EBSCO Mobile access

Milligan College Library patrons with Internet-capable smartphones (e.g., iPhone, BlackBerry, Palm) and wireless handheld devices (e.g., iPod touch) can now search our EBSCOhost online journal databases on the go!

Point your device web browser to http://m.ebscohost.com/. This will take you to EBSCO’s service selection page for Milligan College. (The following screenshots were taken from an Apple iPod touch.) Select “mobile access” from the services list. If you are off-campus, you will be prompted by our proxy server to fill in the fields with your Name and Barcode Number from your Milligan College ID card.  Click the “Submit” button to enter the EBSCOhost databases page. This page includes a complete list (with descriptions) of our EBSCOhost journal databases. Scroll through the list and place a check mark next to the database or databases you want to search and then click “Continue.”

I selected the ATLA Religion Database. Notice the search screen is very similar to the standard computer web interface, only it is formatted for easier viewing on your mobile device. The “Search Options” link allows you to set the kind of search you want to perform (Boolean, phrase, etc.), or any search limits (date ranges, full-text, peer-reviewed only, etc). The “Preferences” link allows you to control how search results are displayed (results per page, title with or without citation/description, etc.). Type in your search term(s) and click “Search.”

The search results are displayed in a list. Titles are hyperlinked to article records just like in the standard interface. Full-text, if available (in either html or pdf format), can be launched and viewed directly on your device (if supported), or emailed for later viewing.

The tools for gaining access to scholarly information resources are increasingly migrating to the mobile environment. This is an exciting development. It is another way in which the Library is reaching out to serve you, wherever you happen to be!

I tested the EBSCOhost mobile interface wirelessly on my iPod touch. Although it is not always convenient reading pdf articles on the device (I can enlarge the view in landscape mode, or zoom-in), I’m really happy with this experience overall. I especially liked being able to attach and email articles to my computer. I would be interested hearing about your experience using this service on other mobile devices. Did you run into any difficulties? Please report with your comments below. We will also share news of other mobile tools as they become available.

The P.H. Welshimer Memorial Library’s 2nd Annual Milligan College Library Homecoming Book Sale, held October 23-24, was a rousing success! As with last year’s sale, we got off to a great start with a faculty & staff preview on Thursday afternoon that raised several hundred dollars. The sale continued all day Friday and Saturday, and continued at half-price the following Tuesday through Friday. Altogether, the sale raised over $1,000, beating last year’s total of $960. Library staff decided to donate all proceeds to Milligan College’s Forward Ever capital campaign, a portion of which will fund a major library renovation in the years to come.

The books and media collected for the sale came from duplicates and other titles weeded from the Library collection, titles donated by individuals that did not fit library collection guidelines, and some items from last year’s sale. Milligan College yearbooks that had been stored in the library over the decades were again offered for sale, and, as last year, were quite a hot item.

Library staff would like to thank members of the Milligan community and surrounding areas for visiting our booksale and making the event a success. Thanks also to our library student-workers who helped with organizing, setup, and tending to the cash box. We’d also like to thank Michael Kaal, who won our Library Booksale Art Contest, and whose picture of aspen trees was the images used in our promotional posters and postcards. The booksale is always a fun event, and we look forward to seeing you at Homecoming Weekend next year for the 3rd annual sale!

The library’s Homecoming booksale continues this week at HALF-PRICE!  Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 1 PM to 4 PM.  Everything (including yearbooks) is $1.00 or less!  There are still hundreds of items to browse—come see what we’ve got!  Questions?  Contact Jeff Harbin at 423-461-8495.

Thanks, everyone for a successful booksale!  If we don’t see you this week, we’ll see you at next year’s homecoming.

Poster & postcard front copy

See you there!

It wasn’t easy to pick the winning image in the library’s first annual Homecoming Booksale Art Contest–we received nearly 40 pieces of art from several different students.  Since so many of them were so good, we’ve decided to put some of the most outstanding pieces on display in the library.

The display is on the main floor of the library, behind the the desk of Jack Weinbender, our Library Assistant.  We’ve displayed at least one piece from everyone who submitted.

So stop by, take a look, and gaze in wonder at the artistic accomplishments of your fellow Milliganites.  We can’t wait to host this contest again next year–thanks again to everyone who entered!

MichaelKaalThe Library is proud to announce the Michael Kaal is the winner of the First Annual Homecoming Book Sale Art Contest!  Michael’s photograph of aspen trees will soon be sprouting up all over campus and the surrounding community as the poster and postcard image of this year’s Library Homecoming Booksale.  In addition to the free display of his art, Michael will receive 2.5% of the total booksale proceeds.  Congratulations, Michael!

Thanks to all students who entered the contest—we received nearly 40 pieces of art, and we look forward to hosting the contest next year!  See you at the booksale Homecoming weekend, October 23-24!

Fall break hours

September 28, 2009

The library will close at 5:00 PM Wednesday, September 30th for Fall Break.  We will be open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Thursday and Friday, October 1st and 2nd, and we will be closed Saturday, the 3rd.

The library will re-open at 6:00 PM Sunday, October 4th, and remain open until midnight, as usual.

Enjoy your Fall Break! Remember, www.milligan.edu/library is always open!

Meet the New Faculty

September 17, 2009

The Milligan Chapter of Alpha Chi invites the Milligan community to meet our new faculty members tonight in the Welshimer Room of the library from 7-8 p.m. This is a come and go event. Homemade refreshments will be provided.

APA and MLA Workshops

September 10, 2009

Mary Jackson, Reference and Instruction Librarian, will be offering several citation workshops in the next few weeks.

  • ABCs of APA citation style

An overview of how to do citations according to the APA style. You are welcome to bring your lunch to this workshop.

Monday, September 14           11:45-12:15

Tuesday, September 22           12:00-12:30

Sunday, September 27             7:30-8:00 p.m.

  • APA—What’s new in the 6th edition

A workshop discussing the changes to APA citations based on the new edition of the style manual.   It is expected that attendees will have a basic understanding of APA 5th edition.

Sunday, September 20             7:30-8:00 p.m.

  • MLA—What’s new in the 7th edition

A workshop discussing the changes to MLA citation based on the new edition of the handbook.

Sunday, September 20             8:00-8:30 p.m.

All workshops will meet in the Hopwood Room in the Library basement.  For more information, please contact Mary Jackson at mjackson@milligan.edu.

The Library is very excited to announce the addition of several new and recently added electronic resources to support research for Milligan College students and faculty.

acm logo

bioone logoproject muse logo

ACM Digital Library is a premier resource of citations, full text journals, conference proceedings, transactions and newletters covering all aspects of computing hardware and software, research, and the computer and information technology industry.

BioOne is an extensive collection of high quality peer-reviewed full text journals in botany, zoology, ecology and conservation biology, and human biology.

Project MUSE is an interdisciplinary collection of high quality peer-reviewed full text journals in the humanities and social sciences.

Be sure to check out these and many other journal databases, e-reference and e-book collections, and online searchable book and media catalogs available 24/7 from the Milligan College Library website. We welcome and value your feedback on these resources or any other Library service. Feel free to drop in or send us your comments at any time!