“It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.” -Arthur Conan Doyle

Posted on April 23, 2010 by jmkyoung

ICPSR logo

How do you get all this data? Good thing Puget Sound is a member of ICPSR! Established in 1962, ICPSR (Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research) is an international consortium of about 700 academic institutions and research organizations, that provides leadership and training in data access, data curation, and methods of analysis for the social science research community. ICPSR maintains a data archive of more than 500,000 files of research in the social sciences. It hosts 16 specialized collections of data in education, aging, criminal justice, substance abuse, terrorism, and other fields.

How do you navigate all of this data? Collins Library was fortunate to have staff from ICPSR come to campus last Friday to provide training on how to search for, download, and utilize the datasets found in their archive.  Faculty and librarians from Puget Sound, the University of Washington Seattle and Tacoma campuses, Pacific Lutheran University and Saint Martin’s University attended a very informative session that assisted us in answering those questions and many more.

How do you use all of this data? ICPSR also promotes educational activities including their ‘Summer Program in Quantitative Methods of Social Research,’ a comprehensive curriculum of intensive courses in research design, statistics, data analysis, and social methodology. ICPSR also leads several initiatives that encourage use of data in teaching, particularly for undergraduate instruction.  Check out their teaching and learning site for more details.

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Collins Library – Food, Drink & Noise Policy

Posted on April 21, 2010 by jmkyoung

Noise, Food, Drink - Please Read ThisWe would like Collins library to be a clean and pleasant environment for everyone. Please follow our Food, Drink & Noise policy.  In summary:

  • Drinks must be in covered, spill proof containers.
  • No messy foods, hot prepared meals, or dining hall trays.
  • Use the designated Break Zone when possible.
  • Be aware of other library users: keep your voice down and cell phones off.
  • Use designated recycle bins.
  • LEAVE NO TRACE of food or drink.
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The End of Books?

Posted on April 16, 2010 by jmkyoung

endofbooksWell over a hundred years ago, technology provoked heated arguments about the future of the book!  Read this interesting 1894 article that predicts the books’ demise, entitled The End of Books, courtesy of the University of Iowa, from Scribner’s of the periods most influential journals.

An excerpt: My friend James Whittemore interrupted me. “And what will become of the libraries, dear friend, and of the books?”

“Libraries will be transformed into phonographotecks, or rather, phonostereoteks; they will contain the works of human genius on properly labelled cylinders, methodically arranged in little cases, rows upon rows, on shelves. The favorite editions will be the autophonographs of artists most in vogue; for example, every one will be asking for Coquelin’s ‘Molière,’ Irving’s.  ‘Shakespeare,’ Salvini’s ‘Dante,’ Eleonora Duse’s ‘Dumas fils,’ Sara Bern- hardt’s ‘ Hugo,’ Mounet Sully’s ‘Balzac;’ while Goethe, Milton, Byron, Dickens, Emerson, Tennyson, Musset, and others will have been ‘vibrated upon cylinders by favorite Tellers.’

“The bibliophiles, who will have become phonographiles, will still surround themselves with rare works; they will send out their cylinders to be bound in morocco cases, adorned with fine gildings and symbolic figures, as in former days. The titles will be im- printed on the circumference of the case, and the most exquisite cases will contain cylinders specially copyrighted, editions of a single copy, in the voice of a master of the drama, of poetry, or of music, giving impromptu and unpublished variants of celebrated works.

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Spotlight: "Going Social"!

Posted on April 16, 2010 by jmkyoung

Let’s get Social – Tips from Puget Sound Librarians Rebecca Kuglitsch and Laura Schick.

As Puget Sound’s two newest librarians, Rebecca & Laura agree that one of the best things about UPS is that students here do a lot of hands-on, original work – which means that librarians get to work with students who are fully engaged in the research process. With that in mind, here’s a countdown of the top 5 ways to get even more engaged with what’s going on at Collins Memorial Library, from anywhere in the world and from the comfort of your very own computer:

#5
Twitter_logoFollow us on Twitter – a great way to get quick library news bits and find out about events in the library as they’re happening, plus the occasional book or DVD recommendation.

#4

youtube_logoVisit our channel on YouTube – we’ve uploaded some short tutorials to help you make the most of library resources, or you can check out some of our library-related favorites.

#3

PAGE_collinsUnboundRead or subscribe to our official voice-of-the-library blog, Collins Unbound – here you’ll get more in-depth information with posts about new and exciting things happening at the library (like the one you’re reading right now!)

#2

Page_libraryLogged_Read or get a feed for the Library Logged blog – so you’ll get instant updates on comments and suggestions for the library from your peers, as well as what we’re doing in response to this much-appreciated feedback.

#1

Facebook_logoBecome a Fan of the Collins Library on Facebook – get library news, events, and even handy search tips in your Facebook feed, let us know what you’re thinking with a post on our wall, and bond with your fellow Collins Library fans.

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Report from D.C.: Library Student Employee and History Major Rachel Hiscox Reports from the Nation’s Capitol.

Posted on April 14, 2010 by jmkyoung

WashDCLast summer Rachel Hiscox received a summer research grant to work with the Oregon Mission Papers.  This collection, part of the University Archives, dating from the 1820’s to the 1850’s, contains three boxes of letters from missionaries.. It gives great detail and insight into the motivations, daily tasks, and personalities of these early settlers of the territory, and hints at the mindset of those who desired to enter into this Christian mission.  Rachel’s work culminated in an online database. She has been invited to share her work at the prestigious Council of Undergraduate Research on the Hill in D.C.  Read her comments from her first day!

Today was my first day in DC.  The Council of Undergraduate Research set up some tours for us so we could enjoy some of the sights around DC.  I went to the Folger Shakespeare Library.  The library was fascinating and I was able to learn much about preserving rare books.  I had a chat with the book curator about what it takes to become a curator at a library like that.  All of the curatorial staff in thier library have a PhD in some discipline related to books, library science, history, or art history.   We were allowed to view a First Folio up close, a rare priviledge.

Walking around in DC is awe insipring.  The buildings are beautiful, and there is an impressive show of force right now due to the summit on Nuclear Security occuring this week.  I was stopped at one point to watch motorcades of various diplomats pass by the road I was trying to cross for 20 minutes in an impressive show.

Tuesday I am meeting with legislators from Washington to discuss the importance of undergraduate research in the capitol building with other students and Tuesday night I will be presenting my research on Capitol Hill in a giant poster session.  I heard a rumor that President Obama has been invited, we shall see if he attends.

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National Days of Rememberance United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Posted on April 12, 2010 by jmkyoung

museum_logoThe collections and archives of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum provide moving insights and tributes to one of the most difficult times in recent history.   As we pause to commerate this period during the National Days of Rememberance this week (April 11-18) be sure to visit the Museum’s web site.

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National Library Workers Day, April 13

Posted on April 12, 2010 by jmkyoung

thankyouTuesday April 13th is National Library Workers Day!  That’s right – it is a day to celebrate and thank everyone who works in libraries across the country – from your home town public library to the staff right here at Collins Library!  This includes not only our full time staff, but our student workers as well.  It takes a lot to run the Library:  ordering and cataloging the books, dvds and journals, maintaining the thousands of online journals and databases, keeping the books shelved and easy to find, as well as providing expert reference and research services.  So – please join me in thanking all our staff and students who work at Collins Library!

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Musician Admits Secret Ambition – to be a Librarian!

Posted on April 5, 2010 by jmkyoung
keithrichards

site credit: http://www.keithrichards.com/

Keith Richards, grizzled veteran of rock’n’roll excess has a second calling. Read more about his love for librarianship and incredible book collection in the TimesOnline article: It’s only books ’n’ shelves but I like it.


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Spotlight: Kent Hooper Authors Scholarly Book on Ernst Barlach

Posted on April 2, 2010 by jmkyoung

Kent HooperDr. Hooper is Chair of the Humanities Department and currently teaching a new class in digital humanities that combines research, technology and art in one course.  He recently published an open source scholarly work on the artist Ernst Barlach, titled:  Ernst Barlach: bibliographical listing of secondary literature.  This book is freely available online.

According to Professor Hooper, It was conceived as an online resource and not as a two-volume reference work simply because technology offers the opportunity to make a much more valuable resource – for example there are links in the text to sources such as WorldCat for example — those aren’t possible in hard copy!

Check it out on SIMON.

Recently Kent shared some insights about this project with Library Director, Jane Carlin and learn more about open access resources by visiting our web page on scholarly communication; http://alacarte.pugetsound.edu/subject-guide/13-Scholarly-Communication

What prompted you to make this resource available as an open source academic book?

I am philosophically opposed to proprietary bibliographical software, for one.  And for another, most bibliographical software wasn’t sophisticated enough for what I wanted to do.   And I am also in favor of making my work freely available to anyone interested in it, as opposed to making people pay to use it.  ( Publishing the work in hard copy form would have meant royalties to me so laughably miniscule, I like to say I would earn more money playing a couple of bar gigs over the course of a weekend)   As for the vetting process of this kind of manuscript–if the bibliographical listing is good, scholars will use it.  If it has shortcomings, they will have the opportunity to work with me to improve it!   In fact, I  very much hope other Barlach scholars will see the value in working collaboratively on this project.   I would like to move on to a new project–I haven’t worked on Barlach in years–so the hope is some young Barlach scholar will actually want to take over where I have left off.

Tell us about the content.

This is a bibliographical listing of secondary literature related to Ernst Barlach, a German Expressionist artistic multiple talent.   One of the biggest problems for scholars working on Barlach is that there is no decent bibliography of secondary literature; another problem is that the secondary literature is scattered in a variety of fields and subfields: art (and then sculpture, woodcuts, drawings; and then even finer wood sculpture/bronzes/porcelain), literature (prose, drama, autobiography, travel literature, etc).  And then there are all the reviews of exhibitions of his visual art; reviews of all the stagings of his plays.  The landscape is quite varied — and anyone working on Barlach is wise to consult as wide a range of secondary literature as possible.   Now, at least, scholars will know what has been written about Barlach and his works; and these scholars will also save a lot of time in the preliminary research phase, simply because I will have already leafed through the many many dozens of reference sources that catalogue secondary literature.

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New Library Break Zone, Plus Hot Water On Tap!

Posted on March 22, 2010 by jmkyoung

In response to your requests, we have created a “Break Zone” in the Library.  Need a cup of tea – no problem, use the instant hot water tap now installed in the basement level by the vending area.  Need a place to have your late night snack – no problem, use the newly created break room (formerly the copier area) to take your break.

Not only does this provide a place to relax and take a study break but it also helps us maintain the right balance of study spaces in the Library.  No one likes to study next to someone talking on their cell phone, or munching on an apple or discussing a class project over cups of coffee.  Now you have a place to take your break, your conversations, and your cell phones without disturbing others.  Please follow our guidelines:

  • Drinks must be in spill-proof covered containers.
  • No messy, smelly foods, hot prepared meals, or dining hall trays.
  • Use the “Break Zone” in the basement level near the vending machine (formerly the copy room).
  • Be aware of other library users – keep voices down, cell phones off.
  • Use designated recycle bins. And, LEAVE NO TRACE of food or drink.
    -Thank you!
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