I think I’ve written this before.  Oh, yes — I have — a number of years now.  This time I’ll make it simple.

Call, email, or visit — don’t hesitate, I’m here to help.  The best thing about coming to a librarian for help is that no one — certainly not an instructor — ever has to know how much help you’ve received.  To paraphrase a popular ad campaign: What happens in the library stays in the library.  And a lot can happen here to help you “look good” and — even more importantly — learn.

My office is in room 321 Lockwood Library, call me at 645-7745, or send  email to  lclcharl@buffalo.edu.  Any question concerning research in the library or on the Web is welcome — and often I send answers, not simply directions on how to do it yourself.  Although I always include the latter.

There’s more to a Kindle than reading books. It’s a very powerful and very flexible machine. Learn Kindle text searching and marking, using a dictionary as you read, text acquisition (finding a variety of free things to read), loading files, loaning books, searching books, and file management techniques. We’ll learn about Kindle for PC, too. Do you use your Kindle for more than reading books? Learn about podcasts and music files and Web searching. Learn how to mail files to your Kindle. If you have a Kindle, don’t be shy, please bring it along. If you have a Kindle app on another device, bring that device along as well. You’ll enjoy your Kindle even more after this session.

Please register for this session at: http://www.etc.buffalo.edu/workshops/workshop.asp?EventID=1396

Presenter: Charles D’Aniello (Kindle Owner)

Date and Time: Tuesday, 1 March, 12:00-1:00

Location: 212 Capen Hall, North Campus (Teaching & Learning Center)

I am offering two introductory EndNote classes. These sessions will launch you quickly for use and further self-instruction.  Look at them as a jump-start-quick-start!  Both will be given in room 109 Lockwood Library: Wednesday 23 February 12:00-1:30 and Friday 25 February 12-1:30.  Register at: http://www.etc.buffalo.edu/workshops/workshop.asp?EventID=1361 or http://www.etc.buffalo.edu/workshops/workshop.asp?EventID=1279 respectively.

EndNote is database software that enables you to create an extremely data-rich and flexible database you can use to “save” and organize your research.  People are most familiar with EndNote as a tool for inserting bibliographic citations into their writing.  But EndNote can do much, much more.  An entry for any item in an EndNote database (library) may be added to or modified at any time.  A record for a particular article, for instance, may contain extensive subject indexing (which you can create or modify to suit your needs), a link to the article itself (saved as a file on your drive), or illustrations.  For instance, you could use EndNote to save vacation photos.  A record can also contain many pages of text saved in an annotation field.  As your knowledge grows and your research matures, your EndNote records — and the library the records comprise — can grow and be modified repeatedly.  You might find EndNote an excellent way to save notes for an exam associated with a graduate degree.  You might never use the citation capability of EndNote and still find it useful.  Databases like EndNote can – in a very practical and understandable way – make you “smarter.”  They can enhance the memory dependent portion of your performance. 

For many years, I have taught people how to use EndNote.  And over the years the product has evolved significantly.  It is easier to use now than ever before and the databases from which citations are often uploaded into an EndNote library now generally make this a truly seamless process.  

You can teach Endnote to yourself.  That is how I learned to use it.  But you might also benefit from attending a class.  The class will give you a framework into which to organize your reading and what you’ve learned or will learn from practicing with the software.  That said, there are some excellent self-instructional materials on the Web.  Some are produced by the publisher; others, by librarians and the staff of research institutes.  For a quick EndNote overview, that takes less than 10 minutes, watch the publisher produced “What’s New in EndNote x4”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mneif-awYsM.  It is complemented by the University of Queensland’s: http://www.library.uq.edu.au/endnote/how_use.html. You’ll find the UB Libraries’ EndNote site at: http://library.buffalo.edu/libraries/endnote/index.html. Be sure to give special attention to the Frequently Asked Questions at: http://library.buffalo.edu/libraries/endnote/faqs.html.  Excellent step-by-step illustrated tutorials are available at: http://www.library.uq.edu.au/endnote/intro_to_endnoteX4.pdf.  Years ago, I learned how to use EndNote by studying an earlier version of these.  They are a good place to begin.  You’ll find the publisher’s tutorials at: http://www.endnote.com/training/WMVs/ENX4/enx4tutorial_download.asp.  Finally, you will find a “getting started” guide, produced by the publisher, at: http://www.endnote.com/support/helpdocs/ENX4_GettingStartedGuide_WinMac.pdf

Interested in learning abour the softer side of EndNote (what’s that?), reserve your spot for this 13 April session: http://www.etc.buffalo.edu/workshops/workshop.asp?EventID=1394

[The following post was written by University at Buffalo librarian Mary Soom.]

Newspapers are valuable resources for your research, whether you are looking for the very latest information or for historical facts.

While there are many current news sources freely available online, did you know that the University at Buffalo Libraries subscribe to large databases of newspapers and other news sources? These databases allow you to search broadly across thousands of papers and media transcripts to gather information for your research paper. Alternately, you can limit your search to a particular country, state, or title. See descriptions of these sources at Newspapers Online.

Perhaps you are interested in the historical perspective. The libraries have you covered here as well. At Historical News Online you can locate subscription and freely-available databases of historical papers.

In addition to online news, the libraries receive many titles in print and we maintain a microform collection of titles, including hundreds in the Early American Newspapers collection. You can find out all about it at Newspaper Research in the UB Libraries.

If you can’t find what you need, ask a librarian; we will help you locate it.

Not United States history to be sure, but we are nothing less than part of humanity’s journey.  In a larger sense, we are all from the same place, what differentiates us is minor.  Our common humanity is obvious in this work.  A History of the World in 100 Objects.  We hold it, record: http://catalog.lib.buffalo.edu/vufind/Record/003250764

Not only is it available to read, even better, you can listen to a 15 or so minute podcast on each object as well.  The podcasts are beautifully produced and fascinating.  Even without the image before you, there’s a lot to learn and I have them saved on my mp3 player and on my eBook reader.  To download or play, visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/ahow/all. To see each object (via a short video), coupled with the corresponding podcast, visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/ykHw5-oqQEGFnvat1gavxA. There are many obvious term paper ideas here.  The Web site home page is found at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/

From the Web site: “At the heart of the project is the BBC Radio 4 series A History of the World in 100 objects. 100 programmes, written and narrated by Neil MacGregor http://www.britishmuseum.org/the_museum/management_and_governance/directors/neil_macgregor.aspx , Director of the British Museum http://www.britishmuseum.org/ and focusing on 100 objects from the British Museum’s collection.”

. . . don’t let it begin without trying to use the library and the full range of free and commercial information resources to their fullest advantage.  It’s easy to get by; but are you a “power” information and library user?   – Or are you “good enough,”  thank you very much.  Don’t hestitate to contact me — I’m here to help.  I answer email, phone calls, and am available for appointments.

Follow me on Twitter for cues to topics of interest to historians and history students– and for cues to information that may help you be a better student.  This is a tiny investment of time, which may have a BIG pay off.  You’ll find me at: http://www.twitter.com/historysearcher

Google Translate Speaks!  Type in text — not too much though — and, in many languages, it will speak.  It always types, even in characters and different alphabets.  Try it at: http://translate.google.com/?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wT#en|pl|

What can you achieve with this orality?  It’s not up to conversation yet but it can be used to order dinner.  Although not perfectly.  If you haven’t clicked on the image, click on the link that follows – you must be getting hungry! http://www.brandchannel.com/home/post/2010/11/04/Google-Demo-Slam-2.aspx

eBook Readers: Kindle, Sony and More

Wednesday 3 November 2010

1:00-2:00 p.m.

Room 212 Capen Hall, North Campus

Please register at: http://ubtlc.buffalo.edu/workshops/workshop.asp?EventID=1225 

Learn about several dedicated ereader devices (including Sony and Kindle) and where to find material to read on them as well as about a host of software applications that will turn your computer into an ereader (Kindle for PC, Sony Reader Library Software, Blio eReader, Adobe Digital Editions, Adobe Reader 9.0, GooReader, and Google Books).  Of course, the age of a text has nothing to do with its readability.  Some of the latter make it possible to read and take notes on PDFs from a diversity of primary sources such as Early American Imprints, Early English Books, and Eighteenth Century Collections as well as material from such favorites as JSTOR and Academic Search Complete (and other EBSC0 databases).  All of these are held by the Libraries. These devices and programs have the same, similar, as well as/or different capabilities.  Some are preferable for some tasks; some, for others.  Presenters are the University Libraries’ Michael Lavin, Mark Ludwig, and Charles D’Aniello.

Greg Mortenson 

Co-Author of the Best-Selling, 2010 UB Reads Selection – Three Cups of Tea
Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 8 p.m.
Alumni Arena, UB’s North (Amherst) Campus 

Greg Mortenson is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller, Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace… One School at a Time. This book describes the journey that led Mortenson to establish schools in some of the most remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mortenson has worked to promote peace with books, not bombs, and successfully bring education and hope to communities. Three Cups of Tea has been published in 41 countries, and was selected as Time Magazine’s Asia Book of The Year. 

Mortenson is the co-founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit Central Asia Institute and founder of Pennies For Peace. He has established over 131 schools in rural and often volatile regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan, which provide education to over 58,000 children, including 48,000 girls. His work has not been without difficulty including an eight-day kidnapping by the Taliban. 

Three Cups of Tea has been read by several U.S. military commanders who advocate empowering elders and building relationships as a part of an overall strategic plan. Mortenson’s newest book, Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan, debuted as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. Mortenson has received several honorary degrees and numerous honors including Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year and Pakistan’s highest civil award, the “Star of Pakistan”. Several bi-partisan U.S. Congressional representatives have nominated Mortenson twice for the Nobel Peace Prize. 

•  Three Cups of Tea.  I’ve hyperlinked the title to the Amazon entry which is accompanied by well over 2,000 reader comments. 

• For background information on contemporary Afghanistan and Pakistan and all realted topics, use Gale Virtual Reference Library.  This resource gathers together and indexes many important topical encyclopedias.

• If you only had one periodical (magazines and journals) index to use, arguably the best one for this topic — and all that it encompasses — is Academic Search Complete.  It offers great coverage of current events and issues from both news and disciplinary perspectives.

• But if you wish to delve into this topic more deeply, it’s difficult to surpass Columbia International Affairs Online (CIAO).  Here you will find the full text of reports by a host of think tanks and NGOs (nongovernmental) organizations as well as books and journal articles.  This is an incredibly rich and comprehensive resource.

• To focus on the life of women and girls in particular use GenderWatch.

• For additional background information on Afghanistan and Pakistan and related topics search under these terms and others in: Opposing Viewpoints and Points of View Reference Center. These resources are usually used to get opposing sides of an issue.  They’re very useful for essay writing on a host of contemporary subjects and issues.  Looking for something to write about — they can be great places to start.

• Searching BISON — the online catalog of the University Libraries — can be as simple as doing a keyword search with terms such as: Pakistan Afghanistan women education.  Simply combine them in a search string, for instance, in the keyword query box type Pakistan and women and you will retrieve citations to books that concern the subject of women in Pakistan.  You can get more complicated; but it can also be this easy.

• Another approach never to be ignored is our search engine — Multi-Search — which searches the catalog and a large number of indexes simultaneously.  It’s not magical but sometimes it does seem to be.

• While this guide focuses on what we have purchased or subscribed to, the Web is rich with information and Google is, by far, the best key to unlocking it.  Look for Web sites by using Google, search the contents of books by using Google Books, find images to complement your writing or add to your understanding by using Google Image, study the terrain of these nations by visiting Google Maps, watch scholars and Greg Mortenson himself on Google Videos, and search for scholarly articles with Google Scholar.

• Wonderful guides to information resources have been created by the staffs of other universities, some of the best and most detailed are (click on the University’s name for its guide): Vanderbilt University, Mississippi State University, and Princeton University.

 Here’s some wonderful advice for beginning graduate students, it’s from The Chronicle of Higher Education’s <http://libweb.lib.buffalo.edu/pdp/index.asp?ID=91> blog ProfHacker: http://chronicle.com/blogPost/An-Open-Letter-to-New-Graduate/26326/

ProfHacker (http://chronicle.com/blog/ProfHacker/27/) is a tremendous resource that you should enjoy — and profit from — regularly!  I’m focusing on only one of the bits of wisdom — you should read the entire post!

Build a personal research library. As a graduate student, one of the things you are most likely to be doing at any given time is reading (although you’ll note that @j_l_r below recommends not doing all of what’s assigned!). You will read articles, book chapters, and entire books much faster than you would have ever thought possible. And unless these articles fall into your area of interest, you might be inclined to forget about them as soon as the seminar meeting is passed. But we’d like to suggest that you begin as early as possible in your studies to build a personal research library. A personal research library is a record of what you’ve read and what you thought about it. It can be as simple as a citation, a few keywords, and a brief abstract. We’d recommend using Zotero (see Amy’s posts on Getting Started with Zotero, parts One and Two) or EndNote, but even a box of 3×5 cards is better than trying to remember that really great essay from your first semester in grad school five years down the road when you’re writing your dissertation. A little extra work now will pay big dividends in the future, especially if you change your research project.

Zotero (http://www.zotero.org/) is free for download and EndNote is free to you as well.  We have purchased a license to it.  We support the latter with classes and technical advice.  Many of us have good facility with EndNote — including me — and we’re here to help.  Often potential EndNote users think the resource is primarily to produce citations for papers — and even books.  But, as noted above, it can have an equally important or even much more important and enduring use.

EndNote has gone through various versions and is now up to X4.  You can learn about it and load it at: http://library.buffalo.edu/libraries/endnote/.  For some additional guidance visit a post of mine from last academic year: EndNote Can Make Your Smarter — Really! http://libweb.lib.buffalo.edu/blog/history-us/?m=200911.  I’ll send out information on EndNote classes shortly — but there’s nothing preventing you from teaching it to yourself.  Needless to say, it made my day to see this advice in ProfHacker — I’ve said the same for years!

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/HistorySearcher