Seeking an Excellent Instruction Librarian

IC is looking for a qualified Instruction Librarian. Apply here, search Faculty Vacancies (Position #8659). Good luck!

Final set of Scare Fair '09 pics!

The final set of Scare Fair '09 pics are available here. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Early Scare Fair '09 pics available

The first Scare Fair '09 pics are available here and here. Enjoy the party at Atkins Library today from 2pm to 4pm!

Early Scare Fair '09 Sighting!

Information Desk student Melissa Click (left) and roommate Leatha Moretz play cat and mouse in Atkins Library on Scare Fair '09 Eve.


Atkins Library. Scare Fair '09. TODAY. October 30. 2:00-4:00pm. WE UNDERSTAND IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO ATTEND. IT WILL BE SCARY.

24 Hours 'til Scare Fair '09

Atkins Library. Scare Fair '09. Friday. October 30. 2:00-4:00pm.


YOU'VE BEEN WARNED ...

You know 'em, you love 'em: The Circettes!

Who can forget last year's Halloween performance by Atkins Library's Cirquettes? Might they perform again? Stop by Scare Fair '09 at the Library this Friday, 2-4pm, to find out!

Don't Be Bewitched, Bothered And "Bewildered"

Need the definition of a word? Go to Google and type your word, for example bewilder:


define:bewilder


Voila! Alternatively, try:


bewilder definition


One of our favorite online dictionaries is Merriam-Webster. Have fun!

Finding Editorials In Newspapers

Editorials in newspapers can help you identify varying positions on controversial issues in public debate. How do you find them? View the new Atkins Library Learning Express video, How To Find Editorial Articles In Newspapers. Other helpful videos linking Library resources and your assignments are here.

Scare Fair '09 ... Herman likes this

"Hi kids, Herman Munster here, reminding you to attend Scare Fair '09 at Atkins Library next Friday, October 30, 2-4pm. It will be SCARY!"

A history of the internet: from Arpanet in 1969 to today

Today's online [London] Guardian features an interesting, interactive "people's history" marking the 40th anniversary of the Net.

Judy Walker to lead discussion of IC teaching assessments

Judy Walker, Curriculum Materials and Education Reference Librarian, will shepherd IC’s efforts as the IC teachers begin the Spring ’10 Semester-long discussion of developing a mechanism to assess and account for our teaching efforts meaningfully, beginning Fall ’10 Semester. With many years of teaching experience at UNC Charlotte, Judy is especially qualified to lead us to attain our goal.

Atkins Around the Clock!

Save the dates! Atkins Library is intending to be open 24 hours, first floor only, for four nights: from Sunday evening (night before exam week) to Wednesday evening/Thursday morning, December 13-17. The Library will provide students a place to study, including computers, security guards, and library staff to answer questions.

Deer at Atkins Library

Yet another exciting afternoon at Atkins Library ... a deer crashed into the Library's window.

Digital Lending

An interesting article in today's New York Times: “As young people become used to reading virtually everything online,” said Paul LeClerc, president of the New York Public Library, “that is going to propel a change in terms of readership of e-books rather than readership of physical books.”

NEW YouTube video: Where's IC going this year?

Check out our new video, answering where we're headed this year.

Stanley Wilder on Charlotte Talks at 9:00am today, WFAE 90.7 FM

Libraries and Books in the Digital Age - On this morning's Charlotte Talks, UNC Charlotte University Librarian Stanley Wilder will discuss the mission of University Libraries in the digital age. How are Kindles and devices like them changing how libraries operate and how they're valued by their patrons? How will the Google Book Project and other programs that digitize millions of books affect the future viability of libraries?

Easily create bibliographic citations

Preparing a bibliography for a research paper? Want to save time? Articles from the Library’s many EBSCOhost databases (such as Academic Search Premier, ERIC, PsycInfo, or CINAHL) provide the Citation Format for you. Just select the Citation button, which provides your citation in MLA, APA, Chicago, AMA, or Vancouver formats--whichever you want. Then just copy and paste the citation directly into your bibliography. It's easy! (Thanks to tipster Donna Gunter)

Black cat sighting ... it must be time for Scare Fair '09

We know Scare Fair '09 is near - Atkins Library, Friday October 30, 2-4pm. This black cat in the stacks is ready! (Photo courtesy of Lois Stickell, Tricia Kent, and black cat.)

SEND AS TXT

When using the Atkins Library catalog, use the “SEND AS TXT” function to send information about books and other items to your cell phone. It saves using pencil and paper to write down titles and call numbers. Students who have discovered it love it!

Lois Stickell's page for Government Documents

The IC's Lois Stickell has a terrific site dedicated to government documents, be they related to Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, or the United States.

Big shoutout to the IC's Angel Cox

The IC today gives a big shoutout to Angel Cox of our Technology Support group. Angel demonstrates excellence, commitment, and enjoyment to all that he does in the IC. Thanks, Angel!

UNC Charlotte Parents Day

Atkins Library was very well represented at last Saturday's Parents Day. Thanks to University Librarian Stanley Wilder, IC's Barbara Tierney and Beth Scarborough Ammon (who had just finished the Susan G. Komen Charlotte Race for the Cure!), and Heather Smith.

How do you work?

Individually and collectively, we in the IC are interested in the question: "How do you work?"

IC @ Parents Day this Saturday

University Librarian Stanley Wilder, with the IC's Barbara Tierney and Mike Olson, will meet UNC Charlotte students and parents at the beautiful new Student Union during Parents Day festivities this Saturday. (Student Union and its bookstore in background.) It's one of our favorite days of the academic year!

The IC participated today in "Tips for Working with Students with Disabilities," a workshop presented by Jo Ann Fernald, Director of UNC Charlotte's Office of Disability Services. Thanks, Jo Ann!

5 great Firefox add-ons

If you use the Firefox browser, try these 5 great add-ons: (1) Adblock Plus, (2) CustomizeGoogle, (3) Xmarks, (4) ColorfulTabs, and (5) Cooliris.

Welcome Back, Lewis, Alice, and Shannon!

The IC welcomes back Lewis Herman, Alice Mitchell, and Shannon Paul. Stop by the Research Services desk and say hi to them, beginning September 28!

Scare Fair '09 @ Atkins Library - be there if you dare!

Mark your calendars: Atkins Library, October 30, Scare Fair '09 ... the Library's SCARIEST event yet! Thanks to Scare Fair '09 organizers Ashley Heller, Somaly Kim Wu, Debbie Myers, Bonnie Newman, Lisa Nickel, Barbara Tierney and Judith Van Noate!

IC's first videocast!

IC's first videocast features Arturo Royster of Technology Support. Arturo provides a really interesting perspective as an IC student worker. He graduates with a double major in Finance and Economics in December 2009. Arturo, thanks and good luck!

Heritage Quest

If you're a genealogist, Heritage Quest features census records from 1790 to 1930, articles and books relating to genealogy, Revolutionary War era pension and bounty-land warrant application files, and records of Freedman Bank, which was built to serve African Americans.

Writing Resources Center

Students, the Writing Resources Center has a satellite office near IC. Located on the Library's Main Floor, around the corner from the Research Services Desk, WRC experts provide another set of eyes for your writing projects. Schedule an appointment today!

Looking for resources on a particular subject? Intute, created by subject specialist librarians in Great Britain, lists key websites in your subject. The site is very easy to use. Check it out!

NEW! Atkins Library Learning Express

Announcing Atkins Library Learning Express, a suite of online modules created by IC's Donna Gunter to help you with your research. Learn using quick videos about finding books and articles in library databases. You may want to start with Atkins Library As A Learning Commons for an introduction to the IC services available to you.

EndNote Web is the web version of EndNote, a bibliographic citation management tool for researchers. Keep track of your research, organize references, format bibliographies, and share your research online. Register for a free Endnote Web trial. EndNote Web enables you to access your EndNote folders from anywhere you have access to a computer. Use EndNote Web when you’re traveling or share your citations with colleagues in your field.


Questions? Contact Somaly Kim Wu.

2009 Atkins Library Departmental Information Exchange

IC’s Beth Scarborough has organized the 2009 Atkins Library Departmental Information Exchange. During the next two weeks, Library faculty, staff, and students will learn about various services. Each visit lasts about thirty minutes. Featured: Architecture Library, Assistive Technology, Curriculum and Instructional Materials Collection, NASA Regional Educator Resource Center, Circulation Desk, Human Resources, Information Desk, Instruction Services, Interlibrary Loan, Research Services, Second-Floor Collections Desk, Security, Special Collections, Systems, Technical Services, and Technology Support.


Great job, Beth, and thanks to the hosts of each session!

Nominate Your Librarian

"Librarians in our nation’s 123,000 libraries make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans every day. Now is your chance to tell us why we should shine the spotlight on a librarian at your public, school, college, community college or university library. Nominate your librarian for the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award! Up to ten librarians will be honored. Each will receive $5,000 and be recognized at an awards ceremony hosted by The New York Times at TheTimesCenter in December 2009. Nominate a librarian in one of three categories: public librarians; school library media specialists; or college, community college, or university librarians. Nominations close Oct. 9, 2009. All winners will be announced in early November."


[Link contributed by Lisa Nickel. Thanks, Lisa!]

Who are this year’s college freshmen?

Since 2002, Beloit College (Wisconsin) has released an annual Mindset List, a list of items that its incoming first-year class has always taken for granted. Most students entering college for the first time this fall were born in 1991. Among this year’s 75 items:

They have never used a card catalog to find a book (item 4).
Text has always been hyper (14).
They have always been able to read books on an electronic screen (34).

Business Research @ Atkins: http://library.uncc.edu/business/

Introducing Business Research @ Atkins, a webpage dedicated to business research and information. Explore business databases, tutorials, guides and news. Have a business-related question? Contact Somaly Kim Wu, IC's Business Reference Librarian, or chat directly with Somaly using Meebo IM.

Dead or alive

IC’s Somaly Kim Wu brings to our attention an interesting tool from MIT that turns Information Commons on its head, scanning the Internet for common information about ourselves. Checking my name, one of two results was once correct (guess which one), the other thankfully incorrect.

MICHAEL P OLSON IS THE LIBRARIAN FOR GERMANIC COLLECTIONS AT HARVARD'S WIDENER LIBRARY, AND A FORMER CHAIR OF WESS

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL P OLSON WAS FOUND DEAD BY HIS UNCLE IN THE WOODS NEAR HIS HOME IN EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN

Check Personas for yourself.

Students, IC's Judith Van Noate has put together a very useful Research Guide: Basic Research Tools - check it as you prepare for your papers and first exams.

PC or Mac? Text or e-mail?

Take our new poll at the right!

Congrats to UNC Charlotte students Courtney Campbell, Chris Fitzmaurice, Tjamel Hamlin, Ashley McAlister, Anna Porter, Mayank Sharma, Roger Stone, who won prizes (gift certificates from iTunes and Barnes & Noble, Ricoh Color Printers) from the Atkins Library Week of Welcome raffle. Hundreds of students learned about the Library’s great services. IC was pleased to participate in the WOW festivities.

The UNC Charlotte community frequently praises IC faculty and staff. Here are just a few recent examples (edited for concision):


Thank you so much for your participation in our Graduate Student Orientation on Saturday. We hosted nearly 500 students during the event. We could not have done it without your help. Thank you! (Praise for Dawn Hubbs and Frada Mozenter)


I want to take a few minutes to express my gratitude to you. The IIE-Fulbright Pre-Academic Program far surpassed all of my expectations. I want to thank you for helping us to make it such a smashing success. Your sessions, Introduction to Conducting Research and Conducting Research in University Libraries and Using Electronic Databases, were two of the highest rated sessions. Your enthusiasm and energy were contagious. It was a pleasure to work with you and I hope you will continue to work with me on many future programs. (Additional praise for Frada)


Yes, that works. Thanks. You’re great! (Praise for Reese Manceaux)


Yup, these are the files. Pretty amazing. THANKS THANKS THANKS!!! Thanks for being a “pack rat” like my husband. (Additional praise for Reese)

SafeRide and IC

SafeRide offers safety escort service seven days a week, 4:30pm-2:30am, with pick-up and drop-off at the main entrance of Atkins Library (just outside IC) on the hour and half-hour. On-demand service is also available for those needing further assistance from various locations while on campus. Just ask at our Information Desk.

Printing in IC using Windows or Mac is as easy as 1-2-3: (1) when you're ready to print, establish and remember a password (Release Key); (2) go to the printers along the wall behind Technology Support (Library's first floor); (3) key in your password and swipe your 49er ID card, and your pages will print. Questions or problems, just ask us in IC!

WOW! IC is participating in Week of Welcome activities on Tuesday, August 25th. Visit the Library’s table at the Belk Tower from 10am to 2pm. Here’s the deal: We acquaint you with all our Library services, you register to win gifts from Ricoh, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes. See you tomorrow!

UNC Charlotte has a new branding campaign called Stake Your Claim. It's a great message for our students, especially for those students starting their academic lives at UNC Charlotte today. We in IC are ready to help! Call us at 704.687.3959.

IC’s Digital Media Studio, located on the first floor of Atkins Library, is a great resource. Our Technology Support staff provides varying levels of support for Digital Audio and Video Editing (Garageband, iMovie, Logic Express, Final Cut Express), Graphic and Web Design (Microsoft Publisher, iWeb, Adobe Creative Suite 4, Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver), Scanning, Analog Conversion and Dubbing. Stop by or call us at 704.687.3827.

So, just what is Information Commons anyway?


UNC Charlotte’s IC offers several types of social spaces that foster individual and collaborative work. Located on the first floor of Atkins Library and equipped with integrated information and technology services, our department provides environments in which students can most directly address their learning needs. Whether speaking about our Research Services and Technology Support desks or the Information Desk and the Digital Media Studio, about Group Study and (new!) Presentation Practice rooms or individual PC and Mac workstations, about increasing students’ information literacy in the form of the First-Year Writing Seminar or the Writing Resources Center (located in IC spaces)—our IC is meant to provide students a seamless experience in which they can access the tools to skillfully manage and produce relevant knowledge.

Several of us in IC attended the 2009-2010 UNC Charlotte Convocation yesterday. Click here for Chancellor Philip L. Dubois' remarks.

If IC hosted Gaming Night, which events would interest you? Take the poll at the right.

New Service for UNC Charlotte Students!
Presentation Practice Rooms Now Available


Atkins Library now offers technology enhanced rooms where students can rehearse class projects and research presentations. Each room features the same “smart podium” that is also installed in many classrooms across campus. Students can practice assignments including PowerPoint slide shows, streaming video and DVDs, or access to the Internet and electronic databases – all in one place. Click here for additional information.

The calm before the storm, as UNC Charlotte students return for classes the week after next. IC's instructors are all prepped and ready to go (we love storms!). A recent YouTube presentation describes two IC goals for the new academic year: increasing students' information literacy, reaching as many students as we can.

Follow the IC on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/InfoCommons.

Hello! I'm Mike Olson, Associate University Librarian for Information Commons at UNC Charlotte's J. Murrey Atkins Library.

On behalf of my colleagues in the Information Commons department (IC), today we introduce a blog, the IC, which is intended to promote IC services. We hope our ideas will be of interest not only to the UNC Charlotte community but also to other audiences interested in information literacy, trends in higher education, and technology.

It's a great time to be at UNC Charlotte. Stanley Wilder started his new position as University Librarian less than two weeks ago; everyone in Atkins Library (right) looks forward to working with him. Our new Student Union houses luxurious dining and meeting facilities as well as a magnificent bookstore. And our student enrollment will increase to more than 24,000 in the 2009-10 academic year.

We'll provide plenty of posts on this blog. Please subscribe to the IC and comment away!