New ScotsRead Titles

A few new ScotsRead titles arrived and were just added to the shelves.  Stop by the library to browse:

• Pillar to the Sky by William R. Forstchen
• The Forever Girl by Alexander McCall Smith
• The Good Luck of Right Now: A Novel by Matthew Quick
• Vienna Nocturne: A Novel by Vivien Shotwell
• Dear Abigail: The Intimate Lives and Revolutionary Ideas of Abigail Adams and her two remarkable sisters by Diane Jacobs

Research Tip: Why should I use a library database?

What is a library database?

A database is a collection of citations, indexes, and/or full text for articles that originally appeared in journals, magazines, or newspapers.  A database gathers all of this information into a single, searchable collection.

How do databases differ from library catalogs?

Databases differ from catalogs. A catalog indexes books, DVDs, AV materials, music, and more so you can locate a record and then locate the item. Catalogs do not have full text articles, while many library databases do.  Think about it this way: If you wanted to find Time Magazine you would use a catalog, but to find the individual articles that appeared in Time Magazine, you would use a library database.

Why should I use a library database?

Searching a library database is different than searching the web.  While both provide information that is searchable, a library database contains expert selected and curated information that is not freely available on the web.  Libraries pay to access this content and which allows users to research using content that is managed and more reliable in many cases than information freely available on the web.  

You can find access to all of the Hewes Library's databases on the Databases: Find Articles section of the library's website.  We have a lot to choose from and the list can be a little intimidating at first, but don't worry!  You can always view the Databases by Subject, which will help to sort them by major subject area and help you focus your research.  

Access to library databases is limited to the current students, staff, and faculty of Monmouth College.

Check out a some light reading; new ScotsRead Titles

Looking for some light reading?  Be sure to stop by the ScotsRead Collection on the main floor of the library, near the study tables.  Titles in the ScotsRead collection are popular fiction and check out for 2 weeks instead of 4 for our students.  If you have a title or author suggestion, let a librarian at the Reference Desk know.

The following titles have just arrived and are now available:

• Chasing Shackleton: re-creating the world's greatest journey of survival by Tim Jarvis
• Dexter's Final Cut: A Novel by Jeff Lindsay
• Burn by Julianna Baggott
• The Deepest Secret: A Novel by Carla Buckley
• I always loved you: a story of Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas by Robin Oliveira
• Cell by Robin Cook

Periodical of the Month: Brides

The periodical of the month for February 2014 is Brides Magazine.  Published by the Condé Nast Corporation, Brides is a bimonthly magazine which Hewes Library subscribes to in print only.  Condé Nast says that,

"Since 1934, Brides has been an in-depth resource for brides-to-be.  Filled with glossy ads from engagement rings to bridal gowns to invitations, this magazine is a must-have for any engaged couple.  Regular topics include fashion, floral, fitness, color schemes, budgeting, hairstyles and more!  Columns include tips ‘n tricks such as “7 Ways to Include Your Pet in Your Wedding” or “10 Easy Steps to a Kick-Ass Destination Wedding."

See more at: www.brides.com or on the Main Level of Hewes Library in the Popular Periodicals section, just across from the coffee shop.

Muslim Journeys: A Quiet Revolution Book Discussion

As part of the Muslim Journeys NEH Bookshelf grant, Hewes Library will be hosting a book discussion of the book A Quiet Revolution.  The book discussion will be lead by Farhat Haq, PhD, Professor of Political Science at Monmouth College.  As a Pakistani immigrant, Prof Haq has worked on issues of religion and politics in the context of modernization, with an emphasis on constructions of gender.

The book discussion will take place on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 7pm. It will be held in the Barnes Electronic Classroom, Hewes Library Room 03, on the lower level of the library.

The Let's Talk About It and the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf Funded with a grant from National Endowment for the Humanities, in cooperation with the American Library Association. Our local partners include the Buchanan Center for the Arts and the Monmouth Chapter of the American Association of University Women.

New Items At Hewes Library

New items are added to the Hewes Library collection on a continual basis. Recent titles have included:

• Making Ceramic Sculpture by Raul Acero
• Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things by Paula Byrne
• Being a Muslim in the World by Hamid Dabashi
• How to Read Literature by Terry Eagleton
• John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars by Eve Golden
• Death Class: A True Story About Life by Erika Hayasaki
• What Has Nature Ever Done For Us? by Tony Juniper
• Books: A Living History by Martyn Lyons
• Agroecology by Konrad Martin
• Blessing The Hands That Feed Us by Vicki Robin

Database of the Month: Salem Health

For the month of February, our database of the month is Salem Health.  Salem Health brings together Salem Press' award winning print reference works in an online, searchable format.  The database originally began online to make access to the Magill's Medical Guide easy for consumers and researches and it now contains titles from across the medical and health fields.  The online reference resources contain information that is readable and accessible to patients and health care workers.

Topics in the online database are grouped into 8 major categories that allow for flexible searching and browsing.  Subject areas are:

• Anatomy & Physiology  
• Diagnosis & Testing  
• Diseases, Disorders, & Symptoms  
• Mental Health  
• Prevention & Lifestyle  
• Social Issues  
• Specialties & Health Care Providers  
• Treatment & Therapy 

Access to library databases is limited to the current students, staff, and faculty of Monmouth College.

From the Archives: Monmouth College Dance Cards

In honor of Valentine's Day this year, we've selected several of the dance cards from the Monmouth College Archives to display in the west lobby.  Most of our examples hail from the 1950s, stop by to learn a little about their history and the social events they were part of on campus.

Upcoming Muslim Journey Events

Last week, visiting lecturer D. Fairchild Ruggles' gave her presentation: "The Meaning of Beauty: The Art of Gardens in Islam."  She discussed how and why gardens became a significant and meaningful form of art in the Islamic world.  Further resources are available online from the Bridging Cultures Bookshelf grant website.

Events will continue in the next few weeks with two books discussions.  As part of the Muslim Journeys NEH Bookshelf grant, Hewes Library will be hosting book discussion of A Quiet Revolution and The Butterfly Mosque.  First discussion will be A Quiet Revolution and will take place on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 7pm. It will be held in the Barnes Electronic Classroom, Hewes Library Room 03, on the lower level of the library.

For more information, contact Rick Sayre, Library Director, Hewes Library, Monmouth College at rsayre@monmouthcollege.edu or 309-457-2192.

On Display: Food Security

Currently on display in the East Lobby display cases is a collection of library materials relating to the topic of Food Security.  With the college's efforts to expand research on food security with the development of a Food Security Triad, approximately 60 books, DVDs, and pamphlets have been selected to be displayed for the month of February.

The World Bank describes food security as the access all people have to sufficient food for an active and healthy lifestyle.  Therefore, food security is a wide-ranging, multidisciplinary topic that encompasses areas such as: food supply, food safety, agricultural productivity, sustainable agriculture, global and domestic economics, food sovereignty, environmental policy, water resources & development, hunger, natural resources, economic policy, globalization, and transportation.

All materials are available to checkout.  Please see a library staff member at the Circulation Desk if you wish to borrow an item.

Muslim Journeys: Islamic Art Spots Film and Presentation

As part of the Muslim Journeys NEH Bookshelf grant, Hewes Library will be hosting a film screening and presentation of the movie Islamic Art Spots.  Visiting lecturer D. Fairchild Ruggles' presentation is titled: "The Meaning of Beauty: The Art of Gardens in Islam" and she will discuss how and why gardens became a significant and meaningful form of art in the Islamic world.  D. Fairchild Ruggles is a professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois.  Her areas of research include: the art and built environment of the Islamic Mediterranean and South Asia, visual theory, history of water systems and land management, cultural heritage, and women as patrons of art and architecture in Islamic societies.

The short films screening and presentation will take place on Thursday, February 6, 2014 at 7pm. It will be held in the Barnes Electronic Classroom, Hewes Library Room 03, on the lower level of the library.

The Let's Talk About It and the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf Funded with a grant from National Endowment for the Humanities, in cooperation with the American Library Association. Our local partners include the Buchanan Center for the Arts and the Monmouth Chapter of the American Association of University Women.