Three dimensions in two: BSU's Digital Media Repository

Nowadays, we all expect information to be available online. For printed material like books or even photographs, it's an easy task to turn them into a format you can post on the web. But what about objects in three dimensions like architectural elements or anatomical models? Ball State University Libraries' Digital Media Repository (DMR) attempts to transform these 3-D items into digital formats that are searchable and browsable.

To access the DMR, click on the locations indicated in the first screenshot of the University Libraries homepage. (From the Digital Commons graphic, the DMR is located at the top center.)


Once there, you're presented with a menu of options to choose from. You can perform a simple search by keyword, or browse the digital collections if you're not exactly sure what you're looking for. An advanced search feature gives you more options, specifically the ability to choose individual collections to search in.

In addition to three dimensional objects, the DMR also contains scanned slides, film, audio files, posters, and more. An extensive help file is available, or if you need additional assistance, you can always Ask a Librarian. The DMR is another way you don't have to be in the library to use it!

Citations with Style and a Useful Feature or Two

Synthesizing your own thoughts with the thoughts of others is common in most projects at the college level. To avoid plagiarism, you must report the external sources of ideas and information by citing them. We have several resources available to you that help put your citations in the proper format (check with your instructor for his/her preferred format). This week, I'll cover the resources available at the University Libraries, as well as point out some helpful features of popular databases.

As part of our Virtual Reference Shelf, we have a short list of resources that cover citing sources in two standard formats: APA and MLA.

You may not be aware, but some of our databases have help for putting citations in the proper format, too. For example, Academic Search Premier's Help file has detailed instructions for not only APA and MLA citation formats, but for Turabian (Chicago Manual of Style) and AMA, as well. To access the Help file,

1. Click on the link labeled "Help" in the upper right corner of the main page. Then,
2. On the page that pops up, scroll down until you see the "Citation Styles" section on the left, and click on the help topic of your choice. (See the screenshot for details.)

Another database, CINAHL (Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature), illustrates a different example of how electronic resources can help you cite sources. When you run a search in CINAHL and click a title in the list of resulting articles, you have the option of printing or e-mailing the record to yourself. If you choose the e-mail option, CINAHL will let you pick the citation style you'd like to use. Take a look at the screenshot for more information. Note: This feature is also available in Academic Search Premier and other EBSCOhost databases.

A WORD OF WARNING: Contrary to popular belief, computers are dumb. They try their best to put these citations in the proper format, but goof up sometimes. Always double check that automatic citation-makers have put the parts of the reference (e.g., article title and dates) in the order specified by your instructor.

UF4U: CardCat

You know how when you go to the library and are in the stacks looking for a particular book, and while you're searching the shelves, you stumble across an equally interesting book you'd like to check out? You'll be glad to know that even if you can't physically visit Bracken Library, you can still browse the shelves! This week, I'm highlighting another Useful Feature for You in CardCat, Ball State's online library catalog.

CardCat has a great feature where you can search items on the shelf near the one you're displaying on your screen. Just look for the Nearby items on shelf link on the left-hand side of the screen. See the screenshot for a clearer view.

So, when might you want to use this feature? Well, say you're interested in a book on a particular topic like "nursing management." You enter the search in CardCat and find a book you'd like to get via interlibrary loan. If you click on the Nearby items on shelf link, CardCat will show you a list of other items dealing with similar subjects which may relate to your original search. It does involve a little bit of good fortune to find useful items this way, but it can help you see what the library has on a broad subject, at the very least.

This is another great example as to why you don't have to be in the library to use it!