Jen Library Reference Department

CC image by Flickr user Jurvetson

The Library Reference Department will host some sweet online workshops over the next few weeks. Students can log in to these free workshops from almost anywhere – simply point your browser to the URLs below at the appointed times. Whether you’d like to get a grip on managing your time, learn just what the *heck* a database IS, exactly, or master the power of Google Scholar, we have a workshop for you:

Time Management: Researching at the Library (online)
Sunday, June 27th @ 4pm / Monday, June 28th @ 3pm

Do you have a big research paper coming up? Did you promise yourself you wouldn’t procrastinate this quarter? Are you tired of all-nighters? Attend this workshop and learn how to manage your time to reduce stress, save time and improve your grades!

http://scadconnect.scad.edu/timesummer10/

Research Survival 101 (online)
Sunday, July 11th @ 1pm / Monday, July 12th @ 8pm

Does writing research papers feel like an impossible task? Are you full of great ideas, but not sure how to get them down on paper? Do trustworthy, professor-approved sources seem to elude you?

If you answered YES to any of the above questions, attend Research Survival 101 online! This interactive workshop will provide practical strategies for staying organized, focused, and creative with research assignments. Come ready to share ideas and any questions you might have.

http://scadconnect.scad.edu/researchsurvival101/

Advanced Research Survival – Library Resources Beyond the Basics (online)
Sunday, July 18th @ 3pm / Monday, July 19th @ 8pm

You’re a research survivor – now take your skills to the next level. This interactive online workshop is intended for anyone who is already familiar with the SCAD library catalog and databases, but wants to go beyond the basic resources. We will discuss practical tips such as constructing advanced keyword strings, “hacking” Google to discover interesting library resources, obtaining items from non-SCAD libraries, and more. Ideal for those writing senior and graduate theses, and anyone who wants to improve their searching overall!

http://scadconnect.scad.edu/adv_researchsurvival/

Questions? Contact the reference department at ref(at)scad(dot)edu

Image by Flickr User Stuck In Customs

The Acropolis. Michaelangelo’s Medici Chapel. Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye. While there’s no substitute for actually being there, the ARTstor database provides the next best thing: interactive, panoramic views of thousands of architectural icons. Sites and buildings from across the world, from antiquity to the present day, are available. Viewers can virtually place themselves within the image by looking around, up and down, as well as zooming in and out. And all it takes to get there is one simple search term.

While architects and art historians will appreciate the ability to closely inspect important details, I can easily see a game designer examining ancient temples while creating a Tomb Raider-style action sequence, or an interior designer gathering ideas for adding old-world library touches to a client’s study. Not to mention, the images are just fun to play around with!

To get started:

• Access ARTStor from SCAD Libraries’ list of databases (you will need your MySCAD ID to login)
• Type QTVR in the search box (with other keywords, if you like)
• Within the list of results, click the word “QTVR” which appears below the thumbnail (instead of the image itself)
• Enjoy!

And as with all of the material in ARTstor, SCAD students and faculty can use the images for research and classroom purposes, worry-free.