Talking in the Library

Short Cuts: Video Calling with Skype or Google Plus

Long ago in the distant technological past, only the most intrepid, patient, and nerdy among us could bear the frustration involved in trying to place a video call to one person, let alone a group of them. Now, Skype and Google, among others, have removed the pain from the process, and even made it, dare I say - fun! So, check your teeth, brush your hair, clear your throat, and get ready to regale distant friends, family, or colleagues with wit and wisdom. Here’s how:

Step 1: Get accounts. You will need to make sure you and all the people who participate in the video call are signed up with the same service. Two of the most popular options in the U.S. are Skype (sign up and download) and Google Plus (this is one of many applications that Google provides when you sign up for a free Gmail account). Skype allows free one-to-one video calling, but provides group video calling with up to 10 participants only if at least one of the people on the call has Skype Premium or Skype Manager, both of which cost money. Google Plus allows free group video calling and can accommodate up to 10 participants as well.

Step 2: Get equipment. You and everyone participating on the call will need a computer or a smartphone. If you use a computer, you will need a video camera (built in or external), microphone (built in or external), and speakers or headphones. If you are a K-State student, staff, or faculty member you can borrow all the equipment you need from the IT Help Desk on the 2nd floor of Hale Library. They have six laptops with Skype pre-installed and also have six headsets with microphones. You can have the equipment for 4 hours and can take it anywhere you like.

One of six sets available from the IT Help Desk (214 Hale Library)

Step 3. Get connected. If you are using a computer, you will need to have a broadband connection to the Internet. In theory, 3G or 4G on a smartphone would work, but wifi is much better.

Step 4. Launch a video call and invite people to join you.

With Google Plus:

1. Go to https://plus.google.com/
2. Click the "Start a Hangout" button. You will be prompted to download a plugin the first time you do this.
3. Check your video camera and microphone and headset. You can change settings by clicking the gear icon. When you are ready, click the "Hangout" button
4. Click the "Invite" button to find people to invite to your hang out.With Skype:

With Skype:

1. Check your audio and video settings. You can do that by clicking "Call" from the menu bar.
2. Use the add contacts panel to find the people you want to call and add them as contacts.
3. If you want to call just one person, double click their name in the contacts list and then click "video call."
4. If you want to call several people, first create a contact group and then click "video call."

Step 5. Talk, smile, chat. Repeat.

***Both Google Plus and Skype allow much more than simply talking and listening and seeing video cam feeds. In each you can also type messages and share your screen. Skype also allows you to send files while Google Plus has several apps to enhance your hangout, including one that allows you to collaborate on Google Docs.

Know of a better way to make group video calls? Please share in the comments!

Jason Coleman

Elsevier boycott highlights academic publishing issues

A boycott of an academic publisher, joined by several K-Staters, brings to light scholarly communication issues important across the academic world. The boycott objects to three practices on the part of academic publisher, Elsevier: high prices charged for individual journals, journal “bundles” that require libraries to purchase unwanted journals in order to acquire those their campuses need at a reasonable price, and support of various pieces of legislation that restrict the free exchange of information such as SOPA and PIPA.

One less login to remember

Changes are coming next week for one of our most popular services, interlibrary loan. And unlike most changes you don't ask for in life, this one actually makes things easier for you!

What's happening?
Interlibrary loan accounts will soon use your K-State eID and password instead of a separate username and password. Coming with this changes is a new look for the logon page. If you've ever accessed library e-resources from off-campus, you'll recognize the new look!  In order to make the changes, our request systems will be offline on Thursday April 5 from 7am to noon.

Why the change?
Logging in will be simpler, with one less password to remember! It will also be more secure.

Will I continue using my current account and retain all my current requests after the change?
Yes, once you log on with the new page, you will go directly to your current account and see any pending or completed requests.

Can I share my account?
No, following campus security policy no one should share their eID and password. If you have shared your password in the past, we recommend you change it immediately.

Can I let a proxy use my account?
No. Since it would require sharing an eID and password, it will not be possible to allow others to make requests on your personal account. Faculty members may continue, however, to designate a proxy to pick up and check out materials.

Will my ILLiad bookmarks work after the change?
Yes, they will continue to work.

How can I get help with this change?
If you experience any problems accessing your account after the logon change, please contact Interlibrary Services.

Did you know?
In 2011 Interlibrary Services:

• processed 38,363 requests
• scanned 9,024 articles from journals and books in K-State Libraries
• received articles in an average of 2.37 days

Short Cuts: Welcome Public Speaking students!

Spring Break signals the final sprint of the semester –-- and we’re here to help you get the most out of it! This week undergraduate librarians and specialists are conducting back-to-back COMM 105 and 106 classes directed at finding and evaluating articles for the success of your speeches.

If you want a preview of what we’ll cover, take a look at the Class Guides --- COMM 105 and COMM 106. The two class guides are identical and have our class presentation, along with tips and links to pre-selected resources for your assignments. Some of the help you will find there includes:

• How to refine your topic (narrowing it or enlarging it to meet your interests and requirements)
• Finding keywords for your searches
• Three great databases recommended by librarians and faculty
  • LexisNexis Academic: look at the News segment 
  • Proquest Research Library: option to limit to scholarly articles, often with full text 
  • CQ Researcher: summarizes complex issues in concise reports
• Five ways to get help from us, using Ask-a-Librarian

You won’t be researching alone. This week in class you’ll be working in groups to critically compare articles to use for a speech on solutions to the national problem of student debt. Taking what you learn from that, an online assignment will guide you through the class guides and databases to extract the best sources you can find on your own speech topic.

Don’t miss this one Public Speaking students! Classes in the library are a useful tool to help you push to the finish line. See you this week!

Donna Schenck-Hamlin

Short Cuts: Spring Break is almost here! Does K-State Libraries get one too?

To our beloved students, have a care when you travel and unwind over Spring Break, traditionally the breakinest of breaks. Have a good time, but know we’re still here if you need us!

Yes, although we librarians would love to cut loose and sip drinks on a boat somewhere, we will still be providing answers to your questions throughout Spring Break, albeit on a somewhat reduced schedule. Saturday the 17th through Saturday the 14th, we’re here 8-6 M-F and 1-5 weekends. You can check out our calendar here.

"But Hale!" you might ask. "What about the Engineering Library in Fiedler?" Well, I’m glad you asked --- a full schedule from every branch is found here.

Don't you wish you were here! (retrieved from Flickr Creative Commons by kansasphoto)

So, come on in and get your research on, check out an audiobook or relaxing novel from the Leisure Reading Collection for the trip home, or text us from Cancun and ask what happens if you eat the worm. We’ll be here for you!

Dan Ireton

Take a Break

Spring Break is almost here!  Are you planning for the long drive to ???  Or maybe you are just going to sleep late for a week.  Why not stop by the Leisure Reading Collection and find a good story to read or listen to?  Or maybe you want to know more about the Republican candidates or some of the political, economic or social issues being debated.  Just check out the offerings available.  There's something for almost everyone.

The Leisure Reading Collection is located on the 2nd floor of Hale Library to the right of the entrance.  Below is a listing of some of the titles that have arrived in the last few weeks.

Short Cuts: Welcome Expos I students!

Smack dab in the middle of midterms and spring break --- here comes Expos Library Days! We are excited to see the hundreds and hundreds of you this Monday and Tuesday. And we know you’re all excited too!

To help with your Informative Memos and Investigative Reports, we’re going to be covering A LOT of information when you meet with us.

Here are some of the awesome resources that will be covered:

• Diversity Database Suite: this database connects to the theme of communities and identities
• LexisNexis Academic: this database allows you to search college and university newspapers
• Multicultural Browse Tool: this is an easy way to find books in KSU Libraries that are related to multiculturalism
• Engl 100 Class Guide: this contains specific resources for your class
• EasyBib: cite your sources in MLA using this free resource
• Ask-a-Librarian: visit us at Library Help, chat with us on IM, & more

But don’t worry. Even IF you were all paying attention to everything we said the entire time, we still don’t expect you to remember all of this. That’s why two resources on that previous list of resources are in bold --- the Engl 100 Class Guide and Ask-a-Librarian. The Class Guide contains information and links to everything we discuss in the session and Ask-a-Librarian is how you can contact us if you forget how to access the Class Guide or need extra help with your topic and paper.

Research is a discovery process that takes time, even for librarians! We’re here to help you along this research process so remember us, your friendly librarians as you dive in to that Expos assignment.

Thanks Expos I students --- have a great time this week!

Short Cuts: Take a second look at the Reference Collection

We’re back to the Reference Collection once again to highlight some interesting and useful reference books from a territory overrun with encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, anthologies, and almanacs galore.

The Big Book of Layouts
Editor: David E. Carter
Call number: HF5825 .B54 2006 (Reference Collection --- 1st floor)
For those advertising and design folks out there in need of a little inspiration, look no farther than this book. With more than 750 layout designs in colorful illustrations as well as tips and tricks for effective design, this book will get you back on the creativity track! Look for some of Carter’s other books in the main collection, including The Big Book of Design Ideas, The Big Book of Logos, and Logos Redesigned: How 200 Companies Successfully Changed Their Image, and then go forth and conquer your marketing and advertising class!

Prairies and Plains: The Reference Literature of a Region
Editor: Robert Balay
Call number: Z1251.W5 P73 2009 (Reference Collection --- 1st floor)
This behemoth of a book is the ultimate reference book. Centered on the Great Plains region of the United States, this reference book references and reviews other reference books! From encyclopedias and dictionaries to bibliographies and manuals on virtually any topic related to the Great Plains --- religion, literature, biographies, anthropology, sports, political science, geography, biology, and so on --- this reference book essentially plays the part of a guidebook, leading you to other resources that you find promising from its annotations. Kind of interesting to wrap your head around, isn’t it? Amazon has a great preview of the table of contents and opening pages. So if you’re researching any topic in the Midwest, use this reference guide to make sure you’re covering all the major resources in your topic area.

Famous First Facts: A Record of First Happenings, Discoveries, and Inventions in American History
Authors: Joseph Nathan Kane, Steven Anzovin & Janet Podell.
Call number: AG5.K315 2006 (Reference Collection --- 1st floor)
The title of this book says it all. Famous First Facts provides a comprehensive overview of discoveries, inventions, and just important stuff in American history that can be searched or browsed using subject, year, day, or personal name indexes. The 1st edition of this book was published in 1933, but this most recent 6th edition spans the years 10,000 B.C. to 2006 in its 1,000 and some pages! A reviewer explains how it's fun and easy to browse this book and that you’ll find, for instance, "the subject of 'movie' has a number of facts offered, including the first movie kiss, first made-for-TV movie, first projector patent, and first movie in Technicolor" or "May 2 lists 12 first facts ranging from the first government on the Pacific Coast in 1843, to the first Pulitzer Prize awarded to a musical in 1932, to the first First Lady to be depicted on a monument to a president in 1997" (Lindsay 2007).

Source: Elizabeth Blakesley Lindsay, (2007) "Famous First Facts: a Record of First Happenings, Discoveries and Inventions in American History (6th ed.)", Reference Reviews, Vol. 21 Iss: 8, pp.50 - 50

Art Law Conversations: A Surprisingly Readable Guide for Visual Artists
Author: Elizabeth T. Russell
Call number: KF390.A7 R877 2005 (Reference Collection --- 1st floor)
What does law have to do with art? Actually, it turns out that there is a lot that artists should be aware of with the law. No, I’m not saying that painters and photographers are criminals or anything! It’s just that when producing works of art, artists might run into questions, like about protecting works that are shown online, using models or trademarks in artwork, signing contracts and work-made-for-hire agreements, and dealing with a whole bunch of copyright issues. If you’re a student studying art, photography, graphic design, architecture, sculpture, or drawing and you hope to create and sell or market your own artwork someday, then definitely check out this book!

Encyclopedia of Research Design
Editor: Neil J. Salkind
Call number: HA29 .E525 2010 (Reference Collection --- 1st floor)
Regardless of your area of study --- engineering, communications, physics, veterinary medicine, sociology, journalism --- you’ll likely encounter research of one kind or another, whether reading a scientific study, conducting a focus group, or leading a lab experiment. This 3 volume set of encyclopedias has an alphabetical list of all terms and concepts associated with the research process. From abstract, additive law of probability, and bias, to multiple regression, sampling error, and triangulation. These reference books not only include a definition of the concept, but also provides a historical examination and graphs or diagrams when useful.

And there you have it. Another whirlwind adventure through the Reference Collection. I hope this brief glimpse gave you the courage to explore this 1st floor collection on your own or maybe with a trusty librarian by your side!

How do I cite a government document?

Citing government documents can be tricky.  They are published in many different formats, including Congressional committee reports, Federal regulations, public laws, and more.  But that should not stop you from using, and properly citing, a government document in your paper or listing it in your sources cited.  The challenges of citing a government document may stem from the fact that government entities do not always conform to standard publishing guidelines.  A title may vary, even in the same document; the copyright date may not be included; or any one of a number of other discrepancies may pop up when it’s you are trying to complete your bibliography.  Purdue’s Online Writing Lab (OWL) provides guidelines for simple government citations.  But if your sources are more complex, check these online and print options:   

Citing Government Information Sources Using MLA (Modern Language Association) StyleCensus Bureau style suggestions

MLA handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Call # LB2369 .G53 2009.  Copies located in the first floor reference collection and from Library Help on the second floor.

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.  Call # BF76.7 .P83 2010. Copies located in the first floor reference collection and from Library Help on the second floor.

Don’t forget, you can stop by the 2nd floor for Library Help or Ask a Librarian during the hours when the desk is staffed.

--sources used with author’s permission

 ~Regina M. Beard

Short Cuts: A mid-semester glimpse of the Reference Collection

It’s March! Can you believe it? Just two weeks until the beloved (and sorely needed) Spring Break, and then we’re on the home stretch to finals and, most importantly, summer. But enough of that for now. You’re probably having trouble seeing past that Sociology paper for next week!

So, in the midst of paper writing, group projects, and midterms, we thought it might be an opportune moment to take a quick glance at our print Reference Collection. This dusty (albeit useful) collection occupies the short shelves next to the main stairway on the 1st floor of Hale.

Need a source on the official language of Paraguay? The biography of Rosa Parks? An overview of 19th century inventions? A comprehensive summary of major Supreme Court decisions? The encyclopedia of endangered species? Insects of Kansas?

Sure, you could try to "Google" that info, but if your professor is asking for reputable sources and you don’t need the in-depth research of a scholarly article, then the Reference Collection is the place to go for these facts, summaries, and overviews.

It’s easy to "limit" your search to reference materials by choosing "Reference Collections" under the Quick Limits option, and then using the keyword search and entering in your search terms like "world religion," "women composers," "textile chemistry," "food science," "France and culture," "APA citation," "tourism," and much, much more!

Keep reading for a glance at just a few of our wondrous reference materials:

Careers in Travel, Tourism & Hospitality
Authors: Marjorie Eberts, Linda Brothers, Ann Gisler
Call number: G155.5 .E24 2006 (Reference Collection --- 1st floor)
Are you majoring in business, modern languages, or hotel & restaurant management with a love for travel and tourism? Perhaps your destined for a career in the tourism and hospitality fields. From information on careers for travel agents, tour guides, and flight attendants to job opportunities in restaurants, amusement parks, and state parks, this book has the potential to shed some light on our dim economy. Check out the Amazon preview.

1001 Kansas Place Names
Authors: Sondra Van Meter McCoy and Jan Hults
Call number: F679 .M38 1989 (Reference Collection --- 1st floor)
Enrolled in a course studying Kansas history like MUSIC  424 - Jazz In Kansas City And The Southwest or HIST533 - Lost Kansas Communities? This is the book for you! The book offers a unique glimpse into Kansas places as it describes the origin, evolution, and history of those place names, such as Cawker City, Wamego, Liberal, and Saline.

Pop Culture China!: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle
Author: Kevin Latham
Call number: DS727 .L358 2007 (Reference Collection --- 1st floor)
The title of this entry actually could have been Pop Culture fill-in-the-blank! because we happen to have five of the books in this series. Besides China, we have Russia, India, Latin America, and the Arab world. These several hundred page books present a current portrait of each country or region on topics not necessarily covered by scholarly databases, including sports, theater, music, mass media, cinema, festivals, and more. Besides a cultural studies or sociology class, these books would be a great reference for any student planning to study abroad in one of this locations. Google Books and Amazon both feature online previews so take a look!

Check back for more great reference titles in our next Short Cuts article!