Fines for Haiti -- Update

Last week, January 25 – 31, the Libraries and Archives at Mount Allison University offered "Fines for Haiti." All fines collected during this period, at both the Main and Music Libraries, will be donated to the Red Cross to provide aid to the people in Haiti.

The Libraries collected $380.80 in fines last week, and wish to thanks all of those who took part.

Fines for Haiti - Make your library fines work for a good cause!

Help to support the humanitarian effort in Haiti by paying your library fines. 

Mount Allison Libraries will donate all fines collected from January 25th to January 31st to help the people in Haiti. Fines collected during this period will be donated to the Red Cross to support disaster relief in Haiti.

By paying your fines now you put your fine dollars to work to help the many victims in Haiti who currently have little or nothing as a result of the quake.

New Database: The Chignecto Isthmus: Its History and Culture

This new database, designed and created by Librarian Emerita Margaret Fancy, provides access to historical material on the people and places of the Isthmus of Chignecto held by the Ralph Pickard Bell Bell Library at Mount Allison University.

More details as well as information about where to access the database may be found on the Chignecto Isthus: Its History and Culture page.

New Library Catalogue Launched Friday, September 4

A new version of the Mount Allison Libraries Catalogue was launched on September 4.

The new catalogue offers easy and more direct access to both Keyword and Browse (title-author-subject) searching, with both types of searches available on the Catalogue's main page. The new catalogue also introduces new features such as the ability to find out what items are on the shelf next to an item that you have already found.

For more details about new features and changes in search functionality, please read the About the New Library Catalogue page which outlines key changes and new features, as well as the online Help accessible from within the catalogue.

Please note that the new Library Catalogue will perform best using Firefox. If using MS Internet Explorer, versions 6 or 7 are recommended, though users accessing the catalogue with Explorer or browsers other than Firefox may find that certain information does not display correctly.

Note as well that off-campus access to licensed databases (such as JSTOR, Project Muse, etc.) and e-book collections via the new library catalogue is not yet available. You may still access these resources from off campus via the Indexes and Databases page and the E-Book Collections page of the library website.

Troubleshooting: if you see a "url not found" message when accessing the catalogue, try emptying the cache in your browser.

New Web Interface for SciFinder

Beginning May 1, 2009 access to SciFinder will be upgraded with a new web based interface and with increased user licences. The current interface will no longer
work after April 30, 2009.

To access the new version of SciFinder, users will be required to register and create an account. Once the account is created, users may access SciFinder from any computer with Internet access.

SciFinder is a research discovery tool that allows you to explore the Chemical Abstracts Society (CAS) databases that contain literature from many scientific disciplines, including biomedical sciences, chemistry, engineering, materials science, agricultural science, and more. Coverage varies but can extend back to the1890's.

For more information, and to create an account and access SciFinder, please visit the SciFinder page.

New Digital Resources: 

Collins-Robert French-English Dictionary

22 April 2009 - The Mount Allison University Libraries are pleased to announce that the electronic Collins-Robert French-English Dictionary is now accessible on the university network via Start -- All Programs.

The Collins-Robert French-English Dictionary includes the complete text of the Collins-Robert Unabridged French Dictionary, 8th ed., 2006 and the 2-vol. Collins-Robert Comprehensive French Dictionary, 3rd ed., 2008.

There is a limit of 10 simultaneous users, so please exit the database when you have finished your searches.

Access is available on most library computers and will be available on all lab computers on campus by the end of the summer.  If you would like to access this from your Windows, Mount Allison-owned workstation on campus, please contact the Computing Services Helpdesk.

Oxford English Dictionary (OED)

16 April 2009 - The Mount Allison University Libraries are pleased to announce that the online version of the Oxford English Dictionary is now accessible via the Library website.

The OED is the most comprehensive dictionary of the English language.  It traces the development of the language from 1150 AD to the present, with usage examples from many sources. Includes the full text of the 20-volume 2nd edition, the 3-volume Additions Series, and is updated quarterly with revisions and new terms. 

Access to OED Online is provided on the following pages of the Library site:

Dictionaries and Thesauri
http://www.mta.ca/library/dictionaries.html

Indexes and Databases for English Literature
http://www.mta.ca/library/per_indexes_english.html

Indexes and Databases: Alphabetical Listing by Title
http://www.mta.ca/library/per_indexes_title.html

Library Fine Amnesty

Some news from last year:

Grove Music Becomes Oxford Music Online

After two years of development, Grove Music Online has now been re-launched as part of Oxford Music Online, a new gateway for online music resources.

As well as the content of Grove Music Online, the new site includes The Oxford Dictionary of Music and The Oxford Companion to Music with further enhancements planned. The Music Library's subscription and link to Grove Music Online, has now been replaced with the link to Oxford Music Online.

New Guide to Research in Canadian Politics and Government

A new web-based guide for Canadian government documents and political science research is now available on the Libraries' web site. The project, supported by the Centre for Canadian Studies and the R. P. Bell Library, was funded by the Crabtree Foundation.

Created by Anita Cannon, Reference and Government Documents Librarian, the web site provides annotated links to major resources, research tips, and search strategies. It is intended for citizens and students at all levels to learn more about the research process and the wealth of Canadian government and political information available.

The guide is available at: http://www.mta.ca/library/govt&politics/main/home.html

For more Libraries and Archives-related news, browse the news archive.