Academic Skills Videos October 30, 2008
Posted by Michael in : Cool tools, Research Help, Tips for students , 1 comment so far
- New to college and looking for advice about how to get started researching and writing all these papers?
- Want to give your students some extra help in learning how to navigate the research process in an academic environment?
- Are you just a sucker for charming Canadian accents?
The University of Prince Edward Island has created a really nice set of videos to help students with skills like active and critical reading, choosing a topic, using library databases and essay building. The videos are about 5-10 minutes long and are fast-moving and clear in the style of the “… in Plain English” series.
These videos could be really helpful and even enjoyable for people who have a long list of papers, but just can’t seem to get started. Good luck!
PrimateLit October 27, 2008
Posted by Nathaniel in : Duke researchers, Featured Database , add a comment
PrimateLit provides access to the scientific literature on nonhuman primates for the research and educational communities.
Coverage of the database spans 1940 to present and includes all publication categories (articles, books, abstracts, technical reports, dissertations, book chapters, etc.) and many subject areas (behavior, colony management, ecology, reproduction, field studies, disease models, veterinary science, psychology, physiology, pharmacology, evolution, taxonomy, developmental and molecular biology, genetics and zoogeography).
Click here to access PrimateLit.
Subject Librarians to the rescue! October 23, 2008
Posted by Tiffany in : Cool tools, Database Tip, Duke researchers, Librarians, Research Help, Tips for students , add a commentLook! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No! It’s…it’s…a subject librarian!
I know that some of you think your professors have sent you out into the world of research and writing with no allies and no weapons. I’m here to tell you that you are mistaken. A group of superhero-like librarians have been summoned from the ends of the earth and brought to Duke to equip you with subject specific knowledge and tools.
Trying to figure out if you need a subject librarian? Do you have a really specific topic? Are you looking for data, obscure documents or resources? Do you feel the need for an in-depth research consult? If you answered yes to any of these questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
Astronomy? Got it. Korean Studies? Yep. Music Media? You know it! And that’s only a taste of the subject coverage we’ve got! What’s that? You want to contact them right away? You want to learn more about the subjects they cover? I thought you might feel that way. All the information you need is here.
If you still have questions, don’t forget that the reference desk is always a great place to start. You can always save time and ask a librarian!
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade October 20, 2008
Posted by Nathaniel in : Featured Database , add a comment
The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database has information on almost 35,000 slave voyages to the Americas between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries.
This database allows users to search for specific voyages of slaving expeditions. Users can also create listings, tables, charts, and maps using information from the database.
Use the interactive estimates page to analyze the full volume and multiple routes of the slave trade.
Use the African Names Database to identify over 67,000 Africans aboard slave ships, using name, age, gender, origin, and place of embarkation.
Click here to access the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database.
Library Website on Your Phone October 15, 2008
Posted by Thomas Crichlow in : Cool tools , 6commentsWhat is it?
A website optimized for use on handheld devices such as cellphones, iPods, and PDAs:
http://library.duke.edu/mobile
- These are new web pages created specifically with the needs of mobile users in mind.
- This pilot project does not duplicate the main library web site — mobile device users can still access the content on the main library web site when in need of more detailed information.
Key points about our pilot:
- Compact display: information optimized for the very small screen space available on handheld devices — every pixel counts.
- Compact file size: patrons often pay a fee for each byte transmitted to their device, and handheld devices often have very slow connection speeds — every byte counts.
- Tightly focused content: the content we provide is closely tied to the tasks people are most likely to undertake on a handheld device — context counts.
- Optimized Navigation: navigation is optimized for handheld devices (e.g., using access-keys for keypad navigation).
Feedback, Suggestions, or Questions?
We are keenly interested in your ideas. Please post your comments letting us know what Library information would be helpful to you if it were part of the http://library.duke.edu/mobile website.
