The process of interfiling books and journals has begun! The journals in the As are being moved to compact shelving ‘swing space’ to make room for the interfiling process to start. There is signage by the bound journals area as well as a large sign pointing to the journal swing space. I will try to post updates on the blog regularly, plus to the website on the Koerner branch page.

A student came to the desk wanting to open a document he had created using open source word processing, and Word wouldn’t do it. There are a number of web word-processing options available, including Zohowriter and Writely. Zohowriter opened his document and he was thrilled.

Joe Tennis’s LIBR 502 class will be using the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature (2002-2005), Women’s Thesaurus, ERIC Thesaurus, and LCSH big red books for an assignment due later in October. Because there are 40+ students in the class, it seemed easier to have all copies in one place; these items are temporarily shelved at the rear counter of the Koerner Reference Desk. The catalogue record also reflects this temporary location. The students should reshelve the books in this location.

The GAAs attended a session today on communications. Some of the situations they have come across in the past month were discussed, and we thought it would be useful for all of us to offer wording and strategies to deal with some of the common situations. I will start the ball rolling; please log in and edit the post to add your thoughts! (comments have to be approved, editing is faster…)
Why don’t you have the textbook for my course?
I understand it is frustrating to have to buy expensive textbooks, but because textbooks change almost every year, UBC Library can’t afford to buy new copies each year. Our collection provides additional material beyond what is in the textbooks. You could consider buying used, or sharing a textbook with a classmate to reduce your costs.
Can you find me more information (after helping for the patron for a while, big lineup at desk).
Let me quickly review what we just did… This should get you started in finding information on your topic. Why don’t you try some searches in these resources at one of the computers here, and when you need more help, come on back.

Several students have come to me asking for help with an assignment for Steven Heine’s course, Psyc 407 Cultural Psychology. They believe that they are to do a literature review of experiments performed on members of 2 or more cultural groups, where there is an analysis of cultural differences in responses. Administration of questionnaires does not count as” an experiment”.
According to Dr. Heine, the assignment asks them to design their own experiment to be performed on members of 2 or more cultural groups, etc., and there is no requirement for a comprehensive literature review.
If a student does feel compelled to do a review, send them along to me and I’ll show them the workaround. (PsycINFO doesn’t have a limit for this, darn.)
Sheryl

Great image of how Google searches for information from the Chicago Tribune, courtesy of ACRLog…

For the 503 class, remind students that their textbook Reference and Information Services has a bibliography at the end of each chapter with the resources that will answer the questions they have. I have a copy in my office on the first shelf as you enter on the second or third shelf down; if they don’t have their textbook with them (and they don’t…), you are welcome to borrow it. The World of Learning is mentioned in the chapter on directories, and is current to 2006 for the Malawi question.

This week SLAIS students need to know how many agricultural research stations there are in Malawi. (It’s one of the questions on the latest Reference sources assignment.) Patrick found the answer in the International Research Centers Directory. Thanks Patrick!

Some students have been asking about colour copiers in the library. We do have a new XEROX machine in the copy room that makes colour copies at 40 cents each.

Re the observing students, I will give them a tag to wear saying Observer….D