Info Lit Tip #1

Boolean Operators

AND  /  OR  /  NOT


Check out the Boolean Machine to see how they work.

Read this ProQuest handout on Boolean operators.

Boolean searching info from Library of Congress.

Boolean operators are used in your searches to narrow (AND), broaden (OR), and refine your search by excluding items (NOT).

Come to one of the library's information literacy workshops to learn more.

See additional examples here.

Banned books in academic libraries

Every year the American Library Association celebrates Banned Books Week to raise awareness of bans and challenges to books. 

Banned Books Week was celebrated this year from September 25th - October 2nd.  Annually libraries offer creative displays, presentations, and new methods to educate about censorship, book challenges, and explain why free societies should have access to all points of view.  Intellectual freedom is a requirement in a free society and allows us all access to a wide variety of available information.  Even when information is unpopular or not within our personal belief system, it is important that we not censor information for others.


View this ALA Chart:  Number of Challenges by Year, Reason, Initiator, & Institution

It is interesting to note that there were only 29 challenges to academic libraries.  Academic institutions encourage diversity of ideas and exposure to many perspectives and points of view. 

View ALA's Frequently Challenged Books of the 21st Century

The issue of intellectual freedom and access to information will always be one that is discussed, reviewed, and challenged at times.  Every library has a policy to deal with challenged materials.  Every patron has a right to make their objections known.  Every reader in our society has a right to the information they want or need. 
Libraries make it possible to uphold the ideals of intellectual freedom and to provide access to information without the filter of censorship. 

One particularly interesting case is that of the Pernkopf Anatomy Atlas and medical libraries.  You can read an article about this here.

Careers in Wind Energy

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics Green Jobs section information on careers in wind energy:

Read more here.

Using Google Wonder Wheel

Using Google Wonder Wheel

Step by Step Procedure

Google

We all search Google every day. Most everyone thinks they are experts at searching.   Test your knowledge and abilities by reviewing some of the information posted below.   Here are some links where you might learn something new about Google.  If any of this information is new to you, then share it with a friend.    Better yet, come to one of the information literacy workshops in the library this semester and learn more about searching.

Google Guide


Google Search Basics


Google WonderWheel






Do you have a favorite Google tip to share?  Post it here.

Finding Information on genetic diseases

For the students in Greg Thompson's Biology 114 class.  This will get you started on your research for genetic diseases/disorders. 

Medline Plus Genetics Disorder Page

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/geneticdisorders.html

NORD National Organization for Rare Diseases

http://www.rarediseases.org/

Center for Jewish Genetic Diseases Mt. Sinai Hospital

http://www.mssm.edu/jewish_genetics/

American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy

http://www.asgt.org/

Gene Tests University of Washington

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/GeneTests/?db=GeneTests

National Human Research Genome Institute

http://www.genome.gov/

Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) Family Support Group

http://www.msud-support.org/

National Newborn Screening and Genetics Center

http://genes-r-us.uthscsa.edu/

National Urea  Cycles Disorder  Foundation

http://www.nucdf.org/

Save Babies Through Screening Foundation

http://www.savebabies.org/

American Society of Human Genetics

http://www.ashg.org/

Genetic Alliance

http://www.geneticalliance.org/

March of Dimes Birth Defects

http://www.marchofdimes.com/

National Society of Genetic Counselors

http://www.nsgc.org/

Chicago Center for Jewish Genetic Disorders

http://www.jewishgenetics.org/

Chromosome Disorder Outreach

http://www.chromodisorder.org/CDO/

Madisons Foundation

http://www.madisonsfoundation.org/

Progeria Research Foundation

http://www.progeriaresearch.org/

Alpha 1 Association

http://www.alpha1.org/

Alpha-1 Foundation

http://www.alpha-1foundation.org/

NIH Office of Rare Diseases Research

http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/

National Tay Sachs & Allied Diseases Association, Inc.

http://www.ntsad.org/

NINDS Tay Sachs

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/taysachs/taysachs.htm

NINDS Huntingtons

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/huntington/huntington.htm

Huntingtons Disease society of America

http://www.hdsa.org/

NINDS Pompe Disease  (acid maltase deficiency, glycogen storage disease)

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/pompe/pompe.htm

Association for Glycogen Storage Disease

http://www.agsdus.org/

NLM Genetics Home Reference

http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/

Genetic and Rare conditions Site

http://www.kumc.edu/gec/support/

Genetic Alliance

http://www.geneticalliance.org/

Orphan Net (Rare diseases and orphan drugs)

http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/index.php

Genetic Medicine.org

http://www.searchnut.com/?domain=www.geneticmedicine.org

OMIM Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=OMIM

Genome.gov

http://www.genome.gov/10001204

National Human Genome Research Institute

http://www.genome.gov/10001204

BOOKS
Start with the ebooks collection on the library webpage.

Check the following books in the library and search our online catalog for books on specific genetic disorders.

Genetic Disorders Sourcebook    REF RB 155.5 G455 2000

Merck Manual REF RC 55 M4 2006

Physicians’ Guide to Rare Diseases  REF RC 69 P49 1992

NORD Guide to Rare Disorders (National Organization for Rare Disorders) REF RC 48.8 385 2003

DATABASES

Visit the library webpage and click on the databases link

Click on Stat Ref and enter your search term

You can also search within individual titles such as AAFP Conditions A-Z, Merck Manual, Mayo Clinic Internal Medicine Review, and ACP Pier & AHFS DI Essentials.

Also search within nursing and health databases for the specific disease/condition.

Check out some local blogs

One of our favorites in Northern Maine is Northern Maine Birds.

There are some wonderful photographers who contribute photos to this blog.

If you are stuck inside on a rainy day, this blog will cheer you up.