TRCC Library Blog

November is Native American Heritage Month

2011-11-03T16:52:00.005-04:00

©Connecticut State Library

In observance of Native American Heritage month, iCONN is offering free access to EBSCO’s Native American Archive.

You will find the link here, as well as links to Native American research guides from the Connecticut State Library and the Library of Congress. Both libraries offer access to extensive digital collections (links are included in the guides)

For further reading, be sure to check out some of the Native American books in the TRCC collection!

Laptops, and iPads, and Kindles: Oh My!

2011-10-03T10:03:00.004-04:00

Have you ever come into the library during peak time to get some work done on a computer, but find that every single station is full?

Don’t panic, our shiny new laptops are here! They are fast, clean, and the keyboard even lights up. Laptops are also great for working on group projects. Just hook it up to the monitor in one of our study rooms, and the whole group will be able to see what’s going on.

Because these laptops are so new, we unfortunately cannot allow them out of the library. However, our older laptops can still be checked out of the library for 75 days.

And that’s not all! We also have iPads and Kindles that may be checked out for 14 days.

Interested? Head on over to the circulation desk!

R is for Research

2011-09-26T11:25:00.004-04:00

By now, your classes are in full swing. This means that many of you are probably in the early stages of some sort of paper or project that requires research. Whether you are new to research, or just need a boost, we have a few tools that you might find useful.

Research Guides

New to research? Check out The Research Process in 8 Easy Steps for a research strategy that will take you from start to finish. Or, if you are already familiar with the research process, you may want to take a look at our guide titled How to Identify Resources and Formulate Search Strategies may be useful. Learn about primary and secondary sources, databases, and searching on the web. Those guides and more may be found here.

Video Tutorials

Want to know how to search the library catalog? How about finding a peer-reviewed journal article? If you can’t get to the library to ask one of our reference librarians, our video tutorials are the next best thing! All of our videos are available on the library website under Video Tutorials, or subscribe to our YouTube channel: trcclibrary

As always, if you are stuck or just have a question about research, one of the reference librians will be happy to help you. Stop in or give us a call during library hours. We are also available via email: Pam Williams - PWilliams@trcc.commnet.edu Kyle Lynes - KLynes@trcc.commnet.edu

Happy Researching!

9/11 Books

2011-08-31T09:11:00.003-04:00

Ebrary is offering free and open access for the month of September to books relevant to the anniversary of 9/11. You may find the collection at http://site.ebrary.com/lib/september11/.

One Book, One Region Kickoff

2011-04-27T10:11:00.001-04:00

The tenth annual “One Book, One Region” kickoff will take place on Sunday, May 1, at 4:00 p.m. at the Mystic Arts Center. The 2011 “one book,” Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer will be introduced to readers at the event. The afternoon event will feature a look back at the ten-year-history of “One Book, One Region” with special messages from former “one book” authors. Copies of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close will be available for purchase courtesy of Bank Square Books. Refreshments will be served.

Library Hours this weekend

2011-04-21T09:27:00.001-04:00

The library will be closed Friday, April 22nd and Saturday, April 23rd. We will resume our regular hours on Monday, April 25th.

Library Hours

2011-01-14T12:51:00.002-05:00

The library will be closed Monday, January 17th for Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday.
On Tuesday and Wednesday (January 18th-19th), the library will be open 8am - 4pm.
We will resume our regular schedule on Thursday, January 20th.

The Omnivore's Dilemma Book Discussion

2010-12-22T09:23:00.002-05:00

A book discussion about The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan will take place on February 9th at noon. Copies are now on reserve in the library. Come on in to borrow a copy!

December Hours

2010-12-13T12:28:00.003-05:00

Our hours for the remainder of December are:
Regular hours through Fri., 12/17

Closed Sat 12/18

Mon-Thurs 12/20-12/23: 8am - 4pm

Mon-Thurs 12/27-12/30: 8am - 5 pm

Closed Fridays on 12/24 and 12/31.

Happy Holidays!

Did you have library instruction this semester?

2010-11-30T11:01:00.002-05:00

Did a librarian speak to your class this semester about accessing the library's resources? If so, we'd like to hear from you! There is a short survey available here. Please take a couple minutes to complete the survey and add your comments so that we may improve library instruction in the future.

Books & Authors Database

2010-11-30T09:47:00.002-05:00

We now have access to Books & Authors, a browsable database of award-winning and bestselling titles to help identify books of interest. This database also includes author biographies, book reviews and a tool for searching titles based on character, subject, location and time period. If you enjoy reading a good book, this is an excellent resource to browse through for suggestions. Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-23T14:40:00.002-05:00

The library is open 8 am - 4 pm Tuesday and Wednesday, November 23rd and 24th. We will be closed Thursday through Sunday. Enjoy the holiday!

What's New in the Library?

2010-11-09T15:13:00.002-05:00

The library will be open on Veteran's Day for reduced hours: 8 am - 4 pm.

Also, the library currently has on display:

New books and other items we have recently added to the collection.
Items celebrating Indian culture and the festival of Diwali.
A selection of popular fiction and nonfiction books for leisure reading.

Please stop in and see us sometime!

New Printer & Scanner

2010-10-28T15:01:00.003-04:00

If you haven't already noticed, we have a new, BIG printer in the library. To save paper, it defaults to printing double-sided pages, but if you need something printed single-sided, it's simple to change that setting before you print your document.

Also, we now have a scanner in the library. You must save the images to a flash drive, but this is a great way to save paper and keep your documents in electronic format.

Hope you're having a great semester!

Book Discussion

2010-09-08T11:57:00.002-04:00

There will be a book discussion held on September 15th at noon in the Library Event Room. Professor Susan Topping will facilitate the discussion about A Pearl in the Storm- How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean by Tori Murden McClure. The library has several copies available to check out. Ask at the circulation desk to borrow a copy!

What can I find in the library?

2010-08-31T15:52:00.003-04:00

Welcome back to all our new and returning students! The library is here to support you with your research needs. We have books, magazines, journals and databases filled with more information than you could ever imagine. Come see the librarian if you need help getting started with your research, or if you've been trying to do your own research and feel totally stuck and confused.

Besides all that great information, we also have some fun stuff to borrow for your leisure time. We carry feature films on DVD, audio books, popular magazines and a collection of recent bestsellers to read whenever you need a break from your schoolwork.

Stop in and have a look around sometime!

Welcome Back!

2010-08-11T15:25:00.004-04:00

Hey Everybody! Welcome back to Three Rivers Comm. Coll. Library. We're looking forward to the fall semester and seeing everyone's smiling faces.

We've pretty much gotten settled in our new location and expect things to be running smoothly as the semester begins. The big news in the library is that Rob Walsh, the Reference Librarian so many of you came to know, has left the library for a position at another college. Taking over the helm (or rather, the reference desk) would be me- Pam Williams. I've been with Three Rivers for over a year now as a part-time librarian, so you may have crossed paths with me before. I'm excited to have the opportunity to spend more time here helping out students and guiding them through the research process. Please feel free to stop and say hello whenever you get the chance!

Barack Obama: A selective bibliography of sources by and about Barack Obama

2008-11-17T09:46:00.004-05:00

For those of you wishing to learn more about the President-elect, make sure you check out this page. If you find an interesting article or book, let us know and we will get it for you!

the end (of the semester) is upon us!

2008-11-11T09:00:00.006-05:00

i feel as if i have said this before: "time flies." yes. we are nearing the end of another semester. wow! again: time flies. we are eagerly awaiting the completion of the new library (it's gonna have a reading room with a fireplace....and, yes, it will have wi-fi access). we have been told that our move date is tentatively scheduled for mid-january (as i type with my right hand, i knock on wood with my left). i will be sure to update you when the move plans are finalized. i promise!

given that the conclusion of the semester is upon us, i am certain that many of you are scrambling to get those research essays done. since many of the classes meet on the old campus, and the library is located on the new campus, most of you are unable to come by and see my pretty face and get some much needed research help. thus, i have created an off-campus research mini website. admittedly, it is not as good as meeting with me in person -- but it is a close second. check it out!!! also, remember that you can send me an instant message whenever you need help. add us to your buddy list: trcclibrary (aim/yahoo!) and/or trcclib (g-talk).

i hope to hear from you soon!!!

TRCC Library is on Facebook

2008-08-19T09:00:00.004-04:00

the fall semester is quickly approaching! seriously, where did the summer go?! in the upcoming weeks, i will have a lot to say here. for now, i want to let you know that the trcc library is on facebook! come be a "fan" your favorite library. if you have a facebook account, simply search for "trcc library." if you don't have an account ... well, get one, and then be our "fan." trust me, you won't regret it.

We're now on GTalk

2008-06-03T10:04:00.004-04:00

We are still unpacking. Some days, I feel that as soon as the last box is empty, it will be time to pack everything again.

I just wanted take a moment to let you know that we have added GTalk to our instant messaging reference service. For those of you on GTalk, and in need of some research assistance, send us a message. Our screen name is trcclib. Add us to your buddylist.

Ok ... back to unpacking -- my co-workers are scowling at me, as I sit here typing.

Moving Day

2008-05-19T15:40:00.003-04:00

At 8:30 this morning, the movers arrived. How bittersweeting moving can be! I have uploaded some photos to our new flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/trcclibrary/. Check them out. More to come soon...

cha-cha-changes

2008-05-15T10:43:00.004-04:00

Wow! It's hard to believe that the semester ends tomorrow! Not to sound cliched, but where has the time gone? Seriously. The past seventeen weeks are a blur now. I know at the start of the semester I promised to update this blog on a somewhat regular basis. Well, this is technically my first post of the semester. Sorry! I promise to be less reticent in the months to come.

A lot will be changing during this time. Beginning tomorrow (May 16th), all library services will be moved to the Thames Valley campus (the future, permanent home of TRCC). For the Summer semester and most of the Fall semester, the library will be located on the second floor of the Thames Valley campus. Space will be tight, and a lot of our collection will be in storage, but we will get through. I've heard that by the end of the Fall semester we will be in our brand-new, technology-rich library. I've heard that there might even be wireless (*gasp*)! More to come about that later.

In the meantime, let me know how I can help you with your research needs. Although you might not see me on a daily-basis, I am definitely available. Give a call (383-5276), send an email (rwalsh@trcc.commnet.edu) or send an instant message (trcclibrary). In upcoming posts, I will highlight resources that will help you do effective research during our transition.

First Post

2007-12-20T14:03:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the inaugural posting! I am really excited about the introduction of this blog. It is something that I have been meaning to do for some time now. This blog is all about the library at Three Rivers Community College. Here you will learn about new information resources and research techniques. Ultimately, this blog will prove to be an invaluable resource that will help you efficiently and effectively wade through the sea of information. Really, it's about making your life and intellectual pursuits a bit easier.