Today, we honour and remember those who served our country and recognize our troops currently protecting our freedoms. To learn more about our veterans and troops, you may wish to visit the following resources:

Veterans’ Week 2009 Website (from the Canadian Dept of National Defence) & Veterans’ Week 2009:  How Will You Remember?
View videos and photos about our veterans and troops, send letters to the troops and learn about our military history.

Website of National Defence and Canadian Forces
Read news relating to our troops as well as reports regarding our deployments around the world.

Canada At War: A Guide to Library and Archives Canada’s Websites Recalling the Canadian War Experience
From Libraries & Archives Canada, a comprehensive guide to resources on Canada’s war experience. Many primary source documents and photos are included.

Display at Library@IAHS for Remembrance Day

The BRAIN_blog’s back in town! You may remember the BRAIN_blog from its previous incarnation as your source for the latest news from the library and web research world! Well, the BRAIN_blog has returned and features not only the hottest scoop from the Library@Mohawk but also research tips and tricks geared especially toward the Mohawk College student! And now there is more BRAIN_blog than ever – we’ll be pushing all of this newsy goodness at you 2 – 3 times per week! Check back soon – you’ll be glad you did!

Hey Everybody! Just a little note about a contest we’re running for the Spring semester. We invite you to write a review of a book in the Library@Mohawk collection. Fiction reviews are preferred but if you only read non-fiction, that’s no problem, we’ll accept reviews of non-fiction books as well. Check out the reviews written by C.E. students in the Winter Semester for inspiration.

• We’ll accept submissions until Friday, May 23rd.
• Your review should be 500 words or 1 page long.
• Send entries by email to colin.clarke1@mohawkcollege.ca, attach them as Word documents.
• The book you review must be in the Library@Mohawk’s collection. We’ll accept a donation of a book that you’d like to review if we don’t have it in the collection.
• The winner will receive a gift certificate from Bryan Prince and mention in the Spring edition of the Library@Mohawk Book Review. One prize will be granted for fiction and one for non-fiction.

If you have any questions contact:

colin.clarke1@mohawkcollege.ca

or

cynthia.williamson@mohawkcollege.ca

1. Library Survey: March 3^rd to 14^th

It’s that time again…the Library @ Mohawk wants to hear from you! From March 3rd to March 14th, you will be invited to complete the LibQUAL+ User Perception Survey. This is a very long name for an online survey that will only take 8 or 9 minutes of your time.

Don’t be shy – this is a great chance to let us know your opinions so we can make improvements to the Library‘s services and programs. Tell us what you think – the good and the bad (or not so bad) and you will be entered to win some great prizes like an iPod touch. The Library @ Mohawk is your library so make it count.

Check out The BRAIN or for more information on the survey.

2. Canadian Copyright Law Changes

The Government is looking at changes to our copyright law right now and since copyright affects us all, we thought we’d give you some info about what’s going on. The process hasn’t been that transparent so I can tell you more about who has been lobbying the government and what they’re requesting. In particular, the Canadian Library Association has sent some recommendations to the Government. I reprint portions of their letter to the Minister of Industry, Jim Prentice and the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Josée Verner:

“First, should there be new copyright legislation, it needs to be carefully crafted so that it punishes copyright-infringing behaviour but does not ban devices that might be used to circumvent technological prevention measures. These devices have legitimate uses, such as enabling the print disabled to access copyrighted material; allowing libraries to preserve and maintain digital collections; allowing ordinary Canadians to exercise fair dealing; and allowing anyone to access protected material after its copyright expires. To ban the manufacture or distribution of “circumvention” devices risks punishing all Canadians for the actions of a few who abuse copyright….

Second, the government needs to recognize that government documents and government data belong to all Canadians and that all Canadians should have liberal access to these materials. Canadians often pay for government information several times over. For example, provincial and municipal governments must purchase Statistics Canada census material that Canadian taxpayers have already paid for once. Crown copyright needs to ensure that nonprofit use by Canadians of all government information doesn’t require permission or payment from the government. Instead acknowledgment that information has been taken from a government source should be sufficient.

Third, persons with perceptual disabilities must have the same right to access copyrighted materials as all Canadians have. This right should apply regardless of format in order to accommodate their particular needs. Legislation is required to give persons with perceptual disabilities access equity with others. The desire to punish counterfeiters and pirates should not also punish persons with perceptual disabilities by banning devices that can be used to legitimately access material that is blocked to them by technical protection measures.”

If you would like more information here are some places to look:

Canadian Library Association

Canadian Association of University Teachers

http://www.michaelgeist.ca (Michael is a Canadian coyright guru, he a law professor at the University of Ottawa where he holds the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law)

Next week, it’s all about Net Neutrality! Stay Tuned.

Greetings BRAIN_blog readers.

Even though its almost the end of January, I seem to still be in New Year mode. You know, thinking about new things, planning and making those dread resolutions! Foremost on my mind? Professional Development, both receiving and giving. I’m planning, trying to wrap up a research project with a colleague. We’re gearing up to present our findings to folks and get an article ready. I’m looking at the conference calendar and trying to decide what would be best for my learning goals this year. Do you make goals like this? Maybe your learning path is already well established and you’re moving along it just fine. Did you know that our employer will put $600.00 annually towards all full-time employees’ professional development? Whether your learning path is underway or this is the year you start – talk to your supervisor, talk to HR, make this a great learning year for you.

Your Mohawk librarians are gearing up for one of their favourite annual PD experiences. Next week, we’re off to the Ontario Library Association conference. It is held annually at this time of year in Toronto. We always come away from it brimming with enthusiasm for our profession and with lots of good ideas. The seed for this very blog was planted at the OLA conference a few years ago! It is so good to see what others are doing in their libraries and to be able to blow our own horns a bit. Presentations at OLA will be done this year by 4 Mohawk librarians! Don’t worry about being abandoned though – our excellent Information Services staff will be here, on the front lines, giving the same fabulous service that they always give.

I am also excited that the annual Ontario community college conference called This is I.T. is being hosted here at Mohawk this spring. Our colleagues over at the Centre for Teaching and Learning are organizing this one for us. Check out their blog for more information. They sent out a call for session proposals not too long ago, there’s still time to submit something. I hope to see lots of Mohawk folks telling others about the exciting things they’re doing in their classrooms with technology. Be sure to mark this one on your calendar. I attended in Durham last year, its a great learning experience.

Maybe your professional development this year will involve writing and publishing? Maybe self-publishing is an option. A reliable self publisher allows you as the author to publish your writing as you would like to see it published. It gives you lots of editing and creative control over the final product. If this appeals to you then maybe Lulu is for you. The ever reliable Resource Shelf pointed me to an Educause article about a web-based, self-publishing service called Lulu, it’s called 7 Things you Should Know About Lulu. Check it out.

Lastly, I promised you some more information about our Library@Mohawk Book Review. Ladies and gentlemen, start your reading and writing engines. We’d like you to read a book from the Mohawk fiction collection and send us a review, around 250 words long. If you really prefer to read non-fiction, we’ll take reviews about it as well. I’ll keep you posted about dates but at some time towards the end of the semester, a judging panel (made up of instructors and librarians) will decide on the best reviews submitted. We at the BRAIN will publish them on the BRAIN website. We hope to make this an annual affair so please join us and get the first one off to a roaring success. Keep an eye on Mocomotion for more information about final deadlines and maybe some incentives or prizes along the way. Happy reading. We’ll post more information about where to send your reviews on the BRAIN, stay tuned.

Happy January Everyone!

This time of year a lot of the blogs I follow are doing top technologies for 2008 lists so I feel compelled to join in.  I don’t think I’m going out on too much of a limb with anything I have to say.  We’ll have to remember to check back in December to see if I was right or not.

1.  Social software sights like Facebook and MySpace will continue to be popular with folks.  There are those predicting their decline, MySpace in particular has not had the huge growth that Facebook has had in the past year.  I simply feel that people have become accustomed to using these sites and the habit won’t be broken easily.  In Libraryland, we’re still wrestling with how much of a presence we should have on these sites, I think more libraries will figure that out this year.  My own feeling is that a little bit of promotion is not a bad thing but that we really shouldn’t be too actively seeking friends, poking people or writing on their walls.  I’m wondering what, if anything, instructors are doing with these sites.  I know some who have accounts and interact with their students on Facebook.  Post something here and let us know what you do.

2.  Open Source Software will become more well known and used by more people.  Open source software, that is software developed by communities of programmers and usually free, is becoming more common place.  Libraryland in particular is seeing movement towards open source software for library resource management.  The Library@Mohawk will have news on our own open source venture soon!   Open Office is an example of open source software that you might want to try – it’s a free software suite very similar to MS Office.    There is even an open source Course Management System called Moodle that many people are using.

3.  E-books will become more popular.   I think lots of people have predicted this every year for what seems like many years but this may be the year that we’re finally right.  You will remember that I wasn’t so thrilled with the Kindle e-book reader but I do think it will help e-books take a leap forward this year.  I’m looking for an e-book version of a textbook for an instructor and I think the book store get some e-book requests this year too.  The publishers still need  to get more comfortable with licensing and access issues, but, I repeat, I think this will be a break out year.

4.  Software as a Service will really make its mark.  SaaS is software that you access via your web browser.  You don’t have to download it to your hard drive.  The software is hosted on a server with a vendor and you access it there.  The big plus – your stuff is available wherever you are.  No remembering to save files to your usb drive or email things to yourself (my favourite file saving method).  For busy I.T. folks, it means no servers to purchase and maintain. I’ve been using Google Docs, which, in many ways falls into the SaaS category, to work on a  project with a colleague.  It’s great, we can each edit and add things to what more or less looks like a Word document and everything is all in one place.  If you have a Gmail account, check out Google Docs, it is really neat.  Wikis and blogs are a good example of this kind of web-based software, like Google Docs, they’re great for collaboration and highly mobile folks.  It is the savings on servers and maintenance for big commercial software purchases that will really push people towards this option.  As an example, there is library software that can cost almost $200,000 including servers or you can allow the vendor to web host it for you and spend under $80,000 – it makes a big difference.

5.  Computers are going to continue to get smaller and more mobile and the touch screen will become more popular.  You heard me singing the praises of the Apple iPod Touch in December.  It’s popularity and the popularity of the iPhone, which has similar touch screen technology, will spark some imitation I think.  Our phones really are turning into mobile computers and, increasingly,  making our library’s online resources compatible with these mobile devices is going to be important.  I’m proud to say that the BRAIN website has been mobile compatible for quite a while now.  Do you find that your students are accessing resources on hand held devices and not just phoning, taking pictures and texting each other?

Some Library@Mohawk news:  We’re going to be sponsoring a book review contest and e-publishing book reviews written by students.  Watch theBRAIN for more information in the coming weeks.

Lastly, I’d like to send out kudos to our food services folks, Chartwells.  They’re now offering fair trade, organic coffee at the Moco Cafe in i-wing.  Yay!  And kudos to all of you out there drinking it, I went down for coffee at 9:00am this morning & the fair trade container was already empty and just being refilled!  Now if everyone could just remember to bring in their own mugs and stop throwing all those Tim’s paper cups in the garbage, we’d really be going in the right direction!

Here at theBRAIN_blog, we’re looking forward to 2008. We hope you are too. This week, just a quick check in and hello to all.

During the writing of this post, it’s chilly and sunny outside, just the kind of weather to get us moving and trying to stay warm. Maybe that means moving some brain cells and learning something new.  Is there something new you’d like to try this year? Why not make a positive resolution to learn something new instead of the usual fitness, diet and budgeting stuff?

Can I make a suggestion? Why not make 2008 the year you learn about a new technology? Try a blog, or how about set up a Flickr account to share all the holiday photos you took with your new digital camera? I’m learning more about my MacBook – learning Keynote, Apple’s presentation software.  It’s the software Al Gore used to create his presentation in an Inconvenient Truth – now that’s a great slide show!  This will be the year that the library switches to new software, I have lots of learning to do about it too. You’ll hear more about that as the year progresses.

We’ll be back next week with predictions for 2008 technology trends.

We at the BRAIN wish all of you peace, happiness and wellness during the holiday season.

It’s almost the end of the year and folks’ celebratory preparations are probably well under way. Sometimes it’s tough to remember that this is a season of joy, what with all the shopping, cooking, baking and running around that we all do in December. Not to mention the credit card bills in the New Year. One of the things that eases the stress of the season and cheers me is the tradition of lighting our houses. Christmas lights help me remember that the solstice is near and soon the days will be getting longer again. Is it any wonder that so many cultures and religions celebrate at this time of year? The darkness is receding, if that isn’t a reason to throw a party or two I don’t know what is.

Those who work with me know that Christmas isn’t really my bag, “Bah! Humbug!” is more likely to spill from my lips than, “Ho! Ho! Ho!” I prefer the Grinch Who Stole Christmas to The Christmas Story. I would love it if we could all tone down the consumerism thing just a bit. Somehow though, shopping and lists naturally go with this season, don’t they? So, in that spirit, here’s a list from the BRAIN, some things new, cool, and fun. One is even charitable. Take a gander; maybe there is something to put on your wish list, or perhaps the perfect gift idea for someone near and dear.

1. My absolute favourite 2007 techie toy has to be the iPod Touch. I have drunk so much of Apple’s Kool-Aid that my face is stained purple! I love my iPod Touch. You have to see this amazing gadget! They are ultra-cool. Not only can you listen to music, you can store photos, watch movies and surf the web. Not to mention that it’ll help me get ready for the iPhone.

2. Want to splurge a bit on a child in your life and help another child in a developing country at the same time? Have you heard about the One Lap Top Per Child program? Here is Cory Doctorow’s post to BoingBoing to spell it out for you: “The Foundation that manages the One Laptop Per Child Program (which will give one low-cost, Linux-based laptop to every child in the developing world — eventually) is making their machines available for sale in the developed world this Christmas. The price is $399, and includes two laptops, one of which will be given to a child in the developing world.” Talk about the gift that keeps on giving. I wouldn’t blame you if you stopped reading right now and headed over to Laptop Foundation to make a purchase.

3. If were a child I’d want a Pleo robot dinosaur. They are absolutely the best robotic thing I’ve ever seen. They walk, cry, cuddle, and explore on their own and when they want to. Apparently if you pull their tales they’ll cry so realistically that you’ll never do it again.

4. A GPS receiver. GPS stands for Global Positioning System. These handy, dandy gadgets help you find your way, whether you’re walking, driving or riding your bike. You just tell the receiver where you are and where you want to go and it plots your route and gives you directions. You’ve got to shop around, you can get a basic one for around $150.00 or you can spend $500.00 and buy one that streams driving directions through your car stereo. They’re also handy for plotting running and cycling routes to plan your training or share with friends. I don’t have a brand or model to recommend, starting at PC Magazine’s 2007 Gift Guide wouldn’t hurt.

5. Here’s something I can only describe as “If you have to ask, you can’t afford it”. The Titanic DNA watch. This is a watch made from steel recovered from the hull of the sunken luxury liner, the Titanic, yes that Titanic. Its black face is coloured with a paint made from coal dust ground from coal also recovered from the wreck. Like the website I read says, maybe the best thing about this Titanic is that Celine Dion has nothing to do with it.

6. What Christmas list would be complete without a bike? Why not the infinite gear bicycle I found in Popular Science magazine’s round up of the best innovations of 2007? The inventors were inspired by a Leonardo da Vinci sketch to create a quiet, constantly shifting bike transmission. Instead of hubs and a derailleur, “… a set of spheres rotate around a central point to transfer torque from the pedals to the road. Tilting the spheres changes their contact diameters, permitting an infinite progression of speed ratios within its range. The result is that you’re always pedaling at just the right speed.” Cool technology, & cool looking bike, what more could you ask for?

Happy Shopping! Lastly, I can’t resist one environmentally friendly piece of advice – take it easy with the wrapping paper and bows, o.k?

Hello again.  We’ve been having a busy fall here at the BRAINblog.  Is anyone else still suffering from Sunday’s time change? Light in the morning again – good!  Dark so early at night – bad!  Sorry for the break.  We’re on track now and the grand plan is to keep publishing every two weeks,  just like we’ve always done. 

I don’t know about all of you, but I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with my Bloglines reader.  I love that that it keeps me up to date with new things going on in Libraryland.  I love that it helps me track new websites and technologies that are cool and interesting, maybe even useful to our BRAINblog readers.  BUT, I hate that what often starts as a 15 minute check of my feeds, can expand into the better part of an hour or more, way more.  There’s just so much cool stuff out there. When I’m busy I go into feedreader avoidance mode because I’m afraid I’ll spend too much time there.  But, for you, I overcame avoidance mode and boy, am I glad I did.  I have some neat things to tell you about.  And really when I think about it, what better way to justify time spent reading blogs than to share what I learn with you?!

So, here’s a hodgepodge of great stuff that I’ve found lately.   No particular order,  just as I came across them. And one great new resource here at Mohawk that I know you really need.

 1.  Ad Free Wikis

Have you tried out a wiki in your classroom?  If not, was it because you didn’t like the advertising that comes with some wiki software?  The good thing about wikis is that the software is free and web-based and you can get one up and running  lickety split.  The bad thing is that sometimes you have to put up with advertising on them that you can’t control.  Well, no more – its Wetpaint to the rescue.  They offer ad-free wikis for educational settings.  Check them out if you want to work with wikis and don’t want to subject your students or your colleagues to advertising.  (Found on ResourceShelf.com) 

And hey!  What exactly are you doing with wikis out there in Mohawk classrooms?  Let us know, let your colleagues know.  Comment on this post.

 2.  Green Companies

Thinking lots about the environment these days? It’s in bad shape for sure, but the good thing is that there are things we can to do help. Not only did I buy reusable grocery bags, and now I’m finally remembering to take them with me when I shop!  No more disposable plastic water bottles or coffee cups for me.  Here’s my November challenge to you, give one of those things a try.  If for no other reason than to enjoy the smug & superior feelings you get when you watch others in their wasteful, big carbon footprint ways. 

Now, how about something useful?  From the neat site called Working Mother, here’s a list of  top environmentally minded companies in the States.  You can sort it alphabetically or by sector (e.g. apparel, food, technology etc.).  (Found on ResourceShelf.com) 

I’m on the watch for a list that includes Canadian companies.  If you already know about one, send us a note.  

 3.  Safety, Security and Trust on the ‘Net

Have you been thinking about safety and security online?  It is so very good to be able to do as much as we do on the ‘Net.  Except to get cash from an ABM, I don’t remember the last time I went into a bank.  But I worry about how bad it would be if some no-gooder found a way into my online financial life, yikes!  There are a couple of new documents out there that are all over this very topic. 

Our friends at OCLC have recently released Sharing Privacy and Trust in our Networked World.  Lots of interesting stats and info about how we all approach cyberspace.  There is a great appendix focusing on our raison d’etre – college students.  

Over on good ol’ ResourceShelf, we find a note about a report, Toward a safer and More Secure Cyberspace.  It’s from the National Research Council on their findings on the vulnerabilities of cyberspace in the States and the new technologies that could protect it.  

Drum roll please………. 

4.  New APA Style Guide to Electronic References (new and necessary resource)

Are you confused by websites, blogs and wikis when it comes to making your APA style References list for a paper? The confusion ends now.  APA has published a companion to their latest style guide and its all about citing electronic resources.  We knew you’d need it, and we’ve got it.  The Library@Mohawk has purchased permission to distribute the PDF document.   Hope it helps, please ask us if you need help with it, or anything else about those wretched bibliographic style guides.

 Well that’s it for this week. Stay tuned.  And please don’t forget to let us know what you think.