.002-05:00

Flash Drive Reminder prevents leaving your thumb drive behind

Search and find magazines on Google Book Search

Private browsing comes to Firefox

Changes in NC LIVE

2008-12-09T15:39:00.001-05:00

Beginning January 1, 2009, the following resources will be added in NC LIVE:

EBSCO Career Library
EBSCO Literary Reference Center
EBSCO Auto Repair Reference Center
EBSCO Newspaper Source Plus (upgrade)
Geographic Research SimplyMaps

The following resources will be discontinued:
OCLC CAMIO
Britannica Online Encylopedias
NetLibrary E-Audiobooks
Newsbank America's Newspapers
ProQuest Newspapers

For more information, trial access (where available) and product descriptions, please visit NC LIVE at:
http://www.nclive.org/resource_selection/collection_updates.phtml

We will be updating all the library's Research by Course guides to reflect the above changes.

Just let us know if you have questions!

Thursday "Roundup Stew"

2008-10-16T21:57:00.002-04:00

Historical Full Text Books about Librarians

Candidate asks YouTube to Consider Fair Use

TubeMaster Pulls Video and Audio for (Fair Use) Classroom Presentations

WebJunction reports: Global Survey on Politeness

Test Your Website: A 57 Point Checklist

Super-Cool Computer Shortcuts

2008-10-07T13:13:00.002-04:00

AWESOME POST:

Tech Tips for the Basic Computer User

Thursday Links Round-Up

2008-09-25T12:38:00.005-04:00

It's been a while since we've posted. We've been BUSY!!

Here are the links for this Thursday's Round-Up:

The Ultimate Small Business Owner's Resource Guide available free as a PDF

The Stories Behind 10 Dr. Seuss Stories

Library to share 14th-century royal cookbook online

The Wonderful World of Albert Kahn

Slide Tips: Dodging Bullets in Powerpoint Presentations

What to do with old electronics?

2008-09-08T16:50:00.001-04:00

From: Librarians' Internet Index: New This Week

myGreenElectronics

This website features a ZIP code look-up for electronics recycling facilities and listings of electronics (such as computers, home theater, and televisions) that are energy efficient, made of recycled materials, or have other green properties. Includes reuse and recycling tips related to electronics. From the Consumer Electronics Association, a trade organization promoting consumer technology.

Thursday Links Roundup

2008-08-28T14:37:00.001-04:00

Why Write?

Diagramming Sentences

Tips for Talking your Way into a Job

Writers' Rooms

2008-08-11T13:55:00.003-04:00

See the favorite writing spaces of famous writers! From http://www.guardian.co.uk/

How to Stay Healthy in College

2008-08-11T12:40:00.003-04:00

101 Health and Wellness Tips for College Students

From the Nursing Library @ RN Central

The Art of the American Snapshot: 1888 - 1978

2008-08-07T18:04:00.002-04:00

Website to accompany the exhibit at the National Gallery of Art.

You Just Never Know What is in Our Parking Lot...

2008-08-07T17:51:00.006-04:00

Learning More About Frida Kahlo

2008-07-24T12:35:00.002-04:00

Online exhibition detailing the life and work of Frida Kahlo. From the site:

Available in both English and Spanish, this online feature highlights the artist’s extraordinary life and work through video commentary by artists and art historians, as well as video footage of Kahlo and husband Diego Rivera at their home, Casa Azul.

Feature Online PBS Film: Marie Antoinette

2008-07-14T15:38:00.008-04:00

RCC Community: Don't forget that you may access these videos from home with your NC LIVE password!

From the NC LIVE website:

Her name has become synonymous with the French monarchy and all its excesses, but there is more to the story of Marie Antoinette than the simplistic tale of how a frivolous sovereign helped provoke the uprising that became the French Revolution. She was, in fact, a tender-hearted, complex woman, whose tragic awakening came too late to save her from the guillotine. Without losing sight of the dire inequities in 18th century France, the film paints a surprising portrait in which Marie Antoinette emerges as a sympathetic and, in the end, courageous figure.
Length: 116 minutes
Production Year: 2006
Closed captions: Available

How to be more like Art Garfunkel

2008-07-14T15:26:00.003-04:00

To be filed under the What? category...

Why Art Garfunkel? Because he is a good reader! He may have made a pretty good librarian, too. Apparently he has kept a list of every single book he has read for MORE THAT 40 YEARS!

You can view his list here.

This Blog Post Will Self-Destruct

2008-07-08T13:45:00.002-04:00

Well, no, not really! But here's a nifty site that will allow you to type in a message, then it will generate a link for you to send to someone. As soon as it's read, *poof* and it's gone.

See it in action at Privnote.

Wall Street Journal Ad Campaign for Librarians

2008-07-08T13:15:00.002-04:00

From Stephen's Lighthouse

Here is his link to a copy of the advertisement.

Wow! Thanks WSJ!

Cool Search Engines

2008-07-08T13:05:00.002-04:00

Courtesy of Phil Bradley's Weblog:

Soungle: lots of royalty-free sound effects

VideoFetcher: searches all sorts of video sites, not just YouTube

pdf search engine: look for e-books!

Fl!pswap

2008-07-02T21:51:00.004-04:00

By donating your cell phone or iPod to Flipswap, you can get cash back, store credit, or donate your exchange to charity. No shipping fees required!

The Effect Generator

2008-06-30T14:10:00.004-04:00

The Effect Generator

Introducing GreenFILE™

2008-06-30T14:06:00.004-04:00

GreenFile (no password required)
Scholarly, government, and general-interest information covering all aspects of human impact to the environment. Includes content on global warming, green building, pollution, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, recycling, and more.

Nifty Links Thursday

2008-06-26T18:59:00.003-04:00

FBI History - Radio Sound Bytes

Lawn Nation: The Art and Science of the American Lawn

101 Photoshop Tips in 5 Minutes

FIREWORKS!

2008-06-24T12:40:00.004-04:00

Just as a reminder, the Randolph Community College Library will be closed Friday, July 4th.

As you make your Independence Day plans, here are a few neat sites brought to you courtesy of the Librarians' Internet Index:

Chemical of the Week: Fireworks
This explanation of the chemistry of fireworks discusses the compounds that produce specific colors of fireworks, the production and ignition of fireworks, the reactions (oxidations and reductions) that cause the explosions, fireworks safety, and the origins of gunpowder. From a chemistry professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
URL: http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/chemweek/fireworks/fireworks.htm

Fireworks Photography
Series of three articles on techniques for photographing fireworks displays. Topics include photographing large fireworks displays, taking photos of fireworks with a digital camera, and shooting backyard firework displays. Discusses preparation, equipment, camera settings, choosing subjects, and more. From the New York Institute of Photography.
URL: http://www.nyip.com/holidays/firewksintro.html

Injury Prevention
With sections for children, parents, and health care professionals, this site provides safety tips for a wide range of sports activities. Also covers road rules, car and street safety, safety in the sun, fireworks, dogs, and other potential hazards. Features a "Home Safety Handbook" and treatments for common medical injuries, from burns to frostbite to poisoning. From Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
URL: http://www.chp.edu/besafe/

OSHA Assistance for the Pyrotechnics Industry
This site describes "common hazards and solutions found in the pyrotechnics industry. The pages address two sectors in the pyrotechnics industry: retail sales of fireworks and fireworks display." Topics include display and storage of fireworks, fire codes, best practices, permits, and more. Includes video clips and a safety tips poster. From the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor.
URL: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/pyrotechnic/

House of Commons Information Office: The Gunpowder Plot
Information from the United Kingdom Parliament about the Gunpowder Plot, the name given to the conspiracy to blow up the Houses of Parliament on November 5, 1605. Guy (or Guido) Fawkes was considered to be the major conspirator. This document provides a background and history of the plot, and how the event is celebrated today as "Firework Night," "Bonfire Night," or "Guy Fawkes Day." Opens directly into a PDF document.
URL: http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/g08.pdf

Kaboom!
Satisfy your curiosity about fireworks at this site, which explains the anatomy of an actual firework and the chemicals that make it work. Includes an interview with a demolition expert who tells how buildings are brought down by using small explosions to make it implode. Also provides a transcript of the NOVA public television program on which the site is based.
URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/kaboom/

Fireworks-Related Injuries
Facts and statistics on fireworks-related injuries in the United States, with links to further reading. Also available in Spanish. From the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/fworks.htm

The National Council on Fireworks Safety
The site has general fireworks safety information, as well as tips for public fireworks displays and choosing safe fireworks. Also find classroom materials, public service announcements (PSAs), a synopsis of state laws relating to fireworks, injury statistics, and emergency response information. From a nonprofit organization "dedicated to the safe enjoyment of fireworks in the United States."
URL: http://www.fireworksafety.com/

What's That Stuff? Essays that look at the chemical composition of over 20 everyday products, ranging from self-tanners, lipstick, fireworks, Cheese Whiz, new car smell, toothpaste, Silly Putty, and more. From the American Chemical Society.
URL: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/stuff.html

American Pyrotechnics Association
This site for the fireworks industry trade association presents general information about pyrotechnics (fireworks) as well as safety tips. Because this organization promotes the use of fireworks, some of the statistical reports are presented to prove the safety and low incidence of fireworks-related injuries. However, the site features unbiased safety information, state fireworks laws, a glossary of pyrotechnic terms, diagrams of fireworks, and information for fire service professionals.
URL: http://www.americanpyro.com/

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Site includes press releases for all CPSC recalls (back to 1973), information for businesses regarding Consumer Product Safety Act and other issues, information in Spanish, children's safety games, and information on fireworks safety. There are links to the websites of other federal agencies that have responsibilities for products not under the jurisdiction of the CPSC.
URL: http://www.cpsc.gov/

U.S. Census Bureau Facts for Features: The Fourth of July
Facts and statistics related to Independence Day, covering topics such as fireworks, flags, cookouts, immigration, parks, and patriotic-sounding place names. From the U.S. Census Bureau.
URL: http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/011920.html

Dragons, Unicorns, and Mermaids

2008-06-12T13:48:00.002-04:00

Online exhibit: check it out!

Your Life Work: The Librarian

2008-06-09T14:24:00.000-04:00

June is National Safety Month

2008-06-02T14:09:00.002-04:00

Brought to you by the National Safety Council, you can visit the National Safety Month Website to obtain free online CPR training or get a free one-year subscription to Safety+Health magazine.

From the site:

Throughout June 2008, National Safety Month activities will address the most significant reasons for unintentional injuries and deaths in the American workplace, on the road and in the home and community. We offer tools and materials that can help you and your organization Make a Difference in both on and off the job safety.

Week 1: June 2-6 Emergency Preparedness
Week 2: June 9-13 Distracted Driving
Week 3: June 16-20 Poisoning Prevention
Week 4: June 23-27 Falls Prevention

Saving Money

2008-06-02T13:45:00.004-04:00

The price of gas is hitting our wallets so hard that we thought we would share some websites and blogs to check out. Every little bit helps!

Blogs:
The Simple Dollar
StopBuyingCrap.com
Mighty Bargain Hunter
Fivecentnickel.com

Websites
Local Gas Prices
Tightwad Central
The Dollar Stretcher
Freecycle.org

Do you have a site to recommend?

Jewish American Heritage Month

2008-05-15T14:10:00.002-04:00

May is Jewish American Heritage Month!

Here are some links to learn more:

Jewish Heritage - Brought to you by: The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

350 Years of American Jewry

Forshpeis! A Taste of the Peter H. Schweitzer Collection of Jewish Americana

iStockphoto to Include Royalty-Free Music

2008-05-14T19:28:00.003-04:00

From Mashable:

iStockphoto moved beyond images last year with the inclusion of video for its stock media site, and today, it’s looking to move even further beyond images with the inclusion of audio tracks. These audio tracks will be royalty-free, and available for download starting this September.

iStockphoto will also be applying its micropayments to its new audio section, giving contributing sound artists 20-40% of the revenue. If you’re wondering about the prices, they will start as low as $1 (or 1 credit, going up to 25 credits).

The actual process for submitting music, however, can get a little tricky. You’ll need to submit several samples for approval, and also ensure hat the submitted content is in fact royalty-free.

So why do you have to wait so long to get music on iStockphoto? Well, the company has to build up its library. iStockphoto is currently seeking out artists from every aspect of the audio industry to submit content. That means spoken word, composers and audio technicians can all get a piece of the pie.

There aren’t too many companies that are delving into this particular aspect of the media market, but given the growth of the blogging industry, media distribution and other progressive steps we’ve seen in the alternative music industry space, it’s an interesting time for media to be distributed in such a manner. Making audio available for use through a stock media site is quite useful for content publishers.

The potential conflict for content owners, however, is having to decide which content remains within a royalties-based structure, and which content should be included for direct-payment options through a third party vendor. Having partnered with services like Pixsy and SceneCaster, however, it’s clear that iStockphoto is looking for ways in which to distribute its content across the web as well.

Read the original article here.

Hot days, cool books!

2008-05-12T12:39:00.001-04:00

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah, summer!

As we head into the summer months, why not take some time to read one or more of our bestseller or new fiction books? We are highlighting these books in a new display in the library. Come by soon and check out some of the great fiction we have!

Gas

2008-05-01T18:41:00.003-04:00

From the Librarian's Internet Index:

GasPriceWatch.com
"The basic function of the website is to help you find the lowest price of gas in your neighborhood. ... All of the 128,000+ stations in GPW are part of huge inventory of gas stations that our spotters have submitted over the years." Search by zip code, intersection, city, state, and other access points.
URL: http://www.gaspricewatch.com/
Added to LII: 2005-09-02

AAA Gas Price Finder
"The AAA Gas Price Finder information is derived from credit card transactions at more than 85,000 outlets around the country as well as direct feeds from individual chains. When you search for gas prices you will find the last price received over the past 7 days for those stations included in our tool." Covers the U.S. and most of Canada. From the California State Automobile Association (CSAA).
URL: http://csaa.kivera.com/csaa/gaspricefinder.jsp
Added to LII: 2005-09-02

Gas Price Watch Reporting Form
"The Department of Energy is very concerned about the impact of gasoline prices on American families. While we are working to address longer term supply issues, we're also working to make sure American families are being treated fairly. If you believe there may be price-gouging, or price-fixing, please contact your local authorities and fill out the form [provided on the website]."
URL: http://gaswatch.energy.gov
Added to LII: 2005-09-03

Gas Prices Around the World
This table from March 2005 shows that "gasoline prices in the United States, which have recently hit record highs, are actually much lower than in many countries." Prices listed range from over $6 per gallon to well under a dollar in Venezuela. From CNN/Money.
URL: http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/global_gasprices/
Added to LII: 2005-08-26

GasBuddy.com
"GasBuddy.com can help you find cheap gas prices in your city. It is a network of [over] 170 gas price information web sites that helps you find low gasoline prices." Search for prices by ZIP code." Information is member-supplied. Registration (free) required to post gas prices on most of the gas sites or to create a fuel log for tracking your expenses. Includes tips for conserving gas, links to news stories, and other resources.
URL: http://gasbuddy.com/
Added to LII: 2004-06-22

How Gas Prices Work
Information about how gas prices are determined, including U.S. gasoline usage and consumption, regional price differences, a percentage breakdown of components that determine gas prices, control and impact of the oil market by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), U.S. domestic production and supplies, and related resources.
URL: http://www.howstuffworks.com/gas-price.htm
Added to LII: 2003-02-21

Fuel Economy Site (EPA)
The heart of this site is the "Find and Compare Cars" database, with miles-per-gallon numbers for vehicles from 1985 to the present. Includes a gasoline price page with links to national and regional fuel price information, information on vehicle safety ratings and air pollution, gas mileage tips, and material on hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles. Also find the most current model year "Fuel Economy Guide." From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
URL: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
Added to LII: 1999-12-06

Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update
This site provides current data about gasoline and diesel prices in the United States as well as selected historical information. Includes information about retail and spot prices, a list of Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts (PADD), and links to related information. The data is updated weekly "every Monday by 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time)." From the Energy Information Administration (EIA), an independent statistical agency within the Department of Energy (DOE).
URL: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp
Added to LII: 2004-01-21

CNN/Money Special Report: Gas Crunch
Collection of recent news stories about increasing oil and gas prices in the U.S. Topics include crude oil prices, potentially faulty gas pumping mechanisms, 2008 Congressional investigation of oil company profits, and related matters. Also includes information about fuel-efficient and alternative-energy vehicles.
URL: http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/gasprices/
Added to LII: 2005-09-05

AAA Fuel Cost Calculator
This site presents gasoline price averages for eight regions of the United States: New England, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Great Lakes, Southwest, Midwest, Mountain West, and the Pacific Coast. Offers an online calculator that allows users to enter their starting city, destination, and vehicle information (for newer car models) to determine fuel cost, miles, and gallons used. Fuel price data is provided by the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS). From the American Automobile Association (AAA).
URL: http://www.fuelcostcalculator.com
Added to LII: 2005-02-23

AAA: Daily Fuel Gauge Report
The results of daily surveys (via credit card transactions) of more than 60,000 self-serve gas stations in the U.S. are posted here courtesy of the American Automobile Association (AAA). Find national, state, and metropolitan area prices for regular, premium, and diesel fuel. Also lists price yesterday, a month, and a year ago as well as highest recorded price for regular unleaded and diesel.
URL: http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/
Added to LII: 2002-03-02

A Primer on Gasoline Prices
This 2005 primer explains "the components of the retail price of gasoline," as well as why gas prices fluctuate, why gas prices differ regionally, and why prices in California are higher and more variable. From the Energy Information Administration (EIA), an independent statistical agency within the Department of Energy (DOE).
URL: http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/brochure/oil_gas/primer/primer.htm
Added to LII: 2004-01-21

Free Force for the Taking!

2008-04-30T11:56:00.007-04:00

From the site:

YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE LEGACY OF THE FORCE, NOW EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF!

Have you ever wondered what happened to Han, Luke and Leia after the events of Return of the Jedi?

Now, in BETRAYAL, the legacy that began with Anakin Skywalker has finally come full circle. Join Han, Luke, Leia, and the other heroes of the New Jedi Order in their epic struggle to maintain peace in the galaxy, as a new threat rises from the most unexpected of places.

Download a free copy of STAR WARS: LEGACY OF THE FORCE: BETRAYAL and see why fans are raving about this New York Times bestselling series!

Note:

Novel also available in audiobook, Amazon Kindle, and Sony Reader eBook downloads

Offer expires at midnight, May 13th, 2008

More Tips and Tricks

2008-04-29T14:11:00.004-04:00

Put IE7's file menu back where it belongs

Get Firefox's Best Features in Internet Explorer

Top 100 Tools for Learning Spring 2008

Word 2007 Tips

Calling all books!

2008-04-29T12:44:00.002-04:00

Calling all books! And videos, DVDs, or anything else you may have checked out!

The end of the semester is fast approaching and all library items are due on or before May 6th for curriculum students. To avoid problems with graduation, registration, or obtaining your grades, please be certain you return your check-outs!

The Candidates are Twittering!

2008-04-24T15:18:00.002-04:00

See what the 2008 presidential candidates are doing!

Barack Obama

Hillary Clinton

John McCain

According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, as of the moment of this blog post, there are 2,617,610 registered Democrats in North Carolina and 1,934,131 registered Republicans. Plus, 1,240,599 unaffiliated voters.

And we get to vote in a presidential primary election on May 6th! WOO-HOO!

Stay tuned...

Irony 2.0: Blog Post a 1930's Film on How to Dial a Phone

2008-04-24T14:55:00.002-04:00

Sit on it!

2008-04-22T19:56:00.000-04:00

We have new furniture! Photos to come soon. Come sit on it!

Shabby Chic Library Week @ RCC

2008-04-16T14:59:00.004-04:00

Flickr images are ready! See the entire set here.

Shabby Chic Library Week at RCC

2008-04-15T22:00:00.002-04:00

For NLW, this year we decided to go "green." Our promotional materials for this year's National Library Week are almost 100% recycled and almost 100% reusable!

This sign is made from recycled paper and stock market quotes from the Wall Street Journal.

Stay tuned for more to come!

NLW PSAs

2008-04-14T14:21:00.000-04:00

Celebrate National Library Week!

2008-04-14T14:15:00.000-04:00

Come celebrate National Library Week with us! This year is the 50th anniversary of National Library Week.

From the website: http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/mediarelationsa/factsheets/nationallibraryweek.cfm

"National Library Week will be observed April 13-19, 2008 with the theme, "Join the circle of knowledge @ your library®.

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. All types of libraries - school, public, academic and special - participate."

National Library Week includes National Library Workers Day, which is Tuesday, April 15.

Please tell your students we are having drawings for prizes on Monday, April 21st. They can drop by the library any day this week to fill out a form to enter at the front of the library. We also have free suckers!

Project Gutenberg Update

2008-04-03T13:36:00.004-04:00

Project Gutenberg now publishes lists of their top 100 authors and top 100 eBooks. You can view the lists here.

Here are the top 10 of 100 authors for the past 30 days:

Here are the top 10 of 100 eBooks downloaded for the past 30 days:

FirstSounds

2008-04-03T13:14:00.001-04:00

FirstSounds: "is an informal collaborative of audio historians, recording engineers, sound archivists, scientists, other individuals, and organizations who aim to make mankind's earliest sound recordings available to all people for all time."

RCC WRITER’S CONTEST 2008

2008-04-02T15:20:00.004-04:00

RCC WRITER’S CONTEST 2008 Deadline for Entries April 14
Sponsored by the SGA
Winners will be Announced at
SGA Spring Fling April 23

Categories: Short Story, Essay, Poetry

Prizes (in each category):

1st place $100
2nd place $50
3rd place $25

Eligibility: All RCC students 2007-2008

Rules: Contestants may submit up to two entries in each category. Entries must be typed; each entry must have a title, centered at top of first page. The writer’s name must not appear on the manuscript. Pages must be numbered; prose must be double spaced. Attach a 3 X 5 index card to the entry with the following:

Category: Short Story, Essay, or Poetry
Title: Centered, top of first page
Name of writer
Student I.D. number
Mailing Address
Phone number: local and/or cell (Must be able to reach winners by phone)

Dates: The contest runs from March 17 to April 14. No entries accepted after 5 p.m. April 14.

Place: Submit entries at Circulation Desk of the LRC at Writer’s Contest Display

Judges:

Short Story
Phil Shore
Director, Randolph Arts Guild
Novelist, essayist, poet, Duke University graduate in creative writing

Essay
Amanda Rivers
English Instructor, GTCC
Former English instructor, General Education Dept Chair, RCC

Poetry
Mary Chesson
Vice-president of Instruction, MCC
Former English instructor, General Education Dept Chair, RCC

April is National Poetry Month!

2008-03-31T12:04:00.002-04:00

April is National Poetry Month. Not only do we have books on display to highlight this, we also have Randolph Early College High School student poetry on display throughout the library! Come by the library and check out the writing talents of our RECHS students.

If you would like more information about poets, National Poetry Month, literary journals and organizations, and the state poet laureate of North Carolina, Kay Stripling Byer, go to www.poets.org. This is a website from the Academy of American Poets.

Earth Hour: March 29, 2008, 8-9 pm

2008-03-27T11:43:00.004-04:00

From http://www.earthhourus.org/:

It started with a question: How can we inspire people to take action on climate change?

The answer: Ask the people of Sydney to turn off their lights for one hour.

On 31 March 2007, 2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour. If the greenhouse reduction achieved in the Sydney CBD during Earth Hour was sustained for a year, it would be equivalent to taking 48,616 cars off the road for a year.

With Sydney icons like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House turning their lights off, and unique events such as weddings by candlelight, the world took notice. Inspired by the collective effort of millions of Sydneysiders, many major global cities are joining Earth Hour in 2008, turning a symbolic event into a global movement.

The Library won't be open Saturday evening, so we will participate by default. :)

See related links:

Starbucks' Planet Green Game
Global Green USA
New Books about the Environment @ the Library

IEEE Museum: Nurturing the Network: Women and the Communications Industry

2008-03-20T17:06:00.002-04:00

From the site:

A quick survey of the history of engineering and technology might lead one to believe that technology is the dominion of men. After all, there are few women technologists or scientists whose names resonate like those of men such as Faraday or Edison. This is largely because, historically, women have had limited access to education, especially in fields such as science and engineering. For example, women were excluded from engineering schools, and although many men of the era didn't go to engineering school either, women didn't have the other route of learning the profession—on-the-job training. In addition to the lack of access to schools and workplaces, women were generally assumed to have no mechanical abilities or even interest in technical fields.

Like other marginalized groups, however, women have found ways of making their presence in these fields known. In their roles as workers, consumers, housewives, and later as scientists and engineers, women have always helped shape the direction technology has moved in.

Read more here.

Epublisher's Weekly: 30 Benefits of Ebooks

2008-03-17T15:38:00.005-04:00

It's a little late for "Read an eBook week," but you can still appreciate Epublisher's Weekly article on the 30 Benefits of Ebooks.

From the site:

Read an Ebook Week is a yearly event, and this year (2008) it runs from March 2 to March 8. To encourage the celebration of this little-known happening, here is our list of 30 Benefits of Ebooks. We love pbooks (paper books), and hope that they are never replaced by their electronic grandchildren. Yet ebooks are a worthy companion to their paper elders. Here's how and why.

1. Ebooks promote reading. People are spending more time in front of screens and less time in front of printed books.

2. Ebooks are good for the environment. Ebooks save trees. Ebooks eliminate the need for filling up landfills with old books. Ebooks save transportation costs and the pollution associated with shipping books across the country and the world.

3. Ebooks preserve books. (The library of Alexandria was burned and the collection ruined. Richard Burton's wife, after his death and against his wishes, destroyed a book he had been working on for ten years. The original manuscript of Carlyle's The French Revolution was lost when a friend's servant tossed it into the fire.) Ebooks are ageless: they do not burn, mildew, crumble, rot, or fall apart. Ebooks ensure that literature will endure.

Read more here...

Women in Science

2008-03-06T18:09:00.003-05:00

Read interviews of 13 women on why they chose careers in science. Take a look! Courtesy of the Field Museum.

From Warrior Women to Female Pharaohs: Careers for Women in Ancient Egypt

2008-03-04T12:53:00.004-05:00

From Warrior Women to Female Pharaohs: Careers for Women in Ancient Egypt

By Dr Joann Fletcher

(from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/)

Whilst the concept of a career choice for women is a relatively modern phenomenon, the situation in ancient Egypt was rather different. For some three thousand years the women who lived on the banks of the Nile enjoyed a form of equality which has rarely been equaled...

New Display in the Library

2008-03-01T11:27:00.001-05:00

March is National Women's History Month. Under the guidance of the National Women's History Project, educators, workplace program planners, parents and community organizations in thousands of American communities have turned National Women's History Month into a major celebration, and a springboard for celebrating women's history all year.

Come see the books we have on display in the library in honor of this national celebration. In addition, you can go to the library website http://library.randolph.edu, click on Library Quicklinks, and choose NC LIVE to see Britannica Online's "300 Women Who Changed the World" feature. Britannica highlights the lives of these women through essays, speeches, an illustrated timeline, quotes, and biographies. Britannica Online is just one of the many databases brought to you through NC LIVE by your RCC Library.

A Piece of My Soul: Quilts by Black Arkansans

2008-02-27T17:02:00.011-05:00

From this wonderful website:

About This Interactive Collection

There are four main sections to this interactive version of A Piece of My Soul: Quilts by Black Arkansans.

The first section deals with Quilting Families. Many of the Old State House Museum's quilts provide an opportunity to observe both the continuity and evolution of quilting traditions as they are passed down from generation to generation.

The Individual Quilters section focuses on specific quilters. In some instances we have only a single example of their work. In other cases multiple quilts give evidence of the range of the maker's talents over a lifetime of quilting.

Quilts by Type offers another way to view many of the quilts from the first two sections. Here similar types of quilts by various women are compared.

Finally there is a section giving acknowledgements to two women who made this exhibit possible, as well as providing links to other websites on quilting.

The Higher Education Act of 1965

2008-02-26T11:36:00.002-05:00

From guest blogger, Rochelle R. Rush:

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, defines an HBCU as: " ... any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary [of Education] to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation."

Some inspiring facts about HBCUs include:

Over half of all African American professionals are graduates of HBCUs.

Nine of the top ten colleges that graduate the most African Americans who go on to earn Ph.D.s are HBCUs.

More than 50% of the nation’s African American public school teachers and 70% of African American dentists earned degrees at HBCUs.

Spelman College and Bennett College produce over half of the nation’s African American female doctorates in all science fields.

--
Below, I have provided a brief listing of the HBCUs in North Carolina. North Carolina has eleven HBCU's, including the oldest in the South, Raleigh's Shaw University, founded in 1865.

1. Barber-Scotia College, Concord, North Carolina (www.b-sc.edu/) ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barber-Scotia_College
2. Bennett College, Greensboro, NC (www.bennett.edu)
3. Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC (www.ecsu.edu)
4. Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC (www.uncfsu.edu)
5. Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, NC (www.jcsu.edu)
6. Livingstone College, Salisbury, NC (www.livingstone.edu)
7. North Carolina A & T State University, Greensboro, NC (www.ncat.edu) (my ALMA MATER)
8. North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC (www.nccu.edu)
9. St. Augustine's College, Raleigh, NC (www.st-aug.edu/)
10. Shaw University, Raleigh, NC (www.shawuniversity.edu)
11. Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC (www.wssu.edu)

Sources: http://www.dll.org/HBCUs/gateway_files/FAQs.asp (Howard University's Digital Learning Lab); http://www.uncf.org/ (United Negro College Fund); http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/nc/educated/hbcu.htm
(The State Library of North Carolina)

African American Women in Education

2008-02-20T13:33:00.001-05:00

From guest blogger, Rochelle Rush:

Hallie Quinn Brown (Born: March 10, 1850; Died Sept. 16, 1949)

Brown was the daughter of former slaves. In 1870, she entered Wilberforce University in Ohio. After her graduation in 1873 she taught in plantation and public schools in Mississippi and South Carolina. In 1885-87 she was dean of Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina. After four years of teaching public school in Dayton, Ohio, she served as a principal of Tuskegee Institute (1892-93) in Alabama under Booker T. Washington.

In 1893, Brown was a principal promoter of the organization of the Colored Woman's League of Washington, D.C., which the next year joined other groups to form the National Association of Colored Women. In 1893, she was appointed professor of elocution at Wilberforce University, but her teaching duties were limited by her frequent and extensive lecture tours, notably in Europe in 1894-99. Her lectures on African American life in the United States and on temperance were especially popular in Great Britain, where she appeared twice before Queen Victoria.

Brown also served as president of the Ohio State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs in 1905-12 and of the National Association of Colored Women in 1920-24. During that period, she helped begin a campaign to preserve the Washington, D.C., home of Frederick Douglass.

-----
Marian Wright Edelman (Born June 6, 1939)

Edelman attended Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia (B.A., 1960), and the Yale University Law School (LL.B., 1963). After work registering African American voters in Mississippi, she moved to New York City as a staff attorney for the Legal Defense and Educational Fund of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

In 1964, Edelman returned to the South and became the first African American woman to pass the bar in Mississippi. In private practice, she took on civil rights cases and fought for funding of one of the largest Head Start programs in the country. She served as director of the Legal Defense and Educational Fund in Jackson, Mississippi (1964-68). From 1971 to 1973, Edelman was the director of Harvard University's Center for Law and Education, and in 1973 she founded and became president of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) in Washington, D.C. The CDF became a highly effective organization in advocating children's rights. In 1996, she founded a similar organization, Stand for Children.
-------
Wangari Muta Maathai (Born April 1, 1940)

Maathai was educated in the United States at Mount St. Scholastica College (now Benedictine College; B.S. in biology, 1964) and at the University of Pittsburgh (M.S., 1966). In 1971, she received a Ph.D. at the University of Nairobi, where she then taught veterinary anatomy. She was the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctoral degree.

While working with the National Council of Women of Kenya from 1976-87 (chairman from 1981-87), she developed the idea that village women could improve the environment by planting trees to provide a fuel source and to slow the processes of deforestation and desertification. In 1977, she founded the Green Belt Movement, whose main focus is helping women’s groups plant trees to conserve the environment and improve quality of life. With her leadership, the organization has planted more than 30 million trees and inspired similar grassroots movements in other African countries. Maathai was elected to Kenya's National Assembly with 98 percent of the vote in 2002 and in 2003 was appointed assistant minister of environment, natural resources, and wildlife. In 2004, she became the first black African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Prize committee commended her “holistic approach to sustainable development that embraces democracy, human rights and women's rights in particular.”

Sources: The Encyclopedia Brittanica Online (http://www.britannica.com/); http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/

The End of Slavery: the Creation of the Thirteenth Amendment

2008-02-19T13:04:00.004-05:00

Explore information about the creation of the 13th Amendment, from the timeline, to commentaries, to biographies, and much more.

From the site:

HarpWeek is pleased to present “The End of Slavery: The Creation of the Thirteenth Amendment” as a public service for students, teachers, and interested citizens who wish to explore the nation’s transition from slavery to freedom. The narrative begins with unsuccessful efforts to reach a compromise on the slavery issue in the winter of 1860-1861 in order to avoid secession of the Southern slave states and a clash of arms between the sections. It continues through the various plans offered or enacted by President Abraham Lincoln, the U.S. Congress, and Union generals during the Civil War, including Lincoln’s famous Emancipation Proclamation declaring slaves in Confederate-held territory to be “thenceforward, and forever free.” Although there was much opposition, more white Americans in the Northern and Border States (slave states loyal to the Union) became increasingly supportive of emancipation as the war progressed.

Black History Month: a Medical Perspective

2008-02-14T11:57:00.005-05:00

From the Duke University History of Medicine Collection, is an excerpt of their online exhibit:

First Black professional nurse in the United States (1879). Mary's parents moved from North Carolina to Boston, where she was born on April 16, 1845. In Boston, Negro children were not permitted to attend schools with Whites until 1855, and even in New England, domestic service was the only way for a Negro woman to make a living. Interested in a nursing career from the age of eighteen, Mary was a "nurse" for several prominent white families prior to entering formal nurse training. On March 23, 1878, she was the "first coloured girl admitted" (Medical and Nursing Record Book, 1878) to the nurse training program at the New England Hospital for Women and Children; she graduated sixteen months later at the age of thirty-four. (Note: Mahoney's biographer, Helen Miller, was associate professor of nursing research at North Carolina Central University.)

Learn more from the entire online exhibit here.

The Little Rock Nine

2008-02-12T18:26:00.001-05:00

September 25, 1957, became a historic day when nine courageous children risked their lives to attend Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Arkansas governor Orval Faubus, in defiance of a federal court order, called out the Arkansas National Guard to prevent the Nine from entering. President Dwight D. Eisenhower responded by federalizing the National Guard and sending in units of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division to escort the Nine into the school. After the Nine suffered repeated harassment-such as kicking, shoving, and name calling-the military assigned guards to escort them to classes. The guards, however, could not go everywhere with the students, and harassment continued in places such as the restrooms and locker rooms. After the 101st Airborne soldiers returned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky in November, leaving the National Guard troops in charge, segregationist students intensified their efforts to compel the Nine to leave Central. The Little Rock Nine did not have any classes together. They were not allowed to participate in extracurricular activities at Central. Nevertheless, they returned to school every day to persist in obtaining an equal education. Although the Supreme Court’s Landmark 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education struck down racial segregation in public schools, it was the courageous actions of these nine young champions of school integration that tested the strength of that decision.
--------
In February, 1999, the Little Rock Nine established the Little Rock Nine® Foundation, a non-profit, 501©(3) organization, to advance the principles of excellence in education for young people of color.

Since 1999, the Foundation and its nine members have dedicated themselves to advance their cause by providing financial support to needy and worthy students; urging local and national governmental bodies to maintain high quality systems of instruction; convening forums to discuss and debate questions related to educational delivery systems; and coordinating the publication of materials designed to inform the public about the needs in this arena.

"The Little Rock Nine’s many contributions to society and American history have been acknowledged through the numerous awards and recognitions they have received, including the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal in 1999."

Sources: http://www.littlerock9.com/ ; www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net

--Rochelle Rush, Student Support Services

Video footage from Little Rock, 1957:

Behind the scenes; or, Thirty years a slave, and four years in the White house

2008-02-12T10:00:00.000-05:00

Elizabeth Keckley was the seamstress for Mary Todd Lincoln throughout her time in the White House. She was so skilled at sewing that she used her proceeds to purchase her freedom during the times of the Civil War. She is actually the person who created the purple gown trimmed in white satin that is on display at the National Museum of American History. From their site: "Born into slavery, Elizabeth Keckley used her dressmaking skills to buy her freedom in 1855. She became a prominent figure in Washington’s black community, organizing relief and educational programs for emancipated slaves. In 1868 she published her memoir, Behind the Scenes; or, Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House. Mary Lincoln felt betrayed by Keckley’s disclosure of private details about the Lincoln family, and the two friends never saw each other again."

Ms. Keckley's book gives a touching and intimate look inside the personal life of one of the most difficult presidencies of our time. Fortunately, it may be read online or downloaded for free since it is in the public domain. Read it here.

Let Your Motto Be RESISTANCE

2008-02-11T14:12:00.000-05:00

Let Your Motto Be RESISTANCE
Brought to you by the Smithsonian Institute, the online portrait gallery is a must-see.

Black History Highlights

2008-02-06T10:08:00.001-05:00

As many of you may know, February is Black History Month. To celebrate this wonderful event, I thought it would be beneficial to disseminate interesting facts surrounding African Americans and their many contributions on the global, national, regional, and local levels.
There is no possible way that I can sum up all that blacks have done for this world in a few simple posts, but as a wise woman here at RCC always says, "Every little bit helps."
--Rochelle Rush, Student Support Services

Dr. Carter Woodson in his library--photo courtesy National Parks Service
------
In 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson launched Negro History Week as an initiative to bring national attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history.

Woodson chose the second week of February for Negro History Week because it marks the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced the black American population, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

More on Dr. Woodson....
"Of a poor family, Woodson supported himself by working in the coal mines of Kentucky and was thus unable to enroll in high school until he was 20. After graduating in less than two years, he taught high school, wrote articles, studied at home and abroad, and received his Ph.D. from Harvard University (1912). In 1915, he founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History to encourage scholars to engage in the intensive study of the black past. Prior to this work, the field had been largely neglected or distorted in the hands of historians who accepted the traditionally biased picture of blacks in American and world affairs. In 1916, Woodson edited the first issue of the association's principal scholarly publication, The Journal of Negro History, which, under his direction, remained an important historical periodical for more than 30 years.

"Woodson was dean of the College of Liberal Arts and head of the graduate faculty at Howard University, Washington, D.C. (1919-20), and dean at West Virginia State College, Institute (1920-22). While there, he founded and became president of Associated Publishers to bring out books on black life and culture."

--------
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica Online

Presidents as Poets: Poetry Written by United States Presidents

2008-01-31T14:24:00.000-05:00

From the site:

Presidents as Poets: Poetry Written by United States Presidents

Created by Peter Armenti, Digital Reference Specialist

Whether it be the anguished love poems of a youthful George Washington, the religious poetry of John Quincy Adams, the melancholy verse of Abraham Lincoln, or the sturdy, plainspoken poems of Jimmy Carter, many presidents of the United States have turned to poetry at certain points in their lives as an outlet for their feelings and thoughts, or to explore the resources of the English language. Presidents as Poets: Poetry Written by United States Presidents is a guide to the poetic endeavors of U.S. presidents. Select a president from the list at the right to learn about the context in which his poetry was written and to find samples of his poetry.

Reader Roundup

2008-01-31T14:01:00.000-05:00

Here are today's links of interest from the Blogosphere:

BlogDimension is "a multi-platform search engine, targeting the vast and growing universe of bloggers. Our objective is to become one of the leading reference search tools, facilitating the retrieval of Web 2.0-(like) contents. We increase the choice and search capacity for those who currently use only gigantic “monoproducts” but are becoming ready or are now ready to vary their sources."

Zuula is "the best way to find what you are looking for on the Internet. With Zuula, it is quick and convenient to get results from all the top search engines. Search engines often return very different results for the same terms. So checking multiple search engines will give you the best results, and Zuula makes it easy. Currently, Zuula offers Web, Image, Video, News, Blog, and Job searches."

ControlC is a web application that helps you find information that you have just copied but that has been cleared from your clipboard. "Have you ever copied a link to a webpage and couldn't for the life of you remember the link later on? ControlC fixes that. Anytime you copy textual content, ControlC will upload that text to our server to store under your account. When the text is uploaded, it is encrypted using your password as the key (which we will never have access to). When you need to retrieve the text, or would like to share it with other users, you can login to your account and make the items public, or simply review them for your own needs."

SciVee

2008-01-31T11:51:00.000-05:00

SciVee offers pubcasts, videos, channels, tags, blogs and discussion groups for people interested in disseminating information about science.

From the website:

SciVee is about the free and widespread dissemination and comprehension of science.

Created for scientists, by scientists, SciVee moves science beyond the printed word and lecture theater taking advantage of the internet as a communication medium where scientists young and old have a place and a voice.

SciVee is operated in partnership with the Public Library of Science (PLoS), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC)... . SciVee allows scientists to communicate their work as a multimedia presentation incorporated with the content of their published article. Other scientists can freely view uploaded presentations and engage in virtual discussions with the author and other viewers. SciVee also facilitates the creation of communities around specific articles and keywords. Use this medium to meet peers and future collaborators that share your particular research interests.

WorldCat + FaceBook, Firefox, and Google!

2008-01-24T15:01:00.000-05:00

WorldCat search plug-ins

Books, videos, downloadable audiobooks...if it's in a library near you, these plug-ins let you find it in WorldCat no matter where you are on the Web

Facebook application

For users of the Facebook social networking Web site

This Facebook Application gives you access to WorldCat searches and user-created lists from personalized pages within your Facebook account. The application includes a Home screen with WorldCat search box, as well as quick links to WorldCat searches based on topics listed in your Facebook profile as personal interests. The application also includes:

a built-in advanced WorldCat search
a panel that allows you to invite other Facebook friends to install WorldCat
a "Something to Read" panel that displays books recently added to WorldCat lists
a "Favorite WorldCat Lists" panel where you can track your own lists or those of other WorldCat users

Go to Facebook's WorldCat application page

Installation notes

You will need to log in to your Facebook account, or create an account, before installing the WorldCat application. Once you have logged in and reached the installation page, lick the Add Application button, modify the default Facebook application settings if desired, and click the Add WorldCat button.

How to use

If you did not modify the default Facebook application settings during installation, a WorldCat search box will be available from your Profile page, and a link to the full WorldCat application will appear on the left-hand list of Applications displayed below the Facebook search box. Click it to load the application's home page.

Firefox browser search extension

For Firefox browser (all versions and operating systems)

If Firefox is your browser of choice, install this extension to add WorldCat library results to the Search Bar. WorldCat will appear as an option in the Search Bar menu.

Install Firefox search extension

Installation notes

You must have a Mozilla-based browser installed before adding a search extension.

How to use

Enter a term in the Search Bar and select the WorldCat option from the dropdown menu.

Google Toolbar

For Internet Explorer 6+ (Windows Vista/2000/XP) or Firefox (Windows XP/2000 SP3+); Mac OS X 10.2+

Ideal for those who consult bookselling sites first for information, Google Toolbar links you directly to WorldCat results when it detects ISBNs (standard book identifying numbers) on the Web pages you visit. Its context-sensitive AutoLink feature converts an ISBN to a hyperlink leading to WorldCat library information for the item.

Go to Google download page

Installation notes

WorldCat searching must be configured in Google Toolbar's Options before use. After installing the Toolbar, click the Settings button and select Options in the button menu.(You can also click "Change Default Provider" on the Autolink button menu). The Toolbar Options window opens.

With the Features panel selected, make sure the AutoLink checkbox is checked, and click the AutoLink Settings button. In the new window, click the ISBN Information Provider menu and select "WorldCat." Click OK to exit this window, and click OK again to exit the Toolbar Options window.

How to use

When an ISBN is detected, the Toolbar's AutoLink button converts to a Show Book Info button. Click Show Book Info to change all detected ISBNs to hyperlinks. Place your mouse pointer over links to see AutoLink notations. Click links to get WorldCat results

It's Soup Season!

2008-01-18T13:51:00.000-05:00

Find some new, delicious soup recipes: Simply Soups

Underpinnings

2008-01-17T19:44:00.000-05:00

The Shape of Fashion and its Underpinnings - an online photo exhibit about the curiosities of women's undergarments from 1870-1960 brought to you by the Museum of the Rockies. From the site:

Underpinnings are the foundation upon which the shape of fashion is built, and similarly reflect the swing of the fashion pendulum. Perhaps more fascinating than the costume itself, these foundations for The Shape of Fashion reflect more earnestly the essence of the feminine realm. From a tight corset and layer upon layer of undergarments to a simple brassiere, the transition in women's foundations tells the story of their journey toward liberation.

Related title at RCC Library: The History of Underclothes (call number 391.42 Cun)

I See Dead People['s Books]

2008-01-16T20:46:00.000-05:00

It's another LibraryThing.

From the site:

Description: A group for those interested and involved in entering the library catalogs of famous readers.

Our first undertaking was the library of Thomas Jefferson, which you can read more about at his profile page.

Other libaries-in-progress:
Ernest Hemingway. See this thead.
John Adams
William Faulkner
William Congreve. See this thead.
Adam Smith. See this thread.
Leonardo da Vinci
Benjamin Franklin

Other completed libraries:
Tupac Shakur
Wolfgang Mozart

How-to-Study.com

2008-01-16T20:40:00.000-05:00

How-to-Study.com - from the authors of several for-market learning programs, How-to-Study.com offers a free resources page, filled with tips such as test preparation tips, test-taking strategies, setting goals, procrastination, time management, writing techniques, and more.

Library of Congress Meets Flickr!

2008-01-16T20:37:00.000-05:00

1900s 1911 1912 1940 1941 1942 1943 4thofjuly africanamerican africanamericans aircraft airplane architecture army aviation barn baseball baseballplayer blackandwhite blue boy building california car cars chicago child children church clouds color construction cooporangepackingplant corn crowd disaster douglas douglasaircraftcompany element engine factory fair family farm farmer farming field fire flag flags flood fort fruit georgegranthambaincollection georgia girl girls glassnegative harvest hat hats homesteading horse horses hoskinsmound illinois industry jackdelano johnvachon june libraryofcongress loc louisiana maine man meachamfield men metal military mill mine mining montana mountains naturaldisaster nebraska newmexico newyork newyorkcity night ny nyc orange overalls palmer parachute parade people philadelphia pietownnewmexico pitcher plane portrait rail railroad red redlands riveter road rosietheriveter rutland rutlandvermont school ship silver sky smoke snood snow soldier southcarolina statefair store street student sulphur tank tennessee texas train trees truck uniform usa utah vermont war water white winter woman women work worker workers working worldwarii ww2 wwii yellow

Just for Fun

2008-01-16T20:33:00.000-05:00

The Popularity Dialer - Have you ever been in a situation where you wished your cell phone would ring?

Sorrygottago.com - When you absolutely, positively have to get off the phone

Randolph Community College: Inclement Weather

2008-01-16T12:17:00.000-05:00

From the College Website:

Unscheduled Closings/Delays

In the event of unscheduled closings or delays, the College will adhere to the following policies.

Day & Evening Classes

Classes will be canceled by the president in collaboration with the vice presidents.

Students are asked to check the following avenues to find out about closing or changes in schedules:

1. Call:
336-633-0200 (RCC’s Main Campus),
336-862-7980 (Archdale), or
336-633-4165 (ESTC)
for voice mail message.

2. Visit the RCC web site for message (www.randolph.edu).

3. View one of the following TV stations:

WFMY-TV (CBS), Greensboro, N.C., or visit web site (www.wfmynews2.com).

WXII-TV (NBC), Winston-Salem, N.C., or visit web site (www.wxii12.com).

WGHP-TV (FOX 8), High Point, N.C., or visit web site (www.fox8wghp.com).

Announcements will be made by 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. for the day and evening classes respectively.

If possible, the information will be available for day closings at 5:30 a.m. on voice mail at (336) 633-0200 and the RCC web site (www.randolph.edu).

Announcements may be made in one of the following ways:

1. Randolph Community College is closed.

2. Randolph Community College is closed for day and/or evening classes.

3. Randolph Community College: will open at OR is operating on a hour delay.

Note: This option allows for a delayed opening. In the case of a delayed opening, normal class schedules are not altered.

Students should report to the class that would normally be in session at the time of opening. (Example: If you have an 8 – 11 a.m. class and the College opens at 10 a.m., your class will meet from 10 – 11 a.m.)

Individuals, especially those commuting from other counties or remote locations, should exercise personal judgment concerning road conditions regardless of College announcement.

Extracurricular Activities/Events

All extracurricular activities or other scheduled events normally will be canceled when it is necessary to cancel classes due to unscheduled College closings. The person who is in charge of the activity/event will be responsible for rescheduling the activity/event, if necessary.

Missed or Canceled Classes

Scheduled classes which are missed or not held for any reason, including inclement weather, will be rescheduled or the instruction will be made up by some other alternative. Alternatives may include extra class sessions, extended class sessions, individual conferences, or other options approved by the appropriate dean.

Winter Driving Tips

2008-01-16T12:00:00.000-05:00

Is everyone ready for the "Blizzard of '08?"

Here are some safe driving tips from Weather.com:

Driving in Snow and Ice

The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it. Don't go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination. If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared (get tips for winterizing your car here), and that you know how to handle road conditions. It's helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you're familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to your vehicle.

Driving safely on icy roads

Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
Keep your lights and windshield clean.
Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

If your rear wheels skid...

Take your foot off the accelerator.
Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.
If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse -- this is normal.

If your front wheels skid...

Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.
As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

If you get stuck...

Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first -- it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.

Learning Languages

2008-01-15T14:16:00.000-05:00

In the past, we have written to you about Mango, but today we ran across a few more sites you might like to try if you are in the process of learning or want to learn another language.

Livemocha - from the site:

Community. Livemocha is the first-of-its-kind online language-learning community. Lessons. Fun and interactive lessons that move at the right pace for you. Motivation. Track your progress and reach your goals with Livemocha tools.

xLingo - from the site:
Connect : Find Language Exchange partners from around the world to practice and improve your language skills. Discover: Make new friends and discover new worlds. Share: Create blog/flashcards, share ideas in chatroom/forum.

Babbel - from the site:
Here you can learn words and phrases in foreign languages and connect with people from all over the world. Practice on your own with our intuitive online lessons or find a study partner in the international Babbel community.

Video: Online Photo Sharing in Plain English

2008-01-10T19:32:00.000-05:00

From the good folks at Common Craft

Meet the Candidates on YouTube

2008-01-10T19:20:00.001-05:00

Read introductions and see videos of 16 republican and democratic presidential candidates at YouTube's You Decide'08.

Also view videos of where the candidates stand on such issues as Education, Energy, Healthcare, Immigration, Iraq, and The Economy.

Dying Speeches and Bloody Murders: Crime Broadsides Collected by The Harvard Law School Library

2008-01-10T19:10:00.000-05:00

See what happens when you steal 40 pounds of butter in 1778 Britain!

Or, see what fate embezzling at the local Post Office brings!

From the website:

Just as programs are sold at sporting events today, broadsides -- styled at the time as "Last Dying Speeches" or "Bloody Murders" -- were sold to the audiences that gathered to witness public executions in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Britain. These ephemeral publications were intended for the middle or lower classes, and most sold for a penny or less. Published in British towns and cities by printers who specialized in this type of street literature, a typical example features an illustration (usually of the criminal, the crime scene, or the execution); an account of the crime and (sometimes) the trial; and the purported confession of the criminal, often cautioning the reader in doggerel verse to avoid the fate awaiting the perpetrator.

The Library's collection of more than 500 broadsides is one of the largest recorded and the first to be digitized in its entirety. The examples digitized here span the years 1707 to 1891 and include accounts of executions for such crimes as arson, assault, counterfeiting, horse stealing, murder, rape, robbery, and treason. Many of the broadsides vividly describe the results of sentences handed down at London's central criminal court, the Old Bailey, the proceedings of which are now available online at http://www.oldbaileyonline.org.

Conservation and digitization of the broadsides was made possible by a generous grant from the Peck Stacpoole Foundation, a charitable endowment for the support of genealogical, local history, and other museum and library collections.

2008: IYP

2008-01-10T16:17:00.001-05:00

Catalog Choice: Clean Out your Mailbox

2008-01-10T13:38:00.000-05:00

From the website:

Catalog Choice is a free service that lets you decline paper catalogs you no longer wish to receive. Reduce the amount of unsolicited mail in your mailbox, while helping to preserve the environment.

The Catalog Choice community is presently 363,315 persons strong, having already opted out of 4,634,405 catalogs.

SortFix: Start Dragging Stop Typing

2008-01-07T19:13:00.000-05:00

A neat idea... SortFix is a front-end for Google, Yahoo, and dmoz searching; you can click tabs to try your search in any of these three search engines.

Then, SortFix will give you suggestions to refine your search. If you aren't sure about the meaning of one of the search terms, you can drag it into the dictionary box and get a definition. Drag terms from box to box to add, remove, and define words.

You can watch a demo video from their front page. Kind of cool!

NC LIVE launchs its new Media Collection

2008-01-03T14:14:00.000-05:00

It's here! NC LIVE launched its new Media Collection on January 1st.

The collection provides a new way for North Carolinians to access an incredible collection of PBS videos. You can access the videos now by going to our library's website (http://library.randolph.edu) and choosing NC LIVE from the "Library Quicklinks" drop-down menu.

The collection currently holds 223 files including Ken Burns’ “The Civil War”, “Baseball”, and “Jazz”, as well as selected episodes from “American Experience” and “Frontline”. An additional set of over 150 files will be added in late January. This set will include more “American Experience” and “Frontline” videos, as well as the children’s series “Cyberchase” and “Liberty’s Kids”.

All users will need Flash Media Player 9.0 or higher and a high-speed Internet connection in order to watch the videos on the computers in the library, elsewhere on campus, or at home. When accessing NC LIVE at home, you will also need a password that is available to all RCC students, faculty & staff through our library.

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-25T23:11:00.001-05:00

Happy Holidays and Seasons Greetings!
See you again in 2008!!
--RCC Library

FreeRice

2007-12-17T21:38:00.001-05:00

Got time to kill? Check out FreeRice. Not only will it sharpen your vocabulary skills, for each word you correctly define, 20 grains of rice will be donated to feed the hungry.

Weblinks: Wednesday Evening Edition

2007-12-12T17:38:00.000-05:00

E-anatomy.org : Free interactive medical atlas of human anatomy

"w00t" crowned word of year by Merriam-Webster's

Zoho Show premieres

How to help stay secure while using a public computer

Throwplace.com: "Take what you need and throw what you don't"

Welcome to E-LIS: The open archive for Library and Information Science

Happy Holidays from OCLC

New Photos On Flickr!

2007-12-10T18:53:00.000-05:00

In case you can't make it in to the library to see the beautiful piñatas made by Spanish 212 students, you can go to our Flickr site to see pictures of them. Very cool!

SharpBrains for the Holiday Season

2007-12-06T12:28:00.000-05:00

Don't let your brain take a nap after the holiday meal! Check out the info at SharpBrains. Topics covered include mental exercises, news, brain fitness and health, stress management, brain teasers, and more!

From the website:
Welcome to SharpBrains! Our mission is to provide individuals, companies and institutions with the best science-based information and guidance for Brain Health and Fitness.

Library Open Saturday, December 8th

2007-12-05T00:17:00.000-05:00

Just a head's up to let everyone know that the Library will be open this Saturday, December 8 from 11:00 a.m. until 3 p.m. Stop by and get in some extra studying before Christmas!

10 Places to Find Free Images Online...

2007-12-05T00:14:00.002-05:00

10 Places to Find Free Images Online and Make Your Content More Linkable via Phil Bradley's weblog.