Fall semester starts in less than two weeks, and I know folks are itching to get started. If you're taking any of my courses, you can find most of the basic info you need on my faculty web page.
The main thing is, buy your textbooks sooner rather than later. Text information can be found on the MCTC Bookstore web site.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
The MCTC Library is on Facebook Now!
We just created a Facebook page for the MCTC Library (I know, how far behind the curve are we???), so you can become a fan.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Interfaith Rally at the Capitol
FYI...
Called to be a Faithful Minnesota: A Witness of Lament
Tuesday, June 30, 10:30 - 11:30 AM
State Capitol, St. Paul
Minnesota people of faith are gathering for a witness of lament on the
morning of Tuesday, June 30 to beg Governor Tim Pawlenty not to abandon
the health of Minnesota's citizens, especially those most in need.
At the end of the legislative session the governor vetoed funds for
health insurance for 30,000 extremely vulnerable Minnesotans. Now his
unallotment plan accelerates these health care cuts by two months. He
also plans to unallot emergency assistance and services to children,
families and people with disabilities.
As people of faith we want to send the message that this is not the
Minnesota we are called to be. It is against the teachings of all our
religious traditions. We want to remind Governor Pawlenty that he is
governor of all the people and plead for his care for all.
Join us for this rally:
Gather at Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill, 105 University
Avenue, St. Paul , by 10:15 am. We will stage in congregational groups
and process in a somber, funeral-like procession beginning at 10:30 am.
Please wear black and bring old flowers and notes to the governor
expressing your faith-based concern about these budget decisions.
We will process down Martin Luther King Blvd , cross and gather on the
South steps of the Capitol. Please deposit your flowers and cards in
the baskets provided.
Speakers will include Bishop Peter Rogness, Saint Paul Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America; Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman, Temple
Israel Minneapolis; and the Rev. Alfred Babington-Johnson of the
Stairstep Initiative, as well as the Rev. Peg Chemberlin, Executive
Director of the Minnesota Council of Churches and Rev. Grant Abbott,
Executive Director of the Saint Paul Area Council of Churches.
A delegation will deliver the cards and letter to the Governor's
office.
TO THE GOVERNOR: TAX OUR POCKETBOOKS, NOT OUR SOULS
17 June 2009
Minneapolis Star-Tribune
To the Editor:
Governor Pawlenty's announced cuts in Minnesota's Health and Human
Services programs amount to nothing less than a "tax" on the soul of
all Minnesotans. Our state's essential identity is built on the
notion of care for the poorest and the most vulnerable. We are not a
"survival-of-the-fittest" state where the strong and the powerful
rise at the expense of all others. We have always chosen, instead, to
act with the knowledge that "we're all in this together," that
none of us can really prosper unless the basic needs of all are provided
for. The Governor's unallotment proposals, which directly affect the
homeless, the sick, and the disabled, serve to erode this long-standing
and vital foundation of our identity. He has chosen to burden us all
- "tax" us, if you will - with the weight of knowing that we
have not lived up to our higher aspirations and our deeper sense of what
is right. Many of us would far prefer to have our pocketbooks taxed . .
. not our basic values.
The Rev. Dr. James Gertmenian
Plymouth Congregational Church
1900 Nicollet Avenue
Minneapolis , Minnesota 55403
612-871-7400
Called to be a Faithful Minnesota: A Witness of Lament
Tuesday, June 30, 10:30 - 11:30 AM
State Capitol, St. Paul
Minnesota people of faith are gathering for a witness of lament on the
morning of Tuesday, June 30 to beg Governor Tim Pawlenty not to abandon
the health of Minnesota's citizens, especially those most in need.
At the end of the legislative session the governor vetoed funds for
health insurance for 30,000 extremely vulnerable Minnesotans. Now his
unallotment plan accelerates these health care cuts by two months. He
also plans to unallot emergency assistance and services to children,
families and people with disabilities.
As people of faith we want to send the message that this is not the
Minnesota we are called to be. It is against the teachings of all our
religious traditions. We want to remind Governor Pawlenty that he is
governor of all the people and plead for his care for all.
Join us for this rally:
Gather at Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill, 105 University
Avenue, St. Paul , by 10:15 am. We will stage in congregational groups
and process in a somber, funeral-like procession beginning at 10:30 am.
Please wear black and bring old flowers and notes to the governor
expressing your faith-based concern about these budget decisions.
We will process down Martin Luther King Blvd , cross and gather on the
South steps of the Capitol. Please deposit your flowers and cards in
the baskets provided.
Speakers will include Bishop Peter Rogness, Saint Paul Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America; Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman, Temple
Israel Minneapolis; and the Rev. Alfred Babington-Johnson of the
Stairstep Initiative, as well as the Rev. Peg Chemberlin, Executive
Director of the Minnesota Council of Churches and Rev. Grant Abbott,
Executive Director of the Saint Paul Area Council of Churches.
A delegation will deliver the cards and letter to the Governor's
office.
TO THE GOVERNOR: TAX OUR POCKETBOOKS, NOT OUR SOULS
17 June 2009
Minneapolis Star-Tribune
To the Editor:
Governor Pawlenty's announced cuts in Minnesota's Health and Human
Services programs amount to nothing less than a "tax" on the soul of
all Minnesotans. Our state's essential identity is built on the
notion of care for the poorest and the most vulnerable. We are not a
"survival-of-the-fittest" state where the strong and the powerful
rise at the expense of all others. We have always chosen, instead, to
act with the knowledge that "we're all in this together," that
none of us can really prosper unless the basic needs of all are provided
for. The Governor's unallotment proposals, which directly affect the
homeless, the sick, and the disabled, serve to erode this long-standing
and vital foundation of our identity. He has chosen to burden us all
- "tax" us, if you will - with the weight of knowing that we
have not lived up to our higher aspirations and our deeper sense of what
is right. Many of us would far prefer to have our pocketbooks taxed . .
. not our basic values.
The Rev. Dr. James Gertmenian
Plymouth Congregational Church
1900 Nicollet Avenue
Minneapolis , Minnesota 55403
612-871-7400
Saturday, May 16, 2009
LIT Program Students... Check Out the Program Blog!
Remember that for MCTC's Library Information Technology program students and alumni, we have a program blog. I post some things here in my personal blog, but many conference notices, job postings, etc. are posted on our program blog. Also, programmatic things like "intent to graduate" notices and the like are posted there as reminders. Be sure to check it out!
http://libinfotech.blogspot.com/
http://libinfotech.blogspot.com/
Friday, May 15, 2009
RUSA Stuff at ALA 2009
Did you know that the advance registration deadline for ALA's Annual
Conference is May 22? Less than two weeks away!
The RUSA @ Annual Conference guide is now available for download, and
provides an overview of what RUSA-the Reference and User Services
Association, a division of ALA-has to offer at this year's event in
Chicago.
Download the guide now: http://rusa.ala.org/media/rusa09annual.pdf
Topics covered in this year's programs include:
--Reference, including business reference, historical reference and the
latest research in reference services
--Resource sharing and user privacy
--Collection development, including Spanish-speaking populations and
genre fiction
--Cataloging
--Customer service
--Readers advisory: an interdisciplinary approach
Looking for full-day intensive programming? RUSA preconferences are the
solution, addressing the following topics:
--Illinois-based genealogy resources
--Business knowledge for better business reference
--Collaborating to solve reference services challenges
--The newly-revised "Guidelines on Library and Information Services to
Older Adults"
Don't wait! The best prices on preconferences and conference
registration end next Friday, May 22.
Download the RUSA @ Annual Conference guide now:
http://rusa.ala.org/media/rusa09annual.pdf
Register now at www.ala.org/annual.
Sincerely,
Liz Markel, Marketing Specialist
Reference and User Services Association
a division of the American Library Association
Conference is May 22? Less than two weeks away!
The RUSA @ Annual Conference guide is now available for download, and
provides an overview of what RUSA-the Reference and User Services
Association, a division of ALA-has to offer at this year's event in
Chicago.
Download the guide now: http://rusa.ala.org/media/rusa09annual.pdf
Topics covered in this year's programs include:
--Reference, including business reference, historical reference and the
latest research in reference services
--Resource sharing and user privacy
--Collection development, including Spanish-speaking populations and
genre fiction
--Cataloging
--Customer service
--Readers advisory: an interdisciplinary approach
Looking for full-day intensive programming? RUSA preconferences are the
solution, addressing the following topics:
--Illinois-based genealogy resources
--Business knowledge for better business reference
--Collaborating to solve reference services challenges
--The newly-revised "Guidelines on Library and Information Services to
Older Adults"
Don't wait! The best prices on preconferences and conference
registration end next Friday, May 22.
Download the RUSA @ Annual Conference guide now:
http://rusa.ala.org/media/rusa09annual.pdf
Register now at www.ala.org/annual.
Sincerely,
Liz Markel, Marketing Specialist
Reference and User Services Association
a division of the American Library Association
Thursday, May 14, 2009
RDA-Related Events at ALA in Chicago
For my Library Information Technology students... If you're going to ALA in Chicago, you may want to look for these sessions if you're interested in cataloging and knowledge management.
The RDA Implementation Task Force has several events coming up at the 2009
ALA Annual Conference that we offer for consideration by those attending:
_________________________________________________________________
Pre-conference, Friday, July 10, 8:30-5:00
Title: RDA, FRBR, FRAD: Making the Connection
Speakers: Barbara Tillett (Library of Congress), Glenn Patton (OCLC),
Robert Maxwell Brigham Young Univ.), and Tom Delsey (JSC)
This pre-conference concentrates on the role of the Functional Requirements
for Bibliographic Records(FRBR) and the Functional Requirements for
Authority Data (FRAD) in Resource Description and Access (RDA). The
necessity of understanding these new conceptual foundations is key to the
transition to the future cataloging environment. Participants will hear from
a panel of experts on FRBR and FRAD attributes and relationships, new
terminology and concepts, and participate in practical hands-on exercises.
Location: Hyatt, Columbus Hall I/J
________________________________________________________________
4-hour program, Saturday, July 11, 1:30-5:30pm
Title: Look Before You Leap: Taking RDA For a Test-Drive
Speakers: Barbara Bushman (National Library of Medicine), John Espley (VTLS,
Inc.), Shawne Miksa (COI, UNT), Nannette Naught (IMT, Inc.)
This program focuses on giving librarians the opportunity to ‘test-drive’
RDA. It will examine the content and organization of RDA (compared with
AACR2). Program speakers will focus on the RDA online product, creating
workflows, RDA in ILS systems, testing of RDA, its affect on the MARC
format, and RDA education.
Location: McCormick Place West, room W-134
__________________________________________________________________
RDA Implementation Task Force, business meeting, Sunday, July 12, 3:30-5:30
Location: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4A
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Print Books Are Target of Pirates on the Web
Have you used illegally digitized material before? Music? Print books? Movies?
Print Books Are Target of Pirates on the Web
Print Books Are Target of Pirates on the Web
E-reader technology is making it easier to obtain and distribute copyrighted material on the Web for free.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Even the Publishers Are Duped Sometimes
Or, they're simply corrupt. But, in any case, take a look at this story:
Elsevier confirms 6 fake journals; more comments Bob Grant, Elsevier published 6 fake journals, The Scientist, May 7, 2009.
Elsevier confirms 6 fake journals; more comments Bob Grant, Elsevier published 6 fake journals, The Scientist, May 7, 2009.
For more, go to: http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/2009/05/elsevier-confirms-6-fake-journals-more.htmlScientific publishing giant Elsevier put out a total of six publications between 2000 and 2005 that were sponsored by unnamed pharmaceutical companies and looked like peer reviewed medical journals, but did not disclose sponsorship, the company has admitted.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Textbook Buy-Backs!
MCTC Bookstore will be buying back textbooks for FALL 09 classes on May 8, and 11-14 (9AM-4PM) .
One suggestion, though, before the desire to recoup some cash for your texts overtakes all good sense. If you have a writing guide/style manual that covers MLA and/or APA citation style from ENGL 1111 or some other course, DO NOT sell it back! Keep it! You will not regret having it, especially if your plans include going on to further schooling, here at MCTC or at another institution. Even if your plans don't include formal schooling, a writing guide/style manual is helpful if you ever have to write formal letters (like to a landlord, or a letter to the editor, or a cover letter for a job application...). My $.02.
One suggestion, though, before the desire to recoup some cash for your texts overtakes all good sense. If you have a writing guide/style manual that covers MLA and/or APA citation style from ENGL 1111 or some other course, DO NOT sell it back! Keep it! You will not regret having it, especially if your plans include going on to further schooling, here at MCTC or at another institution. Even if your plans don't include formal schooling, a writing guide/style manual is helpful if you ever have to write formal letters (like to a landlord, or a letter to the editor, or a cover letter for a job application...). My $.02.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Project Homeless Connect
I know some of you end up getting evicted, are couch-hopping, or may otherwise need some housing or other life help. Here's an event that can really help out.
Project Homeless Connect, Monday, May 11th at Minneapolis Convention Center from 9am-4pm.
Project Homeless Connect is a one-stop shop model for delivering services to people experiencing homelessness. Twice each year, Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis partner with service providers, businesses, citizens, and faith communities to bring multiple resources to one location where people can come to find the services they need.
These services include: housing, employment, medical care, mental health care, benefits and legal assistance, eye doctors, haircuts, chiropractic, and dental care.
The first of these events occurred on December 14, 2005, at the Basilica of St. Mary. It was a tremendous success, involving 250 volunteers and service providers and serving over 500 men, women, children, and youth experiencing homelessness. There have been five events since that first event at the Basilica, growing to serve over 2800 individuals seeking services with the help of 1600 volunteers.
If you are outside of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and need assistance, search the web for "project homeless connect" 2009 and the name of your state or city to find nearby resources. You can also go online to http://www.211.org/ for United Way's First Call for Help.
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