November

Medical Students Test Advanced Literature Search Skills in Small Group Assignments

November 30, 2011
Drexel librarians are ready to collaborate with faculty to integrate literature search skills into the curriculum. One example at Drexel University College of Medicine is the Program for Integrated Learning (PIL), which offers first- and second-year medical students an alternative to a lecture-based curriculum. Guided by faculty, PIL students meet in small groups, where clinical cases act as a framework for learning the scientific basis of medical practice. Students identify information they need in order to explain the facts of the case. After searching for relevant information between group meetings, they present it at the next session. This interactive learning format has extra benefits of building skills in teamwork and lifelong, independent learning. Students' need to find case-related information makes PIL a good opportunity to introduce advanced literature search training into the curriculum. Students already know how to do simple, Google-type searches, but in the career of a physician, the cost of missing information can be high -- a patient or research subject could die. That's why it's important to learn advanced features of MEDLINE (PubMed), physicians' key source for primary literature. Teaching begins with a presentation by a Health Sciences librarian and continues as students complete hands-on-the-keyboard learning with a tutorial. Next, students work in pairs to find research articles (primary literature) on a case-related topic. They meet with a librarian to review the search and clear up any confusion about advanced techniques, and finally, they present the information they found to the group. Students express gratitude when they recognize the new search power at their command, for example: 'These skills were imperative to have during the Primary Care Practicum and I utilized my new search knowledge every week'. Faculty are encouraged to contact a reference or liaison librarian to discuss collaborative teaching opportunities. Article by: Martha Kirby
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Blog: Steve Jobs and 'Apple DU': Going National with Apple Computers

November 25, 2011
Blogger Kevin Impellizeri recaps the Going National with Apple Computers event on his blog, Primary Source Code. Read more at:Primary Source Code.
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Student Designs to Inspire Learning at the Library Learning Terrace

November 23, 2011
[caption id='attachment_652' align='alignleft' width='255' caption='Students in Typography I review projects'][/caption] The Libraries invited sophomore graphic design students in the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design's Typography I classes, taught by assistant professors Shushi Yoshinaga and Julia Colton, to develop unique designs for Drexel University Libraries' Library Learning Terrace. During the fall 2011 term, students worked under tight deadlines to create typographical compositions. Chosen designs will be printed on fabric screens that are part of the Herman Miller furniture currently located at the Learning Terrace, including those on the large stationary hub. Projects were on display at the Library Learning Terrace between November 28th and December 5th. During that period, members of the campus community were invited to provide feedback on the projects and help select which pieces will be chosen for installation. 'It was important to integrate the University's learning outcomes in this project,' Dean of Libraries, Danuta A. Nitecki said. 'The Library Learning Terrace is a space that should inspire students to take ownership of their environments to become lifelong learners through many different learning activities.' The Libraries suggested terms for students to use in their designs. These terms included Drexel University's learning outcomes as well as unique words used to describe the Libraries. Announcement of the winning submissions will be made in January. For more information, please contact Jenny James Lee at 215-571-4095. View more images from this project online on the Libraries' Flickr Page.
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Health Sciences Libraries Associate Director Recognized for Service to the Medical Library Association

November 22, 2011
Linda M. G. Katz, Associate Director of Drexel's Health Sciences Libraries, completed six years of service as the editor of the Medical Library Association (MLA) publication, MLA News, in December 2011. 'Editing MLA News has been one of the highlights of my experiences as a librarian,' Katz said. 'During the six years of my editorship, I've worked hard, learned a great deal, and have been rewarded with kind appreciation from MLA members and staff.' Since 1961, MLA News has been distributed ten times per year and delivers news of the association and related content to its membership. Founded in Philadelphia in 1898, the association is a nonprofit educational organization of more than 1,100 institutions and 3,600 individual members in the health sciences information field. In a recent letter sent by the MLA President Gerald Perry, on behalf of its Board of Directors and membership, Perry recognized Katz's dedication. 'While serving as Editor, you have demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism. Editors and staff report that your super-efficient work ethic and strong editing skills have resulted in meeting deadlines ahead of schedule and producing a high quality, reader-friendly publication.' For more information about the Medical Library Association, visit its website at http://mlanet.org/.
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Libraries' Going National with Apple Computers Event joins Campus Community in a Conversation about Technology and Education

November 18, 2011
On Thursday, November 10, 2011 Drexel University Libraries welcomed nearly 100 students, faculty, alumni, staff and friends to Going National with Apple Computers, a film screening and panel discussion centered around the introduction of the 1984 Macintosh computer to the Drexel campus. The documentary film, Going National, chronicles the innovative Microcomputer Project. Drexel was the first university that required all incoming students to purchase a Macintosh 128K personal computer. Directed by Dave Jones, Ph.D., dean of Pennoni Honors College, the film captures a unique moment in Drexel's history. 'There was an excitement around the campus,' Dean Jones said in the discussion following the film, 'I liked what [the Microcomputer Project] was doing to Drexel.' Moderated by Youngmoo Kim, Ph.D., assistant dean of Media Technologies for Drexel's College of Engineering, the evening's panel included Dean Jones; Paula Cohen, Ph.D., distinguished professor of English; Sheldon Master, a member of Apple's first dedicated sales force; and technology blogger and author of Daring Fireball, John Gruber '96. The discussion covered a wide variety of topics from memories of the Microcomputer Project to present-day effects of technology on learning. 'This was an incredibly forward-looking moment for the University and the University administration,' Kim said during the discussion. 'We take for granted now that we go to college and bring a computer.' A video recording of the panel discussion is available online through the Libraries' website. View a video of this event View images from this event. The film coincides with Access Everywhere: Computing at Drexel, 1984 - Present, a Drexel University Archives exhibit currently on display at W. W. Hagerty Library until December 10.
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Fellowships and Funding Research Workshop for Graduate Students

November 14, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 3-4:30pm Location: Hagerty Library, Room L33 The University Libraries and the Drexel Fellowships Office present a workshop to help graduate students research electronic funding resources and databases. The workshop will include hands-on exploration by the students, who will create both a profile and automated funding alerts related to their research topics. Please RSVP here.
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Issue 4, Vol 1 - Drexel University Libraries: In Circulation

November 7, 2011
View the November issue online. Articles include:
- Partnership between Libraries and Drexel Smart House helps students develop information Literacy Skills.
- Succeeding at Group Work, with help from the Libraries
- Libraries teach skills for Lifelong Learning to over 3,000 undergraduates through English 1010 instructional sessions
- Time Capsule adds items to Drexel Archives collection
- Going National with Apple Computers: Event
- Digital@Drexel Presentation & Showcase: Event
- Make it Yours: Transforming Drexel University Libraries
- Faculty, Staff and Students Discuss Computing at Drexel through the Years
- New Faces in the Libraries
- Spotlight on Services
- Wishlist
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Joining the Research Conversation: Web of Knowledge/Web of Science

November 4, 2011
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8 - 4-5pm - Hagerty Library room L33 Whether just starting your research or looking to push the boundaries of your existing projects you need to know what's happening in your field and who the movers & shakers are. This workshop will demonstrate how the Web of Knowledge databases can help you dig deeper in your research topic and quickly uncover the most critical journals, researchers and research centers that you'll need to follow. Using the Web of Knowledge's linking features, you can identify the threads of the research conversation that are most important to your own work, and then learn to follow them quickly and easily. Sign up in advance with an email to LibInstruction@drexel.edu.
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Drexel University Libraries to Remember Steve Jobs and the Microcomputer Project that Forever connected Apple Computers with the Drexel Campus

November 2, 2011
November 1, 2011 (Philadelphia, PA) -- On Thursday, November 10th, Drexel University Libraries will host Going National with Apple Computers: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow a film screening and discussion about the microcomputer project at Drexel that changed the future of learning on campus. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at Drexel's innovative new Library Learning Terrace. The premiere of the documentary film Going National brought former Apple CEO Steve Jobs to Philadelphia in 1985, just a year after the Microcomputer Project first required all incoming students to have a personal computer. Following the film will be a dynamic panel discussion on how technology has, and continues to, impact and influence learning. Panel members include: the Director of Going National, David Jones, Dean of Pennoni Honors College, Dr. Paula Cohen, Distinguished Professor of English, Sheldon Master, a member of Apple's first dedicated sales force and current President of Haddonfield Micro Associates, Inc, John Gruber, Drexel alumnus and author of the blog Daring Fireball and Dr. Youngmoo Kim, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Assistant Dean of Media Technologies, who will serve as the events moderator. This event is free and open to the public. Contact: Jenny James Lee, marketing & events associate, jaj92@drexel.edu or 215-571-4095
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Research Skills & Database Searching Workshop

November 1, 2011
Working on a research project? Thinking about a project? This workshop will help you get started and thinking effectively about your information searching and organization.
Thursday, November 3

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

W. W. Hagerty Library - Room L33
Advance sign up is requested - just email LibInstruction@drexel.edu & tell us your name, major and email. See you there -
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