Author: chicks5

Are your Librarians Awesome?

chicks5 Librarians

Our nation’s librarians transform their communities, schools and campuses, improving the lives of the people they serve every day. If a librarian has made an impact on you or your community, now is your chance to honor their contributions.

The I Love My Librarian Award encourages library users to recognize librarians in public, school, college, community college and university libraries for the difference they’ve made in their communities.

Nominations will be open until Oct. 1, 2018. 

Up to 10 librarians will be selected to win $5,000 and be honored at a ceremony and reception in New York, hosted by Carnegie Corporation of New York. Additionally, each award-winner’s library will receive a commemorative plaque. Winners will be announced on Dec. 4, 2018.

To be eligible, each nominee must hold a master’s degree in library and information studies from a program accredited by the American Library Association or a master’s degree with a specialty in school library media from an educational unit accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. Nominees must also currently work in a public library, a library at an accredited two- or four-year college or university or at an accredited K-12 school in the United States.

For more information and to nominate a librarian, visit www.ilovelibraries.org/ilovemylibrarian.

The award is supported by Carnegie Corporation of New York, the New York Public Library, and The New York Times.

It is administered by the American Library Association (ALA), the oldest and largest library association in the world.

University Libraries Digital Repository

chicks5 Collections, Special Collections , , , , ,

Did you know that the University of Memphis Libraries have a digital repository?

To enhance access to our rich and varied collections, we have digitized a wide range of materials including collection finding aids or guides, primary source documents, still images, and sound and motion recordings, mostly from our Preservation and Special Collections Department. Topics covered include, but are not limited to, Memphis and regional history and culture in general, family and political life, the Civil War and other conflicts, Civil Rights, and the African American community and culture. This is a growing collection and what is displayed here represents only a small fraction of our holdings.

Below are examples of some of the things you will find inside the repository.

This is a photograph of West Tennessee State Normal School(original name for U of M) students using microscopes in the Chemistry Department around 1916 from the University Archives Collection.

 

 

Along with the University Archives, we also have the Musical heritage Collection which features photographs like this one of Isaac Hayes at the Memphis Airport, April 1972.

 

Please contact the  Special Collections Department at 901.678.2210 or stop by the 4th Floor of McWherter Library for further information the collections held within the digital repository.

Test Prep & Career Readiness Tool Available

chicks5 Databases , , ,

The University of Memphis community now has access to Testing & Education Reference Center (TERC), a valuable online tool, from Gale, a Cengage company, that learners can use for standardized test preparation, researching undergraduate and graduate programs, finding tuition assistance and exploring careers. You can can even pursue new career paths with test prep assistance for career certification exams and gain advice on resumes, cover letters, interviewing and networking.

TERC helps guide learners with:

  • Test prep: Full-length, timed practice exams that simulate the actual testing experience for AP, ACT, SAT, PSAT, GED, HiSET and TASC exams. Diagnostic pre-tests help students determine where they stand and how much preparation they need before taking an exam.
  • College planning: Intuitive searches and quick results deliver information on more than 4,000 accredited schools, including school location, tuition, academics, admission requirements, campus life and much more.
  • Financial aid tools: Benefit from an undergraduate scholarship search, financial aid award analyzer, college savings calculator, tuition cost finder and more.
  • Career development: The Resume Builder and Virtual Careers Library tools assist students in building essential career skills—like how to build a resume, cover letter and interviewing tips for users at all career stages. Using the Career Module, tests help users map interests and aptitudes to the most suitable job categories, industries, and occupations.
  • International tools: Helps individuals prepare to pass the TOEFL (iBT), TOEFL (PBT), TOEIC and U.S. Citizenship tests with online practice tests and eBooks.

For more information or help with access, please contact our Research & Information Services Department at 901-678-2208.

 

On-Demand Film Streaming with Kanopy

chicks5 Collections, Databases , ,

The popular on-demand  film  streaming  service  Kanopy  is  available  for  free  at  your University Libraries.  University of Memphis faculty, staff, and students can  start streaming films instantly by visiting  memphis.edu/libraries and searching Kanopy under databases.   Films can  be  streamed  from  any  computer,  television,  mobile  device  or  platform  by  downloading  the  Kanopy  app  for  iOS,  Android,  AppleTV,  Chromecast  or  Roku. If you need assistance, please call the Information Services Desk at 901-678-2208.

The  Kanopy  collection  includes  indie  hits  like  Hunt  For  the  Wilderpeople  and  2  Days  in  Paris,  classic  masterpieces  like  Aguirre,  the  Wrath  of  God  and  Seven  Samurai,  and  award-winning  documentaries  like  the  2017  Oscar®-nominated I  Am  Not  Your  Negro  and  Sundance  Film  Festival  winner  Mother  of  George.

100+ Languages Are At Your Fingertips: Transparent Language Online Now Available FREE at Your University Libraries.

chicks5 Databases ,

Planning a trip out of the country this summer? Taking a foreign language class this summer? Just want to brush up that language you studied, but somehow can’t seem to remember at all? We’ve got you covered.

We are excited to announce that we now offer Transparent Language Online free to all U of M faculty, students, and staff. Whether you’re starting at the very beginning with a new alphabet or you’re an intermediate learner looking to enhance your vocabulary and grammar knowledge, Transparent Language Online can help. Available for learning 100+ languages, plus English as a Second Language (ESL) materials for native speakers of 26+ languages, the program has something for everyone:

  • Alphabet Courses: Full-length alphabet courses are available for 18+ languages to familiarize you with new writing systems, empowering you to learn one (or more!) of those “intimidating” languages like Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, or Arabic.
  • Essentials Courses: These courses guide you through 30+ lessons of pure language fundamentals, including meeting and greeting, expressing wants and needs, planning for a trip, dealing with money, asking for help, and beyond.
  • Supplemental Vocabulary: Hundreds of topically-organized vocabulary lists will teach you thousands of new words and phrases through a completely redesigned suite of fun, interactive activities that build all four core language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. No more drilling paper flashcards!
  • Grammar Reference: An extensive index of grammar materials rounds out the learning experience, providing both written and multimedia explanations of grammar rules and patterns.

Worried that you won’t be able to learn on your own? A customizable Learning Path allows you to choose what you want to learn, while an integrated analytics system tracks your progress, periodically prompting you to review material that you haven’t seen in a while. It’s like having a built-in teacher there to keep you on track toward your language-learning goals.

Best of all, Transparent Language Online works on any Internet-connected device, so you can learn from your laptop, phone, or tablet.

To learn more about Transparent Language Online and preview the program, swing by the library for a demo or for help signing up for an account. You can also access the program directly at www.memphis.edu/libraries  and typing Transparent Language Online in the database search feature.

Feel free to contact us with any questions at 901.678.2208 or askus@memphis.libanswers.com.

Therapy Dogs at the Library

chicks5 Finals Week

We are so lucky to have had three groups of therapy dogs in the library over Finals Week this year. Thank you to West TN Therapy Dogs for being so gracious with your time and dogs.

This is the the 4th year that McWherter has had therapy dogs during finals. Students love to sit down for an hour and pet all the dogs, and research shows that petting a dog lowers both stress and blood pressure. Over the course of three days we had 10 different dogs and over a hundred students to visit the dogs. We all had such a great time and look forward to it again next year. Take a look at all the happiness!

Find Your Perfect Study Space @ McWherter

chicks5 Finals Week

It is officially the last day of class! What does that mean? It is time to get start studying. McWherter Library has the perfect study space for you to survive this finals season.

We have Group Study Rooms on the 3rd and 4th Floors, equipped with electrical outlets, internet access, and dry erase boards. Study Carrels are also on the 3rd and 4th Floors, must be reserved,  and have electrical outlets along with a small desk and chair. The North side of the 4th Floor is designated a completely Silence Space with individual study desk, if you need to complete silence.

Looking for a more collaborative group space? Try the Fishbowl on the 1st Floor. The Fishbowl can be reserved, holds up to 25, and has a TV with laptop connection capabilities and white board.

 

The Learning Commons on the first floor will also be open 24 HOURS April 26th-May 2.

If we can help you find your perfect study space, let us know!