The word on Word

You may have noticed that when you eDisk login at any of the Library or Martin Workroom computers, Microsoft Word has been SLOW to launch. This is a known problem, which has nothing to do with the integrity of your files. Computing Services is aware of the issue, and is working to find a cure. In the meantime, allow Word to slowly open, then edit and SAVE files like normal. ALWAYS save to your eDisk Desktop, NOT to the local Microsoft Office folder.

In other other news... GoPrint print management was a success last term. Overall printing was reduced 35%, with a LOT less waste. Stop by the ASK ME desk if you have any questions about your printing account.

Wikis and whatnot

There's a lot of good, free stuff on the internet, but also a lot of incorrect stuff. The trick is to understand where the info comes from. Wikipedia, for instance, has become quite popular. Google tends to shoot Wikipedia hits straight to the top of a search. Started by a broker and a philosopher in 2000, Wikipedia was intended to be a source where anyone can contribute, with the intent that entries might improve over time. Contributors are supposed to register, but this doesn't prevent abuse or vandalism. Some of the most frequent authors include high school students. Robert McHenry, former editor of the Encyclopedia Britannica, likens Wikipedia to a, "public restroom, you never know who has been using the facilities."

The intent of Wikipedia is noble, "free information for the world." But the value of any wiki (software that allows users to create and edit web pages using any browser), should be kept in perspective.

Use Wikipedia and Google as tools to brainstorm. Then use valuable Library-supported resources like JStor or Lexis-Nexis to gather peer-reviewed materials, where it's much more likely that reputable fact-checking has occured.

New & improved

ABC-CLIO has upgraded two of our more popular databases, America: History and Life and Historical Abstracts While both resources have HISTORY as a focus, both are excellent for awide range of disciplines.

Neither resource is full-text, but a link to full-text may be available if we subscribe to full-text for the journal title. If a link is not present, we may still have access. Always check Journals, Magazines & Newspapers @ F&M to see if we own a title - online, print or microfilm.

Choose Interlibrary Loan, then Request an Article, to obtain an article from another library if we don't own the journal title.