Open Computer Lab in Library

Need to write a research paper? Create and try out a PowerPoint Presentation? Make a Brochure using Publisher?

The Ritz Library's Computer lab will be open to students during the first week of December. Library staff and Help Desk aides will be there to assist you in doing research and using Microsoft Office applications. The open computers are located in Room H224 on the 2nd floor of the library. The hours are:

• Tuesday, Dec 2 9:00 am – 4:00 pm


• Wednesday, Dec 3 1:00 -- 4:00 pm


• Thursday, Dec 4 1:00 -- 4:00 pm


• Friday, Dec 5 1:00 -- 4:00 pm


• Monday, Dec 8 9:00 am --Noon 1:00 -- 4:00 pm


• Tuesday, Dec 9 9:00 am --Noon 1:00 – 4:00 pm

Questions or comments? Call (845) 431-8639 or email Reference

Library Extended hours!!

The Ritz Library will be open late Monday through Thursday and on Saturday for the first two weeks of December. Extended hours of operation are:

December 1 - December 13

• Monday -- Thursday 8:00 am -- 10:00 pm
• Friday 800 am -- 5:00 pm
• Saturday 1:00 am -- 5:00 pm

Questions or comments? Call (845) 431-8639 or email Reference

OpenOffice.org

Do you use a laptop or a desk top that does NOT have Microsoft Office installed?

If yes,
then go to http://www.openoffice.org/
else
go to end.

OpenOffice.org is a free productivity suite offered by Sun Microsystems. As open source software, it is available in multiple languages for download and, let me repeat, is free! Open Office offers word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software, and database creation similar to Microsoft Office. It is also MS-Office compatible, meaning you can save files in the format used by Microsoft. However, OpenOffice.org version 3 does not offer the ability to store files in the new Microsoft 2007 formats yet.

Not sure what option to use once you've downloaded the software? OpenOffice Writer is the equivalent of Word, OpenOffice Calc equates to Excel, OpenOffice Impress can be used to create presentations like Powerpoint does, OpenOffice Base allows you to build databases like Access, and OpenOffice Math lets you create and edit scientific formulas.

Enjoy!

It's easy to be Green!!

The Ritz Library has added Green File to its collection of research sources. This database contains scholarly & general interest material originally published in magazines, journals and government reports. All aspects of environmental sciences are covered, from global warming to recycling.

Green File contains about 5,000 full text documents and indexes over 200,000. To use this source most effectively, un-check the "full text" box before searching, If a document looks promising and is not available full text, click on the "Article Linker" button to search for that document in all other DCC databases.

Interested? Go directly to Green File if you're on campus. From off campus, connect through MyDCC.

Copyright, cont.

About a week ago I posted an entry on copyright, what it is, why you should be concerned, and where you could go to get more information on the topic. One of the issues of copyright concern to educators is fair use of media resources in publications and education. American University's Center for Social Media has come up with a document entitled "The Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Media Literacy Education" defining media literacy education. The website clearly states what the intended pdf covers and does not cover. You can access the document and a video on the subject from here.

Doing a report about a country?

A new "Quick Link" has been added to the Ritz's resources page, Doing A Report about a country?, which gathers together electronic resources to help you write a paper on a world nation.

A major souce at the link is the "Country Reports" section of the Business Source Premier database. These yearly reports focus on the economic, political and cultural aspects of countries and cover a range of years from 1998 until the present. Another source to look at is "Virtual Reference Library," a collection of 20 electronic encyclopedias with information on countries.

To directly get to this link on campus go to http://libraryreference.sunydutchess.edu/er/countries.htm.

Access from home should be made through the Ritz's MyDCC "Off campus database access" link.

Problem with ProQuest "Cite this" function

Be careful using the "Cite this" function in the Proquest Databases (ABI Inform, Health Management, Research Library, New York Times & Wall Street Journal). We've found that the system has problems formatting the authors when generating citations. Often the citation will begin with the author's first name. Here's an example:

John M Dunn. "Growing Stronger and Greener. " Florida Trend : 2009: BusinessFlorida 1 Jan. 2009: 33. ProQuest Newsstand. ProQuest. 7 Nov. 2008 <http://www.proquest.com/>

Since all documentation styles state that authors are listed last name first in citations, this is a major error. So be sure to look at ProQuest citations carefully and adjust the author entry if necessary.

Questions? Call 845.431.8634 or email refdesk@sunydutchess.edu