werkin on that ster trak

Bookplate of Anton Postl found in Die geheimsymbole der chemie und medicin des mittelalters (1899). 

A research tip from a friendly neighborhood librarian! 

I want to introduce you to the wonderful world of subject librarians and Libguides. 

I’m sure it’s common knowledge that scholars and writers have academic specialties. The same is true for subject librarians! Most libraries use a tool called Libguides to amass and describe resources on a given topic, course, work, person, etc. (I use them for everything. All hail Libguides.) These resources can include: print and ebooks, databases, journals, full-text collections, films/video, leading scholars, data visualizations, recommended search terms, archival collections, digital collections, reliable web resources, oral histories, and professional organizations. 

So, consider that somewhere out there in the world, there may be a librarian with a subject specialty on the topic you’re writing on, and this librarian may have made a libguide for it. 

Are you writing about vampires? 

How about poverty? 

Do you need particular details about how medicine or hygiene was practiced in early 20th century America?

You can learn about Japanese Imperial maps, the American West, controlled vocabularies, Crimes against art and art forgeries, anti-Catholicism, East European and Eurasian vernacular languages, geology, vaudeville, home improvement and repairs, big data, death and dying, and conspiracy theories.

Because you’re searching library collections, you won’t have access to all the content in the guides, and there will probably be some link rot (dead links), but you can still request resources through your own library with interlibrary loan, or even request that your library purchase the resources! Even without the possibility of full-text access, libguides can give you the words, works, people, sites, and collections to improve your research.

Search [your topic] + libguide and see what you get!

This is…amazing. I am angry that I didn’t know about this until now. Now I can ~academically~ indulge my fascination with the 1918 flu pandemic? When I have organic chem homework and a lab report due tomorrow? I both love this and hate this.

I have terrible news. 

At a quick glance, Christopher Newport University, Goodwin College, and Harford Community College all have libguides on the 1918 flu pandemic. 

LibGuides are magic.

(also let us know if you find dead links, we can fix them!)

An even better way to search for libguides?

https://community.libguides.com

Use the libguide community site and search by topic, institution, or even your friendly neighborhood librarian! (If you have a librarian or two who you trust to put you on the right path, you might be able to get that guidance even if you don’t have time to reach out directly!) If their site says “LibGuide” it’ll show up in THAT community somewhere!

Looking to see what books are being used in a particular class in a particular university? Course specific libguides usually have those!

Interested in browsing until you find something that catches your attention? Springshare (the vendor that manages LibGuides) curates lists of interesting, amusing, and innovative libguides! (Okay some of these are boring because they’re geared towards UX and data visualization for librarians, but still…)

Interested in seeing the stuff that YOUR local or institutional librarians are trying to promote? Looking for ways to make the most of the resources that are freely available to you just down the road? Libraries from Atlantic City to Saratoga Springs to South Australia are making guides for their various resources, which describe everything from how to search databases to how to read call numbers to how to access online resources like e-books and video subscriptions!

Even major institutions like the New York Public Library have guides, on everything from genealogy to the history of New York neighborhoods!

Today I learned

Free Audiobooks and Ebooks on OVERDRIVE.

Free Graphic Novels (DC, Marvel, Image, etc), Music, TV shows, and music on HOOPLA.

Free music that you can KEEP on FREEGAL

You are PAYING for all this with your tax money - USE THEM. Most likely systems will have all 3 or 2 out of 3, so if you aren’t sure call your local library’s reference/information desk and how you can get set-up or started.

Hey, highkey from a library worker: 

Overdrive has a new mobile app called LIBBY I find it easier to use.  It’s the same content as Overdrive just better for mobile.  Overdrive and Libby both let you send items to your kindle as well.  

Can confirm Overdrive is amazing. 

I work in the largest library system in my state (17 branches in total).

I use it not only for ebooks, but movies as well.

Other FREE resources to check with your library for are:

If you don’t have a library card…

GET ONE!

If someone says libraries are a thing of the past…

BOOP THEM IN THE NOSE WITH YOUR KINDLE!

Don’t discount libraries as “quiet” places. 

THEY ARE ALIVE!!!

THEY ARE LOUD!!!

THEY ARE YOUR DOORWAYS TO KNOWLEDGE!!

SO MUCH YES! I USE ALL THESE APPS!

Today I learned

Free Audiobooks and Ebooks on OVERDRIVE.

Free Graphic Novels (DC, Marvel, Image, etc), Music, TV shows, and music on HOOPLA.

Free music that you can KEEP on FREEGAL

You are PAYING for all this with your tax money - USE THEM. Most likely systems will have all 3 or 2 out of 3, so if you aren’t sure call your local library’s reference/information desk and how you can get set-up or started.

Helpful links to all of the above:

Overdrive: https://www.overdrive.com/

Hoopla: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

Freegal: https://www.freegalmusic.com/home

–

More places to find FREE EBOOKS:

Standard eBooks (basically stuff off of Project Gutenberg, but prettified)

Baen Free Library

Book Bub - Free eBooks and Free Kindle books

Bubblin Books

-

Useful if you’re an ebook power user: Calibre

many libraries also give you access to KANOPY which has free movies (mostly documentaries but last i checked Moonlight was on there!)

true

Libraries are free, mostly. Pretty much everything millennials are “killing” costs money.

Plus, unlike half the stuff we’re killing, libraries actually have a practical use

we out here

Not to be *that* millennial, but as a librarian I’d just like to say that the greatest thing you can do to support your local library is to understand how they are funded and to support their funding with your vote. Libraries can do a lot all on their own but quite often they cannot legally “toot their own horn” so-to-speak when it comes to advocating for sustaining or increasing funding, getting levies or bond issues passed, etc.  Libraries need you to love them not just with your checkouts and attendance at programs.

We can do that too.

build libraries on dead golf courses.

We Are Dewey’s Army X3

Friendly reminder that many Libraries double function as free schools and other free resources, sometimes including otherwise inaccessible technology, like 3D printers.

The libraries in my city host ‘English as a Secondary Language’ classes, cooking classes, classes on how to use that 3D printer, local history classes, responsible naturalistic gardening classes, beekeeping classes, and all sorts of other fun topics. Plus the plethora of clubs that use the library conference rooms as their meeting place. 

All for free. 

Support and visit your local library. Ask about their services and classes. VOTE TO KEEP THEM FUNDED

I’m a librarian and I can’t stress this enough!

Also a librarian, if my library wasn’t here I’m not actually sure what half the population of the town would do with themselves.

This our library here in Spring, Texas, in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. When I think of people who have lost everything, I hate how sad I feel about a library. But this is where I’ve taken my kids for story time since they were infants. It’s where I’ve met my closest mom friends. It’s a place that means the world to me. But beyond that, this is a place that my community needs. It offers free educational programming, resources, information, language classes, Internet, human connection, a place that is clean and safe, free lunches for kids in the summer when school is out. It’s not just a bunch of books. For some people, the library is their only access to these things.

You can donate to the Texas Library Association’s disaster recovery fund here:

https://squareup.com/store/txla/

This may not be as pressing a need as shelter and food right now, but in the coming future, libraries will be critical centers of information-sharing to their communities.  They will help people connect to all the resources they need to rebuild their lives.  

Thank you! Reblogging with the link.

Texas Library Association’s Disaster Relief and Support for Libraries  

Kurt Vonnegut, I Love You, Madame Librarian (via jennhasablog)

Roger Zelazny, Nine Princes in Amber (via quotactions)

Riddell. Gaiman. Match made in heaven.

Hello! We are the Bodleian Libraries.

We have been the main research Library for the University of Oxford since 1602, and have grown to be a family of 30 institutions which cover every topic under the sun. We are one of the oldest libraries in Europe, a library of legal deposit and the second biggest library in the UK (only beaten by the British Library in London, but we’re not bitter).

We are on Tumblr to share with you our beautiful buildings, our history and our world renowned collections. We also want to bring to you exciting new research, behind-the-scenes views and a taste of what working and studying in the Bodleian Libraries is like.

We are here to chat, to share and to learn with you, so please say hello!

(and yes, we will soon do a post about Harry Potter locations in the libraries)

Originally posted by inretrospect90s

Originally posted by cityofwalkers

The fountain outside of the Chicago Public Library.

YES.

Trinity College Library, The Long Hall by Beth Kirby

Old Library at St John’s College, Cambridge