What's New

Second Semester -- Here we come!

2012-01-09T11:39:00.000-08:00

Welcome back, everybody. We are glad you are back and ready to finish up second semester. Don't forget our library hours:
7:30 AM -- 8:00 PM Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday
7:30 AM -- 4:30 PM Wednesday & Friday

AND

the resources and help we have for you after hours. Text us at 66746 or login to AskAway where you can chat with a librarian 24/7 and get help.

Mobile Vet Center Presentation

2011-11-07T08:46:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, November 8, 2011
12:15 pm -- 1:00 pm
Room KW102

The Mobile Vet Center staff will give a presentation on tips and pointers for staff and faculty on how best to facilitate the veteran as he transitions from active duty back into civilian and student life.

The Mobile Vet Center will be located outside the OCC Gymnasium from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact the OCC Veterans Coordinator at 618-395-7777, ext. 2008.

Lee Martin Author Visit a Hit!

2011-10-03T12:55:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to Lee Martin for sharing his expertise with OCC students, IECC Board Members Marilyn Wolfe and Brenda Culver, CEO Terry Bruce, staff, and faculty Friday, Sept. 30th. Special thanks to Deanna Ratts for helping arrange this visit, Carl Sager and Mona Nease for set up, Brittany Bass for single-handedly covering the library, Bev Zeigler and staff for smoothly handling lunch. Introductions by OCC President Rodney Ranes and Dean of Instruction Jeff Cutchin were awesome.

Lee's insights into his writing methods, his inspirations, and his comments about the use of the midwest region as source material for his novels captured the attention of his audience and gave them food for thought. Participants were totally captivated by his readings from his works and audibly sighed when he talked about throwing away 200 pages of the first version of his novel, The Bright Forever.

We were all mightily impressed with our former OCC graduate.

The Bright Forever

2011-09-21T09:09:00.000-07:00

Have you read Lee Martin's book, The Bright Forever? This book draws from a real event that happened in Lawrenceville, IL in the 1970's. Good books are often based partly on facts or events that have occurred in a region known to the author. Remember, the advice -- "Write about what you know"-- is really true.
This book was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in fiction in 2006 and it is REALLY good! Once you start reading it, you may be up all night, not able to put it down until the last page.

Lee Martin's From Our House: A Memoir

2011-09-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

I just read Lee Martin's From Our House: a Memoir this past weekend in getting ready for his visit Sept. 30. I don't know how I missed it before, but it is a gripping account of his early life. I had to put it down several times to think and to get my balance back after some of the events he describes. It is a sharp picture of rural America, especially our region, and illustrates his talent in describing people, relationships, and consequences of their actions and events that happen to them. Check it out at the Anderson Library at Olney Central College.

Get Reading for Lee Martin's Visit Sept. 30

2011-09-16T13:57:00.000-07:00

The Least You Need to Know
January 1996, Sarabande Books

In this collection of seven stories, Lee Martin's own distinctive voice has the qualities of his favorite setting: the commonplace and middle-class turned over with a searchlight of want and need to know. Morticians and insurance men, salesmen and farmers; women hoping to make life more beautiful and less pressing with delicate, bewildering hobbies and necessary flirtations; boys who veer from shame to pride, from decency to irredeemable wrongs, in an afternoon; people who do not quite recover, during the time of our acquaintance, but do not give up gracefully.

Guess Who's Coming to OCC?

2011-09-14T12:25:00.000-07:00

We are having a special guest at OCC on Sept. 30, 2011. His name is Lee Martin and he is a nationally recognized and accomplished author. He was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for fiction in 2006(The Bright Forever)along with E.L. Doctorow (The March)and winner Geraldine Brooks(March).

Lee also happens to be a former OCC student. His books are on display in the Anderson Library at OCC and are available through the IECC college libraries (http://vufind.carli.illinois.edu/vf-iec/) and via the I-Share online catalog. He will make two presentations at OCC in the Banquet Room at 10 AM and 12 PM. Bring your lunch or buy a lunch special at OCC for $5.00 and join us for a lively discussion about writing and books.

Welcome to OCC

2011-08-25T14:16:00.001-07:00

Welcome to new students, faculty, and staff! We're glad you're here and want you to know that we are ready to help you find what you need. Stop by the library and get a library card, learn how to set up your own library account, and find information in any of the 76 libraries in our CARLI Consortium where we all share our resources.

Hours: M,T,R: 7:30 am -- 8:00 pm PH. (618)395-7777 Ext. 2260
W & F: 7:30 am -- 4:30 pm Txt: 66746

Library Web page: http://www.iecc.edu/occ/lrc

Welcome Upward Bound Students

2011-06-06T09:31:00.000-07:00

Upward Bound students start their summer program at OCC today. We are glad that you are here and hope your summer is successful. Stop by the library and let us know how we can help you find what you need.

Check out the library web page for resources at http://www.iecc.edu/occ/lrc/

OCC Graduation May 13, 2011 7 PM

2011-05-13T12:39:00.000-07:00

Congratualtions and hats off to our graduates!

Snapshot Library Day

2011-04-13T06:38:00.000-07:00

Today is Snapshot Library Day all across the United States where libraries take a "snapshot" of activities that happen in their libraries and collect data from visitors about what they do when they visit their libraries. Please stop by and fill out a quick survey and let us know both what services you like and what services we don't have that you would like us to explore!

Google Art Project

2011-02-03T06:48:00.000-08:00

Looking for a source for artwork for class discussion or class projects? Take a look at the Art Project powered by Google
You can look at artwork in major museums such as the Museum of Modern Art and The Metropolitan Museum of art in New York City, the Tate Gallery in London, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, and more. Zoom capabilities are awesome. Copyright restrictions and Google Terms of Use apply.

Winter Break Library Service

2010-12-17T07:12:00.000-08:00

If you have research needs or questions during Winter Break ( Dec. 18, 2010 -- Jan. 2, 2011) don't forget our 24/7/365 AskAway Service. Go to the library web page at http://www.iecc.edu/occ/lrc, click on AskAway, and chat with a librarian.

Are You Booked for the Holidays?

2010-11-30T13:56:00.001-08:00

Stop by the library to pick up a paper copy of "Are You Booked for the Holidays" booklist of biographies, fiction and nonfiction books or email me at brucec@iecc.edu for an electronic copy.

Thanksgiving Break Homework Help

2010-11-24T12:19:00.000-08:00

If you need help with homework during Thanksgiving Break, go to
http://www.iecc.edu/occ/lrc
and click on the AskAway button to chat with a librarian 24/7. We have a backup plan to help you when the college is closed.

Of Thee I Sing, A Letter to My Daughters

2010-11-16T08:59:00.000-08:00

President Obama's new book is coming out today from Random House. It is a moving tribute to outstanding Americans and gives readers a sense of their possibilities. If you are looking for a present for a child, this book could fill the bill.

Student Fax Machine

2010-10-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

A fax machine for students is available at the library circulation desk. Students may send and received faxes at this number: 618-392-3293. The cost is .05 per page.

2010-08-24T14:36:00.000-07:00

A book called The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande is a
o page-turner
o all-nighter
o thought-provoking book
about the complexities and quantities of information that we deal with in our occupations and daily lives. We have access to more information, procedures, inventions, cures, but how do we store what we know and retrieve it when it is needed?

Gawande’s examples are incredibly intriguing from the

o origin of aviation checklists with the crash of the Boeing Corporation’s Model 299 (the B 17) on Oct. 30, 1935
o to construction schedules/checklists and submittal checklists of structural engineer and master builder Joe Salvia
o to how Walmart out organized FEMA and performed rescue efforts in New Orleans after Katrina
o to stopping central line infections in patients in ICU’s, one of 178 tasks an ICU team must coordinate and execute in a day, and much more.

This book is fascinating in the stories Gawande tells and in the possibilities with thinking through tasks and creating checklists to work by, particularly for those in professions where they will accept responsibility for others, often life and death responsibilities.

Be sure to read pages 182 –186 to see what characteristic we all have in common and which one we need to practice more often.

Fascinating stuff…you’ll think about this book for months after you finish reading it. You might even create your own checklist.

New or First Day Back?

2010-08-19T09:37:00.000-07:00

We are sooooo happy to have students back in the building. Stop by the library and say hello when you get a minute! If you don't have a library card yet, bring a photo ID like a driver's license and your student ID number (the 910 number on your class schedule) and we'll get you set up pronto!

Welcome to those who are new and Welcome Back to those who have been here before!!

Welcome Upward Bound Students

2010-06-08T06:32:00.000-07:00

Welcome to all our Upward Bound students who will be with us at OCC for five weeks this summer. While you are here, take time to use the library resources, especially for your papers and projects. See the Anderson Library web page at http://www.iecc.edu/occ/lrc

Click on AskAway to chat with a librarian 24/7/365 or txt 4 answers for quick answers. Become a fan of the Anderson Library at Olney Central College and let us know what you think about our services and what you'd like us to add.

Don't Forget to Return Library Materials

2010-05-06T14:27:00.001-07:00

Please remember to return all library items before May 14, 2010 so that others who need the items you have will be able to use them. Have a good summer.

Celebrate National Library Week

2010-04-09T12:56:00.001-07:00

National Library Week 2010

Communities thrive @ your library®: celebrate National Library Week at the Anderson Library @ Olney Central College April 11-17

(Olney, IL) – It’s National Library Week, a time to celebrate the contributions of libraries, librarians and library workers in schools, campuses and communities nationwide.

“Libraries are the heart of every community and our library helps our community thrive,” says Charlotte Bruce, LRC Director. “At our library, people of all backgrounds come together for instruction, meetings, lectures, the computer lab, assistive technology workstations and to do research with the assistance of a trained professional, to get help finding resources for assignments for classes, special projects, pleasure reading and to explore individual interests and potential future careers.

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April.

For more information, visit the Anderson Library at 305 N. West St., Olney, IL and call 618-395-7777 Ext. 2260 or see the library’s Web site at http://www.iecc.edu/occ/lrc The library is open Monday – Thursdays from 7:30 AM – 8:00 PM and Fridays from 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM.

Closed Friday April 2, 2010

2010-04-01T12:24:00.000-07:00

The Anderson Library is closed April 2, 2010, Friday, for Spring Break. See you all Monday, April 5, 2010. Have a great 3-day weekend!

Many Thanks to Mark Fitch and his Auto Body Students...

2010-04-01T12:19:00.001-07:00

We have a fantastic refurbished book drop, thanks to instructor Mark Fitch and his auto body students. Come see the finished one by the library entrance.

2010-03-26T07:11:00.000-07:00

Staffer Brittany Bass, Equipment/Serials, made this clever critter from old books we had discarded. If anyone wants to try to create some "art" from old books, please let us know.

UNdata

2010-03-25T07:02:00.000-07:00

Here is a free database http://data.un.org/ containing more than 60 million statistical records on country data of population, migration, economic and social conditions, trade, agriculture, business, information technology, the environment, health, tourism and more. Be sure to check out the Monthly Bulletin of Statistics Online near the top of the web page.

Snapshot Library Day a Success

2010-02-11T07:39:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all who stopped by yesterday to use the library and to recognize the value of libraries. Our gate count was 1033 and 107 people used the computers. We had 1771 hits on our library web pages. Woo Hoo! Comments on our library support sheets were excellent and will be sent to our state public servants and to the Save Illinois Library web page.

Snapshot Day in the Library

2010-02-09T11:22:00.000-08:00

Help us let our elected officials know how important libraries are to everyone. Add your comments to this blog or our Anderson Library @ Olney Central College Facebook page and we'll pass them on to our public servants. Stop by the library on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010 and let us know how you feel about library services at OCC.

Update on Illinois Library System Money

2010-01-29T13:17:00.000-08:00

From Joe Harris, SHLS

On Wednesday, 20 January 2010, the Illinois library community and our friends were asked to write to Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Illinois Comptroller Daniel W. Hynes, requesting that the long-overdue funding for Illinois's regional library systems be released, and the response was overwhelming. Almost 10,000 library supporters sent an e-mail message to the governor and/or the comptroller, resulting in about 20,000 messages sent!

On Friday, 22 January 2010, the systems received partial payment, approximately 30-35% of the money owed. To the best of ILA's knowledge, the systems received the following amounts:

Alliance Library System $540,000
DuPage Library System $357,788
Lewis & Clark Library System $315,279
Lincoln Trail Libraries System $240,575
Metropolitan Library System $936,721
North Suburban Library System $716,000
Prairie Area Library System $793,406
Rolling Prairie Library System $225,000
Shawnee Library System $416,756

This is a remarkable step, and it couldn't have happened without all of you and our many friends. Since full payment hasn't been received, this is a strong start, but we will still have further to go. ILA will continue to inform the Illinois library community about the next steps, for example, Snapshot Day.

Just for MTH 1103 Students

2010-01-25T11:54:00.000-08:00

Check out the Subject Resources & Worksheets part of the library web page for information just for your journal article review assignment. Go to : http://www.iecc.edu/occ/lrc/mathjourn.htm

Don't forget to logon to Entrata for off campus access.

Save Illinois Libraries Success!

2010-01-22T14:15:00.000-08:00

From Joe Harris, Director of the Shawnee Library System, about Save Illinois Libraries:

Very good news this morning! So far the count is that over 18,000 emails have been sent statewide. Notice that a partial payment of some of the system funds that we should receive has been posted on the Comptroller’s web site with a date of 1/20/2010. While we have not received the funds yet this is very good news. Apparently some payments are also going to other agencies including schools and colleges/universities.

Special thanks to everyone who sent emails and spread the word to colleagues, family, friends, and library users. This approach definitely works and we are planning future efforts. The Save Illinois Libraries web site still has the email form on it and it may still be used. Additional emails will only help.

Save Illinois Libraries

2010-01-20T07:18:00.000-08:00

Take five minutes of your time today, January 20, 2010 and go to www.saveillinoislibraries.com. An easy-to-use form is available on the front page. Put in your information and use it to send emails to Comptroller Hynes and Governor Quinn asking them to release the money for library systems.
No money has been received this fiscal year, beginning July 1, 2009, which leaves the library systems unfunded. Money was allocated by the General Assembly, but payments have not been released.

Our goal is 3,000+ e-mails each to Comptroller Hynes and Governor Quinn. This has worked for library funding issues in other states, and it can work here, too.
Once you’ve sent your messages, go viral! You'll be able to ask your friends, colleagues, and co-workers to participate via email, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or MySpace, all with one simple click. Many libraries are urging their communities to become involved and email the Governor and Comptroller as well. They too can involve their family and friends. Spread the word.

2009-12-18T13:20:00.000-08:00

The Anderson Library at Olney Central College is closed for Winter Break until January 4, 2010. You still have access to a librarian via our Ask?Away virtual reference service and our texting service from the web page at http://www.iecc.edu/occ/lrc

For 24/7/365 days of service, click on:

Or, text us at:
Txt 4 Answers: 309-222-7740 (Library Code: OLC)

Ask Your Questions While on Thanksgiving Break

2009-11-24T08:40:00.000-08:00

You have librarians at your fingertips even when the Anderson Library is closed for Thanksgiving Break Nov. 26 & 27th. Go to http://www.iecc.edu/occ/lrc and click on the AskAway link to chat with a librarian 24/7. They can help you find good information you may need for writing papers, citing papers, and more.

Don't forget to login to Entrata for off campus access to the online databases listed on the library web page under Magazines, Journals & Reference Tools.

Shmoop Thanksgiving Pairings

2009-11-20T09:25:00.001-08:00

Shmoop has a clever idea for Thanksgiving guests by pairing famous characters from novels. It's one of the many ways they work to make literature interesting to today's digital students. Think what your Thanksgiving conversation would be like if you invited one of these pairs to your gathering....

Look here to see the list: http://www.shmoop.com/fb on Facebook.

Anderson Library in WebJunction Spotlight

2009-10-29T09:58:00.000-07:00

We are proud to see our library featured on WebJunction Illinois where library services for Olney Central College students are spotlighted.
http://il.webjunction.org/il-spotlight

Banned Books Week

2009-09-30T13:55:00.001-07:00

Banned Books Week is acknowledged to give us a specific time to think about what we read and why and who has the authority to tell us what we can and can't read. It is a difficult concept for some folks to realize that while they can and should determine what they and their children can read, they do not have a right to require others to follow their choices. Their opinions are just that -- their opinions.

It is quite a privilege to live in a country that values free speech, though there are voices today that are getting louder and louder about wanting to restrict that freedom. We all need to guard that freedom fiercely.

There is a display in the library of the top 10 most often banned classics. Drop by and take a look. How many of these books have you read? Why do you think the titles may be objectionable to
some readers? Can you be respectful of their opinions?

U.S. Constitution Day

2009-09-17T07:29:00.000-07:00

September 17th is U.S. Constitution Day.

Celebrate at OCC by participating in a joint reading of the Preamble in the Kent Wattleworth Hall Foyer at 1:00 PM today.

View videos on current constitutional topics in the gallery by the library from 10 AM to 2 PM.
See the exhibit in the library which is on view through September 25th.

Txt 4 Answers

2009-08-04T10:28:00.001-07:00

On the go and need an answer?

Text your questions to an Info Quest librarian and

receive answers on your phone within minutes!

· Text 309-222-7740 and enter your library's code, OLC

· Ask your question

· A librarian will text an expert answer within minutes during the hours of service
· Service hours are: M – F 8 AM – 10 PM & Sat. – 9 AM – 5:00 PM

For more information, go to: www.myinfoquest.info

My Info Quest is brought to you by
the Anderson Library @ OCC!

Welcome Back!

2009-06-09T13:21:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to summer session and a special welcome to Upward Bound students. Stop by the library to see what we have that's new for summer reading and try out our new assistive technology devices. See what's happening @ your library.

Hours:
M - Thurs. = 7:30 AM -- 8:00 PM
Friday = 7:30 AM -- 4:30 PM

Please Return Library Materials Now

2009-05-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

It's time to return all library books and materials, especially those you borrowed from other colleges and universities, so that we may return them on time via our delivery system.

Big List of Web 2.0 Tools

2009-05-07T13:28:00.000-07:00

Go to this web site, a web application index, to learn what tools and technics are available for expanding your presentation and project capabilities.

Go2Web20.net at http://classic.go2web20.net/

Student Art Show

2009-04-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

OCC student art show in the gallery through May 8th

Come see painting, ceramics, drawing, and mixed media artwork and vote on best of show in each category.

Assistive Technology Ready for Use

2009-04-21T08:38:00.000-07:00

Stop by to see the new assistive technology workstations and learn what is available to help you complete your work more easily and efficiently. We have

screen readers (Kurzweil, Open Book, JAWS)

screen magnification software (ZoomText)

speech recognition software (Dragon Naturally Speaking)

trackball mice

joy stick mouse

a variety of large keys keyboards

ergonomically efficient keyboards

a touch screen monitor

dual screen monitor

adjustable tables & chairs

footrests

headphones

Come try our new products and see what you like!

Dreaming of Warm Climates?

2009-02-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

Need to escape the winter blahs but don't have money for a trip to warm climates?

Stop by the gallery and take a look at Jim Tucker's (Olney Central College speech instructor) photographs of Hawaii, the Carribean, the Bahamas, Sanibel Island, and more. Photos are here until mid-March.

Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial 2009

2009-02-06T14:48:00.000-08:00

We are celebrating Lincoln's Bicentennial this month with an exhibit of books about him that range in topics from his early life in Kentucky and New Salem, IL, the Civil War, his writing & speeches, legal aspects of his career, and regional Lincoln sites to visit. Stop by and take a look.

Lincoln Bicentennial Commission Website: http://www.lincolnbicentennial.gov/

Abraham Lincoln Online – Historic Sites http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/sites/sites.htm

Inauguration of the 44th U.S. President -- Barack Obama

2009-01-16T12:09:00.000-08:00

Please join us in the gallery or the student union on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 11:00 AM to view the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama of Illinois.

The schedule of events and an official invitation are on display in the library along with books about former presidents and the executive branch of government.

Also, come see what Pres.- elect Barack Obama reads.

Have You Booked Your Holiday?

2008-12-05T13:57:00.000-08:00

Reading is always pleasurable, but especially so during the winter season. Books make wonderful gifts, no matter what the interests of the people on your list. Give them presents they’ll never stop opening.

We have created a "shopping list" of suggested titles for presents. Stop by the library and pick up a copy or email us a brucec@iecc.edu and ask for "Have you Booked Your Holiday" 2008 and we'll email it to you.

Learn How Web Techniques Work

2008-10-15T14:05:00.000-07:00

Want to get an overview of how some of the new web techniques work? Go to http://www.commoncraft.com and watch the videos at the Common Craft Show.

Topics include
· Web Search Strategies in Plain English
· Wikis in Plain English
· Sharing Photos in Plain English
· Twitter in Plain English
· Blogs in Plain English and even topics such as
· Electing a President in Plain English and CFL Light Bulbs in Plain English
These videos are free on the web for individual viewing.

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

2008-09-08T13:53:00.000-07:00

Check out this charming and popular book by Mary Ann Shaffer and Anne Barrows written as letters of correspondence between an author in London and a gentleman on Guernsey Island at the close of World War II when the author is looking for a new idea for a book. You get a sense of what it was like in both places at the end of the war and the human cost of the war as well. Learn how and why the Potato Peel Society began during German occupation of the island and enjoy the warmth and humor that radiate through the letters.

Got Questions? We Have Answers

2008-09-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

Wecome OCC Students -- Got Questions?

2008-08-28T07:29:00.000-07:00

Got Questions? Ask Us. We answer!

Click on AskAway at http://www.iecc.edu/occ/lrc

and chat with a librarian when YOU need help, 24/7/365

Chat via the Qwidget on the library web page

Call us at 618-395-7777 Ext. 2260

Save time
Save energy
Get help finding information you need.

Ask Us. We Answer.

Get live help from a trained librarian 24/7/365
When YOU have a question and need and answer
Save time
Save energy
Get help finding information you need.
If we can’t answer your question, we will refer you to an expert who can.

New Look for Online Catalog

2008-07-30T11:16:00.000-07:00

Check out VuFind, an easier way to search for books, videos, & more via the online catalog. Go to http://vufind.carli.illinois.edu/vf-iec/ and "Create a Login" to request books and see the new features which include:

Built-in citations in APA and MLA formats

My favorites, comments and tag options

Search from any screen

Spell-check

Fully functional web browser navigation buttons

Faceted narrowing of search results (format, language, owning library, subject, etc.)

Full access to the Voyager “My Account” service for renewals, request status, etc

Resource sharing through Voyager Universal Borrowing

Enhanced content through Syndetic Solutions modules (e.g., cover art, reviews) and Google Book Search

Personally selected user name and password

Reading Between the Semesters

2008-07-28T13:42:00.000-07:00

Books come in all colors -- inside and outside. Checkout our book display of interesting titles by authors from around the globe about cultures around the world. After summer semester and before fall semester, learn something new about one of our world's many interesting cultures from South American to China, to Afghanistan to Russia to England to Iran and more.

Please Return Library Materials

2008-05-08T11:35:00.000-07:00

Please don't forget to return your books, videos, DVDs, CDs and other items you've borrowed from the library before graduation. We're open from 7:30 AM -- 8:00 PM Monday, May 12 through Wednesday, May14th and 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM Thursday and Friday.

Cite It Right!

2008-04-28T12:49:00.000-07:00

Join us in the library for a workshop about how to cite items in your bibliographies for your papers. Two workshops are scheduled this week for Tuesday April 30 and May 1 from 11 AM -- 1 PM in the Anderson Library.

Student Art Work On Display

2008-04-28T12:36:00.000-07:00

The gallery is hosting an exhibit of student art work from Olney Central College students that includes pottery, paintings, drawings and watercolors. Please stop by and take a look. The exhibit will be up through May 7, 2008.

National Library Week

2008-04-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

Celebrate National Library Week this year by thinking about what you have access to
@ the Anderson Library
A library open 59 hours per week to provide face-to-face service for students and faculty
Live 24/7//365 librarian service in English and Spanish
Instant Message Service via the Qwidget
Daily checkout equipment
20,3555 print books and magazines titles at OCC
Access to 32.4 million items via I-Share and CARLI
954 Videos, CDs, DVDs, audiocassettes
24 searchable online subscription services, most of them accessible off campus via Entrata
Citation Tools
Course Specific lists of books and web pages
Worksheets for organizing research materials
Online Book Clubs
BookNews – online newsletters
Copyright information

Fielder's Gloves -- The Dave Cunningham Collection

2008-03-20T08:08:00.000-07:00

Join us tonight from 6 -- 7:30 PM in the gallery at OCC on the 2nd floor near the library to see Dave Cunningham's "Dream Collection" of fielder's gloves. He has some beauties!

He will speak at 6:30 PM about some of his more unusual gloves. Bring your ball gloves with you to see where they fit in the development of baseball gloves.

Qwidget Ready

2008-03-06T14:05:00.000-08:00

Use the Qwidget on the main library page to ask questions quickly. It works like AIM or Meebo (instant messaging) and connects to an academic librarian. If no one is on duty, you will be directed to the 24/7 AskAway chat service for assistance. Give it a try and tell us what you think about it.

New Exhibit

2008-02-01T09:57:00.000-08:00

Russ Jausel has loaned us some of his prize lanterns from his personal collection to display in the gallery. Comet, Skater’s, Dietz Scout/Sports and Bicycle Head lanterns are small ones on display. Then we have a Triangular Lantern (1887-1910), Beacon Lantern (1913 – 1930), Tubular Square Lantern (1888-1894), Defiance Perfect Lantern (1914–1930), Junior Inspector’s (1914–1924), and a Non-Sweating Adlake Lamp (1879-1923).

Saying that this collection is a fabulous one is an understatement. Come see.

Better yet, get Russ to come with you and talk about them.

New Tools for Allied Health Students

2008-01-17T08:29:00.000-08:00

Look on the library web page at http://www.iecc.edu/occ/lrc/onlinedb.html for two new databases for Allied Health students:

Cinahl Plus with Full Text is a large database that has authoritative articles from 620+ reputable journals. It also has Evidence-Based Care Sheets, Quick Lessons, Research Instruments, Continuing Education Unit aids, and search strategy information.

SMART Imagebase or Scientific Medical Arts Imagebase is a collection of 13,000 illustrations and animations depicting anatomy, physiology, surgery, diseases, conditions, trauma, embryology, histology, and other health science topics. There are Reference Monographs on a variety of topics also and the site is organized for easy access.

Both products can be accessed from home by logging into Entrata, clicking on Library, and then on Olney Central College Library. Stop by or give us a call if you need help using these products.

Winter Break

2007-12-19T12:17:00.000-08:00

Time to take a deep breath, read a good book, and get ready for second semester.

Visit the library web site (http://www.iecc.edu/occ/lrc .i ecc.edu/occ/lrc) to join the online book clubs or read BookNews to get ideas for pleasure reading.

Most of all, relax and have fun with friends and family.

Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving Break -- Need Help with Homework?

2007-11-20T13:12:00.000-08:00

Just in case you need help with a project or paper assignment during Thanksgiving Break, go to http://www.iecc.edu/occ/lrc/ and click on the AskAway button. You will be connected to a librarian who will answer your questions and direct you to the resources you need.

To access OCC's online resources from home, login to Entrata, click on the word "Library" on the menu on the left side of the page, and click on OCC Library. You will find access information to the resources you may need.

National Reading Group Month

2007-10-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

October is National Reading Group Month. The Women's National Book Association is launching this event "to mark the 90th anniversary of the Association's founding." http://www.wnba-books.org/

Their mission is

"To bring about public awareness of the joy of shared reading.
To provide a time for existing groups to celebrate their accomplishments and make plans for the future.
To encourage libraries, bookstores, and various organizations to host special events for reading groups.
To provide opportunities for individuals to get involved in an existing reading group or start one of their own. "

See the exhibit in the gallery for ideas about how to form a reading group and what to read. Thanks to Tressie for the nice exhibit!

Pulling an All nighter?

2007-09-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

So is your librarian.

http://www.iecc.edu/askaway

Citation Tool

2007-09-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

“Zotero [zoh-TAIR-oh] is a free, easy-to-use Firefox extension to help you collect, manage, and cite your research sources. It lives right where you do your work — in the web browser itself.”
Take a look and have a tour at : http://www.zotero.org/

Go Green!

2007-09-10T07:54:00.000-07:00

Visit the gallery at the library to see the Go Green, Eat Locally exhibit and learn about what you can do to make a difference in reducing material sent to landfills and be a better steward of the earth, as well as why eating food produced locally is better for you. Add your thoughts and suggestions to the message boards in the exhibit. Pick up a free list of related websites.

Where does your food come from?

2007-08-09T06:18:00.000-07:00

How safe is our food? Where does it come from? Why? And, what can we do about it? Read this interesting analysis of our food chain by Barbara Kingsolver who covers the issues of food availability, energy use for food transport, food safety, taste, nutritional value and more. Husband, Stephen Hopp, adds details and statistics on specific food related topics. Daughter, Camille Kingsolver, gives the family point of view, tasty family recipes, and weekly menus. Learn what you can do to eat well.

How do you say that?

2007-04-13T08:21:00.000-07:00

There are some interesting dictionaries on the Internet that have sound attached to words so students can hear correct pronunciations. Try this one: http://www.howjsay.com/

Here’s a pronouncing dictionary with sound (human, not robot) for students studying Spanish: http://www.spanishdict.com/

Digital Photography Tips

2007-02-27T11:44:00.000-08:00

Enhance or supplement your knowledge about digital photograpy by checking out this book by Matthew Bamberg. Learn how to compose a photograph, upload it from your camera to your computer, make adjustments if needed, and print.

775 BAM
Bambert, Matthew. "Digital Art Photography for Dummies"

Font Styles Website

2007-02-16T11:08:00.000-08:00

Go to this site to see many font styles with options to download the font programs to your PC and save them in the Windows/Font folder. Note the copyright restrictions stated by the creators of the fonts, but also note that many fonts are freeware or shareware and many are free for non- commercial use.

http://www.dafont.com

You will be able to select the font you download from the font drop down menu in your Microsoft Word Program.

New Water Poem

2007-02-15T07:24:00.000-08:00

American Life in Poetry: Column 099
BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE, 2004-2006
My maternal grandparents got their drinking water from a well in the yard, and my disabled uncle carried it sloshing to the house, one bucket of hard red water early every morning. I couldn't resist sharing this lovely little poem by Minnesota poet, Sharon Chmielarz.

Photo is part of theFarm Security Administration - Office of War Information Photograph Collection (Library of Congress) Taken by John Collier, July 1941.

New Water
All those years--almost a hundred--
the farm had hard water.
Hard orange. Buckets lined in orange.
Sink and tub and toilet, too,
once they got running water.
And now, in less than a lifetime,
just by changing the well's location,
in the same yard, mind you,
the water's soft, clear, delicious to drink.
All those years to shake your head over.
Look how sweet life has become;
you can see it in the couple who live here, their calmness as they sit at their table, the beauty as they offer you new water to drink.

Reprinted by permission of Sharon Chmielarz, whose most recent collection of poems is "The Rhubarb King," Loonfeather Press, 2006. Copyright (c) 2006 by Sharon Chmielarz. This weekly column is supported by The Poetry Foundation, The Library of Congress, and the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This column does not accept unsolicited poetry.

One Book, One Community

2007-02-05T07:45:00.000-08:00

Pat Carlson, East Richland Middle School librarian, has received a grant from the Carrie Winter Charitable Trust to start a One Book, One Community program. This program is an excellent way to get everyone in the community talking about books.

Pat has selected Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings as the book to read. This book is set on the Maryland shore among people who fish for crabs for a livinig. Three boys who are best friends are at the center of a tough dilemma that seems innocent enough at first, but develops into serious issues about responsibilities, expectations and the right decision to make.

We have four copies for checkout at the Anderson Library at OCC. The book may be checked out for four days, since it is an easy read for adults. There will be book discussions in several locations including the middle school, the public library, and Ophelia's Cup in March, so look for information in the newspaper.

In the meantime, add your comments about the book to the ERMS blog at

www.erms-redkayak.blogspot.com

Best Book of 2006 -- Unbowed: a Memoir

2007-01-25T14:21:00.000-08:00

Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, has written a memoir about her life as a political activist, feminist, and environmentalist in Kenya. She established the Green Belt Movement in 1977 which spread from Kenya across Africa and helps restore indigenous forests while assisting rural women by paying them to plant trees in their villages. The Green Belt Movement has planted over 30 million trees across Kenya since 1977.

In 2002, Maathai was elected to Kenya's Parliament and in 2003, she was appointed assistant minister for the environment. Maathai did all this, earned bachelor's and master's degrees in the U.S., a PhD in East and Central Aftrica, raised three children as a single mother, and became the first woman to head a university department in Kenya.

This book was selected as a best book in 2006 by both Booklist and Library Journal.
Check it out !
Call number: 333.70 MAA

Google Sketchup -- Creating 3D

2007-01-24T08:09:00.000-08:00

Try this drawing program from Google -- a 3D software tool that allows you to create, share, and store your models in the 3D Warehouse.

College students will want to look at the "Build Your Campus in 3D Competition" at http://contest.sketchup.com/entry.php?rules=1 where you'll find entry forms, FAQs, and official rules for the competition.

Winners get an all-expense paid trip to Google at Mountain View, California.

2007-01-22T06:20:00.000-08:00

Try something new in the new year! A new book acquired for the library, Skype Me!From Single User to Small Enterprise and Beyond, shows you how to install, configure, deploy and secure Skype -- Internet telephony. All you need is a PC no older that two to three years, be connected to the Internet, and a headset. The details are in the book. Check it out in the Anderson Library! (004.6 GOU)

Winter Break at Olney Central College

2006-12-19T13:20:00.000-08:00

Winter Break is Dec. 20, 2006 to Jan. 3, 2007.
Spring semester classes begin Jan. 8, 2007.
The library will be open from 7:30 AM -- 4:30 PM Jan. 3 - 5th and will resume regular hours Jan. 8, 2007.

Enjoy your time off and happy reading!

Orham Pamuk - Nobel Prize in Literature 2006

2006-12-13T13:36:00.000-08:00

Orham Pamuk's Nobel lecture, "My Father's Suitcase," is posted online:

"A writer talks of things that everyone knows but does not know they know. To explore this knowledge, and to watch it grow, is a pleasurable thing; the reader is visiting a world at once familiar and miraculous. When a writer shuts himself up in a room for years on end to hone his craft to create a world if he uses his secret wounds as his starting point, he is, whether he knows it or not, putting a great faith in humanity. My confidence comes from the belief that all human beings resemble each other, that others carry wounds like mine that they will therefore understand. All true literature rises from this childish, hopeful certainty that all people resemble each other."
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2006/pamuk-lecture_en.html

Happy Thanksgiving!

2006-11-22T09:52:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving from the staff of the Anderson Library at Olney Central College. Here are a few thoughts to ponder about this time of year:

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." John Fitzgerald Kennedy

"The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving."
-- H. U. Westermayer

Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude.
- E.P. Powell

What's Your Ecological Footprint?

2006-11-20T14:16:00.000-08:00

What is the average ecological footprint in the U.S. per person? How many biologically productive acres per person are available in the U.S. The Ecological Footprint Quiz provides a rough indicator of the impact you are having on the earth. Answer 15 easy question and see how many "earths" it takes to sustain your needs. http://www.myfootprint.org

Great American Health Check

2006-11-17T09:21:00.000-08:00

Take the health quiz to see what you need to do to remain healthy. http://www.cancer.org/gahc/flash_gahc/flash.html

Seven Writing Mysteries That Really Matter

2006-11-09T12:51:00.000-08:00

What are the seven writing weaknesses that editors everywhere must fix again and again? What are the top ten writing misdemeanors? Find the answers in The curious Case of the Misplaced Modifer: How to Solve the Mysteries of Weak Writing, by Bonnie Trenga. This cleverly written and visually interesting book, will help you solve your writing problems and give you plenty of examples of how to write well. Check it out at the Anderson Library -- 808.04 TRE -- in the new books display.

Seeing More Than Meets the Eye

2006-11-08T14:58:00.000-08:00

Stop by the OCC gallery at the entrance to the Anderson Library and see projects and models made by radiology students in honor of National Radiologic Technology Week. See inside the human head, abdomen and more.

Out of Gas -- What's Next?

2006-11-02T06:52:00.000-08:00

Are we running out of gas on this planet? If so, what are the alternatives? According to author, David Goodstein, fossil fuels will be depleted by the end of this century at the rate they are being used. So what's next? Find out the science behind the laws of nature, the energy myths present in the media, a brief history of energy, and possibilities for the future. This book is a short one, but a big reality check and its topic is well researched. An annotated bibliography is included.

Ultimate "How To" Services at Your Fingertips

2006-10-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

Have you ever needed to fix something and no one was available to help you? Now you can just power on your computer and visit one of these web sites for instructions.

VideoJug.com has short, instructional videos, some made by experts and others by amateurs, about a variety of topics including topics about how to get video onto your iPod, how to protect your computer in a storm, how to fold a t-shirt in 2 seconds. www.VideoJug.com

eHow.com is another site for do-it-yourselfers with step-by-step instructions in categories like Car Information, Careers & Education, Computers, Holiday Traditions, & Sports and Fitness. Find out how to change your mouse speed, add a gradient color as background to a Word
document, buy a used car, or drive in the fog. www.eHow.com

WikiHow.com bills itself as "The How-To Manual That Anyone Can Write or Edit," in the true spirit of wikis -- user-generated content approach. Learn how to fix a broken bicycle chain, be punctual, carve a pumpkin, get out of a cellular service contract and more at this site. There have been 50 changes to describing the correct way to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Who knew? www.wikiHow.com

America's Newspapers

2006-10-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

Have you clicked on Special Reports in America's Newspapers? Special reports cover a variety of topics in depth and with a global perspective. The newest report is called World Environment.
http://www.iecc.edu/occ/lrc/onlinedb.html

World Environment contains articles and pictures about environmental issues and conditions throughout the world. Also included are background information and government documents on these important issues.
Environmental issues covered include:
• green energy and economics
• global warming
• air pollution
• natural resources
• ecology
• conservation
• environmental policies
• biodiversity
• early reader section
• and more

Areas of the world covered include:
• Africa
• Asia
• Australia, Oceania, Antarctica
• Europe
• Latin America
• Middle East
• North America
• UK and Ireland
Related maps and links to web sites are included. Suggested search terms to help locate additional information in your NewsBank products are listed to encourage further research. All articles are easily accessed and can be printed or e-mailed from within the site.

Create and Share Diagrams on the Web

2006-10-23T14:45:00.000-07:00

Create and share diagrams online at http://www.gliffy.com
Draw and share diagrams in your web browser without downloading any software. Diagram flowcharts, redesign your office or classroom layout, floor plan, technical drawings, network diagrams, and more. Gliffy has two ways to make document sharing easy:

Collaboration enables others to see and edit your work by simply entering their emails.
Publishing creates a read-only image of your diagram that you can embed in a blog or wiki if you like.

There is a free version with ads, but the company is working on a fee-based, ad free version also.

Illinois Book Fair 2006

2006-10-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

The Illinois Book Fair, sponsored by the Illinois Center for the Book and held in Springfield, Illinois, is a three-day event this year -- Nov. 16 - 18 -- full of author discussions, workshops, performances signings, antiquarian book appraisals, and events for children.

Pulitzer Prize winner, James B. Stewart (Den of thieves, Disney War and Heart of a Soldier), Scott Turow(Ordinary Heroes), cartoonist, Pat Byrnes, poet laureate Kevin Stein, and Gloria Young and Dianne Noland, authors and TV hosts on gardening in Illinois will be there.

Visit this website for more details: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/whats_new/2006bookfair.html

Everyday Mysteries Answered

2006-10-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

This site provides answers to questions that "deal with everyday phenomena that we often take for granted, but ... can be explained scientifically. ... All of the questions presented on this Web site were asked by researchers and answered by librarians from the Library's Science Reference Services." Searchable and browsable; links to the library's "Ask a Librarian" feature. URL: http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/

Banned Books Week

2006-09-27T14:26:00.000-07:00

Free People Read Freely is the theme for Banned Books Week, Sept. 23 - 30, 2006. Visit the Anderson Library at Olney Central College to see the book display. Read articles at the American Library Association web site at http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bannedbooksweek.htm

Consider this quotation from a former U.S. Supreme Court Justice:

"Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us."—Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas."

View the list of the most challenged books in the 21st Century at http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bbwlinks/topten2000to2005.htm

Better yet, keep reading what you like to read.

How Stuff Works

2006-09-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

Need to know how something works? This website may have your answers. Go to http://www.howstuffworks.com and find Auto Stuff, Science Stuff, Health Sutff, Computer Stuff and more. there are How-to Guides for appliances, Mobil Travel Guides, and consumer Guides to Products and Autos.

Crime Prevention DVD's Available

2006-09-11T14:17:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Post Office has provided a series of free videos about crime victims’ rights and consumer protection initiatives of the U.S. Postal Service for use in educational programs. Here are the titles in the Delivering Justice Series:
All the King’s Men: Picking up the Pieces -- a story of financial crime victims and their efforts to recover (15 min.)
Dialing for Dollars: a story of telemarketing investment fraud (20 min.)
Identity Crisis: a short dvd on how to protect your identity (15 min.)
Long Shot: a short film on foreign lottery scams (15 min.)
Nowhere to Run: about international efforts to stop fraud (12 min.)
Work@Home Scams: They Just Don’t Pay! (10 min.)
Web of Deceit: about Internet Fraud (13 min.)

Whistling Season

2006-08-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

What a good story! Oliver Milliron is a widowed father of three young sons who lived in Marias Coulee, Montana at the turn of the century when the "big ditch" was being built to aid dryland farming. He hires a housekeeper from an ad in the newspaper that says she "Can't cook but doesn't bite." She brings her scholarly "brother" with her and the story unfolds about rural schools, communities, relationships, Haley's Comet, boxing and more. Reading this book is like stepping back in time and experiencing the joy and sadness of lifeduring that time period, the verve of pioneers who settled and improved the West, and observing up close the stubborn independence and character it took to make it what is is today.

Finding Books Easily -- At Last!

2006-08-11T09:06:00.000-07:00

Find books in a library near you easily with WorldCat, a meta search engine for online catalogs of libraries all over the world. Search for any book or other item using a geographic location to find books for the closest sources. Users everywhere can find and link to library-owned content and services as easily as searching Google and Yahoo! who happen to be partners in this venture with OCLC, the Online Computer Library Center. Go to http://www.worldcat.org and give it a try.

100 Greatest Science inventions

2006-08-01T14:37:00.000-07:00

Some things we take for granted, but did you ever consider how simple inventions like the screw, glass, paper, and vaccinations have changed and improved the world? Take a look at our new book by Kendall Haven called 100 Greatest Science Inventions of All Time (609 HAV) and see if your favorite invention is on this list. Mine is -- velcro!

Donald Hall -- New Poet Laureate

2006-07-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has announced the appointment of Donald Hall to be the Library’s 14th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. To read more details, go to

Hall’s tenure will begin in the fall, opening the Library’s annual literary series in October with a reading of his work and an appearance at the National Book Festival in DC September 30, 2006. To read more about Hall and his accomplishments, go to http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2006/06-131.html
His biography can be found at Poets.org http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/264

45 volumes of his poetry, textbooks, children’s books, and other works he has produced are available via the online catalog (iPAC) through the Shawnee Library System. Type Hall, Donald into the search bar at http://ieccsearch.shawls.lib.il.us

2006-06-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

Enjoy a little poetry from the American Life in Poetry Project.
`
American Life in Poetry: Column 063
BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE, 2004-2006
Remember those Degas paintings of the ballet dancers? Here is a similar figure study, in muted color, but in this instance made of words, not pigment. As this poem by David Tucker closes, I can feel myself holding my breath as if to help the dancer hold her position.

The Dancer
Class is over, the teacher
and the pianist gone,
but one dancer
in a pale blue
leotard stays
to practice alone without music,
turning grand jetes
through the haze of late afternoon.
Her eyes are focused
on the balancing point
no one else sees
as she spins in this quiet
made of mirrors and light--
a blue rose on a nail--
then stops and lifts
her arms in an oval pause
and leans out
a little more, a little more,
there, in slow motion
upon the air.

Reprinted from the 2005 Bakeless Prize winner "Late for Work", by David Tucker, Houghton Mifflin, 2006, by permission of the author. "The Dancer" first appeared in "Visions International", No. 65, 2001. Copyright (c) 2001 by David Tucker. This weekly column is supported by The Poetry Foundation, The Library of Congress, and the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

America's Newspapers Online

2006-06-14T12:40:00.000-07:00

Take a look at our new product which is a large database of U.S. newspapers. Go to the library web page at: http://www.iecc.edu/occ/lrc/onlinedb.html where you will find current events, hot topics, and special reports in the menu on the left side of the page along with direct links to state and regional newspapers. America’s News Magazines, though not as plentiful as in EbscoHost, are divided by categories of business, entertainment, lifestyle, news, science & technology, and sports.

There are all kinds of curriculum possibilities here, especially in the hot topics section which is divided into current events, social studies research topics, science and health research topics, and arts & literature research topics. The leading issues of the day are covered well and in a timely fashion. Logon and give it a try. Let us know what you think.

New Fiction at OCC May 2006

2006-06-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

We have received some new fiction just in time for summer reading. Here's a sampling:
March by Geraldine Brooks (Pulitzer Prize winner 2006)
The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig
My Latest Grievance by Elinor Lipman
Misfortune by Wesley Stace
Leonardo's Swans by Karen Essex
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry
False Impression by Jeffrey Archer