PolyThinkers Pad http://www.poly.edu/library/blog fueling polythinking with library news, tips and more Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:57:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 en Finding journals and articles just got easier! http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/02/01/finding-journals-and-articles-just-got-easier/ http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/02/01/finding-journals-and-articles-just-got-easier/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:57:41 +0000 Ingrid http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/02/01/finding-journals-and-articles-just-got-easier/ The Dibner Library has online access to thousands of journals, but sometimes it can be challenging to figure out which ones we have.  Until now…

Say hello to SFX! SFX is a tool that helps you find out which databases a particular journal is in and links you to the full text of an article if available.

Finding Journals

You can now look for specific journals right from the Dibner Library home page.  Simply click on the journals tab on the search box and enter all or part of the journal name underneath “Search by Title.”  You can also browse by journal name by clicking one of the letters in the alphabet.

journal-search

If you have a complete citation for an article, you can fill in more details on the Journals and Articles page.

Finding Full Text

Sometimes the database you are searching may only have a citation to an article you are interested in.  SFX will provide a link from that citation to the full text of the article if it is available in another database.

How does SFX work?  After conducting a search in an SFX enabled database (such as EBSCOhost shown below),  you will normally see a button next to the citation that looks like this: poly-sfx.

sfx

Clicking on this button will open a new window, presenting a SFX menu.  All services the library provides for this particular citation will be listed on the menu, like in the example below:

sfxmenu

Please note, we are still in the process of configuring SFX so you will see links to check BobCat (rather than PolyCat) and you may have to sign in using your NYU NetID to proceed to the full text article. Also, not all our databases are currently set up to work with SFX.

If you encounter any problems or have any questions, read the SFX Frequently Asked Questions or Ask a Librarian.  We appreciate your patience as we continue to configure SFX.

]]> http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/02/01/finding-journals-and-articles-just-got-easier/feed/ Twitter: Time waster or useful tool? http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/28/twitter-time-waster-or-useful-tool/ http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/28/twitter-time-waster-or-useful-tool/#comments Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:22:40 +0000 Ingrid technologyweb resources http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/28/twitter-time-waster-or-useful-tool/ twitterWhen someone asks you if you tweet, you probably know by now they aren’t interested in your bird calling abilities (in case you’ve had your nose in the books the past few years, here is an Introduction to Twitter).

Twitter is often ridiculed for being a useless time suck (do I really need to know that my friend is having coffee right now?), but people are coming up with more and more creative and practical uses of the micro-blogging tool.  Here are just a few of the interesting ways twitter is being used to:

If these examples have piqued your interest, check out this Guide to Getting the Most out of Twitter.  And for more ideas on who to follow, try this directory of Tech and Science Twitterers or the Shorty Awards (the Oscars of Twitter).

]]> http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/28/twitter-time-waster-or-useful-tool/feed/ Library Tips for a Successful New Year http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/19/library-tips-for-a-successful-new-year/ http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/19/library-tips-for-a-successful-new-year/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:10:37 +0000 Ingrid http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/19/library-tips-for-a-successful-new-year/ Spring semester has begun and the library is back on its regular schedule: 9 am - 11 pm on weekdays, 10 am - 9 pm on the weekend (see Library Calendar).

bookpile.jpg

Library Skills = Foundation of Academic Success

Start the new year off right by brushing up on your library skills.  Knowing how to use the library’s resources effectively will help you succeed at NYU-Poly. If you are a new student, or need to refresh your memory, begin with Getting Started at Dibner Library. This Guide will tell you how to:

If you cant’ find what you need in our collections, you can request the item from another library. Have questions? Check our Frequently Asked Questions or Ask a Librarian!

]]> http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/19/library-tips-for-a-successful-new-year/feed/ Last Decade’s Most-Cited Papers from the Top 20 Countries http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/13/last-decades-most-cited-papers-from-the-top-20-countries/ http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/13/last-decades-most-cited-papers-from-the-top-20-countries/#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:22:43 +0000 Ingrid http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/13/last-decades-most-cited-papers-from-the-top-20-countries/ This month, ScienceWatch.com released a list of the highest-cited papers from each of the top 20 publishing countries.  The countries listed represent the top 20 countries that  achieved particular distinction based on their papers published in Thomson Reuters-indexed journals from January 1999 through August 31, 2009 in 22 fields of science.

Want to check out the most highly cited paper of the decade?  You can find it in The New England Journal of Medicine available through ProQuest.  Find more of the most-cited papers in the library’s collection of databases.

]]> http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/13/last-decades-most-cited-papers-from-the-top-20-countries/feed/ Secret Science Club features NYU Computer Scientist with the Moves http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/11/secret-science-club-features-nyu-computer-scientist-with-the-moves/ http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/11/secret-science-club-features-nyu-computer-scientist-with-the-moves/#comments Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:50:22 +0000 Ingrid computer science http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/11/secret-science-club-features-nyu-computer-scientist-with-the-moves/ Computer scientist Christoph Bregler of NYU’s Courant Institute will be speaking tomorrow, January 12,  about designing systems to track human movement and train computers to recognize and animate unique body signatures. The lecture is part of the Secret Science Club Series hosted by the Bell House at 149 7th Street, Brooklyn (note you must be 21 or over to enter).

For more information, visit The Secret Science Club.

Find out about more science and tech happenings in the city on this previous post.

]]> http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/11/secret-science-club-features-nyu-computer-scientist-with-the-moves/feed/ Top Ten Technologies in 2010 http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/08/top-ten-technologies-in-2010/ http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/08/top-ten-technologies-in-2010/#comments Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:34:57 +0000 Ingrid computer scienceelectrical-computer engtechnology http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/08/top-ten-technologies-in-2010/ Happy new year and welcome back!

TechCrunch has put together a list of Ten Technologies that Will Rock 2010:

  1. The Tablet
  2. Geo
  3. Realtime Search
  4. Chrome OS
  5. HTML5
  6. Mobile Video
  7. Augmented Reality
  8. Mobile Transactions
  9. Android
  10. Social CRM

Read the post to find out more.

Also, be on the look out for some cool new tech from the Dibner Library, including SFX, a tool that links you to full text articles (coming soon!) and a mobile friendly version of the library web site.

]]> http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2010/01/08/top-ten-technologies-in-2010/feed/ Winter Break Library Hours http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2009/12/22/winter-break-library-hours/ http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2009/12/22/winter-break-library-hours/#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:26:25 +0000 Ingrid http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2009/12/22/winter-break-library-hours/ The library’s extended hours schedule will be coming to an end tomorrow, Wednesday, December 23, when the library closes at 10 pm.  Our schedule over the winter break is as follows:

December 24 - January 3 CLOSED
January 4 - January 17 Monday - Friday, 9 am - 6 pm
Saturday & Sunday, noon - 8 pm
Monday, January 18 CLOSED

snowman

Regular Spring Semester hours will begin Tuesday, January 19.

Happy holidays from everyone here at the Dibner Library and enjoy your much deserved winter break!

]]> http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2009/12/22/winter-break-library-hours/feed/ We have a winner! Thank you to all who filled out our survey http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2009/12/18/we-have-a-winner-thank-you-to-all-who-filled-out-our-survey/ http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2009/12/18/we-have-a-winner-thank-you-to-all-who-filled-out-our-survey/#comments Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:46:55 +0000 Ingrid http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2009/12/18/we-have-a-winner-thank-you-to-all-who-filled-out-our-survey/ Last month we conducted an online survey to get your feedback on the new library web site.  We were pleased to see a lot of positive feedback and useful critiques as well.  You can look forward to seeing some improvements in the web site in the near future.

A big thank you to all who took the time to fill out the survey, and congratulations to the lucky winner of the $50 gift certificate to Amazon.com: Yanqing Wang, a first year electrical engineering graduate student.

student winner

]]> http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2009/12/18/we-have-a-winner-thank-you-to-all-who-filled-out-our-survey/feed/ It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year… http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2009/12/11/its-the-most-wonderful-time-of-the-year/ http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2009/12/11/its-the-most-wonderful-time-of-the-year/#comments Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:50:42 +0000 Ingrid http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2009/12/11/its-the-most-wonderful-time-of-the-year/ Yes, it’s Final Exam time!  And that means the library is now open longer hours:

  • Monday - Friday:        Open 24 hours a day
  • Saturday  & Sunday:  9 AM - Midnight

See the Library Calendar for a complete schedule.

The library gets extremely busy during exams; please read these Tips to Survive Finals in order to provide an ideal environment for everyone.  For more useful advice, read Study Tips to Help you Ace Exams.

Good Luck on your exams and don’t forget to squeeze in some time to enjoy the holidays!

]]> http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2009/12/11/its-the-most-wonderful-time-of-the-year/feed/ A Plethora of Patents available on PatSnap http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2009/12/09/a-plethora-of-patents-available-on-patsnap/ http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2009/12/09/a-plethora-of-patents-available-on-patsnap/#comments Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:34:36 +0000 Ingrid databasesresearch http://www.poly.edu/library/blog/2009/12/09/a-plethora-of-patents-available-on-patsnap/ PatSnap is a new patents search platform created by a startup from MIT.  It makes searching, managing, and analyzing patents, well, a snap.  You can refine your searches by concept, inventor, or where it was issued. PatSnap also makes it easy to view patents bibliography information, legal status, and other information side by side with the actual patent.

So here’s the catch, right now you can access PatSnap on a trial basis by signing up for a free trial account at: http://www.patsnap.com/signup?type=2. The trial period has been extended for 60 days.  Check it out and find ingenious patents like the kitty treadmill below.  Let us know if you would like the library to consider adding PatSnap to our database collection.

cat patent

As always, you can use the library’s Patents Guide for additional information on patent research.

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