New Research Guide for the national health care debate

Check out the Muntz Library’s new Research Guide on Health Care Reform & Management. With links to statistics, surveys, policies, books, databases, news, etc., it is a great place to start as a point of reference for a research assignment, or to satisfy your personal curiosity about the national debate.

The library offers 51 Research Guides on all subjects—all created by librarians. If you have an assignment for class but are unsure where to start, use one of these guides. Each guide also has a chat widget on the right side of the screen, in which you can ask for help from a librarian. Don’t be shy about asking chatting with us; we like to help and answer questions.

To view all guides, click “Research Guides” from the library’s homepage (http://library.uttyler.edu). Browse by subject with the links on the left of the page, or click “Browse All 51 Guides (A-Z).” Here’s a direct link to the full list of Research Guides.

Also of note, especially for end-of-semester projects and papers, our Citation Guide contains helpful links and information on how to cite sources in APA, MLA, Chicago, and other styles. If you ever have a question about how to cite something, just ask a librarian (email: library@uttyler.edu; phone: 903-566-7343; chat with a librarian from the UT System; or use the Research Guides to access the librarians’ Meebo chat widgets).

Reference Book Update: The United States Government Manual

We featured The United States Government Manual (link to the online edition at GPO Access) as a Reference Book of the Week back in 2008 at this post. If you read the earlier post, you can get a description of this excellent resource, and how it can be useful in getting to know the structure of the federal government. Well, the manual has been updated once again:

• For access to a print version, the Muntz Library has a copy of the 2008-2009 edition. You can find it in the library’s ready reference collection (the small shelves behind the reference desk). It is under the call number JK 421 .A3 2008-2009.
• The federal government has recently released the 2009-2010 edition. You can find a free copy online at GPO Access. The direct link to this edition is here. You can access previous editions at the link provided above.

Reference Book of the Week: United States History: A Multicultural, Interdisciplinary Guide to Information Sources

We wrap up our July theme of celebrating American Independence with a feature for researchers on United States History. This week we are featuring United States History: A Multicultural, Interdisciplinary Guide to Information Sources by Anna H. Perrault and Ron Blazek as our Reference Book of the Week. This is a tool that librarians often use; I am recommending it to our students and researchers as well. I think students will find it specially useful. This second edition has been expanded, and it now features sources on diverse topics such as the Asian experience, religion, science and technology, and popular culture. This is in addition to what readers already expect in a guide like this. It is a great guide to resources in topics like politics and government, economic history, and military history. In addition to reference books and print sources, the expanded coverage in this edition also includes online databases, Websites, CD-ROM titles and even microform items. There are some older standard works, but most of the coverage emphasizes resources with publication dates from the 1980s to 2002.

The guide features 1,250 major entries. It is divided in two parts. First, there is an introductory section for general sources. The second part then covers specific topics in United State History. You get bibliographical information for the items listed as well as a very good annotation that not only tells you what the book or material is about, but it also considers the audience for a particular work and gives small hints on how the particular work is useful, say as a supplement to another work or topic.

The way to make a resource like this work is find the items you are interested in. For most materials, you can then look them up in the library catalog to see if the library owns them. If not, you can do an Interlibrary Loan request. For instance, you could use this book to help you find other good books on Civil War maps or on Native Americans and civil rights. To help readers further, the book also features an “Author/Title Index” and a “Subject Index” in the back. The book is published by Libraries Unlimited, which is known for its subject guide books. If you need a good place to learn more about United States Independence or any other U.S. topic, this is a very good place to start.

This book is located in the library’s Reference Section in the second floor. The call number is E 178 .P45 2003.

Reference Book of the Week: The Encyclopedia of the American Revolutionary War

Welcome to another edition of Reference Book of the Week here at The Patriot Spot. Following the July theme of  celebrating America’s independence, we are featuring a great work on the topic: The Encyclopedia of the American Revolutionary War: A Political, Social, and Military History. This five-volume set is a standard work for learning about the American Revolution.

The work features over 1,000 signed entries arranged in alphabetical order. Each entry includes a small list of references for further reading as well as cross-references to other terms in the work. Entries are written by scholars from a variety of disciplines. The work also features illustrations and maps. You can learn about prominent persons, key battles and events, cultural and political developments of the time. The fifth volume in the set is a compilation of primary source documents from the era. This last volume makes a very good complement to the rest of the work. Not only can you read essays about the various events, people, places, and so on, but you can also read some of the writings of the time.

The work overall covers the time span from the end of the French and Indian War to George Washington becoming the first President of the United States. Unlike other narrower works, this encyclopedia looks at the War of American Independence from a wide perspective considering not just the war itself but the political and social issues as well. You can find this excellent work in the library’s Reference Collection in the second floor. The call number is E 208 .E64 2006.

Reference Book of the Week: Milestone Documents in American History

I would like to start by reminding our local readers to visit our library display, “Celebrating American Independence,” in the library’s third floor. It will be available until the end of the month. To go with the theme, we have chosen an excellent collection of documents from American history. This week we are featuring Milestone Documents of American History.

This four volume set contains a collection of significant documents in American history from the Revolutionary Era to the twenty-first century. For example, you can read items ranging from Patrick Henry’s “Liberty or Death” speech to the Bybee Torture Memo. The four volumes are organized in chronological order (1763-1823; 1824-1887; 1888-1955; 1956-2003).  One thing I like about reference works like this one is that you can find various items in one place. This allows you to compare documents as well as see how certain lines of thought progressed over time. These documents cover issues such as politics, economics, science, gender equality, and religious freedom.

This resource has more than just the text of historical documents. The work also includes various features that are useful for students and educators. Some of those features are:

• An overview gives you a quick summary of the document and why it is important.
• The context places it in its historical time.
• You get a note about the document’s author.
• A time line of key events related to the document.
• An explanation and analysis of the document.
• An audience note discusses the audience of the time. Who was this document addressing?
• The impact note tells us the historical influence, or why we still read it now.
• a references list for further reading.

In conclusion, this may be the best reason to look at this work: “understanding these historical documents and their context will prepare students to better appreciate the complexities of the twenty-first century” (from the Introduction, xv). In this month when the United States celebrates its birthday as a nation, what better way to celebrate than to look at the documents that shaped the nation? This is an excellent tool to go back and read the words that have empowered the nation (like Cesar Chavez’s Commonwealth Address), the words that have moved so many people (say JFK’s Inaugural Address), the words that at times were shameful (for example, the Chinese Exclusion Act). It is also a great tool for students studying rhetoric, history, and communications. And while some readers may argue why some other primary document was not included, the book serves as a very good starting point.

The set can be found in the library’s Reference Collection in the second floor. The call number is E173 .M62 2008.

Reference Book of the Week: Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in America

Welcome to another edition of Reference Book of the Week. We continue honoring LGBT Pride Month with another selection from our reference collection. This week we are featuring the three volume set Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in America. This excellent work covers more than 500 entries and looks at more than 400 years of historical developments. LGBT history and culture are dynamic. The scholarship in this reference book reflects how thinking on LGBT issues, nature, identities, culture, and history has changed over time. The work focuses on the United States, including the colonial era. There are other works that focus on the rest of the world; this one provides more in-depth focus on the United States. Some of the subjects covered include people, politics, arts, academic disciplines, identities, communities and cultures, geography, law and public policy, civil rights, economics and labor, sex and sexuality, religion and spirituality.

The encyclopedia is designed for the general reader as well as the scholar wishing to start research on LGBT topics in the U.S. You can find a list of entry terms in the first volume. The first volume also features a chronology of events with cross-references to entries in the work. Entries are organized alphabetically, and they include bibliographical references as well as suggested terms for further research. This is a useful feature for readers who wish to do further research on a particular topic. Bibliographical reference can give you other works to consider while the suggested terms (labeled as “see also”) can give you terms you can use on a database as well as look up in the encyclopedia. At the end of the third volume, there is a directory of LGBT libraries and archives in the United States and Canada. There is also a comprehensive index at the end of the third volume and a directory of contributors.

The reviews have been positive on this work. In 2004, Booklist said of this reference work that it is “an exceptional work that should be useful for academic and public libraries. General readers, students, researchers, and members of the LGBT communities alike will find this to be a most welcome resource.” Library Journal said that “this invaluable work isn’t just a fascinating read; it goes a long way toward alleviating the dearth of basic resources in the burgeoning field of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender studies.”

Thus we have chosen the Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in America as our Reference Book of the Week.

Reference Book of the Week: The Dictionary of Homophobia

Welcome to this week’s edition of Reference Book of the Week at The Patriot Spot. June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month. Let me take a moment to remind readers to please visit our display in the library, which can be viewed throughout the month of June in the third floor.

In honor of the observance, we are featuring a work of LGBT History. Our reference book this week is The Dictionary of Homophobia: A Global History of Gay and Lesbian Experience by Louis-Georges Tin. Professor Tin has published several books on sexuality and works at the University of Orleans in France. Professor Tin is also an activist recognized for his work by several humanitarian awards.

Originally published in France in 2003 as Dictionnaire de l’homophobie, this work is now available in an English translation. The original edition, though in French, received excellent reviews from various countries including Japan, Italy, Brazil and the United States. In fact, in 2003, the Lambda Book Report in its April 2003 issue reviewed the French edition, reaching the following conclusion: “But the book’s international scope and acuity make it an invaluable addition to the bookshelf of every reader of French, until some smart American press decides to have it translated.” Well, actually, Marek Redburn, a resident of Montreal completed the translation in 2008, which was published by Canadian publishing house Arsenal Pulp Press.

The Dictionary of Homophobia is the result of “the work of seventy-six esteemed researchers in fifteen countries, the goal of which was to document the social, political, medical, legal, and criminal treatment of homosexuals throughout history to present-day” (from the Publisher’s Note). The volume includes over 160 entries covering various aspects of gay rights and homophobia. While the book was originally published in French, it does provide excellent coverage of LGBT issues around the world. I do mention the French origin because some of the essays in the book do have a specific focus on French persons, events, and circumstances. The book is designed to provide an overview of the problematics associated with homophobia.

Articles in the book are arranged in alphabetical order, and they fall within these broad categories. Here are some examples of topics:

• Theory: communism, feminism, multiculturalism, otherness.
• History: Ancient Greece, ghetto.
• Countries and regions: the Balkans, Japan, Portugal, North America (including the United States).
• Environments and institutions: workplace, family, marriage, military.
• Rhetorical themes: rhetoric, censorship.

This is a very accessible work with features that are useful to readers. For instance, all entries include keywords at the end. Keywords can be useful because they provide ideas for further research on a topic. You could read an article in this book, make a note of some keywords, then type them into a research database to find further information on your topic. In addition, when you see a word in bold in an article, it means that word or concept has its own entry in the dictionary.

I will end quoting from the review I linked above, “leave it to the French to offer us some timely information about homophobia — what it is, where it comes from and how to think about it.” That, in essence, is that what this book does: it looks at the experience of homophobia around the world and provides a tool of education and research.

ATTENTION: Off Campus Access to Library Resources has CHANGED

Effective this Summer I semester, the Library will be migrating the remote, OFF CAMPUS login to our databases to the Patriot Account Login.  This is the same account that is utilized for the new Blackboard version 8, POPS, Patriot Air, Patriot Email (students), Patriot Webspace, the computers in the Campus Computing Center in BUS101, the Library,  the Communications Lab, the Technology Lab, the Nursing Lab, and the Engineering Labs.

In addition to providing a uniform means of authentication across these numerous services, this change will allow the Library to more promptly provide access for our faculty, staff and students to our databases at the start of each semester.

We apologize in advance for any inconveniences this change may cause.

Every student, faculty member and staff member has been provided a Patriot Account.  Your Patriot Account can be activated from either the Blackboard link (http://ccs.uttyler.edu/blackboard/) or the student email link (http://ccs.uttyler.edu/email/) found at the bottom of the UT Tyler homepage.

Additional assistance is available from the Campus Computing Center located in BUS101 or via email at itsupport@patriots.uttyler.edu.

Some information on car dealer closings

There has been a lot of coverage in the news about the bankruptcies of major American automakers. One of the issues is auto dealers losing their franchise from GM or Chrysler as the two big auto companies attempt to restructure. The corporate websites do have some information on the companies’ plans to restructure. Here are some additional pieces of information about the auto dealerships which may be of interest.

• The official website of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). According to the website, NADA was “founded in 1917, represents more than 19,700 new car and truck dealers, both domestic and international, with more than 43,000 separate franchises.” NADA provides lobbying for the automobile dealer industry as well as research for the industry and various programs for dealers. They do offer membership for auto dealers, but the site does have a good wealth of information free to the public.
• Intellichoice offers a small article on “How does a dealership work?” The article provides a small overview of how exactly does an auto dealership work from the moment you enter the lot to how dealer financing works. You get a simple explanation of what each department in a dealership does. This comes from the Intellichoice website, which is a consumer resource for researching cars. If you are considering a car purchase, you can research a vehicle on this site. The site also features articles on topics related to car buying such as a survey of hybrid vehicles and information on car financing and insurance.
• The Atlanta Journal-Constitution featured an article recently with a good Q&A on why the car companies need to cut ties with dealerships. The article’s title is “Meltdown 101: Why GM, Chrysler Want Fewer Dealers” by Bree Fowler. Note that newspaper links to specific articles can expire. If you try the link, and it does not work, let us know. We can often get the article from one of our electronic databases.
• And if you are buying a car, but you are worried that your dealership may be closing, Consumer Reports has some advice. The post’s title is “What you need to know about car dealership closures.” Unlike the newspaper article above, this article deals with what the consumer needs to keep in mind when buying a car (or getting service for a car) from a dealership. Consumer Reports also has a fairly comprehensive section on their website with good information on the “Chrysler and GM Restructuring: How it affects you.” There are some very good FAQ’s here for the public. Overall, although the Consumer Reports magazine is not freely available in the website, the website still has a lot of free information for the public.

These are just some places to get you started if you want to learn more about this issue. As always, if you have any additional questions, feel free to visit our library or visit the library’s website. You can also contact the library reference desk at 903-566-7343 or via e-mail at library AT uttyler DOT edu (just replace with the appropriate symbols).

Reference Book of the Week: Black’s Law Dictionary

This week we are featuring a legal resource. Black’s Law Dictionary is the premier dictionary for legal terms and definitions. This is the one lawyers turn to when they need a definition, and it should be the one you turn to when you need a legal term defined. First published in 1891, the dictionary’s purpose is “to marshal legal terms to the fullest possible extent and to define them accurately” (ix). The dictionary is now in its eighth edition.

Organized alphabetically, it includes not only definitions but also relevant quotations and cross-references. In addition, the dictionary provides a set of appendices on topics such as legal abbreviations, legal maxims, and a bibliography. So whether you are doing legal research or just need a legal term defined, you can turn to Black’s Law Dictionary. Our copy is shelved in the ready reference shelves (the ones right behind the reference desk) under call number KF 156 .B53 2004.