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.