News galore!

In this issue, lots of news bytes! 1) new library location now open! 2) AskTheBRAIN extends hours until 10pm! 3) CBCA online database now easier to use! 4) online reference databases for you to try out!

1) New library location now open…the e-Library, where it’s @
The e-Library in the new IT Centre at Fennell is now open! This newest library location features fifty computer work stations, a fireplace to warm you, a cafe to wake you, a waterfall to relax you and library help from 10am until 9pm Monday through Thursday and 10am until 4:30pm on Fridays (to inspire you!). More info and photos (click the thumbnails to enlarge photos.)

2) The AskTheBRAIN live reference service extends hours until 10pm
Now you can get online help in real time from library staff until 10 o’clock at night! The online service that lets you ask questions using chat software while library staff demonstrate searches and push web pages and documents to you through your browser, is now available from 10am – 10pm Monday through Thursday and 10am until 5pm on Friday. Stuck on a research query late at night? Log on and get help! Select the AskTheBRAIN link from the left side of the BRAIN to access.

3) CBCA (Canadian Business and Current Affairs) database now easier to use!
The CBCA database, which indexes thousands of Canadian news and trade magazines, journals, transcripts and newspapers is now available in a new, easy-to-use interface. Access popular titles such as Canadian Business, Canadian Art, Maclean’s, transcripts of The National, Canada AM, and more. Some publications have a 10 year or more backfile. The same great database, in a much more user-friendly package! Access this database by selecting “CBCA” from the BRAIN’s Databases page.

4) Online reference databases for you to try out!
The Library is always on the look-out for great new resources for your research! Check out three online databases that we are currently investigating and let us know what you think! Xrefer Plus is a superb collection of encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri, books of quotations as well as subject-based titles…an excellent aid to research! ITPRO Business and Finance contains recently published ebooks in the, you guessed it…business and finance subject areas. New books are added weekly to this database. CPI.Q. stands for Canadian Periodical Index Quarterly and contains a vast collection of mainly Canadian magazines, journals and reference books. You’ll need a password to access ITPRO and CPI.Q. so just ask your friendly neighbourhood Mohawk library staff member if you are interested in trying these. (No password needed for Xrefer Plus.) Have some feedback? Please…drop us a line! To access these databases, scroll down to the bottom of the list of databases on the Databases web page.

Alerts, alerts and more alerts!

In this issue: 1) how to set up an alert in the ebook database ITPRO and 2) how to set up free alerts from a variety of news sources and publishers.

Is one of your new year’s resolutions “to keep up with the latest news and information and be the first-to-know”? Well then, we can help! A few months back we discussed how to set up an email alert in EBSCOhost. This handy feature lets you know when a new article is published in your area of interest by sending you a brief email. Simply specify your area of interest, your email address, how often you�d like to receive an alert and you could be the first to hear when a groundbreaking research article is published! Alerts are not only a great way to keep up with new research developments but also allow you to manage that ever present �information overload�. (And certainly they give you great fodder for conversations around the water cooler!) Here is information about other alert services available @ The BRAIN and on the web:

1) Did you know that you can be alerted about new books added to ITPRO?
ITPRO is a database that contains hundreds of online books in the areas of information technology, business, and e-commerce. Recently published books on cutting edge technologies are added weekly. Access ITPRO from the Library’s Databases web page.
Here�s how to set up an alert so that you can keep abreast of new titles added to ITPRO each week:
1. First, you�ll need to log in to ITPRO. If you haven�t already created a login, it�s easy! The login is your own personal login; it does not have to be your staff number. Select the �Login� button from the top bar to create your login.

2. After logging in, select the �Account Info� button.

3. Select the �Preferences� link from the left side bar.

4. Your personal information will display and below that you will see many options for email notifications. You can be alerted about all new books, only new books like those on your bookshelf, receive newsletters and more. Select the radio buttons that apply and then select the �Update� button (located at the bottom of the screen.)

5. Once set up, you�ll receive a weekly email message notifying you of new ebooks added to ITPRO.

Please note: ITPRO is one of the many licensed databases to which the Library subscribes. This means that access is limited to the Mohawk community only�if you log in from off campus you will be asked to enter your login. This �remote access� login (different from the ITPRO login described above) is your student or staff number. The system asks for 14 digits so precede your student or staff number with the requisite number of zeros to add to fourteen. You won�t need to log in if accessing the database from within the college. More information about logging in remotely.

2) More Alerts�
Many news web sites offer free email alerts containing the latest newsbreaks. For example, the CBC web site sends an email whenever a major national or international story breaks. Visit: http://www.cbc.ca/alerts/ to register and for more details. Similarly, The Globe and Mail offers free daily, weekly and monthly alerts on a variety of subjects such as technology, sports and books. Check it out at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/newsletter/ The popular news service CNN also offers alerts that are extremely customizable. You can specify keywords and each time a story is published that mentions the keywords, you will be alerted. You can also specify how often you would like to receive the alerts. One word of warning though� the registration process is very extensive. For more details, visit: http://www.cnn.com/youralerts/

Many textbook and academic journal publishers offer alerts as well. A comprehensive list of alert services from major book and periodical publishers is available at:
http://www.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/information/publisher.htm
This list was compiled by the librarians at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and lists alert services from a wide range of publishers and online bookstores, many of which are free. Check it out if you�d like to keep up to date with the latest publications in your field.