Monday, August 1, 2011

New Chairs for Study Rooms

The library is replacing damaged and worn computer chairs in the building on Tuesday. Today (Monday) we are removing all of the rolling chairs from our group studies. They will be replaced with more almost 300 new chairs on Tuesday. We will then discard the most damaged chairs in the building and redistribute chairs from the group studies that are less damaged.

We apologize for any inconvenience this causes to users of group studies today and tomorrow.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Windows 7 Upgrade

The library computers have been upgraded to the Windows 7 operating system. While it's supposed to be really wonderful, change is often difficult, confusing, and infuriating for a while, especially when Microsoft is involved. So if you experience any of these emotions while working on library computers, feel free to ask for help from a lab assistant, the Computer Support desk, or anyone with a name badge who looks slightly less confused than you feel.

Also, you might want to peruse the Windows 7 help site: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help.



Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Professional Writing Workshop

Professional Writing Workshop

Saturday, July 23rd

10:00 am-1:00 pm

Writing Center, located in the James E. Walker library, room 362


MTSU s Margaret H. Ordoubadian University Writing Center will be hosting a Professional Writing Workshop for MTSU students, alumni, and the local community. Participants will have the chance to work with Writing Assistants to workshop resumes, CVs, statements of purpose, and scholarship essays and learn about test preparation (for the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, and Praxis, among others), interview strategies, and email use and etiquette.

If you have questions, please contact Jenny Rowan at 615-494-8932 or jrowan@mtsu.edu. The workshop is free, and we hope you can join us!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

MTSU becomes a Tobacco Free campus

Effective July 1, MTSU will be a tobacco free campus. The old policy previously allowed smoking 20 feet away from doorways, windows, ventilation systems, walkways and gates.The new policy will restrict the use of all forms of tobacco products including, but not limited to, cigarettes, pipes, cigars, chewing tobacco and snuff, as well as smokeless electronic cigarettes and other similar devices.

This means that you cannot bring chewing tobacco or snuff into the library. It also means library patrons will be able to enter the library without passing through a smokey corridor.Smokers can smoke in their private vehicles. You can read the complete policy here: http://www.mtsu.edu/policies/pdfs/CampusSmokingPolicy.pdf. For more resources please visit the MTSU Health Promotion website http://www.mtsu.edu/healthpro/tobacco.shtml.

Cigarette Butt. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 16 Jun 2011.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

SciFinder Scholar Access: Important Changes

There are important changes on the way for SciFinder Scholar. Currently we have the option of using the SciFinder client-based system and also the web version.

SciFinder Scholar will cease support and access for the client (desktop) version on June 30, 2011. The software on personal computers should be removed before June 30th. All user seats will then be allocated to the web version and the desktop version of SciFinder Scholar will no longer be available.

You must register an account to use the web version. Create an account using your MTSU e-mail address at http://library.mtsu.edu/libdata/page.phtml?page_id=77. A support and training website is also available at that page.

If faculty members or departments are interested in scheduling a trainer, please contact Suzanne Mangrum, smangrum@mtsu.edu.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Memorial Day Hours


The library will be open regular hours this Saturday and Sunday. We will be closed Monday, May 30 in honor of Memorial Day. See you bright and early when we reopen at 7:30am Tuesday!








Photo by eddiecoyote. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

More than you wanted to know about cicadas

If you're feeling a little crazy because of the cicada swarms, you probably won't take pleasure in knowing that Tennessee is one of the few areas where both 13-year and 17-year cicadas are common. Or that scientists have identified fifteen different annual broods for the two varieties, thus assuring some cicada action almost every year. For this and more about the weird cicada lifecycle see this website from UT-Knoxville.

On the other hand, if you want to take advantage of this phenomenon, you'll be thrilled to learn that cicadas are eaten in many cultures and have been considered a delicacy for centuries. Apparently it's best to catch the newly hatched cicadas, which are then boiled briefly to "solidify their insides." Yum! See more edible bug recipes at this site from the University of Maryland.