Archive for October, 2009

Cinematic Horrors Galore

Posted October 29, 2009 * Comments(0)
CC image by philip.bitnar

CC image by philip.bitnar

Happy Halloween everybody! For your spooky enjoyment, please enjoy this selection of library materials on the art of the horror film. Curl up with a book on a dark and dreary evening, or choose a VHS or DVD for late-night viewing at the library. Plus, we’re open until 1AM on Halloween night! Just don’t go down to the basement…

Stuff to read - lots more to choose from in our catalog:

Stuff to watch:

What are some of your favorite horror classics? Is there a book or film that the library should have, but doesn’t? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below!

“Laid-back” Research Help - SCAD’s Peer Tutoring Program

Posted October 27, 2009 * Comments(0)
CC image by UBC Library Graphics

CC image by UBC Library Graphics

Did you know that fellow SCAD students are ready and waiting to help with your classes and assignments? SCAD Peer Tutors are upper-level students who have deep knowledge of their discipline, and of course know all the ins and outs of SCAD student life. Whether you need to master a complicated Visual Effects program, boost your design know-how, re-work a drawing, or write a research paper, they can help! And they work all across campus - in fact, there is probably a tutor in one of the buildings you visit regularly.

To view tutor profiles, learn about the program, and schedule an appointment:

  • login to MySCAD (in a new tab)
  • then return to this page and click here to enter the Peer Tutoring website.

Matt Fisher is one such tutor whose office is located in Jen Library, room 218 (2nd floor). His specialty is Reading Comprehension. Matt graduated with honors with a B.A. in English and Education, and is now pursuing the M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing at SCAD. Matt kindly answered a few questions about what he does. Read on…

Jen Library: What does ‘reading comprehension’ mean exactly, and why is it an important skill to have?

Matt: Reading comprehension entails the skills necessary to read effectively and understand what’s being said. Even if you’re a strong reader, it’s easy to fall into the trap of simply “looking at the words,” while thinking of something else. By developing skills in reading comprehension, you will cut down the time you spend on assigned readings, and have a better understanding of the content.

As Reading Comprehension tutor, it sounds like you can assist with a range of academic needs. What are some of the services that you provide to SCAD students (especially with finals)?

As finals approach, the concerns of heavy readings are compounded by research paper deadlines. If you need help learning and implementing editing techniques for your essays, or developing skills that will lighten the burden of assigned readings, consider setting up an appointment via MySCAD under reading comprehension.

What inspired you to become a Peer Tutor?

Before coming to SCAD, I had the chance to teach reading for several weeks in 7th grade and 12th. I love helping people in any facet of life, but pedagogy has proven itself to be one of the ways I can best do so.

Any other things you’d like to share?

This is a laid-back environment. We will take a look at whatever problems you have, and I will do my best to assist you. It’s a free service, so there’s nothing to lose.

Thanks Matt! Again, please visit the Peer Tutoring page on MySCAD to learn more and make an appointment.

Pardon Our Construction

Posted October 26, 2009 * Comments(0)
Image via Library of Congress @ Flickr

Image via Library of Congress @ Flickr

If you’ve visited the Jen Library in the past two weeks, then you’ve noticed we’re currently sprucing up our building’s appearance, inside and out. Everyone involved - Library staff, SCAD Facilities, and various crew- are working closely together to keep intrusions to a minimum. We thank you all for your continued patience with these changes, and let us know if there is anything we can do to make your Library visit more comfortable.

A few requests and notices:

  • Please do not lock your bike to the scaffolding outside of the library! If workers need to move the scaffolding, you may lose your ride. There are racks located at Norris Hall down the street and at various other points in the downtown area.
  • Our Visual Resources department and our Technical Services Department are swapping offices (both on the 3rd floor). By the end of the week, Tech Servs will be in Room 318 and VR will be in the windowed office between the book stacks and the Mac Lab.
  • Some of the books on 2nd and 3rd floor are slightly out of order while we install new carpet underneath the shelves. If you cannot find what you’re looking for - just ask a friendly staff member.

Again, thanks for your attention and patience.

Cite Savvy

Posted October 16, 2009 * Comments(0)
CC Image by Reeding Lessons

CC Image by Reeding Lessons

Now that the Fall Quarter is halfway through, many of you are knee-deep in writing research papers. With all of the work that goes into research - from choosing a topic, finding and reading sources, and synthesizing your argument - it can be easy to overlook writing accurate citations. However, citing your sources (whether they are print, online, text, or image) is an essential part of this process.

Thankfully, there are some excellent resources out there to guide you in creating citations. Formatting in-text citations, reference lists, and bibliographies is not as difficult as it seems!

Citation how-to’s and tips:

  • SCAD’s very own Writer’s Studio (formerly known as the Writing Center) has some excellent online handouts on creating citations in MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, as well as citing images. MySCAD login is required.
  • You can also schedule a one-on-one writing consultation at the Writer’s Studio– contact them to learn more.
  • I am a big fan of the OWL at Purdue website, which offers pointers on using the 2009 updated edition of MLA formatting, as well as in-depth explanations of several other citation styles.

Automatic citation generators:

  • Several of SCAD’s databases, such as Art Full Text, Wilson OmniFile, and CQ Researcher have their own built-in citation generators. When viewing an article or abstract, look for a “cite” link that will give you a sample citation for that source.
  • The instructify blog recently listed top 5 citation applications on the Web, including several generators.

Call me old-fashioned, but I don’t completely trust citation generators. Humans are smarter than robots, and not every research source falls into the precise citation-creation formula that the ‘bots use. It’s a good idea to double check any automatically generated citations against the most current manual. Lucky for you, we have all of the latest editions at SCAD Libraries!

Happy citing!

NEW online fashion and business resources!

Posted October 9, 2009 * Comments(0)

SCAD Libraries have just acquired access to two fabulous new online resources: Stylesight and Reference USA. Like all of our databases, these can be accessed anywhere, 24/7. All you need to do is login with your last name and SCAD ID card number. Please give them a try and let us know what you think!

Stylesight is an incredible resource for those who are studying fashion, fibers, interior design, and marketing. It provides:

  • up-to-date fashion news
  • trend and color forecasting
  • coverage of events and trade shows
  • create custom color palettes and fashion collections

My favorite feature, though, are the 2 million+ images of the runway and street, store displays, interiors, vintage fashions, royalty-free graphics, and even a wide selection of inspirational themes to get your creative juices flowing. Use the links in the left-hand column to start browsing - and budget lots of time, because it’s visually addicting!

Anyone seeking information on U.S. and international businesses will want to give Reference USA a close look. Search for a business to learn about its:

  • brands and products
  • names of executives and managers
  • business size
  • stock analysis
  • recent news
  • historical data

Reference USA also indexes residential data from around the U.S., making it an ‘online phone book’ for finding individual contact information.