Did you know?? You can convert journal articles to audio files

Did you know that you can convert journal articles to audio files from the Marygrove Library website?

The library's Academic OneFile and OmniFile databases let you download articles as mp3 audio files so that you can listen to them at your leisure. Originally this feature was intended as an assistive technology for those people who are blind or have low-vision; however, it also comes in handy if you do a lot of driving and love to multitask!

Want to give this a try? Let's download the audio for an article in OmniFile.

Step 1: Open the OmniFile database, available here: http://research.marygrove.edu/articles-a-databases/search-for-articles.

Step 2: Search for an article on a topic that interests you. Or, copy and paste this article title into the OmniFile search box: "Four Popular Stereotypes About Children in Self-Care: Implications for Family Life Educators."

Step 3: When the article appears in your search results, notice the little speaker icon next to the words "Full Text HTML." Important note: some journal articles give you two full-text options: HTML or PDF. You can only download the mp3 audio file for articles with HTML full-text.

Click the image below to enlarge it - see the little speaker icon?

If you click the article's title to begin reading the full-text, you'll see the speaker icon there as well.

Step 4: Click the speaker icon. A new window pops up which displays the full text of the article and shows you a blue link called "Click to hear audio file."

Step 5: Click this blue link. An option appears to "download audio." At the same time, a computerized voice begins reading the article to you.

Step 6: Click "download audio" to save the mp3 audio file to a convenient location.

Voila! You can now transfer that audio file to your mp3 player or smartphone, and listen to it whenever you choose.

We've just downloaded the audio file for an article in OmniFile. If you've found an article in Academic OneFile instead, look for a link on the right side of the page in the "Tools" section called "Listen." This will give you the option of downloading the mp3 audio file.

Enjoy this new feature, and as always, don't hesitate to call your librarians at 313.927.1346 if you have questions. We're happy to help!

Now yours to enjoy: CINAHL Plus with Full-Text

The Marygrove Library has just added a new research database to its website: CINAHL Plus with Full-Text. Until this week, we offered the basic version of CINAHL, which meant very little full-text. With the addition of CINAHL Plus, you can now search for and read articles in their entirety. Who doesn't love full-text?!

Here's a little more information about this resource:

• CINAHL Plus with Full-Text is "the world's most comprehensive nursing & allied health research database, providing full text for more than 770 journals"
• It covers the fields of nursing, biomedicine, health sciences librarianship, alternative and complementary medicine, consumer health and 17 allied health disciplines.
• In addition, this database offers access to health care books, nursing dissertations, selected conference proceedings, standards of practice, educational software, audiovisuals and book chapters. 

If you'd like a demonstration of how this database works, or if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call your Marygrove librarians at 313.927.1346.

Our marvelous MeL databases

Chances are, you've become very familiar with some of the library's databases during your time at Marygrove. Part of the library's budget is spent on renewing these databases every year. But did you realize that several of these databases are free, and neither the library nor you has to pay for them?

These databases are part of the Michigan eLibrary, or MeL, which is a project made possible by grant funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the State of Michigan through the Library of Michigan.

Every few years, the subscription period for these databases ends and a new one is negotiated between the State of Michigan and the database vendors. Our new subscription period begins October 1, 2011. After this date, you'll notice the following changes on the Marygrove Library website:

• These new resources will be added (links lead to short introductory videos):

1. Nursing Resource Center
2. Opposing Viewpoints in Context
3. Small Business Resource Center
4. eLibrary
5. eLibrary Elementary
6. SIRS Discoverer
7. SIRS Renaissance
8. CultureGrams Online
9. Lansing State Journal
10. Traverse City Record Eagle

• CINAHL (abstracts-only) will be upgraded to CINAHL (full-text)
  

• These resources will be removed:

1. Educator's Reference Complete
2. NoveList

Read more about the MeL databases, and why librarian Holly Hibner calls them "the great equalizer among libraries in Michigan."

Explore Michigana, a digital archive that documents Michigan history

We invite you to explore Michigana, a digital archive that documents Michigan history. Here's one of the fascinating documents you'll find inside:

Life and adventures of William Filley: who was stolen from his home in Jackson, Mich., by the Indians, August 3d, 1837, and his safe return from captivity, October 19, 1866, after an absence of 29 years.

Read a little more about what this resource has to offer:

"This archive provides access to texts that range from poetry and mining prospectuses to fire-and-brimstone sermons and war reports. They document the life course of this “beautiful peninsula” through the eyes of the long-dead frontier men and women who lived there. Thus, this archive is a treasure-trove of information. Of particular value is the ability to word search these electronic archival texts. This makes it possible to find specific facts quickly and easily, so that they can be used in research and writing. Indeed, this archive is the perfect tool for anyone from a high school student to a college professor who wants to gain knowledge on the rich and expansive history of Michigan."

Have fun exploring!

Faculty: how much would you pay per month for scholarly database access?

Photo credit: epSos.de

"How much would you pay per month for scholarly database access?"

That's the question posed in yesterday's ProfHacker column in The Chronicle of Higher Education. The question is especially relevant given that the cost of library database subscriptions has reached unsustainable heights. Your Marygrove librarians are curious - do we subscribe to databases that you've never used? Do you wish you could add a database to our offerings? If you had to take a stab at how much of the library budget goes toward database subscriptions, what would you say?

Read the whole article here: http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/reader-input-how-much-per-month-for-scholarly-database-access/34949

Preview the new interface of MLA International Bibliography

Within the next few months, many of the library's ProQuest databases will switch to a new interface. This means that the look of these resources will change although their content remains the same. Since February, you've been able to preview the new look while searching databases such as the ProQuest Military Collection or ProQuest Biology Journals. Now you can preview the new look while searching MLA International Bibliography.

Jump in and do some exploring. If you run into any snags, don't hesitate to call us at 313.927.1346. We'll be sure to post here in this blog just before the new interface permanently replaces the old.

Free temporary access to Cambridge Journals Online

"In order to reach out to new readers . . . all 2009 and 2010 content on Cambridge Journals Online (CJO) will be made free to access between 15th July and 30th August 2011."

To access this content, visit http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displaySpecialPage?pageId=2964 and use the 'Browse Journals' or 'Search' options at the top of the page. Please send your feedback to Christy at 313.927.1378 or cmalmsten [at] marygrove [dot] edu.

Thanks to Dr. Karen Davis for the head's up!

New tutorials: Computer & Internet Basics

The Michigan eLibrary has recently added a new LearningCenter to LearningExpress Library.  It's called Computer & Internet Basics and it helps library users who are new to computers. It includes:

1. Getting Started with Computers
2. Introduction to Windows and The Computer in Action
3. Introduction to the Internet; Email and Chat; Social Networks and Online Communities; and Web Applications and Internet Security

Access LearningExpress Library from our full list of databases (scroll down to the Ls): http://research.marygrove.edu/articles-a-databases/search-for-articles. You'll need to set up a free account to watch the tutorials.

Many of our Gale databases now have a new look

Recently, you may have noticed a new look to many of our Gale databases. Gale has switched to a new version of the PowerSearch interface which is "crisp and uncluttered and offers some very nice changes and enhancements," including:

• Greater discoverability through content type limiters - no more tabs
• Sophisticated search assist with Did You Mean? functionality
• Trending topics, suggested phrases and publication recommendations
• New sidebar with recommendations and limiters for every search
• Additional interface language translation options (Korean, Japanese and Simplified Chinese)
• Read Speaker will read non-English documents
• Translation of foreign language documents to English
• More intuitive advanced searching with search assist on the most used indexes

For tutorials and other materials, visit http://www.gale.cengage.com/powersearch/enhanced/index.htm?grid=powersearch.

Here's a list of the affected databases (all are available from this library webpage):

• Academic OneFile
• Agriculture Collection
• Communications & Mass Media Collection
• Computer Database
• Criminal Justice Collection
• Culinary Arts Collection
• Diversity Studies Collection
• Educators' Reference Complete
• Environmental Studies & Policy Collection
• Expanded Academic ASAP
• Fine Arts & Music Collection
• Gardening Landscape & Horticulture Collection
• GLBT Issues Collection
• General OneFile
• General Reference Center Gold
• General Science Collection
• Health Reference Center Academic
• Home Improvement Collection
• Hospitality Tourism & Leisure Collection
• Info Science & Library Issues Collection
• Informe, Insurance & Liability Collection
• Junior Edition
• LegalTrac
• Military & Intelligence Database
• Newsstand
• New York Times
• Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Collection
• Pop Culture Collection
• Psychology Collection
• Religion & Philosophy Collection
• Small Business Collection
• Student Edition
• US History Collection
• War & Terrorism Collection
• World History Collection

Enjoy the new look, and (as always) if you have any questions, don't hesitate to call the library reference desk at 313.927.1346.

Gale databases unavailable 12 am-12 pm on Saturday, June 4

Gale will be performing infrastructure maintenance during a twelve hour period on Saturday, June 4, 2011. The window will take place from 12 am to 12 pm. During this time, all Gale products and services will be unavailable, including:

• Academic OneFile
• Agriculture Collection
• Biography & Genealogy Master Index
• Books & Authors
• Business & Company ASAP
• Business & Company Resource Center
• Chilton Online Auto Repair
• Communications & Mass Media Collection
• Computer Database
• Criminal Justice Collection
• Culinary Arts Collection
• Diversity Studies Collection
• Educator's Reference Complete
• Environmental Studies & Policy Collection
• Expanded Academic ASAP
• Fine Arts & Music Collection
• Gardening, Landscape & Horticulture Collection
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Issues Collection
• General Business File ASAP
• General OneFile
• General Reference Center Gold
• General Science Collection
• Health & Wellness Resource Center
• Health Reference Center Academic
• Home Improvement Collection
• Hospitality, Tourism & Leisure Collection
• Information Science & Library Issues Collection
• Informe
• Insurance & Liability Collection
• Junior Edition
• Kids InfoBits
• LegalTrac
• Literature Resource Center
• Military & Intelligence Database
• Newsstand
• New York Times
• Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Collection
• Pop Culture Collection
• Psychology Collection
• Religion & Philosophy Collection
• Small Business Collection
• Student Edition
• U.S. History Collection
• Virtual Reference Library
• War & Terrorism Collection
• World History Collection

Library offerings are newly enhanced by Directory of Open Access Journals

The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) has just been integrated into the Marygrove College Library website. This means that as you search library databases, you now have access to 6395 more journals and 551,008 more articles across all disciplines.

The DOAJ provides access to free, peer-reviewed, open access journals. Not only will these journals now appear in your library database search results, but you can also visit the DOAJ directly from this library webpage (scroll down to the D's): http://research.marygrove.edu/articles-a-databases/search-for-articles.

As always, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to call the library at 313.927.1346.

July 28, 2011 update. We've also added these open access databases: BioMed Central, Public Library of Science, and the World Bank Data Catalog. Happy searching!

Explore AP Images & several Encyclopaedia Britannica databases for a limited time

You're invited to explore the following free resources for a limited time. Once you've done some exploring, we'd love to hear what you think. Would any of these make valuable additions to the Marygrove College Library?

• AP Images: available until April 30, 2011. Username is mclslibrary, password is mclslibrary. AP Images is a research database that provides a sensory journey of photographs, audio sound bites, graphics, and full text spanning over 180 years of history as seen through the eyes of the Associated Press

• Encyclopaedia Britannica databases: available until June 30, 2011. Username is mclspreview, password is spring11.
• 21st-Century Explorer
• Annals of American History Online
• Britannica Learning Zone
• Britannica Online Academic Edition 
• Britannica Online Public Library Edition
• Britannica Online School Edition
• Global Reference Center
• Image Quest
• Original Sources from Encyclopaedia Britannica 
• Student News Net
• Spanish Reference Center
• Webster’s Third New International Dictionary Unabridged Online
• World Data Analyst Online

If you feel that any of these would make a valuable addition to the Marygrove Library, please email Christy at cmalmsten@marygrove.edu or call her at 313.927.1378.

Changes to five OCLC FirstSearch databases

As of December 2010, the Arts & Humanities Citation Index is no longer available via the Marygrove College Library.

Beginning June 30, 2011, the following databases will also become unavailable:

• ABI/Inform
• Biology Digest
• Dissertation Abstracts
• GEOBASE

All five databases are (or were) offered via the OCLC FirstSearch service. OCLC has decided to drop certain databases in order to focus on providing other services. You can read more about its plan here:

http://www.oclc.org/ca/en/firstsearch/content/questions/default.htm

The library subscribes to a wealth of other resources designed to meet your research needs, but if you feel that Arts & Humanities, ABI/Inform, Biology Digest, Dissertation Abstracts, or GEOBASE are essential to your work, please don't hesitate to call your librarian Christy at 313.927.1378.

Trial of EBSCO databases (expires March 31)

The Marygrove College Library has access to 17 EBSCO databases until March 31. The names and descriptions of these databases are below. Please call the reference desk for the required username and password, then begin your exploration by clicking this link:

http://trial.ebscohost.com

If you'd like to leave feedback about whether these would be valuable additions to the library, please contact Christy at cmalmsten@marygrove.edu or 313.927.1378.

The 17 trial databases include:

• Gender Studies Database
  Combines Women’s Studies International and Men’s Studies databases with the coverage of sexual diversity issues. GSD covers the full spectrum of gender-engaged scholarship inside and outside academia. This database includes more than 921,000 records with coverage spanning from 1972 and earlier to the present.
  
• Book Index with Reviews
  Provides information on over 5 million book titles, in a wide range of formats. BIR also contains almost 800,000 full-text searchable book reviews from sources such as Library Journal, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist and others.
  
• BIR Entertainment
  Provides information on about 450,000 music titles and 200,000 DVD/video titles, with more being added regularly. With BIR, you can find music or videos featuring a favorite artist or performer, or a specific genre.
  
• SocINDEX
  Features more than 2.1 million records with subject headings from a 20,000+ term sociological thesaurus designed by subject experts and expert lexicographers. This product also contains informative abstracts for more than 1,300 "core" coverage journals dating as far back as 1895.
• SocINDEX with Full Text
  Features more than 2.1 million records with subject headings from a 20,000+ term sociological thesaurus designed by subject experts and expert lexicographers. SocINDEX with Full Text contains full text for more than 860 journals dating back to 1908. This database also includes full text for more than 830 books and monographs, and full text for over 16,800 conference papers.
  
• The Philosopher’s Index
  (From the Philosopher's Information Center) A current and comprehensive bibliographic database covering scholarly research in all major fields of philosophy. The Philosopher’s Index, considered the most thorough index of journal literature on the subject, features author-written abstracts covering scholarly research published in journals and books, including contributions to anthologies and book reviews. The Philosopher’s Index contains research published since 1940 including over 680 journals from more than 50 countries with content representing a variety of languages.
  
• RILM
  A comprehensive, ongoing guide to publications on music from all over the world. RILM includes over 620,000 records; over 30,000 new records are added every year, covering all document types: articles, books, bibliographies, catalogues, dissertations, Festschriften, iconographies, critical commentaries to complete works, ethnographic recordings, conference proceedings, electronic resources, reviews, and more.
  
• PsycARTICLES
  (From the American Psychological Association) A definitive source of full-text, peer-reviewed scholarly and scientific articles in psychology. The database contains over 150,000 articles from nearly 80 journals published by the APA, and its imprint the Educational Publishing Foundation (EPF), and from allied organizations including the Canadian Psychology Association and Hogrefe Publishing Group.
  
• PsycINFO (we already subscribe to this resource)
  American Psychological Association’s renowned resource for abstracts of scholarly journal articles, book chapters, books, and dissertations, is the largest resource devoted to peer-reviewed literature in behavioral science and mental health. It contains over 3 million records and summaries dating as far back as the 1600s with one of the highest DOI matching rates in the publishing industry. Journal coverage, which spans from the 1800s to the present, includes international material selected from around 2,500 periodicals in dozens of languages.
  
• MLA Directory of Periodicals (we already subscribe to this resource)
  Offers detailed information on over 5,500 journals, with 4,400 currently indexed in the International Bibliography. The detailed entries include editorial contact information, as well as frequency, circulation, subscription prices and submission guidelines.
  
• MLA International Bibliography (we already subscribe to this resource)
  Offers a detailed bibliography of journal articles, books and dissertations. Produced by the Modern Language Association, the electronic version of the bibliography dates back to the 1920's and contains over 2.3 million citations from more than 4,400 journals & series and 1,000 book publishers. The indexed materials coverage is international and includes almost 60 titles from JSTOR’s language and literature collection as well as links to full text.
  
• GeoRef
  (From the American Geological Institute) A comprehensive geosciences database containing over 2.8 million bibliographic records to the geoscience literature of the world. Over 3,500 journals are reviewed for indexing in the GeoRef database as well as books, maps, government reports, conference papers, and theses and dissertations.
  
• GeoRef In Process
  Contains unedited records that are still in the process of being indexed prior to their integration in the main GeoRef database.
  
• EconLit
  (From the American Economic Association) The world’s foremost source of references to economic literature. The database contains more than one million records from 1969-present. EconLit covers virtually every area related to economics.
  
• Regional Business News
  Provides comprehensive full text coverage for regional business publications. Regional Business News incorporates coverage of more than 80 regional business publications covering all metropolitan and rural areas within the United States.
  
• Business Source Complete
  A definitive scholarly business database, providing bibliographic and full text content. As part of the comprehensive coverage offered by this database, indexing and abstracts for the most important scholarly business journals back as far as 1886 are included. In addition, searchable cited references are provided for more than 1,300 journals.
  
• ATLA Religion Database
  (From the American Theological Association) Provides information on topics such as biblical studies, world religions, church history, and religion in social issues. ATLA Religion Database contains more than 1.7 million bibliographic records covering the research literature of religion in over 60 languages. It includes more than 575,000 article citations from more than 1,679 journals (506 currently indexed), more than 239,000 essay citations from over 16,800 multi-author works, and more than 530,000 book review citations. Coverage spans from 1949 to the present.