Yes, it's that time again!  We will have expanded hours for final exams, beginning tomorrow:

Day	Open	Close
Friday, December 6	7:30 am	1:00 am (Saturday)
Saturday, December 7	8:00 am	8:00 PM
Sunday, December 8	1:00 PM	1:00 am (Monday)
Monday, December 9	7:30 am	1:00 am (Tuesday)
Tuesday, December 10	7:30 am	1:00 am (Wednesday)
Wednesday, December 11	7:30 am	1:00 am (Thursday)
Thursday, December 12	7:30 am	5:00 PM
Friday, December 13	8:30 am	5:00 PM

Beginning Friday, December 20, we will be closed to the public until January 2, 2014.

For complete hours information, click here.

Food for Fines

Do you have library fines?  We can help!  Donate a non-perishable food item before the end of exams, and we will give you $2.50 per item towards your library fines (not replacement or repair costs, however).

All collected goods will be donated to Coker Enactus' "Let's Can Hunger Food Drive" initiative. In turn, these goods will go the Harvest Hope Food Back here in the Pee Dee.

Even if you don't have fines, you may want to clear out your apartment or room of those unwanted Ramen noodles and Spaghettios - we'll make sure the food gets to those who are in need.

Book your Media Study Rooms now!

Please keep in mind that all of the study rooms are extremely busy this time of year.

We have instituted a two-hour time limit this semester on all study rooms.  Of course, if no one is waiting for a room, you are welcome to renew the key for another two hours.

You can check study room availability here: Study Room Availability

Also, the three media rooms can be booked in advance -  so reserve your time now here: http://coker.libcal.com/

If you have any questions, just stop by the circulation desk, e-mail, or call us.

Photo courtesy of http://kee-rae.tumblr.com

Thanksgiving Hours...and beyond!

How can it be Thanksgiving already? It seems like Freshmen orientation was just yesterday!

Anyway, we will close tonight at 10:30 PM to accommodate for any ALPHA students that need to use the library.  We will be closed until Sunday, December 1 (!) at 1PM.

Next week, we will have normal hours until Reading Day, December 5, when we will be open until 1 AM.  We will have expanded hours for exams the following week.  For more information, head over here.

Photo courtesy of GirlToMom.com, via Google Images.

Library Prize for Undergraduate Research 2014

We are pleased to announce that the Charles W. & Joan S. Coker Library and the the Undergraduate Research Program is once again sponsoring the Library Prize for Undergraduate Research.                                           

One project will be selected to win $500.

Submission deadline is Friday February 28, 2014

 

To be eligible to participate you must be a Coker College undergraduate at any class level and in any discipline, and  be enrolled, i.e. taking a class or classes, in the Spring 2014 semester or having completed all undergraduate coursework during the Fall 2013 semester (i.e. graduating in December 2013). 

For more information go to http://libguides.coker.edu/libraryprize

New Ebrary e-books!

We've got an exciting announcement about several new e-book collections, all from ebrary by ProQuest.

All told, we're adding over 100,000 e-books to our growing collection of electronic resources.  With EBSCO, Springer, and now ebrary, we'll have nearly 400,000 full text e-books available to our students, faculty, and staff!

Create a free account and use download these e-books to any Apple or Android mobile device (visit the appropriate app store).

Unlike some of our e-books, there are no limitations per title (no more "Title is in Use" errors) - so read away!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask: reference "at" coker.edu

2013 Instructional Materials Public Review

Once again, Coker Library is a public review site for K12 instructional materials.  Located near the atrium on the first floor of the library, the books will be available for review until November 15.  From the State Department of Education press release:

The public is invited to review textbooks and instructional materials that have been proposed for use in South Carolina’s public schools.

The materials will be recommended to the State Board of Education for adoption on December 11, 2013, by the Instructional Materials Review Panels appointed by the Board. The materials are in the following subject areas:

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

 Agricultural and Biosystems Science

 Agricultural Crop Production and Management 1, 2

 Agricultural Mechanics and Technology

 Agricultural Mechanics and Technology for the Workplace 1, 2

 Agricultural Power Mechanics

 Agricultural Science and Technology

 Agricultural Science and Technology for the Workplace

 Agricultural Structural Mechanics

 Animal Science

 Biosystems Mechanics and Engineering

 Biosystems Technology

 Biosystems Technology Career Development 1, 2

 Environmental and Natural Resources Management

 Equipment Operation and Maintenance

 Floriculture

 Forestry

 Golf Course Technology

 Horticulture for the Workplace 1, 2

 Introduction to Horticulture

 Introduction to Veterinary Science

 Landscape Technology

 Nursery, Greenhouse, and Garden Center Technology

 Small Animal Care

 Soil and Water Conservation

 Soils and Soilless Research

 Sports Turf Management

 Turf and Lawn Management

 Aquaculture

 Cattle Production

 Equine Science

 Farm Animal Production

 Outdoor Recreation

 Wildlife Management

Architecture and Construction

 Masonry

 Plumbing

 Digital Home Technology Integrator

Business, Management, and Administration

 Business Law

 Essential Communications

 Financial Math

Information Technology

 Foundations of Animation (Flash)

 Computer Forensics

 Cyber Security Foundations

 Game Design and Development

Marketing

 Fashion Merchandising

 Marketing

 Sports and Entertainment Marketing 1

 Google Applications

Social Studies

 Social Studies K–5 (includes South Carolina Social Studies, Grade 3)

 Citizenship–Civics 9–12

 Economics (does not include Advanced Placement) 9–12

 US Government (includes Advanced Placement) 9–12

 Western Civilization 9–12

 World History 9–12 (includes Advanced Placement)

Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

 Power Equipment Technology

The instructional materials are on display at twenty-four colleges and universities throughout the state. The materials will be on display from October 7 through November 15, 2013, with instructions for submitting comments available at each site. State Board of Education members will review citizens’ comments before a final decision is made on adopting the materials.

Comments can be made here: https://ed.sc.gov/Survey/index.php?sid=71424&lang=en

Dominican Republic Trip Interest Meeting Tonight!

Interested in studying abroad? Dr. Cathy Cuppett has an informational meeting about a May Interim (May 17-31, 2014) trip to the Dominican Republic tonight in LITC 114 at 8:30.

Happy Friday the Thirteenth!

Ever wonder the origins of Friday the Thirteenth?  Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplained from Credo Reference gives some background:

The superstition is often said to have ancient origins, and a number of theories have been proposed to explain it. The most common comes from the Christian tradition, and combines the separate fears that both Fridays and the number thirteen are unlucky. Friday is the day on which Jesus was crucified, and some theologians have suggested that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit on a Friday. Friday was also considered a bad day to start any new undertaking and, in the medieval Christian tradition, may have been considered unlucky because it was the Muslim Sabbath. Added to this, there were thirteen people at the Last Supper (Jesus and his twelve disciples), and Judas Iscariot is said to have either been the thirteenth to arrive at the feast, or the first leave it, on his way to betray Jesus. However, thirteen was considered unlucky before this by the Romans, for whom twelve was a number of completeness (as, for instance, there being twelve months in a complete year, twelve signs of the zodiac, and so on). Thirteen was one beyond this, and thus beyond the pale. Thirteen is also the traditional number of members of a coven: sometimes said to be twelve witches and satan.

From: http://www.credoreference.com/entry/chambun/friday_the_13th

Also, the kid in the red/orange sweater is KILLING it in the Stevie Wonder video.

Tutoring goes "Live" for Fall 2013!

Tutoring in Chemistry, Accounting/Economics, Math, MS Office, Spanish, and Chinese is now available for the fall semester in LITC 228!

Here's the schedule:

Accounting & Econ (BA212, BA213, BA222, and BA223)	Monday & Wednesday	6:00-8:00 PM
Chemistry (CHE 101)	Monday & Thursday	6:00-8:00 PM
Math (MAT100, MAT101, MAT203, MAT210 and MAT222)	Monday - Thursday	6:00-8:00 PM
MS Office Assistance (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)	Tuesday	5:00-9:00 PM
Spanish (SPA 101, and SPA1012)	Tuesday & Thursday	6:00-8:00 PM
Chinese (CHI1012)	Monday & Thursday	7:00-9:00 PM
Writer's Studio	Monday - Thursday	3:00-10:00 PM

Database Off-Campus Access Unavailable

Greetings from the LITC.

Due to some new network settings here on campus, off-campus database access is unavailable.  Information Technology is aware of the issue and working towards a solution.  All resources are working on campus, however.  Some resources are available via the State Library (for SC residents only) at http://scdiscus.org/.

We apologize for any inconvenience.  We'll keep you updated when the problem has been corrected.

ARTstor Updates

ARTstor is a popular image research resource, popular with many different courses here at Coker.  They've had some important updates to announce.  From their blog:

• Users will now be able to browse through image groups from the Image Group Panel. Once an image group has been opened, users will see a "Browse Groups" tab in the image group panel where they can navigate to another image group.
• In response to your feedback, ARTstor has increased the maximum number of images that can be exported to PowerPoint in a 120-day period from 1,000 to 2,000. In addition, downloads to PowerPoint can now include up to 150 images per download.
• Computer monitors with higher resolutions will be able to display more images per row.

I'm glad the image limit has been increased - believe it or not, some Coker patrons would hit that limit quite easily.  Also, being able to use the entire screen to view more thumbnail images will be very useful.

Give ARTstor a try here.

Fourth of July Library Library Hours

We hope everyone is having a restful, fun, and relaxing summer!  

We will close at 9 PM on Wednesday, July 3rd and reopen Monday, July 8 at 8:30 a.m.

Picture courtesy of  Matt Woitunski.

Social Work Reference Center Trial

We've got a trial for a new reference resource, called Social Work Reference Center.  Don't let the "Social Work" title fool you - there is plenty of content available for sociology, criminology, psychology, and education.

Here's some information from the publisher:

No other digital reference tool offers social workers the breadth and depth of specialized resources featured in Social Work Reference Center. Social workers and mental healthcare professionals will benefit from instruments such as:

• Evidence-Based Quick Lessons: Summaries of common conditions which include information on causes and risk factors; contraindications and precautions; examination best practices; assessment and care plans; desired outcomes and outcome measures; maintenance best practices; and prevention.
• Evidence-Based Care Sheets: Summaries of the best and most current clinical data applicable to specific diseases and conditions. All evidence is evaluated according to 7-step evidence-based methodology to ensure the best and most current evidence is presented.
• Clinical Assessment Tools: Descriptions of clinical assessments including psychological tests and attitude measures. Details include the purpose of the research and the variables measured; the number of items and questions; the sample population; the methodology; how to obtain information; and the source of the instrument.
• Patient Education Handouts: Easy-to-read handouts in English and Spanish with detailed medical illustrations that may be personalized for each patient.
• Skill Competency Checklist: Forms describing specific clinical skills that can also be used to track personal development and competency.

We'll have the trial until mid-July. Let us know what you think about this great e-resource in the comments below.

Memorial Day History and Library Hours

The Coker Library will be closed Saturday, Sunday, and Monday for the Memorial Day holiday.  We will reopen Tuesday, May 28th at 8:30 a.m.

Memorial Day began as Decoration Day during the Civil War as a holiday dedicated to remembering the dead from that horrific war, often by decorating the graves of these soldiers.  As the holiday began to honor the dead of all of America's wars, the name was changed to Memorial Day shortly after World War I.  In 1971, Congress proclaimed Memorial day to be a National Holiday, to be held on the last Monday of May.

Memorial Day is also the traditional beginning of summer in the United States, so break out the white pants!

Source:
"Memorial Day." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 24 May. 2013. 

"Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs." Memorial Day History. U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs, 30 Nov. 2012. Web. 24 May 2013.

Photo source: Tomb of the Unknowns: People Paying Their Respects. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Web. 24 May. 2013. 

Cookies in the Library

Tonight...WE WILL HAVE COOKIES IN THE LIBRARY!

Yes, we will have cookies, milk, and other treats to help get you through exams.  Look for the cookie table by the front desk on the first floor. well before we close at 1 AM.  Yes, we are open until 1 AM!

And good luck with exams!

Public Safety Message: Please, Please, Please save your papers/assignments!

We're winding the semester down, with reading day and exams just a few days away.  It's also time for all of those last papers and take home exams to be finished up and turned in.

We had the power flicker on and off briefly today, and one of our students lost an 11 page paper.  Keep in mind that the PCs in the library have software that wipes any new files (or settings) made while you've been logged in.  Any saved files are deleted.

Please take these precautions to keep your assignments safe:

1. Backup your files in multiple locations.  Most experts say in three places, but I recommend at least two.

2. Print out a hard copy frequently.  This serves two purposes: you have a hard copy in case your digital copy fails and the printed copy is easier to proofread.

Backup ideas: 

1. A flash drive is easy and convenient.  The problem is that they often get lost or damaged.  So I would combine it with other services.

2. E-mail: Your Coker e-mail is an excellent cloud based service.  You can use a personal e-mail account if you prefer, but it works the same.  Every few minutes, e-mail yourself a copy of the paper you are working on.  Keep in mind that "sent" e-mails are also kept separately, so even if you accidently delete an e-mail with a copy of your assignment, it probably will still be available in the "sent" folder.

3. True cloud services like Dropbox.  Dropbox is a great, free, storage service available from many different devices and computers.  The desktop client can be installed on your personal PC (or Android, iOS, or other device) and acts as a Windows (or Mac and Linux) folder.  It can be your default save location - so each time your document Autosaves, it saves into your Dropbox folder.

Good luck and keep your stuff backed up!

Writer's Studio Hours - Spring exams 2013

With exams right around the corner, Dr. David McCracken, Interim Director of the Writer's Studio, passes along the following hours during Reading Day and exams:

The Writer's Studio will be open from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. during reading day (May 8) and final exams (May 9-May 14).

 

The Writer's Studio will not be open on Sunday, May 12.

The Writer's Studio is located on the second floor of the LITC and can help you with all facets of writing - from outline to citations.

Food For Fines Returns May 1st

Our Food For Fines Program will start on May 1st, and run through Friday, May 17th.

It's simple: bring a nonperishable food item for credit towards overdue fines.  Earn $2.50 in credit towards your fines, per item.  Bring 4 items and get $10 off, and so on.

If you have any questions, please ask the circulation staff or call 843-383-8125.

Picture courtesy of Flickr user kimmyha.

World Book Night

We'll be participating in World Book Night on April 23.  From their website:

World Book Night is an annual celebration dedicated to spreading the love of reading, person to person. Each year on April 23, tens of thousands of people go out into their communities and give half a million free World Book Night paperbacks to light and nonreaders.  In 2013, World Book Night will be celebrated in the U.S., the UK, and Ireland.

World Book Night is about giving books and encouraging reading in those who don't regularly do so. But it is also about more than that: It’s about people, communities and connections, about reaching out to others and touching lives in the simplest of ways—through the sharing of stories.

World Book Night is a nonprofit organization. We exist because of the support of thousands of book givers, booksellers, librarians, and financial supporters who believe in our mission.  

Set for April 23 each year to honor Shakespeare’s birthday, World Book Night was successfully launched in the U.K. in 2011, and World Book Night was first celebrated in the U.S. in 2012. Thank you to our U.K. friends for such a wonderful idea!

We will be giving away 20 copies of  Montana Sky by Nora Roberts:

When Jack Mercy died, he left behind a ranch worth  nearly twenty million dollars. Now his three daughters—each  born of a different mother, and each unknown by the others—are gathered to hear the reading of the will.

But the women are shocked to learn that before any of them can inherit, they must live together on the ranch for one year. For Tess, a screenwriter  who just wants to collect her cash and get back to Hollywood, it’s a nightmare. For Lily, on the run from her abusive ex-husband, it’s a refuge. And for Willa—who grew up on the ranch—it’s an intrusion into her rightful home.

They are sisters…and strangers. Now they face a challenge: to put their bitterness aside and live like a family. To protect each other from danger—and unite against a brutal enemy who threatens to destroy them all.

Information Literacy Fair

We're having a couple of different Information Literacy Fairs over the next week or so, in order to test our students' information literacy ability.  Each student that takes the test will receive a free drink voucher from Java City Cafe, and all test takers will be entered into a drawing for Wal-Mart gift card.

We'll have a fair from 9-3 PM tomorrow, April 2nd, and 3-9 PM on April 9th.  The test can be taken anytime before April 30th, but you will need a unique identifier (a code) to enter into the testing website.  Stop by the Circulation Desk for the code and more information.

EBSCO A to Z Scheduled maintenance tomorrow

From EBSCO:

EBSCO will be performing scheduled maintenance from Friday 22 March at 11:00 PM to Saturday 23 March at 3:00 AM Eastern Time (23 March, 03:00 – 07:00 GMT) on our e-journal full-text access servers.

I know you all LOVE looking for full text journal articles late on a Friday night/Saturday morning, so I HAD to share this service outage with you.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

New Yorker Cartoons coming soon to ARTstor

ARTstor has reached an agreement with magazine publisher Condé Nast to provide access to 25,000 images from the New Yorker, Condé Nast Archive of Photography, and selections from the Fairchild Photo Service.

From ARTstor's blog:

ARTstor has reached an agreement with Condé Nast to share 25,000 images of cartoons from The New Yorker, highlights from the Condé Nast Archive of Photography, and selections from the Fairchild Photo Service.

The images in these collections will be of great assistance in teaching a myriad of subjects like history, literature, and fashion. The New Yorker’s cartoons are legendary for their incisive wit and for shedding light on the dominant topics of every era, from the Depression to the Internet. The magazine’s cartoonists include renowned figures like, Peter Arno, Roz Chast, Otto Soglow, William Steig, James Thurber, and Gahan Wilson. The Condé Nast Collection, containing images dating back to 1892, represents one of the world’s greatest collections of magazine photography, encompassing fashion, celebrity, and lifestyle photography from publications such as House & Garden, Glamour, Vanity Fair, and Vogue. The Fairchild Photo Service, comprised of more than three million photos gathered over six decades, is the fashion world’s preeminent image gallery.

Condé Nast is home to some of the world’s most celebrated media brands. In the United States, Condé Nast publishes 18 consumer magazines, four business-to-business publications, 27 websites, and more than 50 apps for mobile and tablet devices, all of which define excellence in their categories. The company also owns Fairchild Fashion Media (FFM), whose portfolio of brands serves as the leading source of news and analysis for the global fashion community. Condé Nast has won more National Magazine Awards over the past ten years than all of its competitors combined. 

Look for these new additions in the next few months.

Spring Break is Upon Us.

Our Spring Break hours begin this weekend!

We will be closed Sunday, March 10th and Saturday, March 16th.

Next week, (Monday - Friday) we will be open from 8:30-5 PM.  We will not have regularly scheduled reference hours, although there will be librarians available for reference consultations.

The library staff wishes everyone a safe and restful Spring Break.  Finals will be here before you know it!

Photo courtesy of Flickr user randikausen.

Editor's Note: Never, ever search Google Images for "college spring break," unless you have SafeSearch enabled.

Undergraduate Research Prize

We would like to give you $500.  But you'll have to earn it.  We are having our first annual Library Prize for Undergraduate Research!

From the Research Prize Libguide:

The Library Prize for Undergraduate Research is established to  encourage  the  use of Library resources, to enhance the development of  library research techniques, and to honor the best research projects produced each year by Coker College undergraduate students. One project will be selected to win $500. The winning entry will exhibit: originality, depth, breadth, sophistication in the use of library collections; exceptional ability to select, evaluate, synthesize,  and utilize library resources in the creation of a project in any media; and evidence of personal growth through the acquisition of new found knowledge. If no deserving research project is submitted, the Prize will not be awarded. The student who submits the winning project will be recognized at the Spring Honors Awards Convocation & Reception.

 Do you have what it takes?  Entries are due March 25th at 5:00 PM!

For more info, head here: http://libguides.coker.edu/libraryprize

Discover Languages Poster Contest

We're down to the top ten finalists for the Discover Languages Poster contest!

The posters are on display in the first floor atrium.  Each poster is numbered.  Vote for your top choice at the circulation desk!

Thank you and good luck to all of the finalists!

Study and Media Room Availability

It's that time of the year again - midterms!

Please keep in mind that all of the study rooms are extremely busy this time of year.

We have instituted a two-hour time limit this semester on all study rooms.  Of course, if no one is waiting for a room, you are welcome to renew the key for another two hours.

You can check study room availability here: Study Room Availability

Also, the three media rooms can be booked in advance -  so reserve your time now here: http://coker.libcal.com/

If you have any questions, just stop by the circulation desk, e-mail, or call us.

Picture courtesy of highschoolmemes.com.

Picture of the Moment

Cherry Blossom Trees outside the LITC.  Spring springing soon...

New Books list updated and other news!

Well, the spring semester has sprung and we are into our first full week of classes.  The reference desk is now staffed from 2 PM until 9 PM Monday through Thursday, and by appointment or drop-in on Fridays.  Chat and text reference are back online as well!

Our New Books spreadsheet has been updated.  I apologize for letting almost eight months lapse since the last update!  All of our new items can be found here.  The link is also available from the library homepage.  Note that it's on Google Docs, so you can import it into your own Google Drive account and track it from there.  Yes, the library has been using Google Drive/Docs for over three years now.  We're really trendsetters.

ARTstor will be undergoing an upgrade tomorrow morning from 9 am to 1 PM Eastern Time.  Users will be able to access ARTstor, but may experience slowness.

Last, but certainly not least, we would like to give you $500.  Not for free, however.  You will need to win our inaugural Undergraduate Research Prize!  For more information, head on over to our Libguide for the contest rules and submission information.

Picture courtesy of Flickr user austinevan.

The Truth About Identity Protection Webinar

Back in October of last year, news broke that as yet unknown hacker stole some 3.6 million Social Security numbers and credit card information from South Carolina Department of Revenue data center.  South Carolina tax payers back to 1997 may be at risk for loss of personal information.  What does this mean exactly?  The State Library will help explain via webinar:

The South Carolina State Library has partnered with the South Carolina Department of Revenue and the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs to provide the public with information on how to minimize the possibility of identity theft. The free webinar, The Truth About Identity Protection, will address the issues of security breaches, credit reports, and enrolling in credit monitoring for South Carolinians.  Staff members from these state agencies will provide detailed information and resources and also be available to answer questions during this online session.

The State Library encourages libraries, companies, and organizations to offer sessions to your staff members or the public by registering and showing the webinar in a meeting room or computer lab.  Individuals can also participate from home via the Internet.  To register, visit the SC State Library’s calendar of events or select from dates below.

January 16, 2013 2:00-3:30pm (also may be viewed at the State Library)

January 17, 2013 6:00-7:30pm

January 18, 2013 10:00-11:30am (also may be viewed at the State Library)

For more information, contact Dr. Curtis R. Rogers, Communications Director or Jason Broughton, Outreach Coordinator, at 803-734-8666 or email crogers@statelibrary.sc.gov or jbroughton@statelibrary.sc.gov.

You are welcome to attend these free webinars individually, or you may join us in LITC 228 on January 16th from 2:00-3:30pm. 

Tutorials and Graduate School Exam Prep Tools

'Tis the season for seniors and alums to start taking various placement exams for graduate school.  Good times!  Fortunately, through the excellent Learning Express Library, there are many preparation and practice exams available - for free!  Exam prep and practice the following entrance exams:

• GMAT
• LSAT
• GRE
• MCAT
• MAT
• PCAT

The GMAT test has been recently updated, and the Learning Express Library prep guides include these new changes.  You will need to create an account to track your progress, but that is simple and free (of course).

Learning Express Library is also available to all South Carolina residents, so there may be modules of interest for friends, siblings, and parents - AP Exams, Nursing exams, and so on.  Head to SCDiscus.org for more information.

Also included in this great suite of resources are software tutorials.  Complete tutorials for Microsoft Office products, and several Adobe products like Dreamweaver and the latest edition of Photoshop CS 6 (there are older versions available as well.  Check them out here.