Are all-nighters helpful?

A new study that will be published in the January issues of Behavioral Sleep Medicine, says that pulling all-nighters may not be as beneficial to your grades as you think. Check out this AP article for details.

Media Center Holiday Hours

The holiday hours for the Media Center are as follows:

• December 17-18 (by appt: 301-2967)
• December 19 (closed)
• December 20-21 (by appt: 301-2852
• December 22-January 3 (closed)
• January 4 (by appt: 301-2967)
• January 5-6 (closed)
• January 7 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Hours for the spring semester will begin on Tuesday, January 8.

Tarver Library Holiday Hours

Final exams are finally over! Tarver Library has posted its hours for December 17 through January 1. Happy holidays!

OpenYale

Don't have the time to take classes from Yale? Well now you can from some of the professors at Yale University, in seven classes from such topics as Physics to Political Science. Yale has initiated a program called OpenYale, where you can download MP3 or watch the classes being taught. How is this useful? Well for starters you don't have to hand in homework. Secondly, you get an opportunity to hear and learn from other professors. Best of all its free.

Need to convert a file?

I know that we all run into this: We're working on someone else's computer and they've got some writing program called Open Office or some other funky program that half the world has never heard of and all have in your room, where you have to print, is Microsoft Office. Well there are a couple of web programs to use that will convert all types of files for you, not just word documents. From images to PDF's to Word Documents.
Zamzar and Media Convert

Best of all both programs are free. The times it takes to process and translate the information varies. Give it a try, they may just help you print your paper right before class.

Ever lost your USB drive?

Have you ever lost or misplaced your USB drive? Well you may want to take a look at this article about a new software program that helps you keep track of USB related devices. If you try it out let us know what you think of the program.

Cool webtool

Ever wondered how exactly to pronounce discombobulate? Well wonder no more. There's now a website called howjsay.com that will speak the word back to you (you have to have your speakers on). Best of all, it gives you words close by to what you spell just in case you misspelled it. For further reading check out this article from Download.com.

Group Study Rooms

As the end of the semester comes closer and finals are just around the corner, the library is enforcing its Group Study Room policies.

From now until the end of the semester all Group Study Rooms must have at least 2 (two) people in them. In addition, the two hour checkout period will also be enforced.

We enforce these policies so that everyone has a chance to use the rooms. Please remember that we have a large number of tables on the 1st and 3rd floor for individuals wanting a quiet place to study. For groups on the main floor we have the classroom, the laptop lounge, and Elam Alexander.

We appreciate your understanding and wish you good luck with your finals.

Color Printers have returned!

That's right a couple weeks ago we received a new color printer. If you'd like to print in color then you have to do the following:

When you do file/print--under printer chose either the color simplex or the color duplex.
Color simplex will print single sided and duplex double sided.

No it won't save you any money to print double sided because you'll still be charged for both pages.

Unfortunately this option is not available with the Black and White printers.

If you have any questions or problems please stop by the Reference or Circulation desk for help.

Blogs at the library!

That's right the library has multiple blogs. Make sure you take a look at the ones we have and let us know what you think!
Art Blog: http://tarverart.blogspot.com/
History Blog: http://tarverhistory.blogspot.com/
Interlibrary Loan Blog: http://tarverill.wordpress.com/
Dean's Blog: http://tarverdean.blogspot.com/

Thanksgiving Holiday

The Tarver Library wishes you all a Happy Thanksgiving. May you have safe travels and good company where ever you may be.



We will reopen Sunday November 25 at 5:00PM

Did you know?

Did you know that as a way to not only save you time, but to do our part to become more "green" the library is no longer stamping date due stamps?

So where can you go to check your due dates? You can go online here. Not only can you see what materials you have checked out and when they're due, but you can also find your GALILEO password and renew materials. Please do note that there are restrictions with renewing materials online and it may not renew for certain reasons, such as if they've been renewed too many or someone else has a hold on them. If you need any help with this please contact the Circulation Desk (478) 301-2961 or the Reference Desk (478) 301-2055.

How does this help save you time? Well it means that you no longer have to wait while we fumble for the right date due stamp (we had five). And as you've discovered if you renew your books that stamp doesn't change. When you view online it allows you to see the correct due date at a quick glance.

How does it help us go "green"? We are no longer putting date due stamps in the backs of our new books, doing our part to help save paper.

Did you know?

Did you know that bearDVD's can only be checked out for three days? Did you know that Media Center movies can be checked out for a week. It's important to remember as both of these items accrue fines at the rate of $1.00 per day. We know that you hate paying late fees and we hate having to charge you.

Also, please remember that we're no longer stamping due date, but you can check when your items are due here.

New blog features

Over the next couple of weeks come back and check out some of the features and columns we'll be introducing. We'll offer "Did you know?", highlights of new books, and new databases. Take a look and let us know what you think.

Check out our new

suggestion box! You can find the suggestion box located at the circulation desk. This is a way for you to communicate with us. Let us know your thoughts and ideas on the services that we provide. We do ask that you please be specific. If you think that we need improved service, give us an example of what type and where. And if you think we have great customer service, let us know which department, so that we can pass on the praise! We look forward to hearing from you and learning how we might help serve you better.

Test and Evaluate Trial Databases!

Tarver Library now offers you; Mercer students, staff, and faculty; the opportunity to preview trial databases and to provide your feedback using an online evaluation form. From time to time we "test drive" a new product to evaluate its value as a potential part of our repertoire of online research tools. We consider your opinion valuable in helping us to make informed decisions. Check the database trials page from time to time to see which databases are being trialled and evaluated.

Take this opportunity to test new databases and have your opinion heard!

FirstSearch Databases Update

Following the conclusion of our FirstSearch consortium agreement, access to the following databases has been restored:

AGRICOLA (available on the Web or through EBSCOHost)
AHSearch (available through Web of Science)
BasicBIOSIS (available through FirstSearch)
Biology Digest (available through FirstSearch)
EconLit (available through FirstSearch)
GEOBASE (available through FirstSearch)

FirstSearch Databases Unavailable

Due to the termination of a consortium agreement, access to the following FirstSearch databases has been interrupted:

AGRICOLA
AHSearch
Alternative Press Index
BasicBIOSIS
Biology Digest
Business & Industry
Business Organizations
Consumers Index
Disclosure Corporate Snapshots
GEOBASE
Media Review Digest
Worldscope Global

We are working with the vendor to restore access. We thank you for your patience.

African American Studies Center

Tarver Library has implemented an extended University-wide trial of African American Studies Center from Oxford University Press. This database can be accessed from the Tarver Library database listing page. The trial of African American Studies Center will run through September 30, 2008.

"The Oxford African American Studies Center provides students, scholars and librarians with more than 8,000 articles by top scholars in the field. The core content includes the highly acclaimed Africana, which presents a powerful account of the African and African American experience in five volumes. The new Encyclopedia of African American History, 1619-1895 documents the full range of the African American experience from the arrival of the black explorer, Esteban, who arrived with the Spanish in 1527, to the death of Frederick Douglass. A forthcoming companion set, the Encyclopedia of African American History, 1896 to the Present, offers the most extensive treatment of African American history into the twenty-first century and will be fully available online in 2009. Bringing the contribution of African American women to the fore is the fascinating three-volume Black Women in America, Second Edition, edited by Darlene Clark Hine. And finally, the much-anticipated African American National Biography African American history through the lives of its people, ultimately offering over 6,000 biographies. New entries from this landmark work are continually added as part of the regular update program, with over 1,200 already online."

(Excerpt from "About AASC" http://www.oxfordaasc.com/public/about.jsp)

Printers are back!

We've brought back the old HP printers and they are up and running. While we no longer have color or double sided printing, we do have the speed back that we were used to before. We hope that the problems have been solved and we thank you for your patience. The Tarver Library would like to give thanks to TSS, particularly Craig Webb who has gone above and beyond to help us out with fixing these printing issues. So thanks!

Printers part 2

We had hoped that the printing problems were solved. However, over the last few days we have noticed that they have not and continue to work on trying to get these problems fixed. To that end, Thursday September 6, beginning when we open until at least 11 we will be working on the printing system again. We may have some computers closed off or ask that you move to a different one while we work on getting the printing situation resolved. If you need help during this time please come to the Reference or the Circulation desk for assistance. We are trying are hardest to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

One of the drawbacks will be that we will no longer have color printing, but we feel that getting the speed of jobs back up will help you better. If you have any questions please let us know. Thanks.

ATLA Maintenance on September 10 (9/10)

From EBSCO comes this news on the ATLA databases. Please note that while their is scheduled time for next week, it is possible that other dates may follow as well. We will do our best to notify you of these times when we can. If you need further assistance please contact the Reference Desk at (478) 301-2055. Thanks.

Please be advised that ATLA plans to perform routine system maintenance on Monday, September 10, beginning at 5:00 p.m. EDT. It is possible, though not likely, that you will encounter an interruption of access to full text records on /ATLASerials/ and /ATLA Religion/ Databases with /ATLASerials/, between the hours of 5:00 and 7:00 EDT. On the first Monday of the following few months, ATLA will conduct routine maintenance during the same timeframe. We will contact you in advance, if there is any possibility of a brief service interruption during those times. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience and look forward to continuing to provide you with ATLA's fine products.

Tarver Library Printers

As you may have noticed over the summer Jack Tarver Library acquired new printers. As you may have also noticed they are not quite up to the speed and efficiency that we're all used too. Tarver Library has been working hard to attempt to resolve this issue and get the printers up to par. As such, on Thursday August 30, TSS will be installing new printers in the Tarver Library. We will have printing service during this time so please bear with us during this time and you can find assistance at either the Reference or Circulation desk.

Lexis Nexis

The following information comes from Galileo on Lexis Nexis Academic:

As a result of their recent interface upgrade, Lexis Nexis has confirmed that they have a known issue that is causing users to get an error message:

"We were unable to sign you in to LexisNexis Academic services because your ID is already in use."



If you experience this problem please know that we're contacting the appropriate people to fix the problem. If you do experience this problem please contact the reference desk at 301-2055 for assistance.

Mercer now has Ebrary!

Over the summer the Mercer Libraries added University-wide access to 30,000+ eBooks through eBrary. These items include a subscription to eBrary's Academic Complete and Sheet Music collections. These items can be found in our catalog by doing an author search of ebrary. A plugin is required to view these materials and that plugin can be downloaded here. Questions? Visit our eBrary FAQ page.

Check out these blogs!

The staff at Tarver are working hard to keep you better informed. Take a look at some of these blogs that have been created to bring you information:

Want to know more about how Interlibrary Loan works? Then check out the Interlibrary Loan blog. Feel free to leave comments and check back for Trivia.

Are you wondering what great new history books the library has acquired? Or have you discovered a great new history website that you wish to share with others without overwhelming them by e-mail? Then check out the new Tarver Library history blog.

Changes in GALILEO Databases

GALILEO has announced changes to the availability of EBSCO databases. GALILEO has added access to the following EBSCO databases:

• Academic Seach Complete
• Business Source Complete
• Business Source Complete: Business Searching Interface
• Consumer Health Complete

These databases will replace the following EBSCO databases, which will no longer be available:

• Academic Search Premier
• Business Source Premier
• Business Source Premier Enhanced
• Health Source Consumer Edition
• Revistas de comercio
• Revistas de investigation
• Salud: informacion para los Consumidores

Further information is available on the GALILEO announcements page.

Welcome!

Welcome to the new Jack Tarver Library News page. Please use our RSS feeds to keep up with events and goings on of the library.