Tinman decked out for the holidays

The jolliest person we know on campus!  

Sculpting with books

Take a look at these.   What a wonderful way to repurpose books.

Book Sculptures

Get ready for break

Before you leave campus for the break, stop by the library and take a pile of books home and relax and read during the holidays.   Think you might be getting an e-reader or tablet for the holidays?  Then visit the library page and click on the Maine InfoNet ebooks link.  You'll find free ebooks and audiobooks to use.  All you need is your 14 digit ID.   

Questions?   Just contact us.

Happy Holidays!     See you in January 2012.

Snacks to Get You Through

The semester is almost over.   We have snacks hidden in the stacks.   Walk around, browse the shelves, and find a treat while you are studying in the library.

Good luck with the end of the semester and finishing all of your projects and papers and tests!

Locating Information Quickly

It's crunch time.  You need to locate information quickly.  Begin your search with Google and then use some of the library databases and the ebooks in our Ebrary collection.  This will give you all you need to begin writing that research paper.

To help, here are some tips and places to look.

Google basic search help.
Google search tips.
Google search features

Library databases

Need APA or MLA help?  Visit OWL at Purdue.

Ebrary ebooks.

You also have the library and academic success center to help.


.

Google Help

If you use Google, look at this for some great tips.

What if we pull out some of the stacks?

We need your help.  If you are a student, we want your input on how to rearrange the library.  We are in the process of removing lots of outdated books that no longer need to be on our shelves.  Maybe it's time to remove some of the shelves.  If we do, what would you like to see us do with that space?   More tables and chairs?  Maybe just some nice leather chairs? 

Share your thoughts.   We need your comments.

Swim at your own risk

Signs like this are wonderful.  You know immediately that help is not available.  You are on your own.  If you aren't a strong swimmer, you may want to just stay on shore.

Luckily, college isn't that way.  On the NMCC campus, you are not on your own and help is never far away. 

If you need help locating information, citing sources, and evaluating information, library staff is always available to assist you.   Want to try some new apps on the iPad?  Come to the library.  Need to borrow a laptop or reserve a group study room? We've got you covered.  Want a quiet place to work without distractions?  There's a seat waiting for you. 

Need some tutoring help?  Visit the Academic Success Center.   Can't make it to the Center? Then Skype in and connect with a tutor.

NMCC counselors are available to help you whenever you need it.

Stop by Financial Aid to ask questions about your FAFSA and work-study.

All over campus, there are people here to help you succeed.  Stop by Student Affairs, the Business Office, IT department, Health Center, Bookstore, and many other departments on campus and get your questions answered. 

We are here to support your success as a student. 

New Books in the Library

We have a new book shelf  in the library to browse and you can locate new books here.

We take recommendations for purchase throughout the year.  Contact us and let us know what you would like to have added to the collection.   

Author talks, booksignings, library events

In northern Maine we are pretty far from the crowds and cities of the rest of Maine.  This has many advantages and a few disadvantages.  Libraries in more remote parts of Maine often have difficulty getting authors or speakers to visit for events.  The travel time is usually longer than the event itself.  It takes a lot to travel 3-5 hours one way for an event.  When authors and speakers do agree to come, we are very appreciative of the extra effort.  We know that without these events at libraries our cultural offerings in rural areas would be limited.

This raises the question of whether or not library events are important to NMCC students.  Do you attend events? Do we publicize and market them in a way that you get the information?  We use the library blog, Facebook, Twitter, library web page, college newsletter, posters on campus, newspaper, and more.  Do you have ideas on how to market our events to reach a larger audience? 

Any event does not just happen on its own.  It takes lots of planning and work prior to the event.  Many people on campus contribute and many departments are involved in the process.  We want to put our efforts towards events that are relevant to NMCC students.  After all, that's the reason we are all here.  We are your support system through college.  Your comments, suggestions, and recommendations are important.  So share them with us and post a comment on this blog or contact the library.

Author Visit - Jacques Poitras - Imaginary Line: Life on an unfinished border

An award-winning author and journalist, whose latest book tackles the Maine-New Brunswick border in a revealing and thought-provoking way, will introduce his work at an event in Presque Isle on Thursday, October 6, at 1:00 p.m. in the Edmunds Library at Northern Maine Community College.
Jacques Poitras will read from his new book, Imaginary Line: Life on an unfinished border, and lead a discussion on the topics covered in the publication, including how activity along the international border serves as a microcosm for relations between the U.S. and Canada. In addition, Poitras will sign copies of the book, which
will be available for sale ($19.99 + tax) at the signing event.

Read the press release.

Jacques Poitras bio.

Acceptable Use Policies

Are you aware that the college has acceptable use policies?  Do you know where to find them on the portal?

Click here to see a list and to read them.

Acceptable Use Policies

    Information Technology Usage and Support Policy
    Northern Maine Community College Acceptable Use Policy
    Maine Community College System Acceptable Use Policy
    NEARnet Network Acceptable Use Policy
    NSFNET Acceptable Use Policy

Visit to classes

The assistant dean of learning resources is giving a presentation to Pam Crawford's Management class on Friday to talk about ways to use the databases, journals, ebooks and more to help you complete your projects for the course.

We'll cover business plans, leadership, small business, stocks, company profiles, articles, and more.

Looking for the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review and other business publications?  We have them and will show you how to get them on campus and at home.

Peer Reviewed Articles / Databases / Library Assistance

 Information literacy checkup 101

After visiting David Raymond's Maine History course, I'd like to ask students in the class who are working on their papers the following questions.

Have you located enough information on the Great Awakening?   Did you use the database Academic Search Premier? Did you use any other library databases?    Do you know how to build a good search?  Remember to use Boolean operators (AND/OR/NOT).  Do you know the difference between a magazine and a peer reviewed journal?  Did you vary search terms?  Keywords versus subject headings?  

Have you used ebooks in the Ebrary collection? 

Do you know that you can use Noodlebib to cite your sources?

Have you used Google Scholar or Google Books?

Did you check the library online catalog to see what books are available on the Great Awakening?

Did you find what you need to complete the assignment?    If not, contact the library for some help.

Locating information should be easy.  You can do this from home.  Get what you need exactly when you need it. 

If you started with Wikipedia, don't end there.  Do a thorough job with your research and writing your paper will be easier than you think.

CTRL+F to search a webpage

Can you type CTRL+F?

Read this and see if you are one of the people they are talking about.   If you don't use it, here's a helpful tip.  When searching a webpage for a word or term, use CTRL F and your life will be made easier.  You'll get what you need faster.  And isn't that always the point?

Give it a try today.   If you already use this feature, then you can smile smugly! :)

Giving Credit

When you write your research paper for your English instructor you are told to credit your sources.  Many students follow this instruction without understanding the importance of citing sources and giving credit to words, images, music, and ideas that are not their own. 

We are planning an information literacy day at the college to be scheduled this fall.  A part of the program for that day will be to share information on plagiarism, copyright, and crediting sources.

Take a look at this story and see if you think it was acceptable or unacceptable.

Do you think about copyright when you use images for your projects?  Read this and post your reaction.

When you are in doubt, be sure to cite.

Ebsco Mobile

Check this out for searching on mobile devices:

Ebsco Mobile

Let us know what you think.

How do you cite an interview in APA style?

You do not cite it in your references list.  You can cite in your paper.

Read more here.

What's a reference list for?

Great post via the APA Style blog:

What’s a Reference List For?

Show Me Good Land Book Signing on April 13th @ 7 pm

Please join us in the E. Perrin Edmunds Library at Northern Maine Community College for a book signing by author Shonna Milliken Humphrey.

Wednesday, April 13th at 7 pm.

Shonna will be signing copies of her new book, Show Me Good Land.
Music by Travis Humphrey.  


Contact Jan Grieco at 768-2765 or Gail Roy at 768-2734 for additional information.

Creative Writers Reading Series in April

The Creative Writers Reading Series will be held at noon on the following dates in the NMCC library:

April 13th     Shonna Milliken Humphrey
April 20th     Michael Macklin
April 27th     (to be announced)

NMCC students and featured guests will read from their work.  Both campus and community members are invited to attend.  

Information Technology Maintenance Today April 8, 2011

All NMCC information technology related resources will be down for system maintenance from 2 pm - 4 pm on Friday, April 8th.

The following areas will be affected:  college website, portal, internet access, email, network storage, database servers, wireless, and printers.

Best topic ever for a research paper

Additional responses:

The best topic was music therapy.  It was a fascinating topic and had tons of available information.

The paper I most enjoyed writing was about science fiction and its value to American culture.  I have always been a huge science fiction fan, and I learned so many new things while I was writing that paper.  Most of it didn’t even make it into the paper in the end but it was exciting to learn about something that I enjoy so much. 

Sign language for hearing children.

What is the best topic you have ever written a research paper about?

What is the best topic you have ever written a research paper about?


The best topic I’ve ever written about was the annual migration of the short-nosed sturgeon.

Share your research paper nightmare story

Please share your research paper nightmare story for other NMCC students.

The NMCC students in English 227 did just that.  Read their comments below:



I have not really had any researching nightmares as of yet, but I fully expect to by the end of the semester.

The worst time I can remember having with a research paper was when I had to write about a cultural issue.  It wasn’t finding the information that was difficult, but simply the paper itself.  In some cases, a personal connection with a topic may either hinder or help your ability to write about it.  I came into it thinking, “This was my lifestyle.  I can write about that.”  However, I found it was harder to find the right words—especially when time is against you.

I have had many nightmare stories, even to the point of having nightmares while sleeping.  The most common nightmare is the time it takes me to type a paper and not being able to collect what I  would like to write about off of websites.  I feel that more needs to be taught to students concerning the methods to collect materials off the Internet.

My idea of a research paper nightmare is not being able to pick a thesis.  I started out writing about the Grimm Brothers and how their work related to their personal lives.  I could not think of a thesis that really stood out to me.  I  thought about it for a couple days.  I decided to do some research on Paul Bunyan instead and was able to plan out my whole paper in less than 5 minutes.  When you have reached this point you know you have a good thing going.

Doing a research paper on Japan’s side of World War II. 

The worst paper I had ever written was a topic that was hard to find proof.  Just trying to find sources that backed up my point of view was a nightmare.  Try to pick topics that are proven and have accessible sources to support your thesis. This will only make your life easier. 

The biggest nightmare for me when writing a paper is realizing that I had left out some vital information that would tie the entire paper together and it’s the day that the paper is due so I am quickly going back into the computer having to find that area that I needed to add the information only to realize that the paper wasn’t fully saved so I had to retype the entire paper with only an hour before class starts. 

Using “I” is my nightmare story. I continue to put “I” just out of habit.

Losing a paper the day before it was due and not having a draft printed or saved.  I had to redo it from scratch. Nightmare!

My nightmare research paper would have to be freshman year high school, a whole 5 page paper on the simple machine A Screw.  This paper took lots of information to find uses and history on such a simple device.

Be extra careful when saving your work.  Save often and make sure you save it to a USB thumb drive or to the L drive.  I’ve lost over half a paper because I didn’t save often or saved to the wrong place.


My nightmare story was not giving myself enough time to finish my papers and logically think about them.  Also not having enough research has made my papers sound flaky and unsure of me and I did not get the point across in my paper that I was trying so hard to say. 

Research, research, research..............

 “If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?”

                                                                                          ~Albert Einstein


Do you think it is important to learn how to conduct research from various sources (online, print, e-resources, interviews, media, etc.)  Does it matter?  Why or why not? Do you learn new skills when doing this?   Is it important to learn how to select a topic, refine your topic,  locate and evaluate information on that topic, and convey your research to others?  Is it useful to be able to sift through information and create a well reasoned presentation of data that forms a logical conclusion.  What about citing sources and giving credit to others?  Will these skills be useful in other areas of your life?   Can you see yourself writing business reports or giving presentations where the information you share and the way you present it will be extremely important in your professional life?  Can you imagine searching for financial or health information and having the ability to successfully navigate the barrage of information available and select only the most reliable, up-to-date, and relevant information for your needs and purposes?

Share your thoughts.   Additional comments from NMCC students will be posted soon.

Advice on Research Papers

The students in English 227 responded to the following question and are the guest bloggers for the library blog this week.

Thanks for the great ideas and advice for other students.  Special thanks for the shout out to the library and academic success center!   

What have you learned/what advice would you give to students writing research papers at NMCC?

I have learned to punctuate sentences and write in a form that is better for the reader to understand.

My only advice to a person writing a research paper is to make sure you pick a thesis that you believe in.

USE THE LIBRARY! Our librarians can help with all your research needs.  Inter-library loans can provide information that you would not necessarily have right at your school.

Get out of habits like writing in the first person and use the research tools that the library provides.  The library is where you will find the best research.  Stay off Google and Wikipedia.

Save  more than one copy of your drafts. Print them out each time you make some changes. Losing a research paper is one of the most stressful things that can happen and has happened to me.  Do more research than you think you need.  It may work its way into your paper.  Always, when possible, go to the ACS [Academic Success Center] so someone can look over your paper.

Advice I would give students would be to use many sources of information.  The library is a great resource and having someone in the academic success center proofread the paper can help to make the paper better.

Some advice that I can offer to other students who are writing research papers here at NMCC would be to make sure that you keep all of your research material organized and to make sure that if you have an outline follow it closely and continue to make changes to it as you go along with the paper so that they match up.

I have learned to use different resource materials, such as, databases and periodicals.  I have also learned how to expand my searches by changing the way I word my search and terms.  If there was any advice I would give to another student it would be to not be afraid of the research process and don’t feel stupid about asking questions.  Our library is a great source of information and it is there to help you.

Don’t wait until the last minute! Get a head start on the research at the earliest opportunity, and always choose a topic that interests you.

Take advantage of all your resources.  Use Noodlebib for your works cited page, use the library’s databases, and ask librarians for help.  If you’re doing a report that touches on a subject that you learned in class once, ask the instructors for help.

I would give advice to clearly think your papers through and make them flow together.  Having a paper that is unorganized and messy with no logic is not going to help anybody learn anything, let alone confuse them.  Also, research as much as you can without using websites such as Wikipedia because it is unreliable and you will find you have different answers and research about a certain topic.  The more research you do the better!  Also give yourself enough time to have many drafts of your paper and to write it over a period of time rather than rushing through it.

Do not get overwhelmed.  Writing a research paper can be a massive project and it can be overwhelming.  Research can be difficult when you become overloaded with information.  Take your time and pick only the articles that relate the most to your paper.  You do not have to use every article you find.  Back up your rough drafts on a flash drive and save them on your computer as well.  That way you do not have to worry if you lose your flash drive or your computer crashes because you already have another copy. This means no starting over for you and at the end of the semester this could save your life.

Keep your goal in mind.  What is it you’re looking for?  What questions are you answering? What is it you want readers to remember or take away from your paper?

Make an outline!  Research papers can get pretty lengthy, and you could be faced with more information than you know what to do with.  An outline helps to keep you organized and on track.

Use www.noodletools.com for citing!  It makes citing your research so much faster and easier. It even helps you with parenthetical references.

If given the option to choose a topic, be sure it’s something you care about. If you don’t care, then why should anyone else?

Remember to have order to your thoughts (paragraphs) and use transitions.  You don’t want to jump from one area of interest to the next, because this will only leave them confused.  Keep in mind you have had more time to learn about your topic and they are relying on you for the information. 

English Advanced Comp ENG227

Thoughts on the value of writing a research paper from Jennifer Graham's comp class.  Students were asked to reply to the following question:

The research paper is the "exit assignment" for ENG 111 students at NMCC.  What do you think about writing research papers--is it a valuable experience?  Why or why not?

Here are some student comments:

Writing a paper, let alone a research paper, is extremely valuable for anyone trying to broaden their education.  It teaches students how to formalize their ideas and how to communicate them on paper.  The ability to be able to write efficiently is crucial in participating in life.  If no one understands what you're trying to get across; then no one is going to listen.  I often find that how we write and talk reflects our education level. We subconsciously make judgments on others intellect based on how they represent themselves through actions or words (be it oral or written).
The research aspect of the project is equally important.  Information is leaking from more sources than ever--just waiting for someone to make use of it.  Humans by nature are curious; all a research paper does is feed the craving.  Not only that, but when you have an idea about something, or you're passionate about something; you have to have facts to back it up.  Not only does it prove you know what you're talking about, but it makes you look more credible and believable to others.

It's an essential tool to learn critical thinking. It can be a pain, simply because it is time consuming, but it truly is a valuable tool.

Writing research papers is valuable.  Not only do you get to learn about a new topic, but also read other people's work, interpret it, re-write the information in a different format.

Writing research papers is valuable because you learn a lot about particular subjects through research.  It broadens your knowledge widely and knowing how to write a well organized paper is important in school, work, and everyday life.  If I had never written a research paper, I wouldn't have the knowledge I do today.

I don't always like writing research papers but it is a valuable experience.  If one intends on going on in their education they really need it.  It is important to be able to communicate on paper and provide evidence to back it up.

I think that writing research papers is a great experience.  Writing research papers requires a lot of thought, asking questions, and growing as a writer.  It allows the writer to receive feedback, improve as a writer, and learn a great deal about the subject of the paper at the same time.

When students write research papers they learn valuable lessons that they will need throughout their college experience.  Such as MLA or APA format, doing research, sorting through research, putting it all together, and doing peer reviews.  Students will continue to use these new skills in the following years of college and if they have mastered them it will be very helpful.  Research papers also can introduce students to the resources available in the library which is an important asset as well.

Initially, I was afraid to write research papers.  But over time I have grown to enjoy the challenge of learning new material, analyzing it and writing papers on a topic.  It is a great way to educate both myself and those who may read my paper.  I feel that writing research papers is a valuable experience that I will take with me when I move on to a 4-year college.

Student Thoughts on Research Papers

The students in NMCC instructor Jen Graham's English 227 Advanced Comp class were asked to be guest bloggers for the library blog.

They were given the following questions on the topic of research papers and everyone shared their thoughts.
Their responses will be posted over the next week.

1) The research paper is the "exit assignment" for English 111 students at NMCC.  What do you think about writing research papers--is it a valuable experience?  Why or why not?

2) What have you learned/what advice would you give to students writing research papers at NMCC?

3) Share your research paper nightmare story.

4) What is the best topic you've ever written about?

Selecting Peer Reviewed Sources

You need some reliable, authoritative, and peer-reviewed journal articles for your research paper.

Where do you begin and how can you tell whether or not a journal is peer-reviewed?  How do you distinguish it from a magazine or trade and business publication?

You can begin by watching this.

Next visit the library or use the databases and select peer reviewed as one of your limiters in your search.

It's easy once you know.  Your instructors want you to use peer-reviewed research.  So what is stopping you?

Sit down right now and do a quick search in Academic Search Premier database.  Review your results.  Having problems?  Contact a librarian.

Focus the Nation

Focus the Nation on NMCC campus March 9th Edmunds Conference Center.

Read about the students who coordinated this event.

Great article in MaineBiz.

If you didn't create it, it's not yours to take (at least not without asking permission)

I was led to this site by a tweet from UT Libraries.

 utlibraries UT Libraries

Great photo of the Architecture Library RT @hellosole: Photo: Paper-writing on campus today in the Architecture Library http://ow.ly/48XIa

The blog belongs to a University of Texas student named Kayla Moses.  There was a great photo of the architecture library at University of Texas on her blog. Kayla took the photo and owns it.  This is her property.  By posting it she does not relinquish ownership.   If I want to use that photo on my blog, I need to ask permission from Kayla. 

Photo used with permission of Kayla Moses.  

Photo of Architecture Library at the University of Texas at Austin.

Kayla posted the following on her blog about rights and requesting permission of artists and authors (see end of this post).  This really caught my attention because I know many college students don't seem to notice or care about copyright and intellectual property.   So, before you take something you didn't create, please take a minute to send an email, tweet, or IM to the owner and request their permission before you use it.

I sent an email to Kayla and she very nicely granted me permission to use her photo and to use the information I posted below that came from her blog.  She told me she hopes it will make students more aware of the need to ask first.

For any NMCC students reading this please share your thoughts.  Do you respect the rights of authors or do you think anything on the internet is free?  If you created something and put it online and saw it reposted without your permission, how would you feel?

Hey, also: Don't be a naughty thief.

Don’t steal, kiddies.

I’m serious. There are things in life that are just abhorrent. Stealing someone’s writing, images, or anything - even if it is just from some nonsensical bloggy business - does not constitute it as any less miserable.
Don’t do it. Ask nicely. You’ll find that most people will smile, perhaps offer you coffee, and be quite pleasant.

Sole. by Kayla Moses is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

On Loan from the Presque Isle Historical Society

The Presque Isle Historical Society has loaned a traveling exhibit on Vera Estey. 

Stop by the library and view the materials in the display case near the circulation desk.

You can also visit the Estey House on Third Street in Presque Isle.

Want to help support the work of the historical society?  Learn about membership here.

Why Can't I Just Google?

This video will give you an idea of why just using Google isn't enough to get an A on your research paper.

The best way to find accurate, reliable, and scholarly information is to do several searches using many resources.  The library gives you access to many resources via the library page.

Let's use buying a new computer as an example. If you were thinking of making a big purchase you might go to the store and look at the computers for sale, talk to friends about their computers, read reviews online, read PC magazine or Consumer Reports, talk with a sales rep, or post something on your FB page asking for recommendations.  There are many ways you would seek out information.  When all that information comes back to you, you would evaluate it and make your final decision.   The salesperson at the store might have a bias in selling you a certain computer if they make a larger commission on one model.  Your cousin with limited computer skills might not be the best resource to use. A friend who is pro-PC and anti-Mac might present only their view.  Likewise the pro-Mac and anti-PC friend would have a bias.  Reviews that seem to be unbiased and provide objective information might be better to use.  Ultimately, it falls on you to read, examine, think, and evaluate the information to decide if it is credible, reliable, and unbiased.

In college, students are asked to write research papers using specific formats and guidelines (APA or MLA style). A research paper follows a specific format and style manuals provide the layout instructions (see OWL Purdue Online Writing Lab for excellent instructions and helpful tips).  The library also has copies of the APA and MLA manuals.  When you are ready to create your references list you can use Noodlebib to help make the process much easier.

In research, scholarly articles that are published in peer reviewed journals are a good way to ensure that the information you use has been reviewed and evaluated by experts in the field.  You find these articles by searching databases.  The databases are provided by companies like Ebsco, ProQuest and many others.  Databases provide a clear interface and an easy way to search for information.  Libraries purchase databases based on the needs of the students and programs at their institutions.  Databases are not free.  Annual subscriptions are paid to vendors.   Databases come with many rules and limitations.  Only NMCC students can use the databases our library purchases.  When you are on campus, a simple click gets you directly to the search screen.  Off-campus you will be asked to authenticate your NMCC status by entering your 14 digit student ID (you find this on the front of your student ID).

The next time you need to find information for your research paper, visit the library web page and click on one of the many database links you see there.   Most of the databases provide full-text and you can have the article in a matter of seconds.   It is fast, easy, and best of all, what you need to complete your paper.

If you are having trouble finding what you need, connect with someone in the library for assistance.   We'll show you how to get things done quickly so you can move on to your next project.

Seriously, why waste your time searching online and citing all the sources your instructor doesn't want to see cited?  Find what is relevant and useful   The outcome will be a better grade and you'll learn more about critically evaluating information.  

Begin by getting a nice overview of your topic. Start with a Google search or any search engine you like.  Maybe try Google Scholar.  Read a Wikipedia article and look at the references at the end of the article. Search a few library databases and retrieve some scholarly articles.  Look for books and e-books.  Find some podcasts or videos.  Maybe consider DVDs or other formats.   To build a good paper with substantial information to support your topic and thesis, you will need to draw from many sources.

The information on the library page will make it so you can find things quickly.   Try it and give us your feedback.

Next post:  Description of our databases.  Marvel! and more.

Go Blue Day at NMCC

If you missed it, here are some photos.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=280635&l=d4ea5035bb&id=47208068025

The I's of a Diary

NMCC adjunct instructor Pam Sweetser will be delivering a talk entitled, "The I's of a Diary" on March 17th from 1-2 in the Edmunds Conference Center.


“The I’s of a Diary: writing history from personal narrative” is a lecture that contextualizes two sets of unpublished diaries, and that discusses a strategy for reading them.

Owned by Miriam Hoyt Gregg and Wayne R. Sweetser, these diaries, written by mother and daughter, Adwina (Addie) O’Brien Richardson (1851-1941) and Amy Richardson Sweetser (1896-1958), span nearly a century from 1871-1950. The two women lived in Maysville and Presque Isle, Maine, their entire lives.

Though most entries are brief, they fill more than 100 separate journals, weaving a rich tapestry of personal and public experiences that draw the reader into their worlds in ways that detached, third-person history cannot.

Diaries, frequently characterized as “windows,” give us restricted views that, as historical sources, must be contextualized within both personal and public spaces. To reconstruct lives from diaries, we must chose a strategy for reading them that allows us, when we write, to make the lives accessible and the telling legitimate. The reader must account for the ways in which sex, age, class, and race in the context of time and place affect both the personal narratives that appear in the diaries, and the ways in which they are interpreted.

Pamela Snow Sweetser has taught at Hampden Academy for more than 30 years.  She also taught at Fort Fairfield High School.  An Aroostook County native, Pam has retired from education and spends her time writing and farming with her husband Wayne.  She is a doctoral candidate in U.S. Women's History at the University of Maine, Orono.   Her dissertation title is, "The harder I work, the more there is to do: rural women and modernization, Aroostook County, Maine, 1870-1940."

Go Blue Day at NMCC

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

NMCC instructor Chuck Kelley is a colon cancer survivor.  All proceeds from this event will be donated in Chuck Kelley's honor to the Colon Cancer Alliance.

On March 4th help support a great cause.  Dress in Blue and stop by the Christie Lobby from 9-1 for the Blue Bake Sale.  Funds raised will be donated to the Colon Cancer Alliance. 

Visit the bookstore and vote to see who will get a pie in the face for this great cause.  See posters all over campus and vote for your favorite person.

Group photo at noon in the Christie Lobby.

To learn more about early detection click here.

Closing early today

The NMCC Campus will close today,Monday, February 14, at 1:00 p.m. All Afternoon and Evening Classes are canceled, including Husson University Classes at NMCC.

Ebsco Scientific & Medical Images Database

Looking for scientific and medical images?  See our new Ebsco SMART imagebase.

SMART imagebase scientific and medical art will help you locate the images you need for your papers and presentations.

Try it out and give us your feedback.

New Database

Just added:  Ebsco Nursing Reference Center

Use it for your searches and let us know how you like it.   Need some help?  Contact a librarian.

Click here or visit the library page.

American Journal of Nursing / Book of the Year Awards 2010

The American Journal of Nursing produces a Book of the Year Awards list in their January issue.   This year they have selected many works to be included in the most valuable texts of 2010.  You can view them here  free online.  There are EPUB and PDF options.

To read the judges' descriptions, click here.

The librarians at NMCC review this list to locate new titles to add to the collection.  NMCC students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to submit their requests for new purchases to the library.

Stop by and see what's new in the nursing section.  We also have ebooks and many online nursing resources.

African American Read In February 11th @ noon

Take part in the African American Read-In on Friday, February 11, 2011 at noon in the library.  The program is informal.  You select a work (or section of a work if very long) to read aloud with fellow participants. The choice is yours: poetry, fiction, non-fiction, diary, etc.  Must be by an African American author.

Read your selection and tell the group why you selected it.

Want some help locating a selection?  Visit the library and see the display of works by African American authors.

If you would like to participate, contact NMCC instructor Jennifer Graham.   Prefer to sit in the audience and listen?  That's fine too.   Come and join us on Friday, February 11th at noon in the library.

Common Read for Spring Semester

Our common read for March is Choosing Civility.  We will have books available at the circ desk. Participants will read the book and then we'll meet in March (time/date to be announced) for a book discussion.

It is a wonderful book and raises some excellent issues and items for discussion.  What is civility? How would you define it?  What does it mean to be civil?   How can we improve how we interact with people in the world? Wouldn't it be a nicer world if we all practiced a bit more civility, understanding and showed respect for our fellow humans.

So, start reading and join us in March.  It's a guaranteed good read and we will all take away something useful.

Library Research Prize Awarded

The library sponsored the first research prize competition in the Fall 2010 semester.  Students were encouraged to submit their research papers (written for a course in Fall 2010) to be judged for this award.  Many wonderful papers were submitted and several judges were involved in the review process.  Special thanks to all students who submitted their work.  The prize is meant to encourage students to think about information literacy, research skills, and proper citation style.

Pam Dooner, NMCC Student and
Gail Roy, Assistant Dean of Learning Resources

Pam Dooner is the recipient of the Library Research Prize for her paper entitled, “Synesthesia: A colorful condition."

Pam is a first year liberal studies major at NMCC.  Pam selected her topic because she always had an interest in neurological disorders and synesthesia was of particular interest.  She is a student in Jennifer Graham’s English composition course.   Pam received a $100 gift certificate to the college bookstore.

She started her research with a Google search and read a Wikipedia article to obtain an overview of the topic.  She realized that she then needed to include scholarly works and to seriously evaluate her information sources.  She used a variety of library resources to seek out peer-reviewed literature and included books, journal articles, an MP3 lecture series, a movie and online sources in her bibliography.

Congratulations Pam!

Top 10 Reasons to Participate NMCC's African-American Read-In

NMCC English instructor Jen Graham is coordinating the African American Read-In scheduled for Feburary 11th at noon in the library.  Everyone is encouraged to participate.  Please contact Jen for further details and to coordinate readings.  Each participant is asked to select a work by an African American author, read the work (or a portion of it), and then share why they chose the selection. 


The National African American Read-In is an annual event sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English.  Additional information can be found by visiting their site.

Jen has created a list of the Top 10 Reasons to Participate

Top Ten Reasons to Participate In (or Attend!) 

NMCC’s 

2011 African-American Read-In

 

10.  Keep your New Year’s Resolution to overcome your 
       fear of public speaking.

9.    Learn more about America’s history and culture.  
       It’s the right thing to do.

8.    Maybe your picture will appear in Towards Excellence.

7.    Seriously…what else are you doing on Friday at noon?  

6.    You’re paying a lot of money for your college 
        education…enjoy the perks.

5.    It’s going to be fun.  

4.    Gain a cultural edge…to impress potential dates at cocktail parties.

3.    All the cool kids will be there.

2.    Eat free cookies.

1.    Over a million participants can’t be wrong.  
       Make your voice heard and be counted!

Getting Started with Ebooks

Did you get an e-reader as a gift?  Decided to purchase one yourself?  Love ebooks?
Not sure and still thinking about it?  Wondering which device to purchase?
Here is a helpful chart:

Getting Started with Ebooks:  A Beginner's Guide

Look for ebooks on our library page 

We offer ebooks via Maine Info Net and Ebrary.

Choosing Civility / Common Read Scheduled for March

This semester our common read will be Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct by Dr. P.M. Forni.


This book was written in 2002 and it is highly appropriate today.  Let's join as one campus to read this book and discuss what it means to be civil in our world today.  Civility does matter and Dr. Forni presents many issues and ideas that will make this work beneficial to us all.

Visit his website to learn more about the book and the project.

The exact date, location, and time will be announced soon.   The library will have copies available.   All are welcome to join us.

Maine Libraries Snapshot Day

Do you value the libraries you use everyday?  See some great statistics and photos from the annual Maine Libraries Snapshot Day.

Thanks to the Maine State Library and all libraries in the state for submitting statistics and photos and producing this beautiful report!

Search Tips for Google

Even if you think you are a great searcher, it always helps to take a look at the tips and tricks provider by the company providing content.  If you are using databases, take a look at the help files.  If you search Google all the time, then take a look at the helpful tips and hints from Google.

Here are a few to get you started:



Explore Google Search (Videos)

Google Help Center and things you look for every day.

Google Search Basics

Google Search Results Page

Checking your library account

If you want to view your library account, click here.

Enter your name and the 14 digit number on the front of your student ID.

Did you know that you can also request materials via inter-library loan through our catalog?

If you do not locate what you need, contact a librarian or stop by the front desk.

College Anniversary Celebration A Success

If you were at the party, we know you had a great time.  Good food, music, events and lots of laughter.


Here are a few pictures for those who could not attend. 

Let's Celebrate! January 12th

There is still time to dress up and participate in the kick off celebration for the college's 50th Anniversary.

From a recent press release:


Hoola hoops and poodle skirts, the “Hand Jive” and “Mashed Potato,” diner fare and malted milk shakes were the sights, sounds and tastes of the early 1960’s, but on January 12, they’ll make a comeback at Northern Maine Community College as the campus officially kicks-off its 50th Anniversary by going retro. The community is invited to join the students, faculty and staff at NMCC for a 60’s “sock hop”celebration complete with a D.J. spinning Rock ‘n Roll hits from the era and the NMCC Diner serving up free burger and hot dog baskets with a soda fountain counter featuring milk shakes and ice cream sundaes. Festivities will kick-off at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 12, in the College Gymnasium and run through the noon hour, concluding in the early  afternoon.

Join us!   Guaranteed to be a good time for everyone.

Group study rooms to reserve

It's the beginning of a new semester and we hope you drop by the library to relax, study, and refresh.

Did you know that the library has two group study rooms that can be reserved in advance?  The room in the front of the library seats 6-8 people and the room in the back of the library holds 10-12.

Rooms can be reserved at the circulation desk.  If you need a comfortable place to study, this is it.  Give it a try this semester.

If all our study rooms are full, drop by the Academic Success Center and see if their study room is available.

Photos from the College Archives

As part of the upcoming 50th anniversary celebration for the college, we have been going through boxes of old photos and we are trying to identify people and places.  Throughout the semester, we'll be posting photos online and asking for help in accurate identification.  Even if you can't help identify them, they are fun to see.

Here are a few selected at radom:

The Best Part of Reading

I'd like to play a video game based on one's reading ability and comprehension skills.  Something fast paced and challenging where your moves are based on words flashing across the screen at lightning speed. If you can read and understand everything quickly, you'll make the right moves that will win the game. Then again, it may be too stressful and unlike the actual act of reading that is calming, relaxing and at times even meditative.

I just finished reading The Lost Art of Reading: Why books matter in a distracted time by David L. Ulin.  You can easily finish the book in one sitting.  It's only 151 small pages and I'll bet you could even read it while distracted. The book is a pleasure to read and the author raises many great thoughts about reading in today's world.

The library has a copy of the book.  If you are an avid reader, it's a guaranteed like.  If you wish you were a reader, you'll find it interesting.  If you never read, just wait for the movie.

What is the best part of reading?  It's different for each of us.  Perhaps finishing a book you really enjoyed, selecting the next book to read, sharing books with others, or loading books on your reader.

With the beginning of a new semester, I'd like to wish everyone some quiet time to read, relax, and reflect.

Happy New Year!