Reference (RSS)

Articles dealing with reference-related issues
Friday, April 17, 2009 11:36 AM

Students Being Hired for New Information Commons

Students are now being hired for Fall 2009 employment in the new Information Commons which is being developed. Any students interested in emerging technologies, rich media, research skills, and excellent customer service are encouraged to visit http://www.butler.edu/infocommons for more information and to apply. (Copy and paste the link into your browser.)

Mission
The mission of the Information Commons is to provide support for Butler University students in the discovery and creation of information, especially focusing on rich media creation, technology assistance and training, and research assistance.

Description
The Information Commons is both a physical space and virtual space. It comprises the Reference area and Education Commons in Irwin Library, the Instructional Technology Commons in Jordan Hall, and the online environment of information technology and knowledge media. The Information Commons is a place for Butler students, faculty, and staff to get access to information, knowledge, technology, and research assistance to aid them in their pursuits of discovering and creating information.

posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Monday, November 17, 2008 5:36 PM

The Library is Coming to YOU!

Need help doing research for that final paper?

Having trouble formatting your bibliography?

Well, don't worry because the Library is coming to you!

Librarians will be providing research assistance in Ross Hall on Tuesday, December 2 from 7:00-10:00 pm and in ResCo on Sunday, December 7 from 7:00-10:00 pm.

Stop by with your research questions and pick up a flyer about CRAMMAJAMMA, when Irwin Library will be open all night!
posted by elutz with 0 Comments [Edit]
Thursday, October 30, 2008 9:35 AM

Groups in the Library

Do you have a group project to work on? The libraries are excellent places for this work. Rather than take up lots of space in the main "computer lab" areas, the libraries encourage you to make use of the spaces that have been designed for group work.

The Science Library has four small group study rooms upstairs. There are no computers in these, so if you need one, you can either bring your own or check out a laptop from the Circulation Desk. There are also two computers across from the Circulation Desk specifically for groups to use.

In Irwin Library, there are three computers on the main floor that are designated as Group Workstations. Downstairs there are a couple more. You can also check on the availability of room IL119, our library instruction room, which is available when a class session has not reserved it. Group study rooms are available downstairs and on the second floor.

If you have any special needs or requests, please stop by the Circulation or Reference Desks or use the Ask A Librarian link on our website.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Friday, July 25, 2008 10:39 PM

Butler Libraries obtain Citation databases (Web of Science)

Butler Libraries has subscribed to the following Web of Science, Science Citation databases:

Science Citation Index
Social Sciences Citation Index
Arts & Humanities Citation Index

The Libraries obtained backfiles to 1999, and plans are to add more backfiles in future years.

The power of these databases resides in being able to track who is citing whom and how often articles are being cited, resulting in an article's impact within a field.

To access these databases go to:  www.butler.edu/library and select 'Databases'

For assistance in learning how to navigate these research databases, contact the Butler Libraries Reference Services:

Irwin Library:  940-9245
Science Library:  940-9401

or

www.butler.edu/library/ask


posted by sneal with 0 Comments [Edit]
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 9:10 PM

Career-Related Resources

Irwin Library has a collection of career resources in print and online that can provide you with loads of information to help you make decisions about your future. There are books about jobs in various fields, graduate schools, internships, and even how to write a resume or do well in a job interview.

There are two locations for these materials.

Career Reference
The Career Reference collection is separate from the regular Reference collection, but is in the same room. Specifically, on the right near the computers when you walk into the Reference Department. These are still Reference books, which means they cannot be checked out, but most of the time the books are used for quick reference, so they're not normally needed in that way.
The Career Collection Online
This is a collection of 100 electronic books that are available for free online through NetLibrary. The books are all in PDF format, so you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them. Topics include resume writing, job hunting, interviewing, and more. Just select a book then search within it for a keyword related to what you need to know. Or start at the beginning and read through it like any other book.
If you have any questions, please stop by the Reference Desk or Ask A Librarian.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Thursday, January 31, 2008 8:37 PM

Student winners of Project SAILS assessment

A congratulations goes out to students:

Emily Stewart
Jarron Lincoln

who won the Project SAILS Assessment drawing being held in conjunction with students who are participating in the Project SAILS (Student Assessment of Information Literacy Skills) test.  To better understand students' research skills, the Library is conducting this 30 minute, multiple-choice test in selected first-year and senior level classes.  The aggregate data obtained from this assessment will help the Library determine future directions with classroom library instruction and reference services. 

A thank you goes out to all the students who have taken the test and to the faculty who have allowed us to conduct the test in their classes or via outside class participation. 

Congratulations winners!  We will have two more drawings announced when the test closes, February 8.

-Sally Neal
Assistant Dean for Public Services
posted by sneal with 0 Comments [Edit]
Monday, December 03, 2007 6:39 PM

Creating a Works Cited List

We're quickly approaching the end of the Fall semester and due dates for papers and projects. This is the time of the year when people are finishing papers and suddenly needing to know how to reference their sources for the "Works Cited" page at the end of those papers. Fortunately, the Butler Libraries have provided some guides to help you get everything in the right order and formatted correctly.

Just visit http://www.butler.edu/library/?pg=544 and pick the style you need. Whether MLA, APA, Chicago, Turabian, or other more specialized formatting styles, we've got them all, complete with examples for books, articles, electronic sources, and other types of media.

You can also get to the Citation Guides by going to the main Library webpage, http://www.butler.edu/library, and clicking on Citation Style Guides (listed in the Research column).

If you need more detailed examples than what are provided on our website, stop by the Reference Desk and grab the complete manual. You're also welcome to Ask a Librarian for assistance with citations.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Tuesday, September 19, 2006 7:56 PM

Scanner Available in Reference Dept.

The Reference Department in Irwin Library now has a flatbed scanner available for your use. It is connected to the lab computers on the end of the row opposite the printers. It is labeled Multimedia Station. This is the same computer that has the CHOICES III database and is on a wheelchair-accessible table.

Instructions for using the scanner are available at the workstation and you are also welcome to ask at the Reference Desk.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Monday, September 18, 2006 10:21 AM

More Computers in Reference Dept.

The computer lab in the Reference Department of Irwin Library has finished its reconstruction!

Reference shelving has been moved, new computer tables have been added, new wiring systems have been installed, a new switch has been added to increase our wired network connectivity, and now we've added additional computers. That brings the number of lab computers available in the Reference Department up to 25! With an additional three computers on the first floor that are specially designated for groups. And six other computers located throughout the other floors of Irwin Library.

All these computers still print to IL_120_1, which is the pair of printers in the Reference Department.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Tuesday, September 05, 2006 12:54 PM

Reference Books and Shelving Moved

The books on the shelves in the Reference Department are all back up and ready for your use. The shelves have been moved and the books have been rearranged, so please take a minute to familiarize yourself with where things are now.

The shelf labels on the ends of the bookshelves are accurate, so you can easily find the materials you need. If you have any questions or problems finding anything, please ask at the Reference Desk.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Thursday, August 24, 2006 11:01 AM

Reference Dept. In Transition

During the next couple of weeks, the Reference Department and its accompanying computer lab will be in transition.

We are doubling the number of computers available and changing how the computer tables are arranged. The bookshelves will also be rearranged over the next couple weeks, providing easier access and more efficient space usage. In the meantime, though, there may be a little mess or disorganization. Please be patient as we make the Reference Department a more user friendly and welcoming space.

Thank you.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Thursday, August 17, 2006 1:47 PM

Reference Desk Service Begins

The Reference Desk in Irwin Library will be staffed beginning August 23, the first day of classes, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. This schedule will also apply to Thursday and Friday of that week.

Evening Reference service will begin on Sunday, August 27. As of that day, the regular schedule will be as follows:
Sunday:   5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Monday - Thursday:   10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Friday:   10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday: CLOSED
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Friday, August 11, 2006 11:11 AM

New Computer Tables

The Reference Department at Irwin Library is pleased to announce that they are purchasing new computer tables for the computer lab area. These tables are curved and provide a new look for the area that is light and modern and more conducive to group work. They are similar to this picture but they are oak instead of grey-colored, and they will only have two computers per half-circle, allowing for more flexibility with small groups.

A few have already been installed, but more will be coming over the next few weeks. We hope you enjoy them and find them even more helpful for your work in the library.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Thursday, April 13, 2006 9:56 AM

Printing Station in Reference

The Reference Department has set up a new printing station near the two printers. This table is for storing print jobs that were not immediately picked up and is also for equipment like the three-hole punch, stapler, heavy-duty stapler (40-90 pages), and tray for scrap paper. The recycle bin and garbage can are right next to this table, so all your printing needs can be handled in one place, while at the same time helping eliminate the crowds digging through the piles at the printers.

As always, print jobs that are not picked after one hour will be recycled (2-sided printing) or put in the scrap paper tray (1-sided printing).
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Friday, March 24, 2006 4:02 PM

Career Resources

Students graduating may want to peruse the Career Subject Resource Guide:

http://www.butler.edu/library/research/srg/career.html

It is a complete list of all our career resources. Better still, most titles can now be checked out by students.

Brad Matthies
bmatthie@butler.edu
posted by bmatthie with 0 Comments [Edit]
Thursday, March 23, 2006 5:17 PM

PRAXIS Tests guides and practice tests for education students


If you are an education student who neess to prepare for the Praxis I PPST exam or the Praxis II subject tests, try using the "Testing and Education Reference Center" available in the list under "Indexes and Databases" in the Butler Libraries' home page.  After you bring up the database, click on "Test Preparation", then on "Civil Service and Licensing", and finally on "Praxis Exams".  You will find full text online guide to the Praxis I and II tests her, and also practice tests.  You will have to register to take the practice tests, but there is no fee--the username/password is to protect your privacy and make it convenient for use to return to the practice test at a later time.
posted by rsreed with 1 Comments [Edit]
Tuesday, February 21, 2006 6:29 PM

CHOICES III Database

The CHOICES III database is still available on a computer in the Reference Department. And now there is a manual at that workstation to give you some assistance in setting up your research question, selecting columns and rows, and interpreting the results. For those of you needing consumer data about product and brand usage, this tool is just the thing.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Thursday, January 19, 2006 12:02 PM

Tax Forms Available Online

The Reference Section of Irwin Library will no longer be making printed forms available for filing income taxes. Instead, we encourage you to download the forms and booklets you need and to print out the forms that you need to mail in.

Websites for the necessary forms are:
There is also a website, through Access Indiana, where you can file your state taxes online for free. It's at http://www.in.gov/ai/appfiles/i-file/index.html. Be sure to read the "View Requirements" to make sure you meet the technological and residential requirements.

Note: Neither Irwin Library nor any of the librarians can offer legal advice or counsel. Please seek appropriate legal tax counsel if needed.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Wednesday, January 18, 2006 2:23 PM

Finding the Author of an Article

Need to find the name of an author when you don't know the name of articles they've written?

Many of our databases have Indexes where you can search and browse through all the entries they have for that field (such as Author, Subject, Publisher, or even Language). Just look for the Indexes button at the top of the screen and select the field you want to search. Then put in one or more of the letters that the name starts with. It may take some browsing through screens, but it can help you find an author when you don't know how to spell his/her name.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Tuesday, October 18, 2005 1:45 PM

Alternative Source for Journals

Did you know that the Butler Libraries have FULL-TEXT ONLINE JOURNALS available? If you've searched our catalog and can't find it listed, be sure to check to see if we have it available electronically. From the library home page, click on "Search for E-Journals." The easiest way to search is just type the first couple words of the journal title and click the "Start Search" button. If we have it available online, it will be listed, along with the date range that we have access to. Click the link by Online Holdings to get to the online version of the journal. You can browse by issue (click on the year) or "Search Within This Publication" for a keyword or author.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Thursday, September 15, 2005 6:31 PM

Finding Old Newspaper Articles on Mark Twain

Newspaper and magazine articles prior to the mid-1900s can be found in the following sources:

The New York Times Index starting in 1851.

Poole's Index to Periodical Literature starting in 1802.

The Readers Guide to Periodical Literature starting in 1890.

All indices are found in the Atrium of the Irwin Library; just left of the Reference Desk.

If you need help using these indices, or finding older articles, please ask for help at the Reference Desk!

-Brad
posted by spfitzin with 4 Comments [Edit]
Tuesday, September 13, 2005 1:10 PM

Duplex Printing Now the Default in Irwin Library!

The printers in the Reference Department of Irwin Library now feature printing on both sides of the page (duplex printing).  If you would like to print using only one side of the page, see the instructions posted next to the machines in the Reference area.

-Sam
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Monday, September 12, 2005 11:31 AM

Industry Norms & Business Ratios

To all:

Business students who are looking for industry statistics (or similar phraseology) with which to compare to a particular business (or businesses) should see:

Industry Norms & Key Business Ratios: REF DESK HF 5681 .R25 I53 03-04

Despite what students may have heard (or misinterpreted) we do not have industry norms/ratios in electronic format.

However, you can compare company to company norms & ratios in Research Insight, and to a lesser extent in Market Insight (peer group, etc.). See Business Databases.

Brad
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Friday, September 02, 2005 9:58 AM

Butler Libraries' Catalog - Keyword Search ONLY - 9/2-9/5

From 1 p.m. Fri., Sept. 2 through Mon., Sept. 5, the Butler Libraries' Catalog will provide ONLY Keyword searching. This is to allow for some fixes involving Browse searching.

You can use Keyword to search for phrases with quotation marks around the words, such as "catcher in the rye" -- if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Reference Desk at 940-9235.

-Amber
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Thursday, September 01, 2005 1:52 PM

New Printers in Reference

If you have used the Reference Department computers recently, you will have noticed that we now have two new printers! Gone are the old printers, with their problems and difficulties and slowness; now we have two FAST printers!

As referenced in a previous blog post, these printers are not only blazingly fast, but they can print duplex. You can save yourself the weight and the library the paper cost by printing duplex whenever you can. Be sure to let the printers finish printing before grabbing the papers, because sometimes it sucks the paper back in to print on the other side.

Because they print quickly and duplex, if you're looking for your print job in the pile, please remove the pile from the printer output tray before searching for yours. Otherwise you may end up getting someone else's print job out of order and mixed up with yours.

Thanks for helping us keep a useful new tool working well.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Monday, August 29, 2005 12:00 PM

Duplex Printing from Blackboard, etc.

The Irwin Library workstations now have duplex printing capability.

To clarify the process there are instructions next to the workstations which explain how to duplex print from Internet Explorer and Microsoft Office.

However, if you are trying to print a duplex copy of Power Point or Word files from Blackboard you will need to take an extra step:

1) From the "Course Documents" display in Blackboard, right click on the file (e.g., myslides.ppt or mydocument.doc) and select "Save As."

2) From "Save As" choose "Save In" and select either your desktop or your space on Bocco.

3) Now open the file and follow the instructions for duplexing.

Still having problems? Ask for help at the Reference Desk!



-Brad
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Friday, August 26, 2005 3:15 PM

Subject Resource Guides (Online & Print)

To assist your research Butler University Libraries offers a variety of Subject Resources Guides (SRG) at: http://www.butler.edu/library/research/srg/index.html

We also have print versions* of our guides in the Irwin Library. Just look for the spinner-racks near the library fountain.

-Brad
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Thursday, August 25, 2005 2:59 PM

IM Reference

Assistance is now available from the Reference Desk via Instant Messenger! You can contact the librarian at the Ref. Desk using AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) or Yahoo! Instant Messenger. For either one, the screen name is ButlerRefLib.

Got a question about the library? Need help finding an article or book? Let us know! We're glad to help; that's why we're here!

To get AIM, visit http://www.aim.com.
To get Yahoo! IM, visit http://messenger.yahoo.com.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Thursday, August 25, 2005 1:26 PM

Configuring Your Laptop to Print in Irwin

Trying to configure your laptop to print in the Irwin Library but do not know which printer to select?

Select: IL_120_1on ada.butler.edu

This is the printer that is located near the Reference Desk.

Still having problems?

Ask at the Reference Desk--we are here to help!



-Brad
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Wednesday, August 24, 2005 8:35 AM

Reference Changes

This summer the Irwin Library Reference Collection was changed.
  • Some older materials were pulled from Reference and moved to the circulating collection or the Annex (in the basement).
  • Books were shifted around and one book stack was eliminated completely.
  • The Career Reference collection was moved to the end of the Reference materials (after the Z's).
This is to help meet our Reference Goals of keeping a lean, current, usable Reference Collection, where all the materials are the best in their subject area. Rather than trying to collect everything on every topic, like larger libraries might, we are trying to provide the best of the best. That way you don't have to determine for yourself which of a dozen resources is the best to use. We've done that for you.That will mean, however, that books will not be in the same place you used to find them. They have all shifted around a little.If you have any questions, please stop by the Reference Desk or contact us at Ask A Librarian.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Tuesday, August 16, 2005 3:41 PM

The State of the ERIC Database, Fall 2005

The ERIC database overhaul is still an incomplete project as the fall semester begins.  In recent weeks, they have begun to add newer material (2004) to the ERIC site, but until Ebsco signs an agreement with ERIC, no articles or documents newer than 2003 will show up in Ebsco ERIC.  A quick check of the journals currently indexed by ERIC shows that only a small percentage of the publishers of titles previously indexed by ERIC have reached an agreement with ERIC to allow indexing of their recent issues.  For now, advise everyone to make sure that they search Professional Development Collection as well as ERIC to maximize the number of current journal articles found on education topics.  The good news is that eventually, there should be much more full text  available in ERIC.  When the contractor finally finishes adding the backfile, content should be within a month of current. I have no idea how long it will take to reach that goal.

-Renee
posted by spfitzin with 1 Comments [Edit]
Tuesday, August 16, 2005 1:38 PM

Usage Study

The Reference Department in the library is performing a Usage Study. We are trying to track what materials are used from our Reference Collection and how often they are used.

Please help us perform this study by not reshelving books that use from the General Reference or Music Reference collections. Instead, please leave them on a table for a librarian to pick up. Those books will be scanned and documented before we reshelve them.

Thanks for your help in allowing us to create a continually better and more relevant Reference section for you.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Monday, August 15, 2005 1:08 PM

Butler WikiRef

There is another new tool available for Butler faculty and students this fall. It is called Butler WikiRef. For those unfamiliar with wikis, a wiki is a collection of web pages that can be edited by anyone. Wikipedia is the most famous example of a wiki. The purpose of Butler WikiRef is to create a forum for individuals using our reference materials to comment on them.

If there is a particular database or reference book that you have found useful, please add your comments to our wiki. If you have found a resource that was helpful in a particular class, please share your recommendation with the rest of us. If a particular resource was NOT helpful or was hard to use, you are welcome to share that information also. You can even create a new page for a book or website that has not been reviewed yet.

It is our hope that Butler WikiRef will become a useful collaborative tool for all of our faculty and students. The more that people participate, the greater the value of the wiki becomes.

You can access our library wiki here: http://www.seedwiki.com/wiki/butler_wikiref/
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Friday, August 12, 2005 12:08 PM

Ask A Librarian

You may have noticed on the Butler Libraries website that we now have a link called "Ask A Librarian." This is an expansion on a function that we've had for quite a while.

If you have a reference or research question, you may now contact a reference librarian quickly and easily by using this page. Methods include telephone, email, and Instant Messenger. We are using exclusively AOL Instant Messenger for our chat service at this time. If you want to set up an AIM account, you don't need to use AOL; you just need to download the AIM client and create a screen name. Visit http://aim.com to get started.

Our screen name is "Butler RefLib" and you are encouraged to add us to your Buddy List, so you can easily contact us whenever you have a reference or research question.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Wednesday, July 13, 2005 3:27 PM

Research Assistance

If you find yourself lacking sufficient articles for your research or having any kind of difficulty with using our databases or searching for material, please remember that the Reference Desk is staffed most of the day and evening on weekdays during the school year.

We can be reached at 940-0235, via email at irwinreference@butler.edu, or via AOL Instant Messenger at Butler Reflib.

Science reference assistance is available at 940-9401 or by emailing bhowes@butler.edu.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]