Georgia Tech Library News

The Library is beta testing software that will give you the opportunity to search more than one database at a time. We need your help in naming this new Library service that will save you time and effort.

You will find name response cards at the Library’s main entrance, the Information Services Desk, the Circulation Desk, and at the Architecture Library.

You can also test out this new search system right now:

• Use the QuickStart menu to perform a quick search for articles across a few pre-selected groupings of databases the library has chosen for you. Type in your search terms (keywords, topics, etc. –not journal or book titles) and you’ll get results from multiple databases at once.
• Use the Multi-Database Search to select other groupings of databases to search simultaneously. Select “Categories” and then your research subject area to find a list of databases appropriate for your search. Here you can choose which of the databases you want to cross-search within your research subject area.
• Use Find Database to allow you to see and select a single database from all available Library databases.
• Use Find eJournal to visit our searchable and browseable list of eJournals.

Feedback:
We’re interested in hearing what you think. Please use the feedback box at the URL above to send us your opinions.

9/5/08, 4:50 pm:

The ScienceDirect problems finally have been resolved. You should no longer be asked to choose an organization and should have access to all GT-entitled journals.

Important: Please clear your browser’s cache and try again if you are still having problems.

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We’ve had a busy summer. Here are a few new things in the library:

• The HVAC construction is finished in the East building. Now we’ll have better control of AC & heat.

• There is a lot of new equipment for you to borrow at the circulation desk: laptops, calculators, voice recorders, a portable USB hard-drive, and a collection of portable DVD players in both the PAL and NTSC formats.

• The Library West Commons: refreshed all the computers, installed a new print system, added more dual display monitors, new iMacs and scanners, added iWork & iLife software, and added several walk-up / quick-use computer stations.

• 600+ new DVDs: War of the Worlds, Night Watch, Juno, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Last Emperor, and many more. Check them out in the East Commons near the Circulation Desk.

• New search tools. We are beta testing a new catalog interface and a new metasearch engine. (more info to follow)

• Several new faces: Catherine Murray-Rust (Library Dean), William Baer (Librarian for Mechanical Engineering & Distance Learning), and Sherri Brown (First Year English Instruction Librarian.)

• Launched a new virtual reference system. Ask! Us your questions via email, IM, or phone.

• Hosting an exhibit of student work from Professor Emma Crandall’s Spring 2008 English 1102 class. The exhibit is called “Dude Art” and can be found in the lounge corner of the East Commons.

• Processed a collection of historic Georgia Tech ledgers (1887-1999) including accounts payable and receivable records, student rolls, time sheets, dormitory records, budgets, and some correspondence. The ledgers primarily document student and financial records at Georgia Tech, but they also provide documentation of the day-to-day operation of the first fifty years of the school’s existence (1885-1935). The later volumes, particularly those dating from after ca. 1960, contain mainly budgetary and financial information.

All billable Library services, including photocopies, interlibrary loan, fines, etc., may now be paid with your BuzzCard. Stop by the Circulation Desk to transfer any value remaining on your Library copy card to your BuzzCard.

Expert Help is only an Instant Message away here in our Library. In addition to face-to-face help at our reference desk, assistance is available by phone, by email and now by Instant Message. Load the library’s Instant Message buddy name onto your YAHOO, AOL or MSN Contact list today. ASK! Us for all the details.

An enhanced “New Books” tab is available on the Library’s website (http://www.library.gatech.edu). To access it, link to the GT Catalog (GIL) page in the lefthand frame. Then link to the “New Books” tab on the right. This service enables you to keep track of new books as they are added to the Library’s collections. The collections/locations that can be specified are:

• Architecture
• Archives
• Electronic Resources
• General Collections
• Government Documents
• Popular Reading (1 West)
• Reference Collection (2 West)
• Ready Reference (1 West)

The New Books service provides the ability to customize a new books search as follows. You can:

• choose one of eight locations or “All locations”
• choose one of four time periods (one, two, three or four months)
• sort by call number, author, or title

The new link:

There is a similar link in most of the Library’s article databases.

The Georgia Tech Library is very pleased to announce that the following Nature titles are now available online –

• Biotechnology
• Cell Biology
• Genetics
• Immunology
• Materials
• Medicine
• Neuroscience
• Structural & Molecular Biology
• Nature Reviews, Cancer
• Nature Reviews, Microbiology

In addition, we have purchased the Nature Archive which will provide online access back to 1950.  Current access is from 1980 forward and completion of the archive is expected sometime in 2006.

Georgia Tech students, faculty and staff now have access to over four million books held by the 34 libraries of the University System of Georgia (USG) and the Gwinnett University Center.

The new program, called GIL Express, offers the options of either online or in-person requests for circulating items contained in these collections. GIL Express online requests can be made from the Universal Catalog which can be accessed from the Georgia Tech Library catalog by clicking on “GIL Universal Catalog.”
learn more>>

Our state-of-the-art Presentation Rehearsal Studio can now be reserved online via Buzzport. For step-by-step booking instructions, and details on both the technology available and the
use policies, visit the Presentation Rehearsal Studio page. Check out this ideal space to practice and put the finishing touches on your classroom presentations!