ITB Library

110 Best Books: The Perfect Library

2012-02-23T14:24:00.001Z

British Newspaper, The Telegraph has published an article called 'The Perfect Library', in which it lists what is supposedly the 'perfect' reading list.

It lists classics such as Gullivers Travel's, Jane Eyre and War and Peace; romantic fiction such as Gone with the wind, Dr. Zhivago and Rebecca; and sci-fi such as 2001: A Space Odyssy, Do androids dream of Electric Sheep? and 20,000 Leagues under the sea.

It also compiles lengthy lists in other genres such as Crime, History, Biography and Childrens reading - where (unsurprisingly) Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter feature prominently.

Sometimes you may be stuck for an idea as to what to read. Maybe you've missed out on a lot of 'essential' reading and need to catch up. Perhaps this list will help inspire some of your future reading and turn you on to something you havent read before. Why not check it out and see what all the fuss is about? Are these books 'essential' to you?

Want to hold on to your books for a little longer?

2012-02-22T13:36:00.002Z

Although we promise not to interrogate you, beat you up, break your knees or make you sign a confession - we will fine you if your books are late! So, remember...

You can renew your books:

at the library desk
online
over the phone (01 8851047)

You can renew library books, up to two times, so long as:

they are not overdue
no one else has requested them

International Mother Language Day

2012-02-21T09:42:00.001Z

International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the UN in 1999 as a means "to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world". Its overall aim is "to promote unity in diversity and international understanding, through multilingualism and multiculturalism.

Why not take the time to embrace your language? Aim to speak it well! Use a dictionary or thesaurus to expand your word power....

The library at ITB has dictionaries and thesaurus for use. They're in the Reference section on the 1st floor. We also have lots of language books, grammer books and audio courses for those you you wishing to learn something new!

Give our catalogue a search!

Got 10 minutes to spare?

2012-02-20T13:55:00.001Z

The journals in the library cover all sorts of topics!

Have a look at the display near the library desk

The age of the dictionary....

2012-02-17T11:46:00.003Z

Are you looking for information for your assignments?

2012-02-16T09:48:00.000Z

How do you search for information online? Are Google and Wikipedia your go-to sources or have you tried the ITB Library databases?
The library databases are purchased with you, and your course, in mind. They are full of useful information! Have a look at one of the tutorials below to learn how to make your search as effective as possible...

Science Direct is an excellent database for students of informatics, engineering, social science, horticulture and a variety of other subjects.

Emerald Fulltext is an excellent database for students taking business modules.

Free e-books from Project Gutenberg

2012-02-15T09:29:00.000Z

Project Gutenberg is a website which provides access to free E-Books. These books are freelyaccessible by anyone on the Internet and may be dowloaded because theircopyright has expired.

The site offers over 36,000 ebooks to download to yourPC, Kindle or other portable device. It covers a vast amount of subjects,ranging from Astronomy to War and everything in between.

Users can search the site using its cataloguewhich allows for searching by author or title name. Alternatively,users can use the Bookshelf option which allows you to search the siteusing subject headings. Its well worth a look!

http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/

Happy Valentines Day!

2012-02-14T10:55:00.000Z

Zero tolerance in the library

2012-02-13T11:18:00.000Z

FromMonday February 13th, the Library will have a Zero Tolerance policy towardsrule breaking in place. This will apply to:

TALKING ON MOBILE PHONES

CONSUMPTION OF FOOD & DRINK

(except water)

MAKING EXCESSIVE NOISE

Those in breach of these rules will be fined and/or removed fromthe library.

Improve your communication skills

2012-02-10T11:14:00.001Z

Communication forms the basis of humaninteraction. Our relationships, our education, our employment, ourbusiness transactions and our entertainment all rely on communication in oneform or another.

Therefore effective, unambiguous communication is a fundamental skill; everyoneshould try to master it, particularly when applying for jobs.

Careerspecialist website MindTools.comhave compiled a collection of articles that give some good advice on developingyour communication skills. They cover a wide topic area such as communicationin person, communicating in writing, communication in meetings, presentations, cross-cultural communication and negotiation.

Talk quietly in the library!

2012-02-09T11:57:00.002Z

Libraries mean different things todifferent people. To some it is just the place they go to pick up thebooks they need for an assignment and then leave again; to others it is a placeto go to use the computers and to many others it is the placeto go for some quiet study time.

Unfortunately the library is notalways as quiet as one would expect it to be. The traditional books-onlylibrary is now home to computers, photocopiers, self issue machines and patronswho carry mobile phones and laptop computers with them. However, the singlebiggest challenge to maintaining quiet is people talking.

Libraries are not the place to be ifyou want to have a chat and a laugh with a group of people, nor is itthe place to have loud group discussions.

The library in ITB has 3 noise zones.

The Green area allows forcollaboration among students; but this does not mean students can shout at thetop of their voices and laugh their heads off here. This area is for productivecollaboration among students at a reasonable volume; it is not asocial area to be used like the pub or the canteen.

The Orange zone is a quietarea. This means students must work individuallyand keep any talking to an absolute minimum i.e. a lowwhisper. There are computers in this area, but only one student can use itat a time - no group work is allowed.

The Red Zone is a separateroom in the library where students must work in absolute silence

Please respect the library for what itis; a library.

Studentswho do not co-operate will be asked to leave the library

Ever wished someone would read your notes to you?

2012-02-08T14:45:00.000Z

We all learn indifferent ways – some of us prefer to read information, some of us prefer tolisten to it. If you learn bestby listening, then you should know about a tool called Speech Maker, which is a feature of Read and Write Gold software!

Available on all thePCs in the library, Read and Write Gold software is an easy-to-use toolbar thatsupports all students in theirreading, writing and research. When youdouble-click on the Read and Write Gold icon on the desktop, it launches thetoolbar that sits at top of your screen until you need it!

One of the more nifty tools is called Speech Maker. This allows you to highlight text (from aWord document, a PDF, a webpage etc) and convert it into an audio file (like amusic track, only with spoken words). This file can easily be transferred to your MP3 player or listened tovia your laptop or PC. Have a look atthis video to see just how easy it is!

Questions about your rights or entitlements?

2012-02-07T11:19:00.001Z

The Citizens InformationCentre can provide you with many of the answers you need.......

and they willbe on campus tomorrow (foyer of C Block from 11am – 2.30pm)

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/

Have a look at their website to see the type of information they provide - matters such as education, housing, social welfare, health,consumer affairs and family law.

You can also visit them, at their Blanchardstown office, on SnugboroRoad…

For those of you doing ECDL.....

2012-02-06T09:47:00.000Z

...Or those of you who just want to improve your computer skills...

Teach-ICT.com is a goodfree source of tutorial and course guide material

http://www.teach-ict.com/ecdl_home.html

Here you’ll find course material and test questions tosupplement your preparation for the ECDL exam.

The materialshere were developed for syllabus 4.0. and there is now a syllabus 5.0. Whilst someof the materials are out of date, the tasks for modules such as WordProcessing, Spreadsheets and Databases are still relevant.

Even if you are not doing the ECDL Course, oryou are just technically challenged...the site is a useful place to findout stuff about computers...

It's National Libraries Day!

2012-02-03T11:37:00.001Z

Today would be a good day to:

browse the fiction books
borrow a DVD for the weekend
plan your next break with a travel book
read the biography of your favourite star
mull over a newspaper or magazine

Your library. Use it. Love it. Join it!

Printing PowerPoint slides

2012-02-02T09:56:00.000Z

Students often ask about how to print off PowerPoint slides from their lectures. Usually, they will want to print more than one slide per sheet.

Here is how to do it!

Open the PowerPoint Presentation.

You may need to enable editing before you can print it. This will appear in a yellow bar at the top of the screen, If this appears, click 'Enable Editing'

Go to the File Menu

Click on Print

From main window, under Settings, from the section Handouts, select number of slides per page as required

When you have chosen the required amount, click Print in the left hand column. You will then get a printout of multiple slides on one sheet.

Ever tried to remember the name of a book you borrowed once... ?

2012-02-01T11:38:00.000Z

Here at the library desk, students frequently ask us the name of books that they have borrowed and returned. Previously, for data protection reasons, staff could not access lists of books that have been borrowed in the past. Once a book was returned to the library, and removed from a student's account, that was that!

However, you can now access your own Reading History when you log on to your online library account.

Go to the library catalogue
Click on My Account (right-hand menu)
Enter your name, student number and PIN (if you don't know your PIN email us at LibraryInfo@itb.ie)

If you currently have library books, click on the My Reading History button
If you do not currently have library books, your Reading History will probably appear by default

Bigger and better...

2012-01-31T10:30:00.000Z

This semester, there have been some big improvements to ITB Library's online databases!

Academic Search Premier has been replaced by Academic Search Complete.
With access to over 13,000 online journals, Academic Search Complete is an excellent source of information for ITB students. It covers a variety of topics including sociology, engineering, horticulture and informatics.

Business Source Premier has been replaced by Business Source Complete.
Including over 20,000 industry reports, 17,600 company profiles, 1,600 country economic reports, in addition to books, journals and reports, Business Source Complete is an excellent source of information for students taking business modules.

For assistance in searching these databases, have a look at the online tutorials (simple search or advanced search).

Don't forget - if you are reading this from off-campus, you need to log in to access the library databases. Just enter your name, student number and PIN, when requested. Any problems - ask a librarian at LibraryInfo@itb.ie!

Need a Little Help with Referencing?

2012-01-30T13:06:00.000Z

Why not try the Harvard Reference Generator? This is a free online tool designed to help students prepare their bibliography or reference list quickly and easily. Simply fill out the box with the required information and hit the button at the end of the page. Based on the information supplied, it will automatically generate a perfect citation in the Harvard Style which you can then copy into your work. You can choose to reference books, journals, newspapers, and websites and therefore allows you to get along with your assignments without having to stress about getting your bibliography in order. You can check it out here http://www.citethisforme.com/

Of course, it is best to learn how to reference for yourself, without the aid of a tool. ITB library has its own comprehensive guide which explains all you need to know about referencing. you can find this printed guide in the display stand in front of the circulation desk.

January 28th is Data Privacy Day

2012-01-27T11:00:00.000Z

According to Wikipedia, the purpose ofData Privacy Day is to raise awareness and promote privacy education. It iscurrently celebrated in the United States, Canada, and 27 Europeancountries. It is aimed at raising awareness among teens and young adultsabout the importance of protecting the privacy of their personal informationonline, particularly in the context of social networking.

Sharing information on social networking sites such as Facebook posespotential risks if you do not exercise caution. To smart n to success advise you to bear in mind:

Set the security settings on your profile to "Only my friends".
Always monitor pictures that other people put of you and tag you on - don't hesitate for a second to "untag" yourself from pictures that you do not approve of.
Do not post pictures/videos of yourself under the influence of any type of substance.
Don't confuse Facebook with an on-line dating site!
Avoid putting your phone number, mailing address, children's or pet's names in your profile.

Other useful tips include:

Never post information regarding an upcoming holiday or trip as your status.
Change your password regularly
Be careful who you friend...i.e your boss!
Before clicking on a link from Facebook, always remember to check the address bar, do not follow links which are external to Facebook
Don't post anything which you wouldn't be prepared to say to somebody's face.

http://www.microsoft.com/privacy/dpd/default.aspx

Computer says NO?

2012-01-26T09:35:00.001Z

The Computer Services helpdesk is located in the Library.

Computer Helpdesk Opening Times
Monday to Thursday Friday
10.30-11.00 10.30-11.00

14.00-14.30 10.30-11.00
17.30-18.00 16.30-17.00

When was the last time you searched the web without using Google?

2012-01-25T10:58:00.000Z

After years at the top of the search engine pile, Googlehas become synonymous with the internet istelf. Its ease of use and its widerange of functions have made it a household name. For many people, Google is the only search engine and the only means tofind information online.

There are however hundreds of other search engines outthere, many of which are equal or better than Google.

Google can be regarded as a‘catch-all’ search engine that aims to cater for most information needs, andthis broad scope is largely the reason for its popularity. But because of theway Google searches the web and the way it displays its results, there is arisk that users miss out on a lot of valuable information.

The problem is that Google conductsits searches by associating relevance with popularity. This is not always ideal;popularity of an online resource does not necessarily mean it is the mostsuitable source of information or that it will be relevant to all user’sparticular needs.

Searching the web using differentsearch engines will inevitably provide different results right across the board;search results shown in one engine might not always show up in another. Try itfor yourself: see how much results vary between search engines (e.g Google vsYahoo! or Bing!vs Ask). Thus, it makes sense to usemultiple search engines in your information seeking.

Some search engines are subjectspecific, tailor made to a specific information need. Others simply conducttheir searches differently to Google, placing less emphasis on popularity andmore on relevance.

Check out these search engines asalternatives to Google, you may be surprised what you’re missing out on!

http://thecomputerboss.com/2009/08/over-50-google-alternatives/

Have you seen the Peters Map?

2012-01-24T10:53:00.000Z

The Peters Map is an interesting new(ish) look at the map of the world. Created this century, it portrays more accurate information about the actual size of various land masses.

Which is bigger, Greenland or China? With the traditional Mercator map (circa 1569, and still in use in many schoolrooms and boardrooms today), Greenland and China look the same size. But in reality China is almost 4 times larger! In response to such discrepancies, Dr. Arno Peters created a new world map that dramatically improves the accuracy of how we see the Earth.

Mercator's projection (created at a time when navigators were sailing on the oceans in wooden ships, powered by the wind, and navigating by the stars) was particularly useful because straight lines on his projection were lines of constant compass bearing. Today the Mercator projection still remains useful for navigational purposes and is referred to by seafarers and airline pilots.

The Mercator is also a "conformal" map projection. This means that it shows shapes pretty much the way they appear on the globe. The mapmaker's dilemma is that you cannot show both shape and size accurately. If you want a true shape for the land masses you will necessarily sacrifice proportionality, i.e., the relative sizes will be distorted.

Is the pen mightier than the phone?

2012-01-23T09:19:00.002Z

Today is National Handwriting Day!
So, can anything tempt you away from writing with your keyboard - a freshly-sharpened pencil maybe? Or a felt-tip pen? As more and more of us replace jotters with apps, Kevin Purdy asks whether The Pen is Mightier than the phone? Does the handwritten word inspire more creativity in us? Or are laptops and smart phones simply a better way of communicating?

Presentations: communicate better

2012-01-20T09:36:00.003Z

Are you giving a presentation next semester? How do you feel about speaking in front of a group of people? Public speaking can be daunting for alot of people, but here are a few hints that may help you feel better prepared and less nervous.

Know your topic: it is important to be familiar with the topic of your presentation so that you can feel confident to speak about it and answer questions. Reading your slides, or reading from notes, is not very engaging for the audience. Use your slides to state your core points but tell your audience about any supporting information or examples. They could read your slides at home; if people have turned up at your presentation it is because they want to hear what you have to say!

Rehearse: as well as knowing your topic, it is very helpful to know how you sound before you stand in front of an audience. Even if it feels odd, practice your speech aloud. Consider how you appear to an audience: are you shy and mumbling or are you confident and clear? Time yourself to ensure that you can fit the whole presentation into the time allowed. Rushing the end of your presentation, or running over-time, makes a poor impression.

Know the environment: always turn up early to ensure that the room is organised in the way you want it to be. Ensure your laptop/USB/projector works in that room; if you need sound, ensure that there are speakers. Solve any technical difficulties before your audience arrive.

Need some storage space?

2012-01-19T10:34:00.000Z

Are u in the habit of losing your USB memory stick? Maybe you are concerned about your memory sticks reliability or perhaps you just need to back up documents you have stored on it. Windows Skydrive may be the solution for you!

Users of this Free application are provided with 25 GB of storage space which allows for uploading documents with ease, and for accessing them anytime, anywhere - without the need for a memory stick.

To start using it, simply follow the link below, click the 'Get SkyDrive' button and sign up for a Windows Live ID.

http://explore.live.com/skydrive

Once you are set up, you'll never need a memory stick again!

Happy Thesaurus Day!

2012-01-18T12:26:00.000Z

Want to avoid repetition in your writing? Repetition of the same words can be repetitively annoying! Use the thesaurus to find synonyms (words that mean the same thing) suchas duplication or reiteration.

Nice descriptions are fine,but some words – like “nice” –are overused. When you write, considerwhat it is that you want to communicate and choose words that evoke your message. When you say that something/someone is "nice",do you mean that they are pleasant orappealing or beautiful or friendly or honourable…?

Finally, a thesaurus canalso be a good way to find antonyms (or opposites). For instance, if you know you want todescribe something as being the opposite of “jealous”, you can use the thesaurus to find antonyms such as trusting, contented, kindly, well-disposed…

You can find a thesaurus inthe library (in the shelves nearest the library desk at REF 423) or online,e.g. http://www.synonyms.net.

When should you use an apostrophe?

2012-01-17T08:59:00.000Z

Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr

2012-01-16T11:15:00.000Z

The function of education is to teach one to thinkintensively and to think critically...

Intelligence plus character - that isthe goal of true education

Care to read some (free!) online journals?

2012-01-12T10:51:00.000Z

Stanford University has compiled a lengthy list of Online Journals containing over 2,109,790 articles .

They are freely accessible here to anybody who wishes to view them . They cover diverse areas such as Physiology, Botany, Aging, Microbiology, Medical Law and Journalism.

Who knows what you might find!
http://highwire.stanford.edu/lists/freeart.dtl

Need a little study break?

2012-01-11T09:26:00.000Z

Catch up with last year's news in The Phoenix Annual 2011
(shelved in the reference section near the library desk - REF 320.9)

Including:

Affairs of the nation: coalition survives the first year; 33 Incoherent Independents
Fit to print?: Denis O'Brien cometh
Clerical errors: did Kenny err against Vatican?
Environment: where have all the Greens gone?
Bog cuttings: more dark tales from the provinces
The sporting year: did you say cricket?
Property: how low can we go?

Why can't I eat my lunch in the library?

2012-01-10T10:02:00.000Z

Here at ITB library we want toprovide students with the best service we can. For us to do so, it is necessaryto enforce certain rules. You may not think it, but these rules are in place toensure a fair library experience for all our parons.

We do not allowconsumption of food and drink (except water) in the library in the interests ofhealth and safety and to reduce disturbance to other patrons.

Those patrons who eattheir lunch in the library may not mean any harm, but consider:

Noise: Rustling of plastic, foil and paper; crunching on crisps will causegreat annoyance to those trying to concentrate.

Smell: You may love popcorn, cheese and onion crisps or spicy chicken; butconsider that those around you may hate the smell of your delicious lunch!

Mess: It is inevitable that among those who eat food in the library, somewill leave a mess behind. Greasy keyboards, sticky carpetsand messy desktops are a direct result of patrons eating anddrinking soft-drinks in the library.

They say that rulesare made to be broken. As rock n’ roll as this may seem, we would kindly askall our users to please refrain from eating food and consuming soft-drinks inthe library. It’s your library, lets help to keep it clean and tidy.

Quiet library during exams

2012-01-09T08:45:00.000Z

Exam Week has arrived and we know this can be a challenging time for everyone. Last summer, at exam time, we suspended all group work in the library and it became a quiet study area. So, if you wish to work in groups over the next 10 days, please use the group study area in A Block, F208 or F209. Students working in the library will be asked to work quietly.

Tips for getting through an exam

2012-01-06T10:58:00.000Z

The big day has arrived and you have all your revision done. Here are a final few tips to get you through the exam itself.

Know when and where the examis
Thismay seem obvious, but it often happens that students miss exams because of notknowing where and when it is on. So…it is up to you to read your examtime-table carefully. Take note of the date and time of the exam and where itis on.

Bring pens, pencil, eraser,ruler and anything else you need
This too, might seem very obvious. But it is surprising the amount of students who thinkthat stationary will be provided in the exam hall. It won’t be, so comeprepared. Also, remember to bring your student card forentry to the exam hall. Be sure to read the exam regulations regarding what youcan bring in to the hall.

Know how long the exam is andhow many questions you have to answer
Itis important to know what is expected of you in the exam. Plan and use yourtime wisely. Work out how long you have to dedicate to each question. There islittle point in spending an hour answering one question worth 20% and only twentyminutes working on a question worth 60%.

Know the exam regulations
Payattention to the rules of the exam hall before entering. Listen to what theinvigilator says at the beginning of the exam. Know, for example, the penaltyfor bringing a mobile phone into the exam hall and whether or not you can leavethe hall on finishing writing.

Read the exam paper

Read the exam paper.Then, re-read it. Choose the questions that you are best prepared for.

It sounds silly, but there are hundreds of cases every yearof students not getting the marks they deserve because they failed to answerthe question they were asked. This is usually down to them not adequatelyreading and understanding the question before starting to write. It isadvisable to underline the key words in the question.

Before starting, askyourself ‘what is it that I am being asked for ?’ It is also helpful tohave a separate sheet for rough work and to scribble your key ideas down.

If you arefaced with a mental block don't panic! Breath deeply, relax and re-consider the question slowly and carefully. Think about the main topics you covered in class, and consider what appeared on past exam papers - you will not be asked about something that you haven't been prepared for in your lectures.

Do the best you can!

Are your library books due on 9 Jan?

2012-01-05T11:42:00.000Z

Most of the library books currently on loan are due to be returned on 9th Jan. If you are worried that you will not be able to return your library books on time, just renew them online and avoid overdue fines!

How to renew your books online

How to set your library PIN

If you already have a PIN in your account, and have forgotten it, email us at LibraryInfo@itb.ie and we will reset it for you. Any other questions can be sent to the same address.

Looking for a place to study?

2012-01-04T09:28:00.000Z

Don't forget that the library is open this week...

Wed 4th Jan:     9.15am - 8.00pm
Thurs 5th Jan:    9.15am - 8.00pm
Fri 6th Jan:        9.15am - 5.00pm

What new years resolutions did you make this year?

2012-01-03T11:44:00.001Z

Whether you want to learn a new language, get fit, take up photography, whatever... the library has the books for you!

Looking for a place to study?

2011-12-20T10:56:00.000Z

I do things like get in a taxi and say, “The library, and step on it.”

(David Foster Wallace)

If you are revising this week

don't forget the library is open until 8pm today and tomorrow, and until 6pm on Thursday!

How do you learn?

2011-12-19T15:04:00.003Z

How much do you know about your learning style? People understand information and learn information in different ways. Understanding your own learning style can be helpful when you are studying and revising for exams.

Myers-Briggs devised one method of understanding our own personality. She measured our preferences on four different scales, and devised 16 main personality types based on the findings. The four scales are:

1. Extraversion -- Introversion
Where we do get our energy? Extraverts are energised by other people; they are social beings and they prefer to engage with other people than to be alone. Introverts re-energise in their own space; after spending time with other people, introverts prefer some peace and quiet while they recharge their batteries.

2. Sensing -- Intuition
How do we see the world? Sensing people are factual; they focus on current realities and they are concrete thinkers. Intuitive people are abstract thinkers; they consider all the possibilities in a situation and they read between the lines.

3. Thinking -- Feeling
How do we make decisions? Thinking people base their decisions on logic and facts; they are objective and led by their heads. Feeling people base their decisions on principles and values; they are subjective and led by their hearts.

4. Juding -- Perceiving
How do we behave? Judging people are not the same as judgemental people! Judging people prefer to plan things and be organised; they are ordered and systematic. Perceiving people are flexible and spontaneous; they like to keep their options open and adapt to circumstances as they arise.

Each of us have a preference on each of these scale, e.g. ESFJ (Extraversion Sensing Feeling Judging). You can measure your place on these scales with Texas Tech University's free Learning Style Test. And once you have your four letter code, Naomi Rockler-Gladden outlines some of the main traits of students in each of the 16 main personality types.

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of your learning style as you revise!

Change to our opening hours

2011-12-16T11:37:00.000Z

There has been a change to our opening hours. The college will not open on Friday, 23 December.

Mon 19th: 9.15am - 8.00pm

Tues 20th: 9.15am - 8.00pm

Wed 21st: 9.15am - 8.00pm

Thurs 22nd: 9.15am - 6.00pm

Fri 23rd Dec - Mon 2nd Jan: Closed

Tues 3rd: 9.15am - 8.00pm

Wed 4th: 9.15am - 8.00pm

Thurs 5th: 9.15am - 8.00pm

Fri 6th: 9.15am - 5.00pm

For all the latest information:

http://www.itb.ie/library/geninfo.html

http://www.facebook.com/itbdublinlibrary

Accessing your library account from home

2011-12-15T10:40:00.001Z

As the Christmas holidays approach, here is some information that might come in useful when you are not on campus.

Renew your library books

Set your library PIN

Sometimes a student may already have a PIN in their account, but they cannot remember what it is. If so, ask us to reset your PIN at the Library Desk or email us at LibraryInfo@itb.ie.

Accessing databases from off-campus

For other tutorials, please see the Library Hub!

Need to know when we are open over the holidays?

2011-12-14T10:15:00.000Z

NEEDTO KNOW WHEN THE LIBRARY IS OPEN?

Mon 19th: 9.15am - 8.00pm

Tues 20th: 9.15am - 8.00pm

Wed 21st: 9.15am - 8.00pm

Thurs 22nd: 9.15am - 6.00pm

Fri 23rd Dec - Mon 2nd Jan: Closed

Tues 3rd: 9.15am - 8.00pm

Wed 4th: 9.15am - 8.00pm

Thurs 5th: 9.15am - 8.00pm

Fri 6th: 9.15am - 5.00pm

For all the latest information:

http://www.itb.ie/library/geninfo.html

http://www.facebook.com/itbdublinlibrary

Reading, revising and blackholes

2011-12-13T10:19:00.001Z

This is a very busy time for students; are you using your study time well? A lot of us fall into the trap of reading page after page only to realise that the information hasn't really "gone in" or that we cannot remember very much of it at all.

Here are 3 quick tips that may help:

1. Take notes
As you read, write down key phrases and definitions so that you can read through them quickly as you revise. Bullet points are often more useful that paragraphs when writing revision notes. Consider using colour, highlighters or images to annotate your notes; visual cues like these often help us to remember.

2. Have a dictionary close by
Use a print or an online dictionary to look up the meaning of any words that are unfamiliar. Most academic topics contain jargon or new words; it is very very hard to remember something properly if you do not fully understand it.

3. Close the book and repeat
Every few paragraphs, close the book or turn away from the screen. Try to summarise the passage that you just read in your own words. Repeating information strengthens memory; recapping information in your own words reinforces your understanding of that information.

Battling your plagiarism demons

2011-12-12T09:20:00.000Z

We have a double-challenge for you today! Can you recognise examples of plagairism while battling an invasion of plagiarism goblins?

Test yourself at Lycoming College's tutorial:

Colons versus semi-colons: the identity parade

2011-12-09T11:33:00.000Z

ITB Library study guide: colons & semi-colons on Prezi

Presentations

2011-12-08T09:05:00.000Z

Giving presentations can be nerve-wracking! But, designing a knockout slideshow and practicing your delivery can give you a big confidence boost before you even start to speak. Start to prepare yourself by having a look at this...

Stop Breaking The Basic Rules of Presenting

View more presentations from Ned Potter

How do I avoid plagiarism when I paraphrase information?

2011-12-07T02:01:00.001Z

Students read a huge amount of information, ideas, opinions andinterpretations in the course of their studies. The ideas come from all sorts of places – lecture notes, books,websites, journals, newspapers, databases etc. Throughout their studies, students incorporate these words and ideasinto their own writings, assignments and projects. Amongst the key skills required for writingare: knowing how to quote and knowing how to paraphrase.

What is quoting?

When we quote we take the work of another author and use it,word-for-word, in our own writing. Quotations are punctuated by quotation marks in order to show where wehave used another person’s words.

For instance:

Social media can no longerbe dismissed as a fad or the preserve of the young. “Some of the fastest-growing demographics insocial media are those above the age of 40” (Evans 2010). Innovation in this sector isvital for market leaders because of the rapidly changing nature of how internet-userschose to express themselves.

Weuse quotation marks to differentiate between our words and the words of anotherauthor. We incorporate the quote intoour text where it is relevant and where it supports our argument. We must cite the quotation, i.e. create areference to indicate the source of the quotation.

What is paraphrasing?

Whenwe paraphrase we take the idea of another author and re-tell it in our ownwords. Paraphrased information accountsfor the vast majority of information that is cited in college
assignmentsand projects. In order to paraphrasecorrectly, and to avoid plagiarising the source of the information, we mustkeep a few things in mind:

· Paraphrases do not change the meaning of the information

· Paraphrases do change the structure of the sentences used

· Paraphrases do change the words used

In order to ensure that we do not change the meaning of the source information,it is very important to understand what we have read. The best way to ensure that you understand apiece of text is to read it carefully, to close the book and to repeat it inyour own words (either by explaining the idea to a friend or by writing itdown). Once you have done this go backto the source of the information and check that you covered all the main pointsaccurately.

Changing the structure of a sentence is challenging; in fact, this iswhere the “copy and paste” brigade usually fall short. A proper paraphrase requires you toincorporate the idea in the source of information into the text that you arewriting; information which has been copied and pasted invariably stands outbecause the writing style is different from the rest of the assignment. When you read an idea, and then close thebook and repeat that idea in your own words, you use your own style to repeatit. Remember, most individuals havedistinctive writing styles.

Changing the words used also demonstrates that you understand thesource information sufficiently; you are able to re-explain the idea in yourown words. Again, the paraphrase shouldfit into your writing style; complicated terminology and phrasing may make theparaphrase stand out from the rest of your text. Technical terms, e.g. user-generatedcontent, should not be changed.

Sample:

Social media is appreciated by people of many different ages because so many different types of social networking websites allow people to create their own content, otherwise known as user-generated content. Online networking allows group members to communicate their interactions in a variety of ways. The notion that social networking is restricted to young people is more and more untrue. Some of the most rapid increases amongst people are occurring in those over 40 years (Evans 2010).

This is not a good paraphrase; in fact it is plagiarism. Although I have not changed the meaning of the source information and I have changed some of the words used – it is plagiarism because I have not changed the sentence structure. Merely substituting some words is not paraphrasing.

Social networking is no longer restricted to students. In fact, the biggest growth area in social media use is currently among users who are older than 40 years. The ability of users to create their own content, also known as user-generated content (UCG), is proving to be a significant attraction. Online communities are now able to share information in a wide variety of ways (Evans 2010).

A proper paraphrase changes both the structure of the sentences and the words used, without losing the meaning of the source information. And remember, paraphrases must be cited!

Get more out of Google

2011-12-06T10:56:00.000Z

Although Google isn't always the ideal source for academic information, there is no denying that it can be a great place to start your research, to find simple facts or familiarise yourself with a topic. Here are some hints for searching Google more effectively:

How can a bibliography help you to find information?

2011-12-05T14:27:00.000Z

Haveyou ever found it difficult to find information on a topic for an assignment? Maybe you have only found onebook or a few journal articles on your subject? Maybe you are at a loss as to where youwill find more information?

Here's a little tip for you....

Check outthe bibliography at the back of the book or journal article!

The bibliography lists the resources that the author has consulted when they wrote thearticle. It is a list of the information that they have referred to in support of theirarguments and findings, and may include books, newspapers, journals andwebsites.

Bya process of trial and error, you will be able to access some of these resources too; and by doing so you will be well onthe way to building up your own collection of resources for your assignment.

Bearin mind that not every resource willhave a bibliography, however most academic sources do.

Give it atry!

Ho ho ho!

2011-12-05T11:38:00.001Z

SANTA has lots of FREE GIFTS for the good boys and girls at ITB…….

Like our Facebook page and be inwith a chance to win some Christmas chocolate

http://www.facebook.com/ITBDublinLibrary

Protect your privacy on Facebook

2011-12-02T10:58:00.000Z

Facebook is awonderful tool for keeping in touch with the world. It is great for sharingnews, photos and other media and allowsus to keep up to date with friends and family.

However, thereare pitfalls that go along with it, especially from a Job-seeking point ofview. CareerBuilder has suggested that 45% of employers use social networking sites to screen jobapplicants. It found that in many cases, candidates were not hiredbecause of content found on their social networking site. The top examples cited include:

Candidate posted provocativeor inappropriate photographs or information

Candidate posted content aboutthem drinking or using drugs

Candidate bad-mouthed theirprevious employer, co-workers or clients

Candidate made discriminatorycomments

So it makes sense to be careful with what we post to Facebook, Twitter and similar sites. Here are sometips:

· Chooseyour words carefully when sayinganything on Facebook. Is it the best place to vent your frustrations?

· Screen all photos/videos that you post or are tagged in. Consider what you arecomfortable letting others see and what you would prefer to keep private.

· Knowwho you’re friends with and what they can see on your profile – do you reallywant your boss to know what you did on Saturday night?!

· Treatanything you post or are tagged in as something that will remain online forgood. What you post may come back to haunt you later...

· Checkyour privacy settings.

Did you know that Santa will be visiting ITB on Sat 10 Dec?

2011-12-01T12:11:00.000Z

He will be the guest of honour at the annual ITB Children's Christmas Party!

Join us for a christmas play, face painting, children's games and the Garda Band. Students and staff are invited to bring theirchildren along (there is no charge for thechildren of students / €5 per staff family).

Presents for Santa’s bag will beaccepted at Reception in Block F until 12.00 noon on Friday 9th December.Please ensure that presents are wrapped and clearly marked with the child’sname including the surname. Your child will not receive a present fromSanta unless you supply one. Presents for Santa should be limited invalue to €10. Please consider all children attending when supplying Santapresents.

World AIDS Day

2011-12-01T10:03:00.000Z

December 1st is World AIDS Day

People around the world take the opportunity to remind themselves of the facts and myths surrounding HIV and AIDS. Students, especially, often take on the role of ambassadors for responsible sexual health.

If a friend asked you for advice, would you be confident that you could help? Today is a good day to be informed!

Have you seen the new library hub yet?

2011-11-30T09:30:00.000Z

This summer we built a library hub! You can find:

Maps of the library
Library tutorials, such as how to renew a book online or how to export citation information from a database
Subject guides, such as what resources are available for the different subjects you are studying this term
Study guides, such as tutorials to help you find information in the library databases or how to work with groups

The library hub is located on our main library catalogue page. If you have any ideas or suggestions about study resources that the hub could contain, let us know at LibraryInfo@itb.ie!

Wondering what resources are available for a module you're studying?

2011-11-29T09:16:00.001Z

Have a look at the library intranet pages! Choose between the Business & Humanities page and the Informatics & Engineering page to find information about your module. And all students can find study guides in the Information Literacy section.

Remember the intranet is only available on campus. If you are off campus, have a look at our Moodle page for similar resources!

Get into your comfort zone at the library

2011-11-28T01:29:00.000Z

GETINTO YOUR COMFORT ZONE

TheLibrary is divided into three distinct noise zones - GREEN, ORANGE and RED.

The Green Zones are the group study areas. Students can study together here in smallgroups, and group around PCs. However, noise must be kept to a minumum.

The Orange Zonesare quiet areas. These zones are forquiet, individual study, with one person to a PC.

The Red Zone is for totally quiet study with no noisewhatsoever.

Do you have comma sense?

2011-11-25T10:28:00.001Z

Commas can be tricky! This short guide will help you to know when to include, and when to exclude, them.

ITB Library study guide: understanding commas on Prezi

Having problems connecting to the wireless internet?

2011-11-24T09:24:00.000Z

ITB's Computer Services Department have a series of video tutorials to help you! You can access them on campus only (as you can't connect to ITB's wireless from off campus).

For Windows XP, choose the video for the ITBWIRELESS network or EDUROAM network
For Windows 7/Vista, choose the video for the ITBWIRELESS network or EDUROAM network

In order to connect to these wireless networks you must have completed the application form, submitted it to SID and received an email with a password and instructions.

If you haven't done all that... then start by downloading the application form from the SID website!

Need some help in the library?

2011-11-23T11:32:00.002Z

Need some help in the Library?

Where to findinformation?

How to search aDatabase?

How to reference a book?

Why not ask at the reference desk?

Level 2 in the Library 11.30 – 12.30daily

Avoid txtspeak in your assignments!

2011-11-23T09:27:00.000Z

DY uz txt spk n yr asynmnt?

Dnt!

Using text speak in your assignments is a bad idea! Abbreviations make sense when you are textinga friend but it is important to use proper English when submitting yourcollege work. Don’t lose marks for silly reasons; before you submitan assignment, re-read it to check for poor spelling or grammar.

What makes an article a scholarly article?

2011-11-22T09:30:00.000Z

And why is it important to use scholarly articles? Kimbel Library demonstrates how to recognise scholarly articles and explains how the peer-review process works in just over 3 minutes (and even have time for tips on how to make a mean bowl of ramen noodles!)

What is a Scholarly Article? from Kimbel Library on Vimeo.

Did you know you can use other Institute of Technology libraries?

2011-11-21T01:33:00.000Z

ACCESS ALL AREAS

WITH AN ITB READER CARD

Staff and students can gain access to other Institute of Technologylibraries (partner libraries), excluding DIT, by obtaining a reader card FREE theLibrary Circulation Desk. This is for reference purposes only.

GET YOUR HANDS ON ONE TODAY

Need to know more about Harvard Referencing?

2011-11-18T09:40:00.000Z

Harvard Referencing

The easy peasy wayin just 20 minutes

Just click on thelink on the ITB Library Website…….

This tutorial, from Cardiff University Information Services,
will help you understand:

What citing and referencing mean
Why it is important to reference the information you use
How to cite sources in your written work using the Harvard referencing style
How to include quotations in your written work
How to write your references list in the Harvard style

Some Schools may adopt slight variations on the methods suggested; please consult your Handbook for further information.

Unwelcome guests!

2011-11-17T13:28:00.000Z

UNWANTED VISITORS IN THE LIBRARY

Helpus keep the Library for ITB STUDENTS ONLY

No food or drink (exceptbottled water) allowed in the Library

Ever have trouble doing what you want to do in MS Word?

2011-11-17T09:30:00.001Z

Teach-ict.net provides video tutorials on how to do the basics in MS Word and covers the following topics:

creating new documents
using the toolbars
formatting and editing text
paragraphs
styles & themes
word art & smart art
saving & printing
spelling & grammar
bullets & numbering
sorting data
mail merge
charts & tables
indexes & references
text boxes
images & graphics
hyperlinks
autoshapes & objects
email

Teach-ict.net also provides tutorials on MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, MS Access, Dreamweaver & Photoshop.