Working Class Movement November 24, 2009

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Working Class Movement Library
http://www.wcml.org.uk/

Based in Salford in the United Kingdom, the Working Class Movement Library offers a “unique collection capturing the stories and struggles of ordinary people’s efforts to improve their world.” First-time visitors should click on the “Our Collection” link at the top of the homepage to get a sense of the holdings, which include primary and secondary materials on trade unions, politics, activists, and protests. After that, the “Galleries” section is a good place to look over, as it contains some digitized galleries of trade union emblems, political posters, and banners. Researchers and scholars will appreciate the “Catalogue” area. Here they can search the online catalogue for items that might be of use for their own work and scholarship. Also, visitors can sign up to receive their RSS feed and learn about upcoming talks, events, and conferences.

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2009. http://scout.wisc.edu/

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Setting Up RSS Feeds November 23, 2009

Email alerts and RSS feeds are great tools to help you manage your information world.  These features are available from EBSCO, OVID and other database aggregators.  If you are going to set up RSS feeds it is important for you to know that the proxy settings for our library are automatically inserted into the feed’s URL and this needs to be changed in order for the feed to work with your feed reader.  It’s an easy fix.  All that you have to do is take out the “0-” and “.catalog.georgefox.edu” from the URL in order to make it work.

Here is an example of what an original feed will look like:

http://0-rss.ebscohost.com.catalog.georgefox.edu/AlertSyndicationService/Syndication.asmx/GetFeed?guid=2238568

Eliminate the “0-” and “.catalog.georgefox.edu” so that the feed looks like this:

http://rss.ebscohost.com/AlertSyndicationService/Syndication.asmx/GetFeed?guid=2238568

Your feed should work without a hitch now.  I have had no problems using Bloglines or Google Reader for both OVID and Ebsco feeds.  You may use another feed reader.  Here is a list from EBSCO of the feed readers that work with their feeds (I was not able to find a list from OVID):

My Yahoo!
CustomReader
FeedReader
Wizz RSS
Bloglines
Pluck
Safari 2.0
NetNewsWire
NewsGator
Google Reader

APA Style Blog November 13, 2009

APA has a style blog written by the experts.  You can find tips, examples, and explanations.  The blog even covers some things that are not even in the style manual yet, for example, information on citing sources in Facebook and Twitter.  If you use APA style then you will want to bookmark this site or subscribe to the RSS feed.

Renew GFU Books Online November 13, 2009

You don’t have to drag all of your books into the library to renew them.  Do it online!  Just click on the “My Account” tab on the library website, login and you will see the items you have checked out.  Select the materials you want to renew by checking the boxes in the “Renew” column and then click the “Renew Selected” button. If you want to renew everything, click the “Renew All” button.  Please note that this applies only to items that you have borrowed from GFU libraries not Summit.

EM-DAT Database November 12, 2009

The EM-DAT database is a “global database on natural and technological disasters that contains essential core data on the occurrence and effects of more than 17,000 disasters in the world from 1900 to present. EM-DAT is maintained by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) at the School of Public Health of the Université Catholique de Louvain located in Brussels, Belgium.”  The purpose of this database is to share information about disasters for to aid in future planning.  Use the advanced search to create your own dataset, view pre-made maps, look at graphs of disaster trends, and much more.  You can also access RE-DAT, “a web-based disaster information resource network. It provides globally accessible, broad-based resources and services with a specific focus on the South and Southeast Asian region.”  EM-DAT is an excellent place to look for statistical data and a highly recommended free Web resource.

Personal Accounts With OVID Databases November 12, 2009

You have the option of setting up a personal account with the OvidSP databases.  When you are on the main page of an OVID database like PsycINFO you will see a “Personal Account” link in the upper right corner.  Click on this link and then click on the link that says “Create a new Personal Account”.  Once you have an account you will be able to save searches and set up email alerts or RSS feeds.

Oxford Journals November 3, 2009

Through GFU libraries you now have access to:

Oxford Journals
Over 200 academic and research journals covering a broad range of subject areas, two-thirds of which are published in collaboration with learned societies and other international organizations.

Here are some of the journals in the social sciences:

The British Journal of Criminology
The British Journal of Social Work
Cambridge Journal of Economics
Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society
The Chinese Journal of International Politics
Community Development Journal
Enterprise & Society: The International Journal of Business History
European Sociological Review
The Gerontologist
Industrial and Corporate Change
International Journal of Public Opinion Research
International Journal of Transitional Justice
Journal of Church and State
Journal of Human Rights Practice
Journal of International Dispute Settlement
Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory
Journal of Refugee Studies
Oxford Economic Papers
Oxford Review of Economic Policy
Parliamentary Affairs
Political Analysis
Public Opinion Quarterly
Publius: The Journal of Federalism
Refugee Survey Quarterly
Review of Environmental Economics and Policy
Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society
Social Science Japan Journal
Socio-Economic Review
Sociology of Religion
The World Bank Economic Review
The World Bank Research Observer

Getting the Most Out of EBSCO Databases October 29, 2009

Get the most out of the EBSCO databases that you use by taking a moment to set up a personal account.  It’s so simple. When you are accessing one of the library’s EBSCO databases simply click on the “Sign in to my EBSCOhost” link in the top, right corner of the screen. Next, select the link “I’m a new user” and create a username and password.  That’s it.

Once you have a personal account you can do all of this:

• create custom folders to organize all of your research
• save articles by adding them to your folder
• save your searches
• create email alerts and RSS feeds
• set up a journal alert to notify you when a new issue becomes available
• share folders and accept shared folders
• set and save personal preferences

If you need help just let me know.

Globalization Research October 29, 2009

UCLA: The Globalization Research Center-Africa

http://www.globalization-africa.org/index.php

In April 2001, the Globalization Research Center on Africa was established at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The Center was part of the Globalization Research Network, which included similar initiatives at the University of South Florida, George Washington University, and the University of Hawaii-Manoa. Today the Center continues to conduct “research on the dynamics and effects of globalization, with particular emphasis on impacts within Africa.” On their homepage, visitors can look at recent news updates (“Africa Globalization in the News”) and take a look at their signature projects. These signature projects include the “Global-Link Africa Online Curriculum”, which is a multimedia curriculum resource for thinking “about globalization and its relationship with Africa, Africans, and United States-African policy.” Users will also want to look through their recent research reports and presentations, which include works on the relationship between African nations and China and water management strategies.

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2009. http://scout.wisc.edu/

E-Reference Book for Sociology October 29, 2009

Oxford Reference Online Premium has been updated for 2009.  This includes new titles, editions, and updated article and biographical links.  There are over 5,470 new entries and over 1,600 illustrations.  One of the new titles is A Dictionary of Sociology

You can always find Oxford Reference Online on the library’s list of databases.  I have also posted this new e-book in the library’s sociology subject guide.