Monday, November 11, 2013

Films on Demand Trial: 11/6/2013 to 11/21/2013


By patron request, we have set up a database trial for Films on Demand. They are an academic streaming video database provider. The trial includes unlimited usage. Interested Sofia community members may contact us for logins at refdesk@sofia.edu
 
Films On Demand: Humanities & Social Sciences Video Collection
Start Date: 11/6/2013
Expiration Date: 11/21/2013
http://digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=36783

Films On Demand: Philosophy & Religion Video Collection
Start Date: 11/6/2013
Expiration Date: 11/21/2013
http://digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=36783

Films On Demand: Psychology Video Collection
Start Date: 11/6/2013
Expiration Date: 11/21/2013
http://digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=36783

Enjoy! We appreciate your feedback about these trials as it helps to give us information about what our patrons find useful and we can possibly plan to subscribe to one or more of these databases in the future.

Creating a Search Journal

Learning about library research is an ongoing and dynamic process. We find that students and faculty often find having a search journal a helpful tool for this process. Using a search journal as a regular reflective process deepens and informs your process. What works? What doesn't?  With each journalling session you can reflect on your research process, weaving together practical discoveries with your own insights and state of mind.

The journal can take any form that works: a small handmade journal for each assigned paper, a binder full of paper, a Word document, or a Google Doc that you open and maintain every time you are online.

We suggest you follow a few helpful tips if you are starting a search journal for the first time:

The most important thing is to journal about what is useful to you. If you make it a natural part of your research, you will find that searching becomes easier.  What is the search process like for you? What are you learning from it? 

Be sure to document both useful keywords and keywords that proved to be deadends. What are their definitions and are they part of the language of a particular field? You may want to create a mindmap of terms you discover so that you can see where there may be patterns or gaps.

Document relevant authors you discover along the way. They may be future peers if this becomes your area of expertise. You can watch who cites these authors for additional good content. 

Track journal titles that address your topic. You can return to these journals when you find you want to keep up with new articles in this area.

Keep a list of databases or websites that yielded the best scholarship. You may want to use them again.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

New Transpersonal Psychology Book Worth Exploring


Some of you may already know about the new book about the field of transpersonal psychology:

The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Transpersonal Psychology

We are so proud that so many of our faculty, alums and students contributed to this scholarly text. We have a print copy on display in the library on the table nearest the Reference Collection. We will attempt to ask all of the authors to sign it, but that may take some time.

We also purchased an e-book copy of the Handbook. This is available in the ebrary e-book collection. This is a multi-user access title, so 3 people can access it at once. Please be patient and try again if you are that 4th person. We will track usage to see if we need to purchase another e-copy.

Questions about this book? Please email us.