October 2009 Archives
Have you noticed PubMed's new appearance, but need some help navigating the new layout? Attend one of Tompkins-McCaw Library's P"ubMed Redesign: Are You Ready for the New Look?" workshops on Wednesday, November 4 from 12 to 1 pm or Tuesday, November 10 from 10 to 11 am.
The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) has redesigned most PubMed search screens. To start with, the PubMed homepage has been streamlined, and includes an NCBI Header, Search Bar, and Footer that are common to all PubMed pages. There have been changes to display pages, location of Limits, History, and other tabs, Clipboard and output options. This class will go over these changes and provide a quick review of how best to search PubMed and send your results to RefWorks.
To register for the Wednesday, November 4 class, visit http://www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/training/course_detail.asp?ID=7257.
To register for the Tuesday, November 10 class, visit http://www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/training/course_detail.asp?ID=7258.
Friday, November 6, 2009
6:30 p.m.
University Student Commons, Richmond Salons
907 Floyd Avenue, Richmond, VA
Virginia Commonwealth University welcomes the 2009 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award winner Deb Olin Unferth, her agent, David McCormick, and her editor at McSweeneys, Eli Horowitz, as they trace the journey of Unferths masterful Vacation from first draft to publication.
The reading and book discussion are free and open to the public. Parking is available for a fee in the West Main Street and West Cary Street parking decks. For more information call (804) 828-4640, or e-mail Sarah Amick or Dale Smith.
The VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, presented by the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program, is sponsored by the VCU Department of English, James Branch Cabell Library Associates, Friends of the Library, VCU Libraries, the VCU Honors College, and the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences.
VCU Libraries will conduct a series of surveys over the next year to learn how our faculty, students, and staff use library resources and services. Your feedback is extremely valuable and will help to improve VCU Libraries resources and services. The survey has been designed in concert with consultants, and responses will be confidential.
Surveys will be administered once a month at each library for a two hour time period. The dates and times have been randomly selected and will vary each month. The next survey will take place at Cabell Library on Tuesday, October 27, 2009.
During the survey period, you will be given a short survey form to complete during your visit. The online survey will apear when you select library resources from the VCU Libraries Web site.
If you have questions or comments about the survey, please contact Mary Ellen Spencer at the James Branch Cabell Library.
The first international Open Access Week is intended to raise awareness of the benefits of free, open, online and immediate access to scholarly research. Celebrate by learning more about Open Access at the following sites:
- Open Access Week Organization
- SPARC: The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition
- VCU Libraries - Open Access Resources
The first international Open Access Week is intended to raise awareness of the benefits of free, open, online and immediate access to scholarly research. Celebrate by learning more about Open Access at the following sites:
Open Access Week Organization
SPARC: The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition
VCU Libraries - Open Access Resources
Genesis: A Conversation with R. Crumb and Françoise Mouly
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
7:30 p.m.
Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage
A Modlin Downtown Event
Sponsored in part by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation
Presented in partnership with the Department of Art & Art History, University Museums, Velocity Comics and VCU Libraries Special Collections.
VCU students are encouraged to stop by the VCU Libraries Administration Office, 4th floor Cabell Library, to pick-up a limited number of vouchers redeemable for a reduced ticket price of $10. One voucher per person, first come, first serve beginning October 16, 2009. Students should call the Modlin Center Box Office at (804) 289-8980 to redeem the $10 voucher for an admission ticket.
VCU faculty, staff and alumni are eligible for a $10.00 discount off of the adult ticket price of $38 by entering the code CRUMB10 when purchasing tickets through Ticketmaster or at 1-800-745-3000.
Public Tickets: $19-$38 with discounts for seniors & children; through Ticketmaster or at 1-800-745-3000. Patrons requesting accessible seating should contact the Modlin Center Box Office at (804) 289-8980. Audience Advisory: Mature audiences only; contains sexual content. For more information is available from the Modlin Center.
R. Crumb, regarded as the founding father of underground comics, got his first taste of fame, as well as notoriety, during the 1960s - his "Zap Comix" rapidly attracted the attention of a fan base whose members dwelt well beyond the geographical parameters of San Francisco's Bay Area. Crumb, whose cartoons are controversial, funny, at times bizarre and always idiosyncratic, today occupies a place of honor in the world of high culture and art. His graphic narrative "Genesis", scheduled for release in the fall of 2009, has generated more-than-eager anticipation. For his Richmond engagement, one of only five appearances nation-wide, Crumb will participate in a conversation with Françoise Mouly, art editor for "The New Yorker" since 1993. She is also the founder, publisher, designer and co-editor along with her husband, cartoonist Art Spiegelman, of the avant-garde comics anthology "RAW."
You can learn more about R. Crumb at the VCU Libraries or through our Website.
An exhibit of R. Crumb's comics and other materials is located on the 4th floor of James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Avenue.
This fall, Cabell Library is offering a new service - Walk-In Research Clinics. These three-hour clinics are designed for students with research questions that may require more in-depth assistance than what library staff can provide at the "Ask Us" research assistance desk. A librarian will work with students one-on-one to help them find books, journal articles and other useful library resources. We're targeting these hands on clinics to students in ENGL 200 and UNIV 112, but they're open to anyone with a research paper. Attending these open, hands-on clinics can help students save time and stress!
Walk-In Research Clinics
James Branch Cabell Library
Library Instruction Classroom, Room 319
- Monday, October 26, 4 - 7 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 27, 4 - 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 28, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Thursday, October 29, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Monday, November. 2, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 3, 4 - 7 p.m.
- Monday, November 9, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 10, 4 - 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 11, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 17, 4 - 7 p.m.
- Thursday, November 19, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Monday, November 30, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Tuesday, December 1, 4 - 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, December 2, 4 - 7 p.m.
Researchers are encouraged to stop by anytime the clinics are open. For a list of library instruction classes and events on both campuses, visit the VCU Libraries Events page.
Tompkins-McCaw Library will be offering the following online workshops during the remainder of the fall semester:
Evidence-Based Medicine
Wednesday, October 28
6 - 7 p.m.
Need evidence to support clinical decision making? This class will cover the definition and theory behind EBM and will showcase VCU Libraries resources for medical evidence in the literature. For more information and to register, visit: http://www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/training/course_detail.asp?ID=7239
Finding Complementary & Alternative Medicine
Friday, November 6
1:30 - 2 p.m.
Need reliable information on complementary and alternative medicine? Confused by contradictory claims and evidence about dietary supplements? Explore databases and websites for both health professionals and patients during this online workshop. For more information and to register, visit: http://www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/training/course_detail.asp?ID=7240
PubMed
Tuesday, November 10
6 - 7 p.m.
During this online workshop, learn to search MEDLINE via PubMed, including basic features and search techniques such as limits, display options, and print formats. For more information and to register, visit: http://www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/training/course_detail.asp?ID=7241
Keeping Current with Your Research
Thursday, November 12
6 - 7 p.m.
During this online workshop you will learn tips to help make your research efforts more effective and efficient. Attendees will be shown how to customize library services, store searches and find the most current research using PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), and NCHS data sources. For more information and to register, visit: http://www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/training/course_detail.asp?ID=7242
RefWorks
Wednesday, December 2
6 - 7 p.m.
Do you want to save time and energy in managing your citations and creating a bibliography? This class will discuss topics including importing citations from databases, organizing the citations, and correctly formatting citations for a manuscript. For more information and to register, visit: http://www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/training/course_detail.asp?ID=7243
Dissertations and Theses Full Text (ProQuest), the world's most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses, is now available from VCU Libraries. The database of record for graduate research, Dissertations and Theses Full Text includes 2.4 million searchable citations to dissertations and theses from around the world from 1861 to the present. It also includes one million full text dissertations available for download in PDF format.
Dissertations and Theses Full Text offers full text for most dissertations added since 1997 and strong retrospective full text coverage for older graduate works. More than 60,000 new full text dissertations and theses are added to the database each year through dissertations publishing partnerships with 700 leading academic institutions worldwide. Each dissertation published since July 1980 includes a 350-word abstract written by the author. Master's theses published since 1988 include 150-word abstracts. Simple bibliographic citations are available for dissertations dating from 1637. Where available, Dissertations and Theses Full Text provides 24-page previews of dissertations and theses.
Anatomy.TV is an interactive 3D model of human anatomy online. This unique database provides detailed views of anatomy at various levels from bone to surface structure. Models can be rotated and layers can be peeled away to view medically accurate representations of anatomical structures. Interactive quizzes and multiple-choice questions help test student knowledge.
Learn how to use Anatomy.TV at either of Tompkins-McCaw Library's workshops on Thursday, October 22 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in room 2-012, or on Thursday, November 5 from 12:00 to 12:30 in room 2-012. We will demonstrate how to use this database for studying as well as for classroom use, presentations, and lectures, and how to incorporate the database into Blackboard courses.
The first film, A Brilliant Madness, will be shown Tuesday, October 13 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Hunton Student Center's Learning Center. A Brilliant Madness is the story of a mathematical genius whose career was cut short by a descent into madness. At the age of 30, John Nash, a stunningly original and famously eccentric MIT mathematician, suddenly began claiming that aliens were communicating with him and that he was a special messenger. The program features interviews with John Nash, his wife Alicia, his friends and colleagues, and experts in game theory and mental illness. Register online to attend the film.
The second film, Babyland, will be shown Tuesday, November 17 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Hunton Student Center's Learning Center. The broadcast follows an unusual relationship between a black teenage mother-to-be and a white volunteer from a suburban church whose goal is to ensure that the baby is born healthy. The surprising bond between the inner city mother and her suburban mentor becomes the emotional center of the documentary. Their journey together through pregnancy and birth and the twists and turns that follow is an intense story that cuts through issues of race and class. The women learn about each other and themselves. Register online to attend the film.
The third film, Secrets of the Mind, will be shown Friday, December 4 from noon to 1 p.m. in Hunton Student Center's Learning Center. The film follows neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran as he investigates four mysterious psychological cases involving blindness and sight, phantom limbs and pain, and delusional thinking; and delivers his astounding conclusions. Register online to attend the film.
Attend one of Tompkins-McCaw Library's "PubMed Redesign: Are You Ready for the New Look?" workshops on Thursday, October 15 or Thursday, October 22 from 10 to 10:45 a.m. in Hunton Hall's Learning Center to learn more about these changes and discover how best to search PubMed and send your results to RefWorks. To register for the October 15 class, visit http://www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/training/course_detail.asp?ID=7183. To register for the October 22 class, visit http://www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/training/course_detail.asp?ID=7184.
Mark your calendars for the VCU Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale! The sale takes place October 19-23, 2009, at James Branch Cabell Library, basement Room B-7.
All proceeds from the VCU Friends of the Library Book Sale help to fund VCU Libraries' programs, collections, and lectures.
- Monday, October 19: noon - 8 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 20: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 21: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Thursday, October 22: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Friday, October 23: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.*
*Special ½ price sale on Friday!
Preview Sale for Friends of the Library
- Monday, October 19: 9 a.m. - noon
(Please present your Friends donor card for admission to the preview sale.)
For more information about the Friends of the Library Book Sale, please contact the VCU Libraries Development Office at (804)-828-4640 or (804)-827-1165, e-mail seamick@vcu.edu or vassaram@vcu.edu, or visit our Web site.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Noon - 1 p.m.
Cabell Library Instruction Classroom, Room 319
Monroe Park Campus
The PsycINFO database, American Psychological Association's (APA) renowned resource for abstracts of scholarly journal articles, book chapters, books, and dissertations, is the largest resource devoted to peer-reviewed literature in behavioral science and mental health.
In this workshop, learn how to use advanced features enabling you to:
- save searches
- create search alerts
- create folders for organization by project / class
- export citations into RefWorks.
The VCUCard Office will be upgrading the campus-wide RamBucks system on Tuesday, October 6th, at 7:30 a.m. During the upgrade process, services such as printers, copiers, vending machines, and the RamBucks cash station will not be available. The upgrade should be completed by 10 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
The Jazz Music Library is now available from the VCU Libraries-- an online treasury of jazz recordings from the beginning of the art form to contemporary performances. Listeners can choose individual songs, or hear entire albums, as well as watch video clips of performances. Biographical essays, in full text, provide background information for understanding jazz artists in their own time.
With new albums and artists added monthly, Jazz Music Library will become the largest and most comprehensive collection of jazz available online. Thousands of recordings are represented, ranging from past greats to musicians performing today, including: Billy Strayhorn, Bix Beiderbecke, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Count Basie, Dave Brubeck, Dizzie Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane, Lester Young, Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, Sarah Vaughn, Stan Getz, Thelonius Monk, Wes Montgomery, and a long list of influential artists. Liner notes to all the albums represented are also included (in PDF format).
Jazz Music Library also enables users to create their own playlists -- recordings of personal favorites, or for class assignments. Playlists can be annotated, edited, copied, and shared by any user of the database.
Exciting new materials will be highlighted on the home page, and each month a large number of albums will be added. Entries include detailed instrumentation and performer information, and search options include date or place of recording, genre of jazz, instrument, record label, album or song title, and performer.
