UNIVERSITY OF
PITTSBURGH AT JOHNSTOWN
News from Owen Library
Volume 6, No. 2
Fall 2013
Mobile Apps for Research
Last spring Owen Library offered a workshop on mobile apps
for research, which was very well received. We will be rerunning this workshop on October 15. Please see page 5for details.
A website developed to support the workshop is available at
http://pitt.libguides.com/upjapps . Mobile apps can be a confusing area, as there are different devices (tablets, smartphones,
feature phones) and platforms (Android, Windows Phone, iOS),
and as the technology is constantly evolving. Let's look at a few
of the apps available for reference, research, reading, note taking, storage and studying.
Many of Pitt's library research databases have free mobile apps. These include apps for EBSCOhost, Gale,
the American Chemical Society (ACS) and Science
Direct. These apps ar e optimized for the small
screen, where a user might do a quick search for a reference and
email it, rather than read an entire article. Some search portals,
like JSTOR, LexisNexis and MedlinePlus, have websites that
are optimized for mobile viewing. This means people can access
them through mobile web browsers and the pages will automatically format for touchscreen interactivity.
Google is the go-to site for many for finding quick
info. Google's free mobile app leverages the
smartphone's camera and microphone to add voice and
image searching capabilities. Another useful app is
Wolfram|Alpha, which bills itself as a " computational
knowledge engine." Wolfram|Alpha scrapes the Web
for data and numerical information and generates interactive charts and graphs. Wolfram|Alpha also offers
several course- and subject-specific apps. There are
charges for all these apps, ranging from $.99 to $4.99. The
Wolfram|Alpha site is also accessible through a mobile web
browser, at no charge.
There are numerous apps for reading on mobile devices. Kindle from Amazon and iBooks from Apple
may be familiar to e-book fans. Ebrary, which hosts
many of the e-books in Pitt's collection, has a mobile
app that lets users search the collection and download e-books,
or read and annotate them online. Users must set up a free account to use this app, for authentication purposes. Another
good free e-reader app is Stanza. E-books come in many different file formats, and Stanza can handle most of them.
(Continued on page 2)
Inside this Issue
ULS Announces New Website
Term Paper Consultations
2
Embedded Librarianship
3
Welcome Aimee
3
SAILS Survey
4
iPad & Laptop Rental
4
Fall Workshops
5
New Resources
6
PALCI Direct
6
We are excited to announce the redesign of the University Library System website. The
URL is http://www.library.pitt.edu/johnstown. If you have library pages bookmarked
in your browser, you may need to update some of the links. The website has been
upgraded to better serve our library users' needs. Your library account, service
information and requests will not change.
The new site is designed to provide:
 Easier access to important research tools
 Improved services for faculty and students
 Adaptive design which allows the site to adjust automatically to mobile devices
If you have any questions about the new website, please feel free to contact Paul Bond,
Library Instruction Coordinator, at paulbond@pitt.edu or x7287, or any of the
librarians through the Owen Library Circulation Desk at x7300.
Page 2
(Continued from page 1)
A good app for note taking is Evernote. This is a free
app for mobile devices as well as Macs and PCs, and
there is an online version, a browser plug-in and an
Outlook plug-in as well. The app syncs across devices through the Web, leveraging cloud storage. Notes can consist
of web pages, web excerpts, photos or voice memos. Evernote
users can create folders and add tags and annotations to notes,
so the app has archiving and organizing functions in addition to
note taking. Evernote also offers a premium version with expanded capabilities.
Dropbox, the popular cloud stor age ser vice, has a
mobile app. This gives users mobile access to documents and other files stored online. Photos and videos
taken with a smartphone can also be saved
into Dropbox through the app. Dropbox offers 2 GB
of storage space for free, and users can pay for more
space. A competing service to Dropbox is Box.
Pitt has partnered with Box so Pitt users are allowed 25 GB of
storage space for free.
N E W S
F R O M
O W E N
L I B R A R Y
You can find out more about Box at http://technology.pitt.edu/
box . The Box mobile app offers the same mobile access capabilities as the Dropbox app. Box also has a variety of other apps
that extend the functionality of the service. Find more information on other Box apps at https://www.box.com/apps .
One of the most popular apps covered in the workshops,
according to feedback, was StudyBlue. It allows users
to create their own flashcards online. The StudyBlue
app lets users review their flashcards on their mobile
phones, which makes it very convenient to do some
quick studying whenever and wherever a user has the time.
Flashcards can be shared among classmates, or created by instructors for use by their classes. Several attendees reported that
they were so impressed with this app that they downloaded it
during the workshop.
These are just a few of the mobile apps available for research
and study. The LibGuide lists many more, and new ones are
constantly being released. Several sites dedicated to reviewing
mobile apps are linked on the guide as well.
Term Paper Consultations Offered
Have a research project or term paper coming up? Make an
appointment with one of the librarians for some expert help.
Everyone knows the librarians at Owen Library are available
to assist you find books and articles. What is not well-known
is that they are available for research/term paper consultations
as well. Librarians will meet with you by appointment to discuss your specific needs for a project or assignment.
How can a consultation help you?
Librarians can help you best if you give the relevant details
of your assignment, including assignment requirements,
deadline, and any information on the types of resources you
need.
If you would like to set up an appointment for a research/
term paper consultation, inquire at the Owen Library or contact Paul Bond, Library Instruction Coordinator, at
paulbond@pitt.edu. You will be put in touch with the librarian appropriate for your subject area.
Sometimes just getting started is the hardest part. A librarian
can help you find background information on unfamiliar topics, so you have a solid starting point. Sometimes there are so
many different ways you can go with a topic. We can help you
come up with a focused and manageable research question.
We also assist you in planning and strategizing your research
so you make the best use of your time.
Whatever your topic, there is likely to be a wealth of information out there. Sometimes the challenge isn't finding as
much as it is filtering through information. Librarians can assist you targeting your search to identify the best sources of
information.
What librarians can do is save you time and trouble. Utilizing
this service can give you strategies for managing information
and keeping your research organized so you can work efficiently.
Cc 2005 Bright green Pants http://www.flickr.com/photos/snabelfisk/11232549
VOLUME 6, NO. 2
FALL 2013
Page 3
Embedded Librarianship: There's a
Librarian in my CourseWeb!
Embedded librarianship is a service model that is being embraced by a growing number of universities and colleges. It is
a way for librarians to build closer relationships with faculty
and students. The term "embedded librarian" refers to librarians who are added to a course in CourseWeb or other learning
management systems, usually in a teaching assistant role, so
that they can participate in the course. They can participate by
adding relevant library content, getting involved in discussion
forums, or serving as a contact person for questions at a point
of need.
Librarians can be connected to a class in CourseWeb on a
range of levels. The most basic level would be to include a
librarian’s contact information on the CourseWeb page or in
the course syllabus. The advantage of doing this is that it gives
students the name of a contact person - someone they can
email, call, or ask for in the library when they need assistance.
Just knowing who to speak with can be a big help sometimes.
At a more participatory level, an embedded librarian could link
content, such as research guides or tutorials, in CourseWeb. The
librarians at Owen Library regularly develop research guides,
called LibGuides, for different courses. Linking them in
CourseWeb puts relevant resources in a position where they can
be easily accessed by the class.
At an even more involved level, a librarian could become an
active participant in the discussion forum in CourseWeb, in
courses that take advantage of that function. Here a librarian
could respond to questions and concerns that students might
raise, or offer input to a discussion thread. This kind of involvement can be especially beneficial to students in courses with a
significant research component.
With the new day come new
strength and new thoughts.
Welcome Aimee Covel
One new face you will see this fall in Owen Library is that of
Aimee Covel, the new Circulation/Collection Management Assistant. Aimee received an MLIS from Pitt in 2011 and holds a
BA in English/Writing from Westminster College. She comes to
Pitt-Johnstown from Towson University, where she has worked
as an ILL Technician II and more recently as a Library Associate to the Learning Commons. Prior to receiving her MLIS degree, Aimee worked as a Customer Service Representative for
Fidelity Bank in the Pittsburgh area. She is originally from the
North Hills area of Allegheny County.
Join us in welcoming Aimee to the Pitt-Johnstown campus!
~Eleanor Roosevelt
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F R O M
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L I B R A R Y
Take the SAILS Survey and
Get a Chance to Win an iPad!
This Fall, the University is once again offering the
SAILS (Standardized Assessment of Information Literacy Skills) Survey to all Pitt students. The survey is
used nationally in higher education to evaluate students' information literacy skills. The skills are evaluated according to the standards developed by the Association of College and Research Libraries, which
defines information literacy as the skills needed to
"recognize when information is needed and have the
ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the
needed information."
The SAILS survey is open to all Pitt students so that the University can get longitudinal data on students' information literacy skill
development. All students are encouraged to participate in the survey. As a participation incentive, the Library is holding the iPad
raffle. The drawing will be held December 3rd. An iPad would make a great Christmas gift! Be sure to enter the raffle.
The survey will be available starting August 26 and will close in December. Students may access the survey through the green
"Take Action" icon on their my.pitt.edu pages after logging in. The survey takes about 30 minutes to complete. To enter the iPad
raffle, students should complete the survey on a computer with printing capability. The survey generates a "Thank You" page at
the end, which students should print out and bring to Owen Library. The Library will stamp the pages and return them, and enter
the students’ names into the raffle.
If you have any questions about the SAILS Survey, contact Paul Bond, Library Instruction Coordinator, at paulbond@pitt.edu.
iPads and Laptops Now Available for 7-day Loan
Search the Internet and the University
Library System's licensed databases
wherever Wi-Fi is available.


iPads offer various apps, including
Ebrary, Evernote, Kindle, and
iTunesU.
Laptops provide access to the full
MS Office Suite.
For more information, ask at
the Circulation Desk.
VOLUME 6, NO. 2
FALL 2013
These
1-hour
workshops are
free &
everyone
is
welcome
to attend!
All are
held in
Owen 209.
There’s an App for That! Using Apps for Research
There are numerous iPhone, iPad and Android apps out
there for learning on the go. Apps for note-taking,
reference, research and more! This session offers an
overview of some of the more popular tools that are
available.
Tuesday, January 15th 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 23rd 4:00 p.m.
Tips for Navigating the Academic Library
Don’t get lost in the Library! Learn how to find and access
various resources & services available at Owen Library or
through Pitt’s University Library System that can help you
achieve academic excellence.
Wednesday, January 16th 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 24th 5:00 p.m.
Virtual Tour of Pitt’s
Health Sciences Library Resources
This session will provide an introduction to the medical
and
life science resources available through the Falk Library’s
website.
Wednesday, January 23rd 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 31st 3:00 p.m.
Page 5
Presentation Skills
Nervous about making class presentations?
Do you want
to polish your presentation skills? This
workshop will offer
tips on creating and delivering effective
presentations.
Wednesday, February 6th 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 12th 4:00 p.m.
Getting Down to Business
Students wanting to hone their skills or just
have a
refresher in finding industry and company
data using the
Library’s databases will find this the spring
workshop to
attend.
Wednesday, February 13th 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 19th 2:00 p.m.
Saving Citations and Building
Bibliographies with EndNote Web
Learn to manage your research, citations and
references
with EndNote Web. Learn how it can autoCitations: How to Read Them
matically
extractare free & everyThese 1-hour
workshops
and How to Write Them
citation information from library databases
one is welcome!
Has your professor presented you with a list of books or
and generate a
journal articles? Do you have questions about how to
references page!
All workshops
held inFebruary
Owen 209
create a bibliography for your upcoming term paper?
This Thursday,
21st 4:00 p.m.
session will show you both how to interpret a bibliographPlease RSVP
at least
oneworkshops
week in advance
ic
These
1-hour
are free &
Paul Bond
at
citation and compile citations for a bibliography. by contacting
everyone
is welcome!
paulbond@pitt.edu
or stopping
Thursday, January 31st 4:00 p.m.
All workshops
held at
in the
Owen 209
Library Circulation
Desk. at least one week in
Tuesday, February 5th 5:00 p.m.
Please RSVP
Wednesday, February 20th 4:00 p.m.
advance by contacting Paul Bond at
paulbond@pitt.edu or stopping at the
Library Circulation Desk.
N E W S
Page 6
F R O M
O W E N
L I B R A R Y
Collection Spotlight: Some New Resources
Ready for a Brand New Beat: How "
Dancing in the street"became the anthem for a changing America by Mark Kurlansky. Kirkus Media LLC, 2013
E185.615.K87 2013
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders, DSM-5.
RC455.2.C4 D536 2013
American Psychiatric Association, 2013.
Book of Woe : The DSM And The Unmaking Of Psychiatry by Gary Greenberg. New York : Blue Rider Press, a
member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., [2013]
RC455.2.C4 G74 2013
Philadelphia Chromosome: A Mutant Gene And The Quest To Cure Cancer At The Genetic Level by Jessica Wapner.
New York, NY : The Experiment, LLC : Distributed by Workman Pub. Co., 2013.
RC643.W36 2013
The Attacking Ocean: The Past, Present, and Future of Rising Sea Levels by Brian Fagan.
Bloomsbury Press, 2013.
GC89.F35 2013
New York, NY :
The Holy or the Broken : Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, and the Unlikely Ascent of “Hallelujah” by Alan Light
New York : Atria Books, 2012.
ML410.C734 L55 2012
Forty-One False Starts : Essays on Artists and Writers by Janet Malcolm. New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux,
2013.
PN453.M35 2013
Emus Loose in Egnar : Big Stories from Small Towns by Judy Muller.
Lincoln : University of Nebraska Press, c2011.
PN4784. C73 M85 2011
PALCI Direct Faculty Borrowing Program
Did you know that Pitt-Johnstown faculty may receive free reciprocal borrowing privileges from a number of Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc. (PALCI) libraries? The program enables faculty members to borrow items on-site from participating libraries, such as IUP and Mt. Aloysius. A complete list of libraries is available at the Circulation Desk. To borrow items
from these libraries:
 Request an authorization form at the Circulation Desk.
 Present the completed and signed authorization form to the participating library, which will establish a record for you in its
system, allowing you to check items out from that library. Additional information may be requested to complete the registration
process.
 Each participating library sets its own lending policy.
You will be financially responsible for the items you borrow. To avoid overdue fines/fees, return items on or before their due date
to either the library from which it was borrowed or Owen Library.