An interesting bibliographical essay on science and the humanities written by Gail Shivel of the University of Miami for Choice magazine. An overview:

“The literature on science and the humanities is vast and diffuse, and a treatment such as this can only touch on the high points and suggest further directions of study. This essay treats the literature on science and the humanities first chronologically and then topically. The cite list is divided into two parts: relatively recent work, primarily secondary, and then the classics. Some of the latter include specific recommended editions; others are given without bibliographic details.”

The Humanities and Social Sciences Division offers an overview Research Orientation to the Library of Congress.

Presented from 10:30-12:00 noon on the following Mondays:

May 5, 19
June 2, 9, 23, 30
July 7, 14, 21, 28

Evening Sessions:

6:30-8:00 pm

May 5, June 2, July 7

Jefferson Building, Room G-07

The Second Street entrance is open to those holding a Reader Identification Card; all others may enter using the First Street entrance. Reader ID cards can be obtained in the Madison Building, Room 140. (Attendees for evening sessions must use the Second Street entrance.)

Due to limited space, registration is required. Register by phone (202) 707-3370 or online at http://www.loc.gov/rr/main/inforeas/signup.php

Request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at (202) 707-6362 or ADA@loc.gov .

For more information call Kathy Woodrell (202) 707-0945 or Abby Yochelson (202) 707-2138.

Bob Hicok and Charles Wright, both poets at Virginia universities, have won the 2008 Bobbitt national Poetry Prize. They will read from their work on Monday, April 28th at the Library of Congress. [more]

“”You’ve scored tickets to a big show on the Las Vegas Strip. A Cirque du Soleil show, say. Or “Phantom of the Opera.” And something happens up there onstage.

A body sinks slowly to the bottom of the sea, trailing a swirl of iridescent bubbles as it descends. An enormous stage slowly tilts 90 degrees on its axis, spilling what had been a sandy beach over the abyss like an amber waterfall. A glittering chandelier plummets from the ceiling, halting mere feet above your head.

And you sit there stunned, wondering: How did they do that?

Someone has to figure out the technological trickery that creates the sort of staggering stage magic for which Vegas is famous. And UNLV is taking the lead, inaugurating a multidisciplinary program merging engineering technical expertise with the creative instincts of the fine arts — with the priceless advantage of access to the largest laboratory in the world, the Las Vegas Strip.”

Keeping track of citations and managing that ever expanding bibliography can be a pain. Before you buy an expensive program consider Zotero, a free, open-source citation manager that lives in your web browser.

With one click you can download citation information from the ALADIN catalog, Amazon, JSTOR, Google Books, and many other library catalogs and journal databases. You can also download and store PDFs from article databases, take a snap-shot of the web page, and apply tags to your “library” of citations to keep them organized. When you’re ready to print that bibliography for your well researched paper, select your sources, select the citation format (APA, MLA, and others), and voilà! You have a nicely formatted bibliography ready to be printed or placed at the end of you research paper. (Of course no machine is perfect, so be sure to proofread before you turn it in!)

To get started down the path of citation management bliss you will need the Mozilla Firefox web browser. Sorry, Zotero doesn’t work with Internet Explorer or Safari - although it is perfectly happy on Windows, Macintosh and Linux.

Next head over to http://www.zotero.org/ and click the big, red, download button. (If you get a message that says Firefox prevented this site from installing software, go ahead and allow it. It’s okay.) When the window pops up click “Install now”, then when it is finished “Restart Firefox” and you’re good to go.

Be sure to check out the video tutorials to help you get started.

Need help with that final research paper? You know librarians are available in the Libraries. You know you can call, email, or IM for help. Did you know that librarians are “out there”, too? Librarians have been taking their expertise on the road all semester. As you start the final push, watch for us:

• Tuesday, April 22 from 10 to 12 in the Pryz (stop by on your way to Starbuck’s or lunch)
• Wednesday, April 23 in Flather from 2:30 to 4:30
• Thursday, April 24 from 2:30 to 4:30 in Marist (the Information Commons on the main floor)
• Tuesday, April 29 in Ryan from 2:30 to 4:30
• Wednesday, April 30 from 1:30 to 3:30 in Caldwell

Ask us!

Here’s a story from the New York times about the Newseum opening today April 11 in DC. The story is all about the architecture of the building and comparing it to several other famous architectural landmarks in Washington.

Today (Friday, 4/11) only, entry is free. Every other time, you will have to pay $20 to get in. Check it out!

Mullen Library and the campus libraries will be closed Wednesday, April 16 and Thursday, April 17 in honor of the visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Libraries will resume their regular hours on Friday.

Please see the Mullen Library hours or the campus libraries hours for more information.

The Pulitzer Prize winners for 2008 were announce Tuesday:

FICTION: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
DRAMA: August: Osage County by Tracy Letts
BIOGRAPHY OR AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Eden’s Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father by John Matteson
POETRY: Time and Materials by Robert Hass AND Failure by Philip Schultz

All titles are in the Mullen Library collection or have been ordered.

Some interesting quotes from the winners supplied by the Associated Press.

“Research libraries are “rapidly developing publishing services,” according to a report released in March by the Association of Research Libraries.” [more]