New Library Furniture Trial through April 18

Come and try out Media:scape in the Library through April 18! You may reserve online, or just drop in.  And please fill out a survey: we want your feedback!

The Library invites you to participate in a trial of Media:scape, an environment which connects furniture, technology and peer-to-peer collaboration all in one. Columbia is piloting the collaborative technology as part of an ongoing effort to plan for the new Library at 820 S. Michigan Ave. and is seeking feedback from users about their experience with the system.

A group of users connects simultaneously, and any given user simply touches his or her “puck” to display work on the screen.  One of the three units on trial uses a double screen, so work can be compared or multiple media can be used at once.

Media:scape installations are available in the Library in Group Study Room 301G, the 3rd Floor North Reading Room, and the Weisman Reading Room on 2.

Jan Chindlund, Library Dean, is quoted in the Chronicle article: “We hope that the new library will be a place where people can meet across all disciplines and create new work. We think technology of this nature will enable rich conversation to take place [and] enable people to show their work to each other.”

Read more in The Chronicle. 

Tech Support in the Library

The Library is partnering with IT to provide face-to-face technical help to Columbia students, faculty and staff.

An IT support specialist will be at the 2nd floor desk in the Library from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to provide assistance with issues related to:

• campus networks
• email
• wireless
• OASIS and Moodle

Hardware problems are not part of this service.

And don’t forget, it is still possible to get answers to your technical problems at 312-369-7788.

Or, visit the Client Services website.

Gold Medal Apps for the Summer Olympics

Yes, it's that time once again.  The Summer Olympics are approaching and couch potatoes across the globe become sudden experts in Archery, the Canoe-Slalom and Equestrian Dressage.  If you'd like a little help in understanding the finer points of Fencing or nautical strategies in Sailing, here are some Web Pages and Apps that will help you enjoy viewing the summer games (and also provide you with enough Olympics History and Trivia to win bar bets for weeks!)

London 2012:  Official Join In App for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

For more information:  http://www.london2012.com/mobileapps/

London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games

Updated:  June 14, 2012

Cost:  Free

Description

This FREE app is a mobile guide to help you plan, enjoy and share your Games Experience.



Some of the Key Features include: 

• What's On:  up-to-date event listings for thousands of activities happening across London and the UK
• See and Do:  (For those of you lucky enough to be in London) full listing of London 2012 Festival Cultural Events
• Torch Today:  follow the Olympic Torch Relay across the UK
• Spectator Guide;  searchable maps, details of faciltiies
• Jump To:  interactive maps of the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays, London and the Olympic Park
• Live Updates from the Games
• Facebook, Twitter and FourSquare integration

Ultimate 2012 Olympic Guide

Dennis Publishing:  http://www.dennis.co.uk/apps

Updated:  May 16, 2012

Cost:  $0.99

Description:

On July 27th the greatest show on Earth kicks off in London, in the form of the 2012 Olympic Games.  Celebrating the event of the year in all its glory, this unofficial 148 page MagBook app covers all 39 disciplines, highlights the athletes to watch out for  and even includes a day-to-day interactive Olympic schedule, ensuring you will never miss a thing.  Facts, figures and fun:  it's the ultimate guide to the ultimate aporting event.


Olympics Organization:  http://www.olympic.org/london-2012-summer-olympics
London 2012 Olympic Games videos, photos, dates, athletes, schedule, and news. Olympic website for the XXX London England 2012 Summer Olympics.


The Official London 2012 Olympics Page: http://www.london2012.com/
Official Website & Mobile Apps for the London 2012 Summer Olympics. Live results, competition schedule, news, photos, videos, medal count, athlete bios.


HuffPost The London Olympics 2012:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/2012-summer-olympics/

NBC Olympics on the Go: http://www.nbcolympics.com/on-the-go/index.html

NBC Olympics Mobile Website (www.nbcolympics.com)  Stay in the know, on the go with the NBC Olympics Mobile Website! Enjoy great content including news, video clips, photos, information on every sport, and more! The mobile optimized website is available by entering www.nbcolympics.com into your device’s browser. You can also access the mobile website by entering m.nbcolympics.com, mobile.nbcolympics.com or wap.nbcolympics.com directly into your browser.  Stay tuned for further enhancements to the mobile website as the Summer Games approach.

NBC Olympics App  - download available soon.  Follow the 2012 London Games with the free NBC Olympics application (available in July), delivering the latest news, results & schedules, video highlights, TV Listings, real-time medal counts, photos and much more! Plus, you can track your favorite athletes, teams and sports, and engage with fans on social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter -- all from your smartphone or tablet.

NBC Olympics “Live Extra” App - Watch comprehensive LIVE coverage of the 2012 London Games through the NBC Olympics "Live Extra" application (available in July), offering live video streams and full replays for all 302 events across all 32 sports! Never miss a second of the action with the app designed specifically for your phone and tablet. Access is free for subscribers to a cable, satellite or telco TV service package that includes CNBC and MSNBC.

Kindle Lending Library

What do The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, The Habits of Highly Effective People and Fast Food Nation have in common?  They are all available for you to borrow for free at the Kindle Owner's Lending Library!

What you need

To borrow ebooks from the Kindle Owner's Lending Library you need to own some type of Kindle device and you must be an eligible Prime member (paid Amazon Prime, paid Amazon Student).  Kindle owners can now borrow ebooks from the Lending Library and place them directly onto their registered Kindle Device.

Reading your eBook

The borrowed eBook must be read on a Kindle device - you will not be able to read the ebook on your iPad, iPhone, Android, etc.   There are no "due dates" for your borrowed ebook - you are allowed to keep the ebook as long as you wish.  However, you can only borrow one book at a time and only borrow one free book per month. 


Extras
Bookmarks, notes and highlights are all available through the Lending Library and will be saved to your Amazon.com account.  if you ever borrow or puchase the ebook in the future all of the notes and highlights will be available for you.

For more information about the Kindle Lending Library, click here.  

Free iPhone Apps

New Free iPhone Apps

Well graduation has finally come and gone and faculty and students can kick back for a little summer rest and relaxation.  Whether you enjoy traveling, hiking, dining, entertaining or sharing pictures from your day's outing, here are some new free iPhone apps to help kick-off your summer fun.

Food and Wine Mobile App
For more information: http://www.foodandwine.com/mobile-apps
American Express Publishing
Released May 2, 2012

Description:  
Recipes for more than 350 outstanding drinks by America’s best mixologists, plus great party food, essential cocktail-making tips, a comprehensive spirits guide and a definitive listing of America’s top 100 bars and lounges.

Customer Ratings: 3.5 ★’s

Trazzler
For more Information: http://www.trazzler.com/iphone
Trazzler
Updated:  April 28, 2012

Description:

Trazzler is a free app that makes it simple for you to find great places nearby. But more than that, it's a bold new experiment that blends editorial vision and the collective creativity and wisdom of thousands of smart explorers people like you—a place where you collaborate with editors to scout out, photograph, and cover the places you love best.

Every week, Trazzler runs photo and writing contests on fun (and even thought-provoking) themes. You can win money, trips, and prizes just for exploring new places and sharing the things you love to do.

Customer Ratings:  4 ★’s

Columbia’s GPS PAL
For More intormation:  http://gpspal.columbia.com/
Columbia Sportwear Co.
Released April 20, 2012

Description:
A GPS enabled journaling app that gives you the ability to preserve memorable outdoor experiences on the go.  Enjoy and explore the outdoors freely with GPS PAL.

Customer Ratings:  4.5★’s



 

BiteHunter - Dining Deals for Restaurants
For more information:  http://www.bitehunter.com/
Bitehunter Corporation
Updated: Apr. 5, 2012

Description: 

BiteHunter is a real-time location based app for finding great dining deals.  They aggregate restaurant deals from thousands of source and offer an easy one-click payment options (BiteBuy TM).

Customer Ratings:  3.5★’s

Jittergram
For more information: http://www.jittergramapp.com/
Friends of The Web, LLC
Updated:  April 12, 2012

Description:
Make a 3D sterogram or a long stop motion animation!  Then share it with your friends via Twitter or email, or save it to your device.  Jittergram makes it easy by showing your previous frame on top of the current camera view so you can line everything up perfectly and then it automatically creates a GIF and makes it super easy to share.

Customer Ratings:  4★’s

Got a new app that you are liking this summer?  Share it with us!

TED-ED a new Online Learning Platform

TED, the non-profit organization famous for "Ideas Worth Spreading,"  launched a new online learning platform today as part of its new  TED-Ed education initiative (http://ed.ted.com).

Back in March, TED launched a YouTube Channel channel dedicated to educational videos (http://www.youtube.com/user/TEDEducation).

The new education platform launched today, TED-Ed features a suite of tools that allow teachers to create their own lessons based on TED videos or any video found on YouTube.  

Teachers can use the pre-made lessons created by TED, customize the TED lessons for their own classes or create new lessons using TED videos or videos found on YouTube.  The TED created videos come with supplementary resources including multiple-choice questions, open-answer questions, and links to more information about the subject.  Teachers can "flip" or customize the TED-Ed lessons to suit their particular curricular needs.  If a teacher "flips" a lesson or creates their own lesson from a TED or YouTube video, the new lesson is given its own private web page that can be distributed to students.  Individual student progress can then be tracked as they complete the assignments.

"The new website is all about what teachers and students can do with those videos," says TED-Ed's Logan Smalley.  "The goal of TED-Ed is for each great lesson to reach and motivate as many learners as possible.  The new website goes a step further, allowing any teacher to tailor video content, create unique lesson plans, and monitor students' progress.   By putting this new technology to use, we hope to maximize time in class and give teachers an exciting tool for customizing  - and encouraging - learning."

More information about TED-Ed can be found at:

The Digital Education Revolution, Cont'd:  Meet TEC-Ed's New Online Learning Platform

TED Launched Revamped Education Platform

TED-Ed Hits the Classroom with New Video Website

VAST Streaming Video Available!

 

New in the Columbia College Library

VAST:  Academic Video Online 

 http://emils.lib.colum.edu/login?url=http://vasc.alexanderstreet.com/ 

(please use this full URL when adding to syllabus, Moodle, email, etc.)

The Vast: Academic Video Online database from Alexander Street Press currently provides faculty with over 13,000 video titles from a wide range of disciplines, with new titles being added on a regular basis.  By 2013 VAST expects to have over 20,000 films available for faculty and students.

Faculty can easily provide links to high-quality video in their syllabus and embed links or video clips in their Moodle class.

Disciplines covered in VAST include:

• American History
• Area Studies
• Art and Architecture
• Business and Economics
• Counseling and Therapy
• Dance
• Education
• Ethinic Studies
• Ethonography
• Health
• Humanities
• Law & Criminal Justice
• Opera
• Politics & Current Affairs
• Psychology
• Religion & Philosophy
• Science
• Theatre
• Women & Gender Studies
• World History
• World Language & Literature

 With the VAST platform features you can:

• Create and share custom clips and playlists
• Speed-Browse the video with a visual TOC
• View synchronized scrolling transcripts alongside each video, search the transcript while watching, and jump forward and backward to search your term
• Cite whole videos or your custom clips using permanent URLs
• Email, share, and embed links in Moodle
• Access the videos with your mobile device (iPhone, iPad, Android)

To add a specific video to your class:

• Select the video you want to use
• Click on the Embed/Link option

 

• Copy the PERMALINK and past it into your syllabus or Moodle class

Mac Virus Alert Update

Apple has just issued a Java security update that will help protect your Mac Computer against the Flashback malware.  Check the Apple Pull-down menu for the Java Security Update to get this newly released security patch.

Their software update has the following message attached:

This Java security update removes the most common variants of the Flashback malware.  This update also configures the Java web plug-in to disable the automatic execution of Java applets. Users may re-enable automatic execution of Java applets using the Java Preferences application. If the Java web plug-in detects that no applets have been run for an extended period of time it will again disable Java applets.

This update is recommended for all Mac users with Java installed.

For details about this update see: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5242

Mac Virus Alert

Mac owners can usually breath a sigh of relief as news of a new computer virus hits the internet. But this week, a new, fairly nasty bit of malware called Flashback has been unleashed on unsuspecting Mac owners. The virus exploits a vulnerability in Java and then continues to download additional software before passing confidential information off to hackers or other remote internet users. Make sure to update your Mac system software and read these articles for further information and security suggestions:

 Flashback Central: How to Find, Protect Against, and Eliminate Scary Apple Malware

 Nasty Virus Attacking Macs

Secure your Mac from FlashBack Infection

Technology help in the Library

Locked out of Oasis? PowerPoint presentations really dull? Can’t quite get the hang of making a pie chart?

Library assistance (powered by the Columbia Client Services Department) for tech software challenges is available!

Tuesday through Thursday, 10am-2pm at the desk on the Library 2nd floor.

Get Free eBooks!

Picture by Michael Porter

Spring break is right around the corner so what a great time to load up your eReader with FREE eBooks!

Free eBooks


Here is a list of places where you can download eBooks for free:


Project Gutenbenberg


Gizmo's Free Books Online


Many Books


ePub Books


Internet Archive


Bartleby: Great Books Online


Free e-Books


Scribd

More Online eBook Resources


50 Cool Search Engines for Serious Readers


100 Useful Links for ebook lovers


20 Best Websites to Download Free eBooks

Comparison of eReaders


Not sure which eReader to get?  Here are some places that can help you sort out the different options:


Comparison of eBook Readers on Wikipedia


The eBook Reader


Reader Comparison Guide


Do you know a good website for downloading free eBooks?  Please share it with us!

eBooks: Add Safari eBooks to your Moodle Class

Safari Tech Books Online is a collection of over 16,000 technology, digital media and business books available free of charge for Columbia College Chicago faculty, staff and students.  These books are great source for reference or supplemental reading and review material for your classes.  And, it’s easy to include links to these online books in your Moodle or OASIS class site for quick access by your students!

Start Reading
Last week I talked about how to browse the Safari Tech Books Online library and select an eBook to Start Reading.  Once you’ve clicked on the Start Reading button, you will see your eBook displayed in the reader window.  The interactive Table of Contents appears on the left-hand side of the page.  You can move directly to a specific chapter or page by clicking the listing in the table of contents.

 

Get the Right URL!

Once you’ve selected the chapter or selection you’d like to have your students read you need to get the correct URL to use in your Moodle class.  There is a URL button in the tool bar across the top of the reader window.

Click on the URL Button and the URL for that particular chapter will be displayed, ready for you to copy and paste into Moodle.

Don’t paste that URL yet!
Before you paste that URL into your Moodle link, it is very important that you add this to the beginning of the URL:

http://emils.lib.colum.edu/login?url=

This will allow your students to view the Safari eBook when they are off-campus.  It makes for a very long URL to paste into Moodle but it’s very important that you remember to add this prefix.  Without this prefix your students won't be able to authenticate into the Safari database.

So, the complete URL you need to paste into Moodle will look something like this:

http://emils.lib.colum.edu/login?url=http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com/book/-/9780240814254/chapter-1-essential-techniques/3


On to Moodle:
And here’s what the link will look like when you set it up in Moodle:

 

And here is what your students will see as they look at their class page: 

Using Safari Tech Books online and Moodle is a perfect way to provide your students with easy access to great online resources!

eBooks: Browsing Safari Tech Books

Have you had a chance to browse through the Safari Books Online digital collection yet?  Safari Tech Books Online is a collection of over 16,000 technology, digital media and business books that are available free of charge to Columbia College Chicago faculty, staff and students.

Browse Safari Online

The book selection in the Safari digital library covers a wide range of topics (click here for a complete listing of all the Safari Tech Book categories available).  You can browse for books by category, conduct a keyword search, view recently added titles, most popular titles or scroll through the 16,000 titles listed by date, popularity or alphabetical order.

Start Reading

Once you've found the book you want to read, click the START READING button.

This will take you to a page that contains an interactive table of contents, your eBook text and a selection of tools icons across the top of the page that will help you interact with your eBook.

You can find out more information about eBooks at Columbia here.  Happy Browsing!!

eBooks: Safari Books Online

Are you ready to go on Safari?
I’m hoping that you are familiar with the college’s subscription to Lynda.com and are already taking advantage of the hundreds of technology training videos available to Columbia faculty, staff and students free of charge.  But did you know that there are thousands of  technology ebooks available for you use for free through the  Safari Tech Books Online subscription at the Columbia College Chicago Library?

What are Safari Tech Books Online?
Safari Tech Books Online was started in 2001 by O’Reilly Media, Inc. and Pearson Technology Group with the aim of gathering the best technology books available and creating an on-demand digital library.  Today over 40 publishers participate in creating content for this online library of over 15,000 ebooks.  Look for books by publishers such as Adobe Press, Peachpit Press, Microsoft Press, APress, SAMS and more.

What kind of Technology eBooks are available?
One of the advantages of a collection like Safari Tech Books Online is their ability to keep the eBook content up-to-date.  It is easy for Safari to update the online library so that new eBooks can be uploaded as soon as they are released, letting you keep current in your training as software versions change.   You can view a complete listing of eBook categories available which include topics and products that range from Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop, to computer programming and Web Design, to accounting and project management, to Skype, Facebook and Twitter.


Where can I find Safari Tech Books Online?
All of the Safari Tech books are discoverable when you search the Library Catalog.  However, if you would like to see just the Safari Tech Book Online collection, click on the Databases A-Z link on the Library’s main page and then scroll down to the Safari Link under the S Tab.

More information about eBooks at Columbia can be found in the eBooks Research Guide.



We'd like to hear from you - faculty are you recommending Safari Tech Books online for your students?  Students - any of your teachers using the Safari Tech Books in your class yet? 

Technology help when you need it

Having trouble editing that video you just shot? Want to know how to retouch photos like the pros? Want to redesign your website so it’s mobile-friendly? We can help! There are two great resources available to assist you with your technology questions, both of which can be accessed with your OASIS login.

Lynda.com
This College resource features video tutorials on a wide array of topics, complete with screen caps and visual examples of demonstrations. Lynda is a wonderful resource for those who don't learn well through books, and can help you gain an overview of a familiar topic or learn a totally new skill. Videos lead you through the process or program step by step, teaching you the technical skills and the core concepts behind them.

Safari Tech Books
This Library resource consists of more than 12,000 online e-books, and is a great reference for those who don’t learn well through video or who need to look up specific facts. E-books are presented much the same way as paper books, complete with chapters, indices, screen caps, and diagrams. The main advantage of an e-book, however, is the ability to keyword search. You can find the specific tool, trick, skill, or shortcut to meet your needs quickly and efficiently.

Lynda + Safari Tech Books... Figuring out technology, so you don't have to on your own.

User Support in the Library

The Library is partnering with IT User Support to provide face-to-face technical help to Columbia students, faculty and staff.

An IT User Support specialist will be on hand on the 2nd floor of the Library from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

This support is for :

• email,
• network,
• wireless, and
• software issues - such as OASIS or Moodle

(This does not include not support for hardware.)

Remember, it is still possible to get answers to your technical problems by phoning User Support at 312-369-7788 or emailing User Support at UserSupport@colum.edu.


Library reference services are available on the 2nd floor of the library Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students, faculty and staff are also welcome to call, email or chat with a librarian.

Some word processing tips and tricks

Do any of these scenarios sound familiar?

You saved your paper to disc or flash drive, only to find that it doesn't open properly next time you try to work on it?

You *thought* you saved your paper to your disc, but it's nowhere to be found?

You stayed up all night finishing your essay and all that's left to do is print but you've left the disc or flash drive at home?

The new Microsoft Office 2007 interface just isn't doing it for you?

Free online word processing sites offer an alternative to these scenarios--you just sign up for a free account and then type away. Work is saved as you go along and you can just log back into it next time you need it. Now, AS LONG AS YOU HAVE INTERNET ACCESS, there's no more digging around for that tiny flash drive, hoping that you remembered the right disc or worrying that you won't be able to open up your file.

Here are a few free online word processing options that you can experiment with:

Google Docs & Spreadsheets: If you've got a Gmail account, you already have a Google Docs account, too.

Zoho Writer: Free registration gives you access to the Zoho word processing system. Zoho also offers spreadsheet and other presentation applications.

AjaxWrite: AjaxWrite requires the Mozilla Firefox browser. In addition to word processing, they also have spreadsheet applications and even a graphic drawing tool and music player.

(note: this post is back by popular demand! It was originally posted in June 2007)

The well-wired use the Library

An article from this week's New York Times reports that those with faster internet connections at home or at work are more likely to have used the Library recently. Read the whole article HERE Read the Pew Internet: Libraries Report that this article refers to.

No more Purple Print cards

As we announced back in October, you are now able to use your Columbia College ID's to print in the Library. To do this, you need to add "Columbia Cash" to your card. Right now, there are only two ways to do this: with your Visa or Mastercard online (any amount added instantly) or with a check (minimum $50) at the Campus Card office during their 9-5, M-F hours.

Don't get stuck trying to print with no Columbia Cash! Add money today! And remember, you can spend Columbia Cash at the Coffee Cart in the Library, in the Bookstore and at the Plum Cafe, among other places. For more info, check out the Columbia Cash site.

FYI: You'll be able to use up your Purple Print cards or add money to existing Purple Print cards through next semester (you can't purchase new Purple Cards, though).

E-read any good books lately?

Think you can't carry an entire library of classic novels, cookbooks, magazines, horror stories and pulp fiction around with you? Think again! Impress your friends and family with your feats of strength (or at least your technical prowess and reading taste) by downloading ebooks to your PDA, iPod or eReader (or even your cell phone) using manybooks.net. Manybooks.net offers over 18,655 eBooks and they're all free!

You can find a link to Manybooks.net on the Library's eBook page. Just click on Find Books and then choose the eBooks tab.

Check out this article from the New York Times which mentions manybooks.net and discusses the digital book industry. Manybooks.net is maintained by Columbia College's Webmaster, Matt McClintock. Way to go, Matt! We heart manyBooks.net!