Watch the GIS Centre’s new Shade Model Project video (scroll to the bottom of the page).The model utilizes LiDAR (light detection and ranging) elevation data to show shadow for a late summer day in and around the Public Gardens. The LiDAR dataset collected by the Halifax Regional Municipality has many uses in environmental and urban planning which are being explored by Dalhousie University and HRM.
This is just one example of the type of cool projects that the GIS Centre is working on!
This summer new editions were published for both APA and MLA citation styles. Both have undergone some significant format changes that you should be aware of. The Libraries have published Quick Guides to both versions of each style. Please make sure your students know which edition you expect them to follow.
APA 6th Edition
The main change is the inclusion of the DOI (digital object identifier) which is a unique persistent number assigned to any digital object[LB1] (journal article, book chapter) to provide consistent access regardless of URL changes.
APA Style (5th) Quick Guide (pdf)
APA Style (6th) Quick Guide (pdf)
MLA 7th Edition
This summer Student Services has suggested to all Dal students that they read Lawrence Hill’s award-winning novel The Book of Negroes, winner of this year’s CBC “Canada Reads” competition. On September 9th there will be a series of group discussions of the book held around campus, including one at the Killam Library. This will be the first of what will hopefully will be an annual “Dal Reads” event.
Check out the new Dal Reads blog and view the video of Jian Ghomeshi’s interview with Lawrence Hill. Read the actual text of the original Book of Negroes online at Black Loyalists: Our History, Our People. If you’ve read Hill’s The Book of Negroes or are reading it right now, tell us what you think of it!
SARAH STEVENSON
Reference Librarian, Killam Library
July 31 – December 31, 2009
For some time, I have suspected that the libraries are not meeting the needs of the Faculty of Science. I propose to investigate two questions during my leave:
Are Dalhousie University Libraries meeting the needs of the Faculty of Science?
How can the Libraries improve services to the Faculty of Science, or make them more aware of what we have to offer?
At present, my plan for investigating these questions consists of soliciting feedback from students (undergraduate & graduate), post-doctoral fellows, staff, and faculty through an online survey, focus groups and interviews. I expect that these investigations will reveal areas for improvement, both in the provision of service and the marketing of the services we already provide.
During my leave, I’ll be one of the Researchers in Residence at Dalhousie’s School of Information Management. They are providing me with a workspace and a collegial environment for my research in exchange for a presentation in their Public Lecture series and mentoring with their students. The faculty and staff have already been very welcoming, and generous with their advice!
Miss Paul already?
No need to suffer McCartney withdrawal … We have original Beatles recordings in the Music Collection, 5th floor, Killam Library. Vinyl rocks too!
The Killam Library has been selected as the location for a planned Graduate Students Centre, to be housed on the 4th floor of the library. The Centre will include a wireless quiet study area, a seminar room, a lounge, kitchenette, and other amenities.
Construction of this special resource for grad students will involve some demolition of existing walls in the northeast corner of the 4th floor. Work will begin Thursday July 2nd and while most of the demolition should occur over the weekend it may continue into the following week. Please be advised that elevator service may be disrupted in order to allow for removal of materials from the library.
We apologize to everyone for the unavoidable noise, dust and inconvenience this work will cause–but we’re sure the Centre will be worth it!
In honor of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music Conference held at Dalhousie June 12-14, University Archives & Special Collections has mounted a display in the Killam Library entitled “Going Coastal: Peripheries and Centres in Popular Music: Some Atlantic Canada Variations on the Theme.”
The display features CDs, records, books and scores grouped around three themes: “Music at Work,” “Sustaining a Culture: Gaelic Music and Language,” and “Atlantic Canada and the Current Celtic Music Revival.”
Come by and view this colourful and topical display on the fifth floor of the Killam Library. Please address comments and queries to Music Librarian Karen Smith, phone 494-8803.
The Killam Library’s video/DVD collection which was housed behind the Circulation Desk has now been integrated into our book collection. The empty cases are shelved in call number order in the stacks–just bring the case of the film you want to watch down to the Circ Desk and we’ll give you the disc or VHS tape for it.
Sign videos out for 3 days, and renew them three times online on your library account. Don’t forget the popcorn…
Noticed a change on our homepage?
The Dalhousie Libraries have acquired WorldCat Local, a new discovery tool which provides expanded Web access to local, regional and worldwide library resources. When you do a search, items available at Dal are shown at the top of the search results, followed by items held in Novanet Libraries, Atlantic University Libraries and finally libraries around the world.
WorldCat Local provides a single interface for searching books, articles, digital items and other materials, as well as document delivery options. Other attractive features include relevancy ranking, book cover images, downloading digital content, and the ability create lists, RSS feeds, saved searches and more. Plus you can use it on your handheld!
Please note that WorldCat Local is an enhancement to Novanet, which will continue to be used for patron account functions, placing holds, Novanet Express, and Reserves.
We’re beta testing this exciting new tool and welcome your feedback on it. Please give it a try at www.library.dal.ca and let us know what you think!
May is “Get Caught Reading Month.” Now that exams are over what are you reading–for fun?