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Do you know laptops can now leave the library?

30 Tuesday Apr 2019

Posted by Sarah Uthoff - Trundlebed Tales in Uncategorized

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Library Newsletter, Newsletter

As of this spring, students can now check laptops out of Kirkwood’s Cedar Rapids library. In response to a few requests we’ve changed our policy and students are no longer restricted to only using our laptops within the library. Laptops can be checked out for the day. They must be returned 30 minutes before the library closes. Students must bring their EagleCard and sign a laptop usage agreement.

The Iowa City Kirkwood library will continue with their policy to let students check out laptops for use anywhere on the Iowa City campus for four hours.

These are the same laptops that have been available for check out within the library. Make sure you save any files on a flashdrive, e-mail them to yourself, or upload it to cloud storage because anything saved on the laptop will be wiped once you log out or power off.

Laptop Kit for Library Check-Out

Some Articles to Read

Become a Better Online Teacher

New Iowa City – Kirkwood Campus – Cedar Rapids Bus Route Continues

We just got in a couple of new books I want to make sure everyone on campus knows about. With everything going on at campuses around the country, this provides a thoughtful heads up.

13 Ideas That Are Transforming the Community College World, Edited by Terry U. O’Banion, Call Number: 378.1 T447

Universities, Pedagogical Encounters, Openness, and Free Speech: Reconfiguring Democratic Education by Nuraan Davids and Yusef Waghid, Call Number: 378.68 D251u

Kanopy Film Database Temporary Change

Due to budget constraints, films from the Kanopy database will not be immediately available for use between Monday, May 13th and Monday, July 1st. Instead all Kanopy film requests will be manually approved for purchase by the library. This means your new film requests could take 24 to 48 hours to be fulfilled. Once purchased by the library you’ll have continued access.We are letting you know now so you can plan ahead, especially if you are teaching summer classes. If you have a list of videos that you want to know this summer, we’ll be glad to purchase titles not available. After July 1st, we will go back to the immediate access model.

Please note that this does not affect films in the Films on Demand database.

Extra Hours

Remember the Cedar Rapids library extends hours between now and the end of Finals.

Also the library reserves an extra classroom week days between now and the end of Finals for student group use. Ask at the reference desk for the room number of the day.

Links to Some of The Books Recently Added to the Collection:

We get a lot of questions on copyright, you may want to check out:

Copyright: What Everyone Needs to Know by Neil Weinstock Netanel, Call Number: 346.04 N469c

All Iowa Read – Finalists

Culture Smart Series – Learn about other countries

Earth Day Books

New Popular Books

Odds and Ends 53

Odds and Ends 54

Our Special Display This Month

Eggbert Won Our Mascot Name Vote

Earth Day

Magnet Poetry on the White Board

EVENT

We Celebrated National Library Week 2019

New History Page in Honor of National Library Week

Exam Cram – Your Kick Off to the Finals Study – Cedar Rapids Library and Tutoring Services – April 25, 2019 – Look for next semester’s!

EVENT – SPECIAL HOURS

The library will start its extra long hours for finals starting Sunday, April 28, 2019. Check here for the details.

Want a Specialized LibGuide for an assignment to help your students find stuff?

Click Here

Want to schedule time in the library or for us to come into your class?

Click Here

What if the library doesn’t have a book you want?

Click Here

And remember you contact us at the library any time by phone, e-mail, chat, or stop on by! We’re always glad to see you! Look for the next issue of our newsletter. And remember you contact us at the library any time by phone, e-mail, chat, or stop on by! We’re always glad to see you! Look for the next issue of our newsletter.

Do you know about our debate/persuasive resources?

04 Monday Mar 2019

Posted by Sarah Uthoff - Trundlebed Tales in Uncategorized

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Kirkwood Community College Libraries, Library FAQ, Library Newsletter, Newsletter

In a persuasive speech or paper you tackle a subject that has people with strong opinions on two sides, pro or con, real or fake, etc. While our basic academic databases (Gale, EBSCO) are still a good place to start, we also have materials that specifically argue both sides of issues. Picking a subject other than the old standbys (like abortion and the death penalty) leads to much better project. Here are some great ways to find one.

Both library locations have a collection of debate books. These books are from multiple series (Opposing Viewpoints, Current Controversies, At Issue) and contain persuasive essays on both sides of an issue. We just refreshed the collection and it’s an especially good place to browse if you still are looking for a broad topic or need help narrowing down a subject. In Iowa City these books circulate, in Cedar Rapids they don’t, but you can make photocopies.

Browse these recent additions to our Cedar Rapids Debate Collection for suggestions on recent topics.

Cedar Rapids Debate Book Collection

Our Debate Books

Our main online resource for persuasive speeches/papers is Opposing Viewpoints. This database not only includes the persuasive essays from the Opposing Viewpoints books (the database calls them Viewpoints), but also articles from academic journals, statistics, archives from NPR, news stories, recommended websites, and sometimes even videos.

Top Bar of Opposing Viewpoints

A second database useful for persuasive speeches/papers is CQ Researcher. This database was originally designed for the sole use of Congress, but it now gives access to whatever institutions are willing to pay for it. For each topic it includes history, an overview of the current situation, a chronology, a pro/con section like Opposing Viewpoints, etc. It’s great for deep background and as another place to find topics. As a warning, watch the date of individual reports, if the subject is presented just a little differently when they update they will often leave both reports in instead of replacing it. Also their Hot Topic pieces that are always up to the minute are shorter and don’t have all the elements of the longer reports. To just browse their Pro/Con section select “Pro/Con” from the drop down menu under “Browse Reports.”

Top bar of CQ Researcher

 

 

Kirkwood Library Services Has a New Mascot!
Vote for his name! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/92R3RRH

Check out this article – How well do you understand your online students?

Weather

When the college campus closes so do both Kirkwood library locations. We do are best to maintain regular open hours if the campus doesn’t close, BUT there will be times – especially on weekends – when the library is the only thing open on campus and so the college doesn’t officially close. During those times, for the safety of staff and students, the library may close without an official college closure. As soon as possible we try to post any such closures on our Facebook and Twitter channels, but while extreme weather persists PLEASE call ahead before you make a special trip. If no one answers, we’re not here.

In Cedar Rapids 319-398-5697
In Iowa City 319-887-3613

To keep current with official college cancellations, closures, or delays make sure you’ve signed up for the Kirk Alert system.

Info to Know

Check out all these services available around campus. Did you know about all of them?

Links to Some of The Books Recently Added to the Collection:

Biography Spring 2019

Holocaust Books 2019

Washington’s Birthday aka President’s Day

Odds and Ends 51

Odds and Ends 52

Very Short Introduction Series 2019

What to Read – Recommendations from Library Staff

Our Special Display This Month

Women’s History Month
Learn more at this special website from the Library of Congress

Our Database of the Month

A to Z World Food

Research Tips

Untangling Copyright Links – from our Collaborative Learning Day program

Want a Specialized LibGuide for an assignment to help your students find stuff?

Click Here

Want to schedule time in the library or for us to come into your class?

Click Here

What if the library doesn’t have a book you want?

Click Here

And remember you contact us at the library any time by phone, e-mail, chat, or stop on by! We’re always glad to see you! Look for the next issue of our newsletter. And remember you contact us at the library any time by phone, e-mail, chat, or stop on by! We’re always glad to see you! Look for the next issue of our newsletter.

Do You Know About Saving on Kirkwood Computers?

15 Wednesday Aug 2018

Posted by Sarah Uthoff - Trundlebed Tales in Uncategorized

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Do you know, Library Newsletter, Newsletter

This is a shock to many students, but there isn’t a way for a student to directly save on the Kirkwood system. Unfortunately a folder icon with their name does show up in the top left hand corner when they log in. It is not clear to the uninitiated that this doesn’t mean they have a folder.

Whenever you log out of a student use computer it wipes clean anything that was saved to the computer while you were logged in. So anything saved on the desktop or documents folder is gone!

If you’re using a Kirkwood machine as a student please e-mail it to yourself, save it on a flashdrive, or save on an online web based service such as OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.

Faculty PLEASE remind students of this fact. We get students who can’t believe they’ve lost papers on a regular basis.

 

We have a few of extra things to mention this month.

First, we’d like to remind everyone if you’re planning on having a library instruction session please let us know so we can get it on our schedule to make sure you get your first choice of date and time.

Second, another reminder, the library puts copies of textbooks on reserve, but ONLY the ones that faculty and departments give us. If you have an extra copy of a book you use in your class, please bring it by or drop it in campus mail.

Third, we didn’t get a report put out about the faculty survey we took this spring. We’ve got a report ready, but want to give everyone a little time to get back and into the semester before we give you something else to think about. We will be doing another Info to Know post the first week of school so be sure to point it out to your classes.

Fourth, watch for more information later, but we’ve added a database of modules to use for flip teaching Information Literacy with your class. You can choose which modules to use and skip the others. Quizzes are set up as Talon objects so they can add scores directly to your gradebook.

Welcome to Our New President

President Lori Sundburg introduces herself to Kirkwood.

Chronicle of Higher Education Articles

5 Things Community Colleges Can Do To Help With Student Success

https://twitter.com/DanBerrett/status/992066688924508160

https://www.chronicle.com/article/the-5-tips-for-student-success/243323#.WustbO1AUCI.twitter

2 Year and 4 Year College Partnerships

https://www.chronicle.com/article/These-2-Year4-Year/243283

A-Non Chronicle of Higher Education Article with some interesting (even if not brand new) suggestions. Click to get to tweet and again to open image file so you can read it.

Hey Teachers! For all of you planning activities for the semester, here are some ideas for in-class exercises that can be applied to a wide variety of subjects & grade levels, elem to grad school! Would love to hear more ideas as well – courtesy of @uhmcte #pedagogy pic.twitter.com/XECbdE0rpm

— Kera Lovell, Ph.D. (@keralovell) August 14, 2018

Links to Some of The Books Recently Added to the Collection:

Amazon Best Books of 2017

Books for Veterans

Movies and Directors

Nature Books

Six Words to Tell Your Life Story

Sport Biographies

Odds and Ends 47

Odds and Ends 48

Odds and Ends 49

YALSA Best Books 2017

Our Special Display This Month

We’re going to do several posts this fall sharing the information that was part of our display for Kirkwood’s 50th Anniversary. This month check out our statistics.

Our Database of the Month

Our database of the month is very unique this time. Over the summer we have added Credo Info Lit. This set of modules can be dropped into any Talon class. You can do them all or just the modules you want. Quizzes are available as Talon objects and when added that way you can tell them to feed results directly into your grade book. This is an experiment this year to see if they get use and how faculty and students like them. Please give at least one module a try and let us know. For a quick introduction and for detailed instructions on how to use it.

EVENT – SPECIAL HOURS

The Cedar Rapids library is going to be on reduced hours the week of August 13 – 17. On Wed., Aug. 15th we’ll be opening at 9:30am and will otherwise be on 8am to 5pm hours all week. The Iowa City library will be open normal summers hours that week.

For the very first time the Cedar Rapids library is going to be celebrating Welcome Week. We’ll be having a special event each day to try and encourage students to figure out where the library is located during that first week. We’re doing Movin’ and Shakin’ having food during the week, offering a photo op with Sammy the Eagle on Thursday, and games on Friday. So please come by and encourage students to come too.

EVENT – NEW ADDITIONS

We now have a special children’s area in the library.

Research Tips

We’ve Added New Videos to the Library YouTube Page

Study Says Millennials Like Books

Tech Tips

Clean out your computer to start your new school year right!

Want a Specialized LibGuide for an assignment to help your students find stuff?

Click Here

Want to schedule time in the library or for us to come into your class?

Click Here

What if the library doesn’t have a book you want?

Click Here

And remember you contact us at the library any time by phone, e-mail, chat, or stop on by! We’re always glad to see you! Look for the next issue of our newsletter. And remember you contact us at the library any time by phone, e-mail, chat, or stop on by! We’re always glad to see you! Look for the next issue of our newsletter.

Do You Know About Our ELA Student Support?

27 Tuesday Feb 2018

Posted by Sarah Uthoff - Trundlebed Tales in Uncategorized

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Do you know, ELA, Library Newsletter, Newsletter

Shelves of ELA books

Kirkwood Cedar Rapid’s ELA section

One of the sections of the collection we’ve focused on this year is the ELA collection. We’ve been working with a couple of the instructors and especially Betsy Baertlein who even helped us track down two different publishers to buy from at a convention. That said it’s a much smaller press output than you would think so we’re always looking to add more. (Betsy recently gave the Kirkwood library a shout out in her article which we appreciate.)

Our books are divided into groups based on Lexile number as divided into levels by the Penguin Readers which seem to be widely used by the ELA classes. In the last year some of the ELA books have been reorganized and some of the books we used to shelve there have been moved to other areas. Previously we’d kept a small selection of higher level books to give upper level ELA students a less overwhelming selection to choose from, but following teacher requests those books have been moved to our normal circulating collection. Depending on their level, these higher level books mostly have been moved to our Popular Fiction or our Young Adult/Children’s Area.

We  are always glad to do orientations for classes. This year for various ELA classes we have done everything from library basics to book talks to very basic research.Whether you have a full ELA class or just a few ELA students, the library is here to help.

If you have a totally non-ELA class, we’re always available for orientations for you too. No matter what your subject is we’re always glad to hear suggestions for weeding and purchases from an instructor. Please let the library know if you’re interested.

 

Info to Know Spring 2018 – Services Available on the Kirkwood campus for students, faculty, and staff. Did you know about all of these?

Participate in the County Wide Reading Event – Linn Area Reads

Tax Information for Iowans

Links to Some of The Books Recently Added to the Collection:

 

What to Read Over Break – Recommendations about books to try from our library staff

Iowa Books

Self-Improvement Books

Cookbooks and Cooks

Odds and Ends 41

Odds and Ends 42

Odds and Ends 43

Picture Books on Emotional Subjects – Organized by theme if you have to match them to a novel or class assignment if you don’t see what you need, let us know.

Very Short Introduction – Do you know about this great, quick read non-fiction series?

Our Special Display This Month

Popular Fiction

Cookbooks

EVENT – Survey

Currently Kirkwood Library Services has two surveys open, one for faculty and one for students. Please check your e-mail to find the links. The more participation, the better we can serve your needs. So help us help you!

EVENT – SPECIAL HOURS

Look for reduced hours over break

Want a Specialized LibGuide for an assignment to help your students find stuff?

Click Here

Want to schedule time in the library or for us to come into your class?

Click Here

What if the library doesn’t have a book you want?

Click Here

And remember you contact us at the library any time by phone, e-mail, chat, or stop on by! We’re always glad to see you! Look for the next issue of our newsletter. And remember you contact us at the library any time by phone, e-mail, chat, or stop on by! We’re always glad to see you! Look for the next issue of our newsletter.

Do you know about the changes to our ILL system?

07 Thursday Dec 2017

Posted by Sarah Uthoff - Trundlebed Tales in Uncategorized

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Do you know, InterLibrary Loan, Library Newsletter, Newsletter

Do you know that you can borrow books and articles that the Kirkwood library doesn’t actually own? We can borrow it from another library and then loan it to you. This service is call InterLibrary Loan. This past semester our system changed so now it’s a little different in how you request it.

  1. Find a book or article in the library catalog that we don’t own. To include items not owned by Kirkwood in the results, check Libraries Worldwide in the box on the left titled Library or if your first search doesn’t bring up any hits click on the words libraries worldwide in the yellow box that pops up to expand your search beyond Kirkwood. 
  2. Click on a title to bring up the full record. This will include a list of the libraries that own it and a blue button that says “Request This.” If you are off-campus you’ll have to log in at this point with your k-number and password.
  3. Fill out the form at the bottom of the record. Only the blanks with the red stars are required. Be sure to choose the library or regional center where you want to pick it up. 
  4. Click submit.
  5. You will be contacted when your item comes in.

    ILL Shelf

    ILL Shelf

  6. You need to fill out the form for each individual item.
  7. Articles can also be requested straight from our databases. Look for a request this button. If you’re having trouble finding the request this button for a specific database, chat into the library from our homepage.
  8. If you log into to your Library Account with your k-number and password, it will show you the status of your requests and when anything you have out is due and when it comes in so you can pick it up. We will always contact you via e-mail or phone when a requested item comes in. There may be a delay of up to 20 minutes before a request you make shows in your account.  

 

Remember the Faculty Survey we posted in the spring? Check out the results.

Links to Some of The Books Recently Added to the Collection:

Biography

Information Literacy

Paranormal Books

Personal Finance

Self-Improvement

Our Special Display This Month

For Halloween we had a special paranormal/true crime display up.

In December look for a popular book display.

EVENT – National Information Literacy Awareness Month

Once again Kirkwood Library Services took the month of October to share some extra bits of information literacy.

We posted a list of books to help you learn more.

When Toys Attack Your Privacy

Spotting a Fake News Story or Website

EVENT – SPECIAL HOURS

Watch for our special longer hours the week before and the week of Finals. During finals week watch for coffee, etc. at both library locations.

Here in Cedar Rapids also have reserved an extra classroom for student use when our study rooms get full. Check the sign or ask at the reference desk.

Want a Specialized LibGuide for an assignment to help your students find stuff?

Click Here

Want to schedule time in the library or for us to come into your class?

Click Here

What if the library doesn’t have a book you want?

Click Here

And remember you contact us at the library any time by phone, e-mail, chat, or stop on by! We’re always glad to see you! Look for the next issue of our newsletter. And remember you contact us at the library any time by phone, e-mail, chat, or stop on by! We’re always glad to see you! Look for the next issue of our newsletter.

Do you know about our debate books?

02 Monday Oct 2017

Posted by Sarah Uthoff - Trundlebed Tales in Uncategorized

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CQ Researcher, Databases, Debate Books, Do you know, Library Newsletter, Newsletter, Opposing Viewpoints

Library Shelves with books with pink debate books on them

Our Debate Books Collection

Do you have to make a persuasive or argumentative speech? Do you have to write a persuasive or argumentative research paper? Or do you assign one? Do we have the both the book section and databases for you.

The most important step in researching a persuasive speech or paper is to select your topic. It should both interest you and be a topic that there are clearly at least two sides to.

HINT: Do NOT choose topics such as abortion, death penalty, etc. Everyone writes about those and your instructor would be in a much better mindset when grading your paper if you don’t make them read their 5,000th paper on one of those topics. AND you will write a better paper if it’s something that you’re at least a little bit interested in.

How do you find different and interesting topics? That’s where are debate books section comes in. It is mostly made up by two major series, Opposing Viewpoints and Current Controversies. Both series design books on a particular subject, which is then broken down to more detailed sections and then to questions for and against. Anyone of these questions would make an excellent topic. As a bonus they also give you the opposing viewpoint so you can argue against it.

The Debate books are found in a section in both the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City branches of Kirkwood Library Services. Their design makes them the easiest to browse in paper. They don’t circulate. However, we do also carry two online options.

The first is CQResearch which gives in-depth background reports that are useful for any project. You can also search for Pro/Con sections within these reports that argue both sides of an issue side by side.

The second is the Opposing Viewpoints in Context database which is put out by the same company that produces the series of books. You want to look for Viewpoints which are the same as the essays in the books. The also have direct access to a limited selection of journal articles, new articles, statistic reports, etc. which show up in a basic search. Unfortunately on the website the essays and articles aren’t paired pro and con so you may have a harder time finding the opposing viewpoint. Also, it can be hard to find all the articles within a book. Make sure you have the names of the essays from the table of contents if you want to find everything in a book online. Some recent titles may not be available online even if they are available in paper.

Ask a reference librarian if you need more help.

Close-up of a part of a shelf of debate books with pink labels

Important Notes

The Library link has returned to the bottom of the Kirkwood homepage. After moving off the page right before the semester started and staying off for a couple of weeks we were finally moved back into the second column of the list at the bottom of the page.

If you use APA in your classrooms there has been a change in how doi format. Learn more.

There has been a change in the Iowa City Kirkwood Library’s hours. They are now:
Mon-Th: 7:30am-9pm
Fri: 7:30am-5pm
Sat: 11am-4pm
Sun: Closed

Major Databases Changes came July 1st

Links to Some of The Books Recently Added to the Collection:

Agriculture and Agribusiness
Alex Awards 2016 – check out these best fiction and nonfiction books written for adults at an popular reading level
Best Books from School Library Journal for 2016 – check out these books which are a mixture of picture books and young adult books.
Collections of True Stories About Women
Culture Smart! Book Series Updates
Directors, Movies, Actors
Memorial Day Books about Veterans and the Armed Forces
Top Science Books of 2016 by the Smithsonian
YALSA 2016 Best Books for Young Adults – check out these fiction books selected to appeal to college age students by librarians who work with them
Odds and Ends 37
Odds and Ends 38
Odds and Ends 39
Odds and Ends 40

Our Special Display This Month

Hispanic Heritage Month

Banned Books Week will be September 24-30, 2017. Contact the library for a button to wear. Stop by during Banned Books Week or the week after to check out this year’s display. (See last year’s display.)

Check out this list of Cultural Events happening at Kirkwood this fall.

Our Database of the Month

Major Databases Changes came July 1st

Books and Authors

EVENT – SPECIAL HOURS

Kirkwood Campuses Closed at Noon on Fridays through July 28th. This Friday closure pattern will carry over to next summer. Dates are not yet available, but will likely run from the beginning of summer classes through the end of July next year also.

Research Tips

Librarians Wrote Articles in The Communique last year. Watch for our articles in upcoming issues.

Want a Specialized LibGuide for an assignment to help your students find stuff?

Click Here

Want to schedule time in the library or for us to come into your class?

Click Here

What if the library doesn’t have a book you want?

Click Here

And remember you contact us at the library any time by phone, e-mail, chat, or stop on by! We’re always glad to see you! Look for the next issue of our newsletter. And remember you contact us at the library any time by phone, e-mail, chat, or stop on by! We’re always glad to see you! Look for the next issue of our newsletter.

Do You Know About Our Quiet Study Floor?

04 Thursday May 2017

Posted by Sarah Uthoff - Trundlebed Tales in Uncategorized

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Book Displays, Kirkwood Community College Library Services, Library FAQ, Newsletter, Quiet Study Floor, Special hours

Are you someone who needs quiet to study? Or do you know someone who does? Check out the Cedar Rapids Kirkwood library’s quiet study floor.

Second Floor of the Cedar Rapids Library

Second Floor of the Cedar Rapids Library

Located on the second floor of the library, the entire area is meant for studying by yourself in quiet. We ask that cell phones are put on silent mode and that if you are studying with someone and need to talk, please use the group study rooms or use a table on the first floor where it’s fine to be a little louder.

Especially look for the study carrels around the outer edge behind the book shelves (on the opposite end from the stairs). Carrels are tables with large sides to block out other people and other distractions.

When the group study rooms aren’t in use by groups, individuals may also use them. – BE AWARE that groups still get priority and you may be bumped if any group of two or more people need the space. The further you locate yourself from these rooms the quieter the space will be.

Not everyone’s definition of quiet will be the same and some soft noise like paper shuffling etc. are permitted. If you feel that noise is distractingly loud or goes on for more than a couple of minutes, please notify the reference desk either in person or using the chat on the library homepage. Giving as exact directions as possible helps us try figure out who is causing the problem. If they have quieted down before we get there, we won’t approach them unless we get a second complaint.

Some of the second floor study carrels to help you isolate yourself for quiet study

Some of the second floor study carrels to help you isolate yourself for quiet study

Lots of people don’t know about flashdrives and using them on campus.

Students often don’t know the academic words you think they know, check out this study about words you should help define in your assignments.

Links to Some of The Books Recently Added to the Collection:

Earth Day

Emotional Picturebooks Update for 2017 – for when you need to tie a children’s book to an emotion or a theme in a novel

New Books: Odds and Ends 33

New Books: Odds and Ends 34

New Books: Odds and Ends 35

New Books: Odds and Ends 36

Our Special Display This Month

Women’s History Month (March)

Poetry Month (April)

Earth Day (April 22nd, but check out the display the week before and the week after)

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April)

May the Fourth Be With You – Sci Fi (May 4th, but check out the display the week before and the week after)

Event – Special Events

Exam Cram – Library Services and Tutoring Services combine their efforts to get your finals studying, tests, and projects off on the right foot. Stop by both the library and tutoring services on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Watch for the return of therapy dogs on May 4, 2017 at 11:15 am.

EVENT – SPECIAL HOURS

In the lead up to and during Finals Week the Cedar Rapids Kirkwood library will be having extended hours. Both library locations will offer coffee, hot tea, etc. See post for more details

Research Tips

How do you get research help?

Keep track of your flashdrives! And what to do if you lose them.

401 Writing Prompts

Want to schedule time in the library or for us to come into your class?

Click Here

What if the library doesn’t have a book you want?

Click Here

And remember you contact us at the library any time by phone, e-mail, chat, or stop on by! We’re always glad to see you! Look for the next issue of our newsletter. And remember you contact us at the library any time by phone, e-mail, chat, or stop on by! We’re always glad to see you! Look for the next issue of our newsletter.

Do You Know How to Use the Library Scanner?

31 Tuesday May 2016

Posted by Sarah Uthoff - Trundlebed Tales in Uncategorized

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Copier, Do you know, Kirkwood Library Services, Library Services, Newsletter, Scanner

One of the most successful technological moves we’ve made in recent years is the introduction of a scanner available to students that saves right to a flash drive/memory stick. The scanning feature is built into both copiers we have for student use.

Hand pressing control buttons on scanner

Using the Scanner

What The Scanner Does and Does Not Do

The two scanners are available to anyone with a k-number. While you are required to log-in with your k-number, scans are not subtracted from your printing ration.

There are several settings you can adjust.

It defaults to black and white, but you can scan in color. While it will SCAN in color it’s NOT a color copier.

Scan resolution ranges at preset intervals from 100 dpi – 600 dpi, but defaults to 200 dpi.

You can use the feeder to scan, but if you’re wanting to scan something double-sided you need to set it to double-sided original before you begin.

Files autosave as PDFs. You may choose to save it as a TIFF instead, but JPEG and other formats aren’t available.

Files names default as a random series of numbers. You can set to save under a particular name, but most people using the scanner don’t take the time. To find the latest thing you scanned if it’s under the number when you open the flashdrive, sort the file by date and look for the newest PDF. You can always rename them.

Directions

  • Log in with k# but LEAVE OFF k and first zero
  • Push <OK> on control panel screen
  • Push <Scanner> button on left of control panel
  • Insert flash drive into USB port on right side of control panel
  • Touch <Store File> button on control panel screen
    NOTE: While the screen where you touch “store file” looks like you should be able to send it directly to your e-mail, this feature has been disabled. You can enter your e-mail, but it won’t actually go anywhere and we often have to reset the machine if someone tries to get it to work.
  • Touch <Store to Memory Device> button on control panel screen
  • Touch <OK> button on control panel screen
  • It’s then ready to scan with the default settings. Hit the green <Start> button to begin the scan, if you want something other than the default adjust the settings before hitting the start button
  • If scanning for color, touch <Scan Settings> on control panel screen, then <Full Color>, then <OK>
  • Ask at the reference desk if you need help finding other settings
  • If feeding copies through feeder, the scanner will know when the last page went through
  • If copying by placing pages on glass, you will have 60 seconds to switch pages and hit start again if you want multiple pages in the same file. If you want individual pages in different files push the <#> key on control panel keypad after each document to break it into individual files.
  • Push the <#> key on control panel keypad when done, the copier will begin saving to the flash drive
    NOTE: Files do not actually transfer until you hit the the <#> key. If you remove the flash drive BEFORE it tells you it’s writing to the storage device and gives you the screen with the <Exit> button NOTHING will be put on your flash drive.
  • There will be a popup warning not to remove flash drive
    NOTE: The bigger the file the longer this process will take, if you’re saving a file with a lot of pages there can be some delay before the process completes. If you want documents in separate files, you have to go through the #, don’t remove, exit screen process in between each document.
  • When file is saved to flash drive, there will be a popup that it is OK to remove flash drive
  • Tap <Exit> button
  • To logout, tap <HOME> button, then <PCS Director> then <Logout>
  • Remove flash drive
  • A pdf with a long random number for a name will be saved to your flash drive

Check out our report on our latest faculty survey and how we’ve responded to the feedback.

Links to Some of The Books Recently Added to the Collection:

Best of Lists 2015 Roundup Summer Reading

Recent Additions to Popular Fiction

Business

Isis

Memorial Day

On Iowa

Odds and Ends 26

Our Special Display This Month

During May we’ve continued with our 50th Anniversary Display, finished up our Earth Day display and poetry.

During June we have a summer reading suggestions display up and keep up the 50th Anniversary Display.

EVENT – SPECIAL HOURS

Kirkwood Library Services in Cedar Rapids always extends hours during finals, our hours are shorter during the week between classes, and slightly shorter during the summer. Remember the pattern for the next time a semester ends.

EVENT

We published our 500th blog post

Research Tips

Consumer Information Catalog and its replacement

Tech Tips

How Do You Find Resume Templates Online

Want to schedule time in the library or for us to come into your class?

Click Here

And remember you contact us at the library any time by phone, e-mail, chat, or stop on by! We’re always glad to see you! Look for the next issue of our newsletter.

Do You Know About the Many Things To Do With Our Children’s Collection?

31 Thursday Mar 2016

Posted by Sarah Uthoff - Trundlebed Tales in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Children's Books, Children's Literature, Kirkwood Community College Library, Library Services, Newsletter, Picture Books

For many years our children’s literature collection has supported the children’s literature class for future teachers and other interested people. In the last few years there have been some changes you might not know about and some new uses that you should think about for your classes.

How They Are Organized

In most libraries children’s books are divided by type of book and reading ability. The books are then organized by author’s last name or series name. Books shelved by author is an accommodation in the Dewey organizational system that takes into consideration that people looking for fiction books are quite frequently looking by author.

Our collection has always been a little different in that it stuck with true Dewey call numbers for our children’s books. Under Dewey fiction books are divided up not only by author, but also by considerations such as country of origin and original publication date. The reading level of the books isn’t considered.

Chapter Book and Picture Book in Children's Section

Chapter Book and Picture Book in Children’s Section

Rearrangement

Last year we did a major rearrangement of the children’s literature collection by separating out picture books (large colorful books with many pictures and few words, normally 32 pages) and chapter books (novels aimed mostly at upper elementary readers) into separate sections. The picture books now have Easy Reading added to the beginning of their call number in the catalog and can be identified on the shelves by the blue Easy Reading sticker on the spine. The chapter books still just show children’s literature as the location in the call number. Both sections still use Dewey instead of the author, but we hope this change will make it easier for people to find the kind of books they are looking for.

Ideas for Use

Several Kirkwood instructors have been using our picture book collection with their classes in different ways. Some assignments have students analyze how children are presented with a particular type of information, others look for books to use to share information on a topic they are studying, or help analyze a theme also used in a novel they read. Picture books can be a fun way to introduce a subject or to give a short example of a certain type of story, art style, or design. Low level readers can sometimes benefit from using our picture books, chapter books, and children’s non-fiction. Using picture books with older students was popular a few years ago, but seems to be on the rise again. Get some ideas from this article or this longer article or stop by the library to talk to us about it. Check out our list of recently added children’s books below.

Links to Some of The Books Recently Added to the Collection:

Children’s Literature 2016

Design Books

Odds and Ends 25

Our Special Displays This Month

March – Women’s History Month

April – National Poetry Month

– Earth Day

EVENTS

Our Kirkwood’s 50th Anniversary Display is now up in Cedar Rapids Library Services. Look for one for the entire Iowa City campus later this year.

Heather Gudenkauf – Author Event

Research Tips

How Do You Find Just Magazines in EBSCOhost

Tech Tips

Print Your Own Graph Paper and Notebook Paper

Want to schedule time in the library or for us to come into your class?

Click Here

And remember you contact us at the library any time by phone, e-mail, chat, or stop on by! We’re always glad to see you! Look for the next issue of our newsletter.

Do You Know All The Ways To Contact the Reference Desk?

13 Wednesday Jan 2016

Posted by Sarah Uthoff - Trundlebed Tales in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Kirkwood Community College Library, New Books, Newsletter

The circulation desk may be the heart of the library where books and other materials pump in and out, but the librarians at the reference desk are the brain helping to answer questions, troubleshooting and fixing problems, and teaching classes. Need a fact like the latest estimate of the population of white tail deer in Iowa? Ask the reference desk. (Roughly 200,000 according to the Iowa DNR) Having trouble finding information on your topic and need help? Ask the reference desk. Not sure about how to do a citation in MLA or APA? Ask at the reference desk.

Main page chat

Main page chat box

You can contact the reference desk in several different ways.

  1. You can come in and person and talk to the librarians. Any time the library is open, except for 9:30 pm – 11:00 pm in Cedar Rapids, a credentialed reference librarian is available to help. Stopping by in person is especially recommended for people working on citations and is sometimes more helpful for research questions.
  2. Call into the reference desk in Cedar Rapids call 398-5697 directly or 1-866-452-8504 toll free. In Iowa City call 887-3612.

    Proquest Chat Box

    Proquest Chat Box

  3. Chat in to the librarians by clicking on the blue “Questions? Ask a librarian” box on the right side of the library website. Also find it in EBSCO at the bottom of the right hand column on any results page and in ProQuest in a slightly different format in the bottom left hand column of any results page. Please note that sometimes our IM isn’t terribly I if we’re really busy, so please be patient. The chat opens into its own tab and you can navigate away from the page you found it on without disconnecting us if you want to work on something else while you wait.
  4. You can e-mail the library at: Library library@kirkwood.edu
    The account is checked daily.

Do You Know What Librarians Can To Help Your Class?

ALL Kirkwood Passwords were reset!

Special Hours

We’re open Monday – Friday 8am – 5 pm this week. We’re closed this weekend (Jan. 16-17). On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day we’ll be open 11am-5pm in Cedar Rapids and 8am-8pm in Iowa City. Then we resume normal hours.

Links to Some of The Books Recently Added to the Collection:

Clothes and Fashion History

Odds and Ends: Number 20

Odds and Ends: Number 21

Zombie Books

What to Read Over Break

Our Special Display This Month

2015 In Review

Our Database of the Month

What does EBSCO stand for?

Event – Exam Cram

Exam Cram – Relax before Finals Week Begins, Look for it in Spring the week before Finals

Research Tips

Check out our Information Literacy posts from October

And remember you contact us at the library any time by phone, e-mail, chat, or stop on by! We’re always glad to see you! Look for the next issue of our newsletter.

 

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Kirkwood Community College Libraries

Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, IA
319-398-5696 or Toll Free: 866-452-8504
Cedar Rapids Main Campus Library Hours
Mon-Thurs: 7:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Fri: 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sat: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sun: 3 - 8 p.m.

Iowa City Campus Library Hours
Mon-Thurs: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Fri: 8 - 5 p.m.
Sat: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Visit www.kirkwood.edu/library for non-semester hours

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