2011

OCLC student focus group – free pizza and $25!

Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) is working with libraries in an important study of online library information services and WorldCat. They are inviting students to participate in a focus group to enable them to better understand how you search, find and use information for both your personal and study needs. Students should share their opinions and insights about how they get and use information on OCLC’s WorldCat database. OCLC will select students for the focus group interviews who have used WorldCat or are willing to try to use WorldCat. The focus group session will take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours and will be held in Snell Library Room 421 at 2:30-4:30pm on Wednesday 26th October 2011. **As well as providing pizza, we will also give $25 cash to all students that attend.** If you are interested in participating, please respond to Simon Wakeling at s.wakeling@sheffield.ac.uk. Numbers are limited so he will accept replies on a first come first served basis. All responses will be kept strictly confidential. The principal investigators of the project are Dr. Lynn Silipigni Connaway (Senior Research Scientist OCLC) and Simon Wakeling (Doctoral Student, Information School, University of Sheffield).

SGA and Public Safety Division return to Snell Library

On Thursday, October 20th, from 12 to 2pm,  Northeastern’s Student Government Association and the Public Safety Division will be back to Snell Library and the Curry Student Center to talk to students, faculty, and staff about campus safety. They will be reminding people to not leave their belongings unattended and to keep their valuables secure at all times. The goal of these meet and greets is to encourage students to be aware of their surroundings and property in order to reduce theft on campus. If you have any questions, please contact Detective Jonathan Boyd of the Northeastern University Police department at 617-373-8356.

Northeastern practices campus safety

Today and tomorrow, from 12:30-2:30pm, representatives from the NUPD and SGA will be in the Library and Curry Student Center to communicate to students the importance of campus safety. Please always be aware of your belongings and surroundings to help prevent accidents and theft on and around campus. If you have any questions about the safety campaign you can contact Detective Jonathan Boyd at 617-373-8356. And don’t forget, the Library has laptop locks that are available at the Circulation Desk for your use!

Test-Drive the Chicago Manual of Style Online!

Many of us are familiar with the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) and use it as a reference while writing. Now Snell Library is providing online access to the CMOS’s 15th and 16th editions in one easy location. New online-only features include:
  • Being able to search the CMOS and specify either the 15th or 16th edition
  • A Q&A section that answers those tricky questions as submitted by users — including a place to submit your own questions
The 16th edition, published in 2010, is updated for the digital age. All of us have run across one of those pesky hard-to-answer citation questions. “How do I reference a Twitter post? What about a blog entry? Or a podcast?” For those of you who are editors or writers, there is now an electronic editing checklist to help you in your online editing ventures. Don’t forget to check out Northeastern University Libraries’ access to the AMA Manual of Style, and here is a general guide to MLA, APA, Chicago, and CSE styles.

NU Professor on NPR for Columbus Day

Northeastern University Professor of History William Fowler was featured on NPR yesterday to answer questions about Christopher Columbus’ momentous journey to the ‘New World’ and to bust common myths that people associate with it. The interview covered everything from Columbus’ faulty expectations for the trip to the real names of the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. The full conversation can be read or listened to here. To bust more myths about Christopher Columbus for yourself, try searching Northeastern’s Library Catalog (NUCAT) for books on Christopher Columbus.