October 13, 2009
Spezify
Spezify is a search tool presenting results from a large number of websites in different visual ways.
Spezify takes your web search a step further, away from endless lists of blue text links and towards a more intuitive experience.
This can give a more diverse overview of a subject.
Spezify mixes all media types and does not distinguish
between blogs, videos, microblogs and images.
Everything communicates and helps in building the bigger picture.
Spezify works like Google, but instead of returning lists of webpage names and descriptions when you enter a search term, it supplies you with visual results.
Check it out here:
http://www.spezify.com/
Vincent Van Gogh: The Letters
Vincent Van Gogh: The Letters is a digital edition of all extant letters from and to Vincent van Gogh. For each of the 902 letters the site gives a transcription of the original Dutch or French, a translation into English, a full (zoomable) facsimile, comprehensive annotation, and illustrations (about 2000 in all) of the works of art discussed in the letters and annotations. The site includes a searchable list of all of the correspondents, as well as a concordance and a bibliography. You can search the site by time period, correspondent, place or with sketches. A keyword search of the entire site, as well as of each letter, is also available.
Check out the site at this address:
http://www.vangoghletters.org/vg/<a
October 9, 2009
Flickr at Library of Congress
The Library of Congress has added another year’s worth of historic illustrated newspaper pages to the LC Flickr photostream. The New-York Tribune Illustrated Supplement section of 1905, printed on Sundays, includes published images of signature events of 1905, including: Russian peasants in revolt, dog shows, balloon animals, sculpted shrubbery, and more….In Flickr, you can tag it, add a note, share it….and even read more about it! Check it out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/
October 6, 2009
Upcoming Endnote Workshop
ENDNOTE WORKSHOP
WHAT is Endnote?
Endnote is a software program designed to help organize information sources, such as journal articles, book chapters, websites, images, etc., that the academic researcher collects for use in research or publications. These references are organized into “Libraries” and can be formatted into whatever style format is required or desired.
References can be downloaded from many of the databases Centre subscribes to directly to the “Library” the researcher has created.
WHEN: Friday, October 16, 2009, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
WHERE: Crounse training lab on the lower level of the Library
Please register by emailing one of the Reference Librarians: Lesley Jackson: Lesley.jackson@centre.edu; Carrie Frey: carrie.frey@centre.edu; Mary Beth Garriott: marybeth.garriott@centre.edu
IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR THIS WORKSHOP ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST, AND YOU INDICATED YOU WANTED TO ATTEND THIS RESCHEDULED WORKSHOP, YOU WILL RECEIVE AN INDIVIDUAL EMAIL ASKING IF YOU STILL PLAN TO ATTEND.
Questions? Feel free to contact Lesley, Carrie or Mary Beth
October 2, 2009
Kentucky History Resource
The Kentucky Virtual Library has put together a great resource for Kentucky History. The Kyleidoscope site provides access to a number of primary sources on Kentucky history. Check out the site by clicking on this link:
http://kdl.kyvl.org/civilwarky/1860-1865.htm
Included on the Kyleidoscope site is a Primary Sources link which leads to the Library of Congress page and a great explanation of Primary Sources.
The Bibliography link is also very useful as it lists print materials as well as linking to a great number of online sources.
October 1, 2009
Banned Books
Banned Books Week is September 26-October 3, 2009. According to the American Library Association, books are banned for many noble reasons. Protection, primarily of children, from difficult ideas or information is the most common reason that books are censored.
Have you read To Kill a Mockingbird? Catcher in the Rye? The Grapes of Wrath?Any of the Harry Potter books? If so, you are guilty of reading books on the Banned and Challenged Books list.
Check out this list from the ALA site of Classic Titles that have found their way on to the Banned Books List:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics/index.cfm
In honor of Banned Books week, why not choose one of the classic titles you have not read and subscribe to the following proclamation, in honor of intellectual freedom —the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular
Banned Books Week Proclamation
WHEREAS, the freedom to read is essential to our democracy, and reading is among our greatest freedoms; and
WHEREAS, privacy is essential to the exercise of that freedom, and the right to privacy is the right to open inquiry without having the subject of one’s interest examined or scrutinized by others; and
WHEREAS, the freedom to read is protected by our Constitution; and
WHEREAS some individuals, groups, and public authorities work to remove or limit access to reading materials, to censor content in schools, to label “controversial” views, to distribute lists of “objectionable” books or authors, and to purge libraries of materials reflecting the diversity of society; and
WHEREAS, both governmental intimidation and the fear of censorship cause authors who seek to avoid controversy to practice self-censorship, thus limiting our access to new ideas; and
WHEREAS, every silencing of a heresy, every enforcement of an orthodoxy, diminishes the toughness and resilience of American society and leaves it less able to deal with controversy and difference; and
WHEREAS, Americans still favor free enterprise in ideas and expression, and can be trusted to exercise critical judgment, to recognize propaganda and misinformation, and to make their own decisions about what they read and believe, and to exercise the responsibilities that accompany this freedom; and
WHEREAS, intellectual freedom is essential to the preservation of a free society and a creative culture; and
WHEREAS, conformity limits the range and variety of inquiry and expression on which our democracy and our culture depend; and
WHEREAS, the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September each year as a reminder to Americans not to take their precious freedom for granted; and
WHEREAS, Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Grace DohertyLibrary celebrates the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week, (Insert Dates Here), and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Grace Doherty Library encourages all libraries and bookstores to acquire and make available materials representative of all the people in our society; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Grace Doherty Library encourages free people to read freely, now and forever.
Adopted by the Grace Doherty Library
Danville, KY
Thanks to the Jovial Cynic at New Protest.org for the Banner!
http://newprotest.org/details.pl?495
September 27, 2009
Flu
Having recently suffered at the hands of the flu, I thought it would be pertinent and timely to do a post on H1N1 and where to find information on the illness.
Lesley Jackson, one of our Research Librarians, has put together a Libguide with lots of Flu related information. Here is a link to the guide: http://researchhelp.centre.edu/Flu
Another great link for information is the Flu.gov site: http://www.flu.gov/
Be sure to check out the rap video put together by Dr. Clarke.
The CDC, Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, also has a site devoted entirely to the H1N1 Flu. http://www.cdc.gov/Flu/news.htm
Finally, Centre College has a site with information on the flu, how it is affecting the campus community, as well as information on a plan of action if the flu were to reach epidemic proportions at Centre. http://www.centre.edu/emergency/index.html
Get informed and take care of yourself.
September 17, 2009
Centre College Football Record
The Centre College Football Record has been added to the Digital Archives. This is a season by season list, from 1880 to the present. Opponents, scores and dates are all included, as well as the location of each of the games. The famous Harvard-0, Centre-6 game is also chronicled here. Take a look at this historical site. The URL is:
http://www.centre.edu/web/library/sc/digital/football_1890.html
Myna-a new Audio Editor from Aviary
Creative Commons posted a link and some information about a new online Audio Editor. Just released today, Myna has “a powerful online audio editor complete with a professional sample/loop library, numerous effects, automatons, advanced clip editing (time-stretching, reverse, etc.) and import/export capabilities”. Myna can be used to remix music tracks and audio clips, as well as for applying sound effects. You can also use Myna to record your own voice or instruments. All of this and a Creative Commons sharing license too! For more information and to use this tool, go to this site:
http://aviary.com/blog/posts/aviary-release-myna-audio-editor-music-remixer
September 15, 2009
A Very Potter (and Very Entertaining) Musical
This past weekend, my roommate and I couldn’t decide what to do. Partying really isn’t our thing, and we’re not too big on spending money, either. So like many college kids who have too much time to waste (or homework to procrastinate on), we resorted to YouTube, sure that we would find some entertainment. And we found it. A Very Potter Musical(renamed from the Harry Potter Musical after some copyright issues) held our attention and kept us laughing for a long while. Produced last year by the University of Michigan, this full-length musical was recorded and put on YouTube and is quickly gaining attention. It’s characters are captivating and hilarious. Voldemort is simply a lonely man who wants friendship: “I thought killing people would make them like me. But it just makes them dead.” And Malfoy is a semi-friendly boy who’s only purpose is to transfer to Pigfarts, a wizard school on Mars. With its many quotable lines and memorable characters, A Very Potter Musical is a winning choice for a weekend movie.