Early Closing on 12/16/10

DUE TO ADVERSE DRIVING CONDITIONS
SHAKE LIBRARY WILL CLOSE THIS EVENING
AT 10:00 PM 

Winter Holiday Hours

Winter Holiday Hours

Happy Holidays Everyone!

CDS OF THE MONTH - DECEMBER 2010

Vincennes University's Shake Library
Check One Out! Take One Home! Enjoy the Music!

INTERESTED IN A LITTLE METAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS?


Killswitch Engage. Alive or Just Breathing (CDM 1259)
Sepultura. Arise (CDM 1397)
Trivium. Ascendancy (CDM 1385)
Lamb of God. Ashes of the Wake (CDM 534)
Opeth. Blackwater Park (CDM 1353)
Lacuna Coil. Comalies (CDM 536)
Mastodon. Crack the Skye (CDM 1388)
Opeth. Damnation (CDM 1356)
Opeth. Deliverance (CDM 1355)
Tankian, Serj. Elect the Dead (CDM 1351)
Black Sabbath. Greatest Hits 1970-1978 (CDM 1006)
Korn. Greatest Hits (CDM 1414)
The Heavy Metal Box (CDM 1292)
Opeth. Lamentations Live at Shepherd's Bush Empire 2003 (CDM 1354)
Atreyu. Lead Sails Paper Anchor (CDM 1403)
Metallica. Master of Puppets (CDM 706)
Metallica. Metallica (CDM 1399)
Iron Maiden. The Number of the Beast (CDM 589)
As I Lay Dying. An Ocean Between Us (CDM 387)
Megadeth. Peace Sells-- But Who's Buying? (CDM 698)
Slayer. Reign in Blood (CDM 1389)
Black Sabbath. The Rules of Hell (CDM 1285)
Megadeth. Rust in Peace (CDM 1413)
Shadows Fall. The War Within (CDM 1391)

Ask at the Lending Services Desk to check out these and other music CDs and Books.

Alright Brain...It's all up to you.

We hope you had a happy Thanksgiving holiday! Now, before you panic about those three papers & four exams coming up, read our survival tips. They're short and sweet.

Our Best Advice:

Take care of your computer & files. Please, please, please for the love of all that is holy SAVE any paper you're writing on a library computer and save it frequently. Don’t walk away from a library computer without saving your files to a thumb drive, your GoogleDocs, or emailing them to yourself (or all three). The library computers don't automatically save your work, and the TempStore drives on our computers are wiped clean every night. If you lose your work, we will want to get it back for you, but we won't be able to.

When Studying or Writing a Paper:

Avoid temptation. Give yourself the best chance at success by creating a study zone for yourself now: Before finals sneak up on you. My little brother deflated his basketball one year because he knew he wouldn't be able to finish his 15 page paper without that added incentive. I personally like the method of deleting shortcuts to games from my desktop. What this means is that I am not tempted to open a game too often because I have to go into the program menu to get to it. Whatever you decide... reduce your stress by creating a temptation free zone in your study area.

The library is a good temptation free zone...If you move into the library, we ask you to please keep the headphones low enough so they don’t drive the next person crazy and put the trash in the bins to help out our janatorial staff. The library has an added bonus: personal help from a research guru (AKA your librarian). We can save you time and frustration at the best of times, and we’ve probably had more sleep these last few weeks than you have. Walk up, IM, email, or call. We're here to help.

Secret Tip

Speak with your professors. I know sometimes it's scary approaching people in authority, but believe me... they are not cops! They want you to succeed and if you make the effort to ask for help they will come through for you. The trick is to show them what you've got as opposed to asking them to re-explain the entire semester of material. So...

• Stuck on a paper? Show them what you've written so far (even a rough outline!) and they may be able to jog your mind into a coherent argument, or maybe point you to that 5th source you need in your bibliography!
• Didn't understand a lecture? Show them the notes you took or explain what you did understand. This will allow them to "fill-in-the-blanks".
• Test studying? Outline what you've focused on to make sure you're on the right track.

Anyway you look at it, asking for help shows your professor that you are serious about succeeding in their class, and they are far more likely to help you with a question if you are proactive and come in during their office hours. Bring a pen and paper and take notes while they talk.

Last Tip

Find Rest. Cooler temperatures = more sick people. That's because we are all inside and sharing more germs. Don't skimp on your sleep. Lack of sleep leads to a lower immune system and a higher chance of getting sick. Catch those Zzz's!

Source: "Alright Brain... It's all up to you." - Homer Simpson

“Thanksgiving, man! Not a good day to be my pants."

You're almost there... Thanksgiving break is just around the corner and you can do it!
Hopefully you are planning to enjoy the break, eat some great Thanksgiving food and relax. Before you head out of town, why not check out some of the cool materials we have at the library?

We have traditional fare for Thanksgiving:

Baker, James W. Thanksgiving: The Biography of an American Holiday. Durham, N.H: University of New Hampshire Press, 2009. [Call No. 394.2649 B167t 2009]

This is the first in-depth study of the most American of holidays, the author sweeps away lingering myths and misconceptions to show how this celebration day was born and grew to be an essential part of our national spirit.

Curtin, Kathleen, and Sandra L. Oliver. Giving Thanks: Thanksgiving Recipes and History, from Pilgrims to Pumpkin Pie. New York: Clarkson Potter/Publishers, 2005.

This book explores the delicious, fascinating history of Thanksgiving, complete with trivia, recipes, and an amazing collection of archival imagery of the holiday's history.

We also have a few non-traditional choices as well...

Westhoff, Patrick C. The Economics of Food: How Feeding and Fueling the Planet Affects Food Prices. Upper Saddle River, N.J: FT Press, 2010.

What are the hidden relationships between the food on your plate and the gas in your car? Will economic recovery lead directly to massive inflation in both food and energy? What do food prices have to do with world hunger? Find out here!

Wissing, Douglas A. Indiana: One Pint at a Time : a Traveler's Guide to Indiana Breweries. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society Press, 2010.

This year, Doug spoke on the VU campus about his experiences in Afghanistan. Here's his newest book about something completely different! A travel guide to our craft breweries, interweaving their stories with Indiana architecture, ethnicity, and regional specificity, connecting the dynamics of today with the luster of the past.

We want you to be safe too... so here's a link to Let's Talk Turkey—A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey: Every facet of getting a turkey from the store to the dinner table is included—buying fresh vs. frozen, safe thawing methods, stuffing, roasting, storing leftover turkey and reheating the leftovers.

We also want you to impress your family and friends... especially that know-it-all-uncle!

Thanksgiving Facts and Statistics  – Last year, the major pumpkin-producing states brought us 1.1 billion pounds of pumpkins. Read more Thanksgiving fun facts from the Census Bureau.

and here's a lesson with some "real world" use: Turkey Carving 101.



We also want you to be healthy during the holiday... Check out PubMed articles about the effects of the holidays on our health:

Hull HR, Hester CN, Fields DA. The effect of the holiday season on body weight and composition in college students. Nutr Metab (Lond) 2006;3:44. doi: 10.1186/1743-7075-3-44.

If you're staying on campus... don't despair!

VU Campus Thanksgiving Dinner -Harrison Hall Basement. 11am-1pm November 25th. Eat Thanksgiving Lunch with CCF! They would like to send a warm invitation out for RA's, Campus Police, International Students, VU Maintenance & VU faculty/staff. Join them for a great meal on campus! The meal is fully provided and completely free!Sponsored by Christian Campus Fellowship (882-1261).

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Source: Title Quote by Kevin James

I'm looking over your shoulder... only because I've got your back.

Meet our new librarian!

She's new! Well.. kinda new... since August new... Whatever, you should meet her!

Name: Ariela Berstein

Job title: Information Services Librarian

Location in Shake Library: Shake Library Room 117, the Reference desk, wandering the Computer Commons,  fighting the vending machine.

Tell us what you do in 75 words or less: I deal with electronic databases & make sure they work. I buy materials [books, dvds etc.] for the Business/Public Services and Technology divisions. I go into classes & show students our resources & how to get an A on an assignment. I do website maintenance, beta testing, & I run our Facebook page too [Like us!]. I also work on the reference desk answering people’s questions in person, on the phone, via chat or email.

Choose one service that your department provides that you want the VU community to be aware of: Group study rooms! We have two nice study rooms you can check out for 4 hours. They’re great for groupwork or when you need to practice a presentation.

What is your favorite website? www.thedoghousediaries.com . I love these comics! They are hilarious and I eagerly anticipate their musings on all manner of things: From color swatches to their commentary on the love life of sandwiches.

What is your favorite book in the Shake Library collection? Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (C527g, 1^st floor -fiction) has been a favorite for a number of years. I love the mix of history, art and mystery. I also love movies and music and I’m really excited about two new books we got at the library. Sondheim on music: minor details and major decisions by Mark Eden Horowitz. (782.14 S698h 2010) and Complete guide to film scoring: the art and business of writing music for movies and TV by Richard Davis (781.542 D263c 2010). The second looks at the history of film scores, how the process works, and also has interviews with some of the most amazing composers today.

When I'm not at work, you can find me... Stuffing my face, planning vacations (5 continents and counting!), on ColbertNation, donating via Kiva, or teaching myself to play guitar.

One thing few people know about you… I have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Title Source: the Colbert Report.

Smart Investing (AKA stuff they don't teach you in school, but that you'll use everyday)

Today's post is all about real life. Sure you have a paper to write, but once it's turned in are your really going to talk about interracial adoption again? Maybe, maybe not. What I 100% guarantee is that you will have to deal with your money. Not just getting it out of an ATM, or deciding how much to spend on your new honey's Christmas present. No, I'm talking about how do you save for your spring break trip? How do you budget so you have enough money at the end of the month? How do you make sure you have some savings for an emergency bus ride home?

Well, there are a lot of tools to help you learn more about smart investing. These tools are geared towards you and they help you learn and plan in fun interactive ways. So without further ado here they are:

Are you female? If you are, you should check out LearnVest. Aimed at women, this website will help you achieve maximum financial health through its dynamic Checklists, fun “bite-size” daily newsletter (takes 2 minutes to read), and straightforward, easy-to-read content. You can take their boot-camp series or you can just use their calculators and tools. They send you really useful tips on decorating, traveling and banking efficiently while on a budget. I like that they don't fill up your inbox and that they keep everything simple. 

Are you in the military? If you are, you know that financial preparedness is a key component of military readiness. FINRA developed SaveAndInvest.org as a financial education program to improve the saving and investing knowledge of military service members. Here you will find an online resource center that serves as a centralized, trusted source for unbiased information on saving and investing, including original content, interactive tools/games, links to financial education resources, frequently asked questions, and more. These resources are aimed at military personnel that are deployed and at home.

FINRA or The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority is the largest independent regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States. FINRA’s mission is to protect America’s investors by making sure the securities industry operates fairly and honestly. They have extensive information for investors in easy to follow formats geared towards everyone (men, women, young, old). Here you will find information on how to protect yourself from scams, as well as calculators to help you save for college, big purchases and retirement. You'll also find lots of information on how to choose a banker or financial advisor too.

But wait! Don't forget you can also find lots of great resources at Shake Library. Titles like:


Making the most of your money now : the classic bestseller by Jane Bryant Quinn. [Call # 332.024 Q7m 2010]


New Money book of personal finance : saving, planning, investing, and borrowing-- all the information you need in one easy-to-follow guide edited by Sheryl Hilliard Tucker and the editors of Money magazine. [Call # 332.024 N532m 2002]


AARP retirement survival guide : how to make smart financial decisions in good times and bad by Julie Jason. [Call #332.024 J39a 2009]

Busy family's guide to money by Sandra Block, Kathy Chu & John Waggoner. [Ebook]

Bridal bargains : secrets to throwing a fantastic wedding on a realistic budget by Denise & Alan Fields. [Call # 395.22 F461b 2009]

Lastly, hopefully you will learn lots about credit and how to protect yourself by checking your Credit Report. Don't be fooled by gimmicks on TV. You can get this information for free. Here is a video from the Federal Trade Commission to set the record straight.

"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain"

It's really quite hard to find a good definition for music. Each one usually leaves out something you're deeply passionate about: Whether it's the power of the lyrics, the sensation of the melody, the creativity in the composition. Words are never quite enough.

Here are some resources and freebies available for you to further explore Music at Shake library.

We have CDs at the library. Yep, when searching VU WebCat for a book for your next paper why not try searching to see if we have your favorite band? It just might make your studying easier!

Want Alt Rock? We have: Plastic Beach by Gorillaz [CDM 1304]
Want Country Gospel? We Have: Downtown Church by Patty Griffin. [CDM 1315]
Want Rap? We have: The Stimulus Package by Freeway & Jake One. [CDM 1314]
Want Underground Dance? We have: Heligoland by Massive Attack.  [CDM 1313]
Want Garage Rock? We have: Pictures by The Len Price 3. [CDM 1340]
Want Psychadelic Rock? We have: Valleys of Neptune by Jimi Hendrix. [CDM 1348]
Want Soul? We have: The Sea by Corinne Bailey Rae. [CDM 1370]
and over 1000 more...

When you find a CD you want to checkout, just come up to the Lending Services Desk and give them the call number (it'll start with CDM).

We also have books to help your learn a new instrument. You can always learn how to play a song you like from YouTube videos, but if you want to teach yourself from scratch or just get a bit better why not see if we have a title for you? Something like:

Guitar all-in-one for dummies by Jon Chappell (published in 2009). Available through the library as an ebook! or how about...

Picture yourself drumming: step-by-step instruction for drum kit setup, reading music, learning from the pros, and more by Jon Peckman. (Published in 2007). Also available as an ebook from the library.

Can't get your hands on an instrument that big? well how about...Harmonica playing made easy : a complete step-by-step instruction book for the beginner by the editors of Consumer Guide [Call number: 788.82 H288h 1994]

Learning an instrument or playing one has been shown to increase your intellectual capacity. Many studies have shown that students who play music have generally higher test and IQ scores than students who aren’t musical. Other studies have proven that practicing musicians of any age are more alert, which can lead to better memory retention. Want to learn more about Music and the Brain? Check out our "Find Articles" webpage and use PubMed to search for articles like this one: Brain tuned to music. PubMed is a free digital archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature. It's developed and managed by the National Library of Medicine.

We also provide you with access to Grove Music Online which includes the full text of the 29-volume print edition of the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, the 4-volume New Grove Dictionary of Opera and the 3-volume New Grove Dictionary of Jazz plus specially-commissioned articles only available online. You can access this resource by going to our "Find Articles" webpage and clicking Oxford Music Online.

Want to listen to music for free? Maybe you've already heard of these two, but just in case you haven't:

Grooveshark is an internationally available online music search engine, music streaming service and music recommendation web software application, allowing users to search for, stream, and upload music free of charge that can be played immediately or added to a playlist [Source]

Pandora is an automated music recommendation and Internet radio service created by the Music Genome Project. Users enter a song or artist that they enjoy, and the service responds by playing selections that are musically similar. [Source]

We hope you explore these resource and continue your appreciation of music! Have a suggestion? Leave us a comment.

“Where words fail, music speaks.” - Hans Christian Anderson

PS: The title of the blog post comes from a Bob Marley Song

Voting Resources: or Educate Yourself With Interactive Inforgraphic Fun

Election Day (November 2nd) is around the corner! Still trying to make up your mind? Here are some resources available online and in the library.

Vote Easy is an interactive website that helps you figure out which candidate best aligns with your values. It's a very useful tool with the election coming up next week. After you choose your location, the VoteEasy site looks up the candidates specific to your area.  By entering your opinions on 12 critical issues and how important each issue is to you, the site shows you which candidates most closely match your beliefs.  Some candidates have submitted their answers, and the rest are inferred from the public records. The site is designed by Project Vote Smart.

Can I Vote? - Run by the National Association of Secretaries of State, Can I Vote contains state-by-state voting and voter registration information including polling places, and absentee voting.

FactCheck.org - A nonpartisan, nonprofit "consumer advocate" for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. They monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.

Rock The Vote - Rock the Vote has combines efforts from those in the entertainment community with youth activities to encourage young people to be involved in the political process.

and just for fun:
The Living Room Candidate - This site is operated by the American Museum of the Moving Image and provides an archive of historical Presidential television ad campaigns.

Want to learn more? Check out VU Webcat for some books on voting and its trends and history!

• Connery, Michael. Youth to Power: How Today's Young Voters Are Building Tomorrow's Progressive Majority. Brooklyn, N.Y: Ig Pub, 2008. [Shake Library Call Number: 324.973 C752y 2008]
• McCaffrey, Paul. U.S. Election System. The reference shelf, v. 76, no. 4. New York: H.W. Wilson, 2004. [Shake Library Call Number: 324 U58e 2004]
• Percy, Herma. Will Your Vote Count?: Fixing America's Broken Electoral System. Westport, Conn: Praeger, 2009. [Shake Library Call Number: 324.6 P431w 2009]
• Thernstrom, Abigail M. Voting Rights-and Wrongs: The Elusive Quest for Racially Fair Elections. Washington, D.C: AEI Press, 2009. [Shake Library Call Number: 324.62 T411v 2009]

Saving Money, Saving Energy

October is Energy Awareness Month. Here are some cool tools you can use to discover your energy usage and savings:

Tax Credits - Who doesn't love a tax credit? Find out about 2010 tax credits for purchasing energy efficient items. A how to guide and a handy product listing is included in this website.

Energy Savers - Download this PDF booklet and find out how to save energy and money at home.

Energy Calculators and Software - Use these tools to discover ways to save home or vehicle energy.

Emissions Calculator - Find out how much your household’s greenhouse gas emissions are, how to reduce them, and about how much money each energy saving step can put back in your pocket.

Want to learn more? Search VU WebCat, our online catalog, for books in print and ebook formats.

You can Recycle lots of your household good for free in Vincennes.

Free recycling drop-off service for Vincennes City residents is also available at Republic Services, 2706 North Second Street in Vincennes. And you don't even have to seperate the different types of recyclable materials! The drive-thru recycling drop-off center is open from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8:00 a.m. until noon on Saturdays.

Simplify your life: Or why I stopped bookmarking and love RSS

Today, I’m going to explain how RSS can help you live your best life online.

We're all busy people: Jetting to class, meeting with advisors, working, taking care of family responsibilities. One of the fun parts of my day is surfing my favorite websites. And yes, I can hear you all laughing out there, "well duh! of course our Califonia grown librarian loves to "surf" everyday." In fact, I do not surf and that's probably due to the fact that I was chased by a baracuda when I was 10. But that's another story completely! Anyway, web surfing is fun but it can take hours going to visit every single website you like, and sometimes they don't even update! Wouldn’t it be great if you could just get all the headlines and stories from all your favorite websites in one place?

Well you can! and it is called RSS feed. RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication”, an XML format that was created to syndicate news, and be a means to share content on the web. For us non-techies out there it is just a fancy way of saying you can get a quick list of the latest story headlines from all your favorite websites and blogs all in one place online.


Suppose you have 30 sites and blogs that you like to visit regularly. If you go back to your bookmarks for each one, everyday, it will take you hours. With RSS, you can “subscribe” to a website or blog, and get “fed” all the new headlines from all of these 30 sites and blogs in one list, and see what’s going on in minutes instead of hours. Thereby simplifying your life! TaDa!

That one place where your RSS list is created is called an RSS Reader, and it gathers all the headlines from all the websites and blogs you have subscribed to. We at Shake Library use Google Reader because it's free, easy to use, and easy to view via a smartphone (but there are lots of others out there). If you already have a Gmail account you can use the same login and password to get into your own Google Reader. 

So how do you add a RSS feed to your RSS Reader? Well first head on over to your favorite website and look for one of these icons (above on the left) or the most traditional one (above on the right). Once you see this button click it and follow the directions given. If none are there go ahead and copy the URL from the search box and add the subscription directly into Google Reader by logging in and then clicking the "Add a Subscription" button on the top left corner.

(Circled in Red below)

So now, all you need to do is log into your Google reader and check out all the updates on those websites. Simple! 

Now because we're in college, i'd like to share with you how you can use this for school as well as for fun. Lets say you're taking a class on Homeland Security or Computers or Nutrition. This makes it really easy for you to keep up on current events because you can just "subscribe" to RSS feeds from places like the Department of Homeland Security, or TechCrunch.com or Nutrition.gov. Then, when your professor brings up current events in class (Which they WILL! Trust me!) You're going to be familiar with the topic or people in the news. You'll impress, they'll remember, and you're that much closer to getting that perfect grade! Simple!

If you do decide to use Google Reader head over to the "Browse for Stuff" link on the left hand side navigation once you're logged in. There you will find some bundles that have already been put together by subject. It's a great place to start! and if you want... you can stay on top of lots of Homeland Security News by following the Shake Library created bundle called Homeland Security Feeds. It's managed by your friendly librarian. 

Got questions on using this type of resource? ask! 

and leave us a comment on what types of bundles you'd like us to create for you next!



Save your Sanity during Midterms: A How To Guide

When midterm exams rolled around there were usually two things I was thinking of: How can I ace this exam, or at least get a decent grade? and how can I keep sane? Fortunately, I managed to survive and get decent grades that got me my diploma and eventually my first job. These are tried and true ideas that have helped me stay sane and pass a class:

The first tip you always hear about is Time Management. Theoretically you were supposed to plan and schedule your midterm study sessions before midterm week. If you did this, you are awesome! If you're like me, you were probably trying to stay on top of the reading load and first written assignment, and now midterm exams have snuck up on you. So what can you do now? Organize your life for one Midterm week. I like Google Calendar Why? because you get it for free if you have a Gmail account and it syncs easily to your iPhone. I'm a very visual person and I always found it easier to visualize how I was going to study during Midterm week if I had a roadmap I could pick up and read.

So, Here's what you do... on your Google Calendar, Schedule your Midterms and other classes first.

Next,  Schedule time to Eat! I can't stress this enough... if you don't eat, your brain will give up on you mid-study session, you'll be grumpy with study exam buddies, and you'll remember less. Eat, trust me it works. Put 30-45minute eating breaks for breakfast, lunch and dinner at least. It works as a study break and it works to keep you fueled for more.

So now your Google Calendar has midterms, classes and food on it. Next is Schedule Sleep. Yes, some people can function well on three hours of sleep a night. I can't and I bet I'm not the only one. Schedule your sleep and try to give yourself at least 7hours please. I don't work on less than 6 hours and during the final days of midterms my eyes eventually felt like they were made of sandpaper. Sleep helps. Put it in your schedule.

Alright, now you've got a visual of how much of your week is left for study time (and showers!). Next Schedule your Study Sessions accordingly. Here's how I did it. I work best in 2-3 hour chunks of studying. Some people cram. If you can deal with cramming more hours into your study sessions that's cool. Otherwise pick short blocks of time. Prioritize. You have limited time to study and will have to choose what to spend the most time with. You could spend hours and hours on that math exam because if you do really well, you might be able to pull off a C. Or you can spend hours and hours on a history exam because if you do well, you've got a good shot at an A. It's up to you. Put these blocks of time in your Google Calendar.

Next, and this is key, Schedule in Study Breaks. Don't plan to study non-stop for the next five days. You'll go insane, and you'll be too fried to do well on the exams. When you write your schedule, include short study breaks to help you recharge. Study breaks can be 10 minutes to 1 hour (for me). I like to use eating and showering as my study breaks, but I also left time out for some mindless TV. Nothing relaxes your brain more than mindless TV and it works as a study break too. Just don't get sucked into procrastination with the TV. If you do fall into this trap (we all do), put an alarm on your phone when you start your TV break and have it ring when you're supposed to go back to studying. It doesn't always work, but it might remind you to go back to studying.

Some other study break ideas:

-Exercise! There's no better source for stress relief. Just don't overdo it to the point that you're procrastinating. Go for short, stress-relieving activities like a treadmill run or a brisk walk.
-Read some Comics or Watch a funny video! Laugh, it'll lower your stress.

So now your calendar has your midterms/classes, eating and sleeping times, study sessions and study breaks in it. Try to free your schedule if possible, work fewer hours and put off social events, but if you can't, don't forget to put your other responsibilities in your Calendar.  Google Calendar has the option of sending you an email or an SMS reminder. If you need a reminder, turn on this feature by editing your specific event and adding a reminder to it.

Next, Print and post the calendar in your room or Save it on your desktop and have it open on your computer. Stick to it as much as possible, but don't beat yourself up if you end up studying a bit less and sleeping more.

Lastly Keep things in perspective. What's the worst thing that can happen if you don't do well on this test? Excessive stress will make you crazy and hurt your performance on tests, so as much as you can, relax.

Brought to you by Ariela (your friendly librarian)

War in Afghanistan- Resources

"The war in Afghanistan is among President Barack Obama's most important foreign policy challenges. Begun in 2001 to drive out al Qaeda and remove the Taliban from power, the war initially had a high rate of public support. But as Taliban forces regrouped and casualties escalated, attitudes toward the war in Afghanistan shifted. Drawing parallels to the Vietnam War, many analysts and voters argue that the war is unwinnable, and that U.S. forces should be withdrawn." Source

The most common current events question we get on the reference desk is research help with a paper responding to the war in Afghanistan. Especially since yesterday marked Nine years since the beginning of the war. Here are some resources for our students and those interested in following up on this topic.

How we missed the story: Osama bin Laden, the Taliban, and the hijacking of Afghanistan by Roy Gutman. (327.73058 B612g 2008)

Age of fallibility : the consequences of the war on terror by George Soros. (973.931 S714a 2006)

Stones into schools: promoting peace with books, not bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Greg Mortenson. (371.822 M887s 2009)

Afghanistan: graveyard of empires: a new history of the borderlands by David Isby. (958.1047 I76a 2010)

Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan by James Dobbins. A PDF report published by RAND, 2009.

Military Casualty Information can be found through the Department of Defense Website.

Students and community members can access more research materials via VU WebCat our online catalog.

-----------------
References - Access to these can be found on the Shake Library's Find Articles Page.

"Afghan War." Current Issues: Macmillian Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 7 Oct. 2010.

CRS Report for Congress, R41084. Authored by Susan G. Chesser. Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service. 9/14/2010. (c) Public Domain. Retrieved from the Homeland Security Digital Library 10/8/2010

Speaking OUT Against Bullying

Many of you have heard the news of the tragic suicide of Rutgers college freshman Tyler Clementi, who jumped to his death after fellow students allegedly streamed online a romantic encounter between him and another man. Last month four other American teens took their own lives last month due to being made fun of for being gay.

We, at Shake Library, have put together a few links to resources for students in trouble and for the people who care about them. If you or a friend is a victim of digital disrespect, unwanted sexting, blackmail, hate-mongering (spreading discriminatory, racist messages) or direct threats we urge you to take action. Talking about it with someone instead of bottling it up will relieve some of the frustration. Online cruelty hurts. And if a friend is upset by hateful or cruel posts or messages, practice good listening. They need you. Also, be part of the solution by reporting this kind of stuff when you read/receive it.

At VU students can contact the:

Counseling Center (confidential help)
Location: Welsh Administration Building, Room 134.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 812-888-4374

Affirmative Action Office or VU

Phone: 812-888-5848

VU Campus Police

Phone: 812-888-5555

You can also contact The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention hotline at: 866-488-7386

Here are a few more resources where you can find/give help:

• MTV's A Thin Line campaign was developed to identify, respond to, and stop the spread of digital abuse. The campaign is built on the understanding that there's a "thin line" between what may begin as a harmless joke and something that could end up having a serious impact on you or someone else.
• In response to columnist Dan Savage's "It Gets Better," video project, the Make it Better Project gives youth the tools they need to make their lives better now.
• Tri-State Alliance (TSA) is a not-for-profit social service/education organization that serves gays, lesbians and bisexuals in Southwestern Indiana, Northwestern Kentucky and Southeastern Illinois.

Need more information? Checkout our library catalog to find books on bullying and prevention. You can also search for articles online from our library's webpage.

Sources for this post: ALA- GLBTRT;

LOST IN THE VU LIBRARY?

GET STARTED FAST
WITH THESE SIMPLE HINTS
VU LIBRARIES, VINCENNES UNIVERSITY (updated 07/10)

Go to http://www.vinu.edu, click on Majors and Academics, then Libraries.

VU LIBRARIES contains a wide array of fiction and nonfiction books, electronic books, music CDs, newspapers/ magazines/journals, electronic resources, online databases containing thousands of full‐text searchable periodicals, updated networked computers, meeting rooms you can reserve, and Reference Librarians you can ask for help.

HOW TO FIND BOOKS:
Use WebCat, VU’s library catalog, to locate books, ebooks, DVDs, music CDs, and other items housed in VU Libraries. To access WebCat, go to the VU Libraries Home Page (instructions above), click on Find Books, then VU WebCat. Use the Basic or Advanced Searching templates to look for books or other items.

HOW TO FIND PUBLISHED MAGAZINE & PERIODICAL ARTICLES:
About 30,000 periodicals (magazines, newspapers, journals, etc.) are available from the electronic resources contained in VU’s Virtual Library. A good way to get started is to first access the VU Libraries Home Pages (instructions above), click on Find Articles, then click on the VU Library Search link near the top, right of the page. By typing in key words (keep them simple) for your search topic and selecting one or more broad categories, VU Library Search will choose the best databases for your topic. Just click the search button to generate a list of databases that have articles about your topic, then choose the databases with the most hits to see what published articles you can find.

When you are more familiar with the library’s electronic resources, you might want to skip the VU Library Search process and go directory to your favorite database, such as Proquest or EBSCOhost’s Academic Search Premier, that provides thousands of electronic periodicals on most research topics.

Remember: For off‐campus access to the virtual library, log on to your MYVU account at http://myvu.vinu.edu .

NEED HELP? CONTACT A VU REFERENCE LIBRARIAN:

Click Live Help on the Vincennes University Home Page to chat with or email a question to a librarian.

Email the VU Libraries Reference Desk at libref@vinu.edu .
Call the Reference Desk at 812‐888‐5810.

VU Libraries Shake Library Hours During the Fall and Spring Semesters:
Monday‐Thursday: 7:30 a.m. – Midnight
Friday: 7:30‐9 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday: 2 p.m. ‐ Midnight

NEED EBOOKS? VU LIBRARIES HAS THEM

VU Libraries, Vincennes University (updated 5/2010)
http://www.vinu.edu/Majors and Academics/Libraries/Find Books

There are over 9,500 electronic books available for on-campus or off-campus use. These are especially useful for Distance Education classes. The VU Libraries ebook collection ranges from single monographs to large multi-volume reference works and covers almost any academic topic desired by major and small publishers.

For off-campus access, first log on to your MYVU or Blackboard accounts, just as you would to access other VU Libraries subscription electronic resources when you are not physically on a VU campus.

1. Accessing Ebooks via WebCat, VU’s Electronic catalog:

All Ebooks are listed in WebCat, the electronic catalog for VU Libraries available under the Find Books page. Instructions: Go to the VU home page at http://www.vinu.edu, then click on Majors and Academics/Libraries/Find Books/VUWebCat. Locate ebooks by doing keyword searches as the following examples show:

• Basic Search (default screen): Use keywords Ebook and your choice of words or phrases, as:
ebook stress
ebook “stress management” (note phrase searching in quotes)

• Using Advanced Search: After selecting Advanced search, choose Locations: Shake Electronic Resource, then use the menu for keyword/title/subject searching, etc. with your words search.

After you find a listing of ebooks, simply click on the book’s title to see the citation, then to see the ebook itself, click within the listing on Click for Linked Resource(s):An electronic book accessible through the NetLibrary Vincennes University collection; click for information . (In this case, you will be automatically taken to the NetLibrary collection to read the ebook.)

2. Accessing Ebooks Using Simultaneous Searching via VU Library Search, the Federated Search Engine

Want to search all the VU electronic reference books at once? VU Library Search, which is Shake Library’s Federated Search Engine, can help you find your way through a confusing array of different electronic resources so you can specific electronic or print books, or journal, magazine, or newspaper articles. This is a good tool to use when you don’t know which resource to search for a particular topic, or would like to save time by searching numerous resources simultaneously. VU Library Search is found near the top of the Find Books or Find Articles web pages.

Directions: Go to http://www.vinu.edu, select Majors and Academics, then Libraries, then Find Books or Find Articles (the federated search engine called VU Library Search is at the top of both pages).

Once the VU Library Search page appears, select Basic or Advanced searching, type your search terms in the search blanks, and be sure to choose the subject category Books below. (Note: by selecting the VU Library Catalog your results will include print holdings as well as full-text for ebooks.) After you generate a listing of content in ebooks, you can also filter your results by checking the Full Text box, which will screen out print books, for instance.

3. Accessing Ebooks by Collection/Publisher via the Find Books Page VU Libraries Electronic Book Collections Link:

Using the VU Libraries Electronic Book Collections link is especially useful for searching electronic Reference Books individually or by collection, in a similar manner to how you would consult a print book such as an encyclopedia in the library’s print Reference Collection. Instructions: Go to the VU home page at http://www.vinu.edu, then click on Majors and Academics/Libraries/Find Books/VU Libraries Electronic Book Collections. You will see the following listing, each link containing a variety of ebooks:
• ABC - CLIO - History and social science reference books
• AccessScience -- Online version of the highly acclaimed McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology
• Credo Reference - Collection of reference books
• Encyclopedia Britannica Online
• Gale Virtual Reference Library - Collection of reference books
• Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center
• Oxford Digital Reference Shelf - Collection of reference books
• R2 Library - Collection of health/nursing books
• VU netLibrary Collection - Access to over 9,200 electronic books
Example: Let’s search the International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences , 2nd ed., 9v, 2008, which is a major, multi-volume encyclopedia considered a core library resource. Directions:
Click on Gale Virtual Reference Library, then choose the Social Science heading to see a listing of ebooks available. Click on International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences , 9v, 2008.

Use the Search Within This Publication blank (Advanced Search is another option for searching individual books or the entire VU Gale collection) and find articles about your research topic. For instance, the term Racism pulls up 67 articles with the most relevant being listed first:

Racism. International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Ed. William A. Darity, Jr. Vol. 7. 2nd ed. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2008. p44-47.
• Full-text
• 4 PDF page(s)


This is just one way to search the Gale Virtual Reference Library collection. Other choices include Index search where you can search or scroll through the ebook’s index, or the alphabetical eTable of Contents.

You can also search all the ebooks simultaneously in the Gale Virtual Library by using the Basic or Advanced Search screens before selecting your individual book as was done in the International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences example above.

Remember, each of the collections above are by different publishers and have different looks and search features.

CDS OF THE MONTH: JANUARY 2010

IN SHAKE LIBRARY!
Check One Out! Take One (or More) Home! Enjoy the Music!

RECENT HIP-HOP/RAP CDS

DR. DRE, CDM 1261
DR. DRE -- The Chronic, CDM 1260
EMINEM -- The Marshall Matthers LP (see photo, below), CDM 1262.
50 CENT -- Get Rich or Die Tryin’, CDM 1263
JAY-Z -- Reasonable Doubt, CDM 1258
OUTKAST – Stankonia, CDM 1267
TUPAC SHAKUR – Greatest Hits, CDM 1266
OBIE TRICE – Cheers, CDM 1268
NOTORIOUS B.I.G. – Ready to Die (the Remaster), CDM 920

Ask at the Lending Services Desk to check out these and other music CDs and Books.

CDS OF THE MONTH: OCTOBER 2009

IN SHAKE LIBRARY!
Check One Out! Take One (or More) Home! Enjoy the Music!

MUSIC OF SPANISH & LATIN AMERICA CULTURE!

Colombia (Putumayo World Music). CDM 809
Putumayo Presents Mexico. CDM 800
Brazilian Groove (Putumayo World Music).
CDM 897.
Francisco Tárrega. Guitar Music: Integral de Guitarra (Madrid, Spain). CDM 153
Mountain Music of Peru (Smithsonian Folkways). CDM 170
Tomás de Torrejón y Velasco. Selections. Musique à la Cité des Rois. CDM 298
Selena. Ones: The Songs. CDM 874
Pepe Romero. La Paloma: Spanish and Latin American Favourites. CDM 485
Los Lobos. La Pistola y El Corazón. CDM 2
Ricky Martin. CDM 694
Andrés Segovia: Segovia. 4 discs. CDM 972

Ask at the Lending Services Desk to check out these and other music CDs and Books.

CDS OF THE MONTH: SEPTEMBER 2009

IN SHAKE LIBRARY!
Check One Out! Take One (or More) Home! Enjoy the Music!

AFRICAN-AMERICAN GREATS!
RECORDINGS OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE!

Langston Hughes: The Voice of Langston Hughes: Selected Poetry and Prose
Read by the Author. CDM 145
Alan Lomax: The Land Where the Blues Began (Blues songs, interviews with blues
musicians, sermons, sounding calls, and gospel songs from the Mississippi Delta region.) CDM 856
Blind Blake (Arthur Blake, Blues) CDM 953
Blind Lemon Jefferson: All the Classic Sides (blues). The complete 94 classic sides remastered. CDM 951
Bessie Smith: the Collection (blues) CDM 1060
Absolutely the Best: Lead Belly (Huddie William Ledbetter,
very influential blues/folk musician) CDM 656
Early Ellington: The Complete Brunswick and Vocalion Recordings
of Duke Ellington, 1926-1931. Jazz. CDM 146
Say It Loud! A Celebration of Black Music in America. 6 sound discs. Popular music
in various styles, with some spoken word historical material. CDM 864
The Essential Miles Davis. Jazz. "Surveys the entirety of the continuously innovative
trumpeter-bandleader's monumental recording career, drawing from the catalogues
of all seven of the labels for which he did his most significant work." CDM 792
Mojo Hand: the Lightnin' Hopkins Anthology (Sam Hopkins, Blues) CDM 1114
Popular Songs: the Best of Wynton Marsalis (Jazz) CDM 813
Sacred Ground: Sweet Honey in the Rock (Spirituals, civil rights and
other historical themes) CDM 68
Steal Away: Songs of the Underground Railroad: Kim & Reggie Harris (Traditional and
original songs associated with the underground railroad) CDM 649
Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Spirituals) CDM 683
Mahalia Jackson: Gospels, Spirituals, & Hymns. CDM 682
Kathleen Battle: So Many Stars (Lullabies, love songs, and spirituals) CDM 70
The Long Road to Freedom: An Anthology of Black music (5 sound discs) CDM 837
Morton, Jelly Roll. Library of Congress Recordings. Volume 1,
Kansas City Stomp. Jazz/Blues. CDM 331

Ask at the Lending Services Desk to check out these and other music CDs and Books.