Josvega's Blog

I was taught how to use the class pages on the library website.  Where it is is under the Undergraduates tab on the top of the screen, and then its just a matter of locating where it says ‘Class Pages’ from there.  We looked up my BUSX104 class’ page.  There was the government website CIA.gov which showed a bunch of information on any country you wanted.  It was a  pretty cool website and if you ever have time you should check it out.  It’s a great time killer when you’re bored or looking for something to do.

I was taught how to use another database this week in the library.   The name of it slips my memory at the moment but I’ll be sure to let you guys know when I find that out (my bad).  We used the database to find an article, and then we used Google Scholar.  Google Scholar worked a lot faster than the database, but that was only because we had the MLA citation of the article we were looking up.  If you have an article’s citation and you are trying to find the actual article, use Google Scholar.  It’s legit as hell.  It took two seconds to find the article out of thousands of possible choices.  It was good stuff.  I also picked up a guide on how to make an APA and an MLA citation sheet at the “Ask Here” desk.  I would suggest picking one of these up because they’re pretty good for proofreading the ones that you get from Noodle Tools or whatever citation generator you use.

I was taken on a mini tour of the library this week, and I learned some things about it.  In the East tower, you can take a packet of papers or whatever to get bound (with those metal spirals or some other material) and it doesn’t cost very much at all.  I learned what that room with all the computers in it in the West tower was as well.  In that room, classes are held to teach people how to use various computer programs like Excel and Powerpoint, along with many others.  You could even get a certificate from there to put on your resume.  Something very helpful that I learned this week was how to actually find a book.  There are slips of paper that can be found at the “Ask Here” desk that tell you how to use the numbers that the books have on them.  Since the Herman Wells Library doesn’t use the Dewey Decimal system, I needed to learn how to use this system.

After my long break from blogging, I came back to start learning about the library once again.  I was taught about the library website and all the things that I might have to use in the near future.  I learned about the “Ask a Librarian” button on the library website (which is libraries.iub.edu to make things clear), and I was told that any question that you might have related to the library, a live librarian is waiting to answer it.  If memory serves, I think that the librarians that are answering the questions are the ones that are standing at the “Ask Here” desk in the Information Commons.  Next I was told about IUCat.  IUCat is a catalog that a person would use to find resources for a research paper or whatever one would need articles and things for.  I didn’t look into the catalog any further than just skimming the surface because I’m not too sure if I’ll be using it this year.  I will cross that bridge when I come to it though.

If you are ever need a change of scenery from wherever you usually do homework, go to the library.  Everyone who is at the library is there because of the same reason you are.  Getting work done in an environment like that is almost rewarding.  I enjoy being around people who like to work, so the library is the perfect place for me.  In all honesty, I haven’t been to the library all that much this year because I thought that my room was an effective place to study.  I was wrong though.  The library offers a lot more than just a place to sit and read.  There are endless computers, books, and people who are there to help you with whatever problem you might have.  As I said earlier, check out the library, its worth it.

I was given a tour through the library’s virtual library this week.  The amount of music that students have available to them is kind of impressive, but unfortunately it’s not very good.  I mean, if you feel like listening to some obscure bluegrass song or some crazy orchestra  play for forty five minutes, then I don’t really see what the allure is for students who don’t need it for academics.  It is most definitely worth looking at though just to see the sheer size of all of the databases.  I did teach Jennifer (my librarian) how to download music illegally.  She says that she won’t utilize this technique, but I’m not sure.  Its kind of addicting and I wouldn’t be surprised if she doubled her iTunes library by next week…

I have finally found out why there are no windows in the Wells Library.  Apparently it’s because the library was built with the intention of not letting anyone but librarians up to the floors with the books, and that sunlight might damage books.  Aside from that, the library tour was informative and helpful.  First we picked out some books for us to find in the library, I think mine was an E.E Cummings book.  Then we went to the fifth floor to find it.  I have to say that the library kind of has an eerie feeling once you get off the first floor.  The lack of windows and the deafening silence is almost too much, but it probably would work well for homework.  I learned about seminars that teach you how to use certain computer programs that are free to students which I thought was pretty cool.  The tour was very helpful because now I don’t have to wander around pretending like I know where I’m going when I have to look for a book.  If you have any extra time, maybe you should walk around the library.  You might find something that you didn’t know was there…

I had a midterm for calculus on Saturday morning, so I used the library for really the first time to study.  I went to the fourth floor in the west tower to meet some people.  I have to say that I was happy with where I was, and how it was affecting my studying.  It wasn’t the quietest place on the earth, but sometimes that’s a good thing.  I don’t know if I could stand absolute silence.  If you have never been to these huge study rooms before, all it is is just a whole bunch of individual desk/tables that are pushed together to form tables of about six desks.  The desks are pretty big, so I was able to put all my stuff on there at once which was nice.  It wasn’t crowded at all when I went because it was a Friday night, but I was told that it can get packed.  To be completely honest though, I don’t plan on using it unless it is absolutely necessary.  I did enjoy it, but it was too much of a hassle to bring all my stuff to the library that’s a decent walk from where I am to just study.  I can study in my formal lounge, but I will admit that the library is a better place to study.  If you ever get a chance and don’t mind all the work you have to put in to get there, I would recommend the fourth floor of the library to get stuff done.

This week I was told about E-Books and the cool gadgets that could be used with them.  To those of you who do not know what an E-Book is, they are books that can be downloaded from the internet and read through an electronic device.  It is some pretty cool technology, and if you had a couple hundred dollars to drop, I would almost suggest picking one up.  For the student though, I don’t know how useful they could be.  I would most definitely like one if I read a lot for pleasure, or if it was free.  This is not the case though, at least not presently at IU.  Jennifer told me that public libraries have these E-reader things that you can rent.  I thought that this is a pretty cool idea because I kind of want to see what the allure is to these things.  They seem like a novelty more than anything, but I want to see if they change anything about a readers’ experience.  IU should pick some of these up, I might use the library just that much more if they did…

My  meeting with my librarian Jennifer was on Tuesday, and I was just given a verbal tour of the library and what it is used for.  I have to say that I was impressed.  Although there are some pretty cool things that are available to me, I don’t think I will actually have to use any of them until later in my student career.  I was never much of a library person to begin with, so I am not predisposed to go there.  I think that I could just sit in my room by myself and it will be as quiet as the library, but I think I might be wrong.  I met Jennifer in the East tower.  I was a little early so I had time to get some homework done prior to the meeting.  I found that I was more focused and relaxed while reading my book.  In the dorms, you could have someone blast Weezy or be running up and down the hallways for whatever reason, but in the library this was not the case.  The West tower, I was told, is the “Northwest neighborhood” of the library which there is always something going on.  If I was looking for peace and quiet, I would most certainly seek out the East tower.  As I said earlier, I am not much of a library person, but if I ever need to use it, the Herman B Wells library might change that.  Until next time….