Looking for help with citations? We can help!

As the leaves change and the days become shorter, assignments get more and more intense for local students.  The semester is in full swing as college and high school students everywhere continue (or begin) their writing assignments.

But one little problem that has plagued students for years, and will continue to do so until the end of time, is what to do with those citations.  It seems many folks spend more time getting their citations together than actually working on their papers.  The guides for citations styles like MLA (Modern Language Association), APA (American Psychological Association), and Chicago Style are notoriously difficult to wade through.  The proliferation of electronic resources only further complicates matters.

Don't fear!  We can point you to some wonderful resources that can help clear the citation waters for you.  First, check out Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL) website.  This site breaks down each citation style in a way to make it easy to find what you need.  In-text citation and reference list rules break down books, websites, journal articles, and more.  It's really very user-friendly.

Ohio State University Libraries put together another intuitive tool for citing resources.  This site includes information on MLA, APA and Chicago Style, as well as help with The Council of Science Editors (CSE) and Turabian styles.  What I especially like about this site is that it breaks down each style guide to four basic parts: citing articles, books, electronic resources, and other resources (speeches, etc.).

Keep in mind, the many databases we offer here at the library include the citation information you need.  For example, check out the example below using an EBSCOhost database.  Simply click on "Cite" on the right-hand side of the screen after pulling up an article.  The various citation formats will appear.  However, remember that these are a great starting point but always double-check these citations.  They are not always foolproof.

Needing Consumer Health Information?

Finding quality consumer health information can be tricky.  There are terrific resources out there like WebMD, but there are at least twenty not-so reputable sites for every one of those.  Let us introduce you to the latest database being offered through the Tiffin-Seneca Public Library, Consumer Health Complete!

This easy to use database has a bit of everything.  Fact sheets on different diseases and procedures, alternative health resources, drug and herb information, and more!  Here's some more of the great information provided:

•  Browse resources like the AMA Complete Medical Encyclopedia and Mayo Clinic Family Health Book
• Full-text articles from popular and scholarly health publications
• Images and diagrams to better understand the human body and medical procedures
• Evidence-based reports on diseases and treatments

Simply go to the library's website, click on Research Help, and scroll down to the Health heading to find Consumer Health Complete.  You will need to enter either your library card number or zip code when prompted.

Check out the video below for a quick breakdown:

Attend "Health Care & You: An Informational Program on the Affordable Care Act" on Oct. 16

Tiffin-Seneca Public Library and Tiffin-Seneca United Way are partnering to host the program “Health Care and You.” The event will be Wednesday, October 16 at 6:30 pm in the Frost Kalnow Room. 
 

The program will be presented by AARP representative, Tom Joseph, and will focus on the Affordable Care Act. The program is to provide information for people who have Medicare, those who have employers who provide health insurance, small business owners, those who have long-term care or buy their own insurance and those who are uninsured. There will be information on preventative and wellness services, preventative care benefits, access to doctors, care coordination plans, tax information and will provide various links and help lines for future use.   

   

The program is free and open to the public. Registration is necessary online at http://tiffinsen.evanced.info/signup/eventcalendar.aspx, at the Circulation Desk or by calling the library at 419-447-3751. For more information, go to www.tiffinsen.lib.oh.us or to the Library’s Facebook page.

Information on how to sign up for the Affordable Health Care Act is now available at the library. The Library emphasizes that making healthcare choices requires an understanding of each person’s or family’s unique health and financial circumstances. The T-SPL staff are not trained or licensed to provide advice or to assist patrons in selecting a plan, but can provide information and direction to public resources about the Affordable Care Act that will help patrons to make their own choices.        

Check out HealthCare.Gov for more information on the Affordable Care Act.

Free Computer Tutorials and More!

Need some assistance learning popular computer software?  Check out our free computer class offerings here at the Tiffin-Seneca Public Library.  Such classes as Beginning Computers, Word, Excel, Searching the Internet, Job Searching, and Facebook are just a few of the classes we teach.  Check our calendar of events for classes, dates and times.

We do realize that, due to time constraints, you may not be able to attend one of our classes.  While we would love to see you, there are other resources available 24/7.  One such resource is offered by the wonderful folks at the Goodwill Community Foundation, GCFLearnFree!  You are in charge of what you learn and at what pace you do so.  Here are just a few tutorials offered:

Computer Basics
Internet Basics
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Access
Mouse Tutorial
Windows 8
And More!

What's even better is that many of the software tutorials include different versions of the product.   The Microsoft Word tutorials, for example, include every version from 2000 to 2013. 

GCFLearnFree does not stop at computer tutorials.  There are links to improve math and reading skills, job searching, networking, interviewing skills and more!

Check it out!

Science Reference Center

School has started and we at the Tiffin-Seneca Public Library are gearing up for those science fair questions!  It's just around the corner and we would like to do our best to help.  That's why we'll be taking a look at one of our newest online resources, Science Reference Center.  You can access this resource by going to the library's website and clicking on Research Help.  Scroll down to the Science heading and you will find Science Reference Center.

While science fair experiment information is one of the highlights of this resource, it's not the only thing that makes it amazing.  The user-friendly interface and quality information make this your go-to place to find information for scientific research.

Here are a few highlights:

Full-text view of many science reference books
Full-text scientific journal and magazine articles
Searchable scientific dictionary
Access to  hundreds of scientific experiments to try
Citation and research assistance

Check out the video below for a quick overview of Science Reference Center!

Check out Consumer Reports Online!

Consumers need to protect their investments by doing the research before buying a product.  However, sometimes we need to replace a product in a hurry.  While the library carries Consumer Reports, wouldn't it be nice to have access to it 24/7? You have that access through the Tiffin-Seneca Public Library!

Simply visit our website and click on Research Help (under the Main Menu).  That will take you to a list of our online database offerings.  Click on MasterFILE Premier.  You will be asked for either your zip code or library card number.  This will take you into the resource which is really easy to use!  Simply enter "Consumer Reports" under the Publication heading and the product you are searching for in the main search box.  That's it!  You will have full access to PDFs of the articles from Consumer Reports magazine.  That includes the buyer's guides, feature articles and, most importantly, product ratings.

Check out the video below to see MasterFILE Premier in action!

Points of View Reference Center

We are continuing to take a look at the new databases being offered through the Tiffin-Seneca Public Library by taking a look at Points of View Reference Center.  You can access POV by going to the library's website, clicking on Research Help, and then clicking on Points of View Reference Center.  You will be asked for either your zip code or library card number.

A popular early assignment early in the school year is to take a stance on a controversial topic and to defend that stance.  This resource is perfect for such an assignment, or if you are simply researching a hot controversial topic in the world today.  Either search for a specific topic you are interested in, or check out the myriad of topics under "Browse By Category".

Full-text journal and magazine articles, books, newspaper articles, and primary source documents are available.  There is also a nice basic overview of the topic throughout history.  Full citation information is given, too.

Check out the video below for more on using this amazing resource!

Assistance for Small Businesses

We love providing assistance for new and well established small businesses here at the Tiffin-Seneca Public Library.  It's difficult to know where to start, considering the myriad of print options out there.  Plus, there's the latest in business research, building a business plan, doing market research, and more.  It can be a bit overwhelming.

With that in mind, we created a webpage with links to some of the best in business research.   We included a little bit of everything to help with your business needs.  There are links to books available at the library, such as The Small Business Start-Up Kit and The Wall Street Journal's Complete Small Business Guidebook.  Scroll down and you'll find links to terrific online resources, such as Business Source Premier.  This subscription database, offered for free through the library, contains info on market/company evaluations, industry reports, and popular and scholarly business periodicals.  All you need is your library card to enter this powerful resource!

There are links to the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Business Administration.  Bplans is an amazing free tool that provides free business plan templates for a wide range of small businesses.  There are also tips on financing, marketing, market research, and more.  Finally, check out the SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) Northwest Ohio site, where you have access to free mentoring and workshops for small business.

Go ahead and save the link to our page, as we will be adding more information periodically.

Literary Reference Center

We continue to highlight our new online resources here at Search Smart by taking a look at Literary Reference Center.  Keep this database in mind as summer quickly changes into fall and those assignments for junior high, high school, and college level English courses begin.

Here's what's included in this terrific resource:

Full-text classic books, poetry and short stories in PDF format
Author biographies
Literary criticism
Plot summaries
Literary dictionary and encyclopedia


And check out our quick tutorial below!

Find Your Next Great Read- Sign Up for BookLetters!

Do you search all around looking for the latest and hottest book titles?  There's an easier way!  You can sign up for monthly book newsletters, delivered right to your email, through the Tiffin-Seneca Public Library. 

Go to the newsletter sign-up page and check out the robust list of newsletters offered.  There's something for everyone!  Check out some of the current newsletters under the New Arrivals at the Library heading on our homepage.   Here's the latest New Fiction list as an example.

Check out the video below for instructions on signing up!

Legal Forms Database a Powerful Tool

We are continuing to highlight our new database offerings here at Search Smart by taking a look at Gale Legal Forms.  Go to the library's homepage and scroll down to the Gale Legal Forms link, located below Resource Links on the right-hand side of the page, to access the site.  Enter your library card number when prompted.

The site is very robust, yet simple to use.  Tools like a legal terms dictionary, legal Q&A, law digest, attorney directory, and tax form links are available.  The legal forms themselves are obviously the key resource and the selection covers a wide range of legal topics.  Bankruptcy, Power of Attorney, Divorce, Wills & Estates, Real Estate, and more are included.  You can search for a specific form or browse the subject categories to find what you need.

Where do the forms come from?  According to the About page, "Forms available on Gale LegalForms include forms drafted by attorneys for a particular legal matter, forms from public records and participating companies and attorneys. "Official" forms for many states are also included."

We have created a short video tutorial, similar to those we have made available in the past, below.  Be sure to call the library at 419-447-3751 if you have any questions.

Find Your Next Great Read With NoveList Plus

We were very excited to highlight some new database offerings to you in our last post.  Throughout the next few weeks, we'll be going through our new offerings one at a time, starting with NoveList Plus.

NoveList is an exciting resource that we use all the time here at Tiffin-Seneca Public Library.  What is NoveList?  It's a tool you can use to find your next great read!  Simply enter a title or author and browse through the titles NoveList brings up.  You will notice that read-alikes are provided for each title and author, so if you are wondering titles/authors are similar to what you have already enjoyed, this is the place to go.  There are even read-alikes to your favorite series!

Are you part of a book group?  There are excellent resources for you, too!  Many titles include book group guides, which include a synopsis of the book and discussion questions.  Use the read-alikes to promote other titles your group may enjoy.

How do you access NoveList?  Simply go to the Ohio Web Library site and click on All EBSCOhost Databases.  You will see NoveList Plus listed.  Simply enter your library card number to enter the site.  It's that easy!

Let's take an in-depth look at NoveList in the video below.

New Online Resources Available for Free!!!

We have been highlighting some of our online resources here at Search Smart.  Hopefully, our online tutorials have been helping you search for high quality information for your school, business, or personal needs.  We are very excited to share some new online resources with you!  These can be accessed from the library's website.  Click on Research Help and then All EBSCOhost Databases to access these terrific resources.  You will need your library card number to sign in to these sites.  Here are our new offerings:

Literary Reference Center- Provides full-text classic works, literary criticism, citation assistance, research guides, and more for high school and college students studying literature.
NoveList Plus- This is the premier site to find your next great read!  Book discussion guides, reading lists and read-alikes for every author and title in the database are available.
NoveList K-8 Plus- Very similar to NoveList Plus, but this resource provides information on books for children and young adults.
Points of View- Are you wanting to see the latest information on an important debate going on in world?  Look no further!  Journal articles, radio/television transcripts, primary source documents, and more is available on the hottest topics.
Consumer Health Complete- Find full text books, fact sheets, reports, and more on medical treatments, diseases, alternative medicine, and drugs from Consumer Health Complete.
Science Reference Center- This is a terrific resource for any science student.  A full science dictionary is available, as well as tips on hundreds of science experiments.

From our homepage, check out Gale Legal Forms, found under Resource Links.  Sample forms for legal issues like real estate, divorce, power of attorney, and wills are just some of the forms you will find through this useful site.

We will provide videos on these great resources over the next few weeks.  Stay tuned!

Freegal Allows Free and Legal Music Downloads

Did you know you have access to a terrific music collection through the library?  The Tiffin-Seneca Public Library offers Freegal, a music download service that's available 24/7!

Simply go to the library's website and click on  Freegal, located under Resource Links on the right-hand side of the page.  Enter your library card and pin numbers to enter the site.  You can then search by artist or song and download three free songs per week!  These transfer to Windows Media Player and iTunes.

Check out the video below for a quick tutorial on how to download music from Freegal!

Pew Research Center

Pew Research Center is one of those websites I go to time and time again while conducting research.  If you are interested in public opinion on a variety of topics, you have to visit this website.

You'll notice an abundance of polls and articles on issues like U.S. Politics, Internet & Tech, Media & News, and more.  Each topic breaks down into a myriad of subtopics.  And, most importantly, the information is kept fresh.  For instance, while perusing the website today, I found the following polls and articles:

The New American Father
Nonprofit Journalism: Growing, But Fragile
Breadwinner Moms
One Third of American Adults Own a Tablet Computer
Most Say Disaster Spending Doesn't Require Offsetting Cuts

This is just a sampling of topics available from Pew Research Center.  There is even a question search to utilize if you are looking for a specific topic.

In case you are concerned or curious about Pew Research Center's stance on topics, here is the statement from the About Pew Research Center page:

"Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research does not take policy positions."

Job & Career Accelerator Helps You Find a Job!

Our focus on databases offered through the library's website continues!  We looked at LearningExpress Library in our last installment of Search Smart.  Now let's take a look at the Job & Career Accelerator, also offered through LearningExpress.

You will need to create an account, which is as simple making up a username and password, to access this resource.  Then you will have access to the job search function as well as great tools for creating a resume and cover letter.  You can save these documents in your account and even save them as separate Word or PDF documents.  Effective tips for a successful interview are also included.

Maybe you're not quite to the job search stage.  No problem!  You can learn about different careers and even find information on schools, programs and training you will need.  The ever-popular software tutorials from LearningExpress Library are available from within the Job & Career Accelerator can help you learn new skills if you are looking to change careers.

But don't just take my word for it.  Check out the following video tutorials!

How to access Job & Career Accelerator

How to access the different resources

Hone Your Skills Using LearningExpress Library!

The library subscribes to many excellent databases to which you have free access!  To visit these resources, simply go to www.tiffinsen.lib.oh.us and click on "Research Help" under the Main Menu.  There are plenty of resources of use to genealogists, students, businesses, adult learners, and more.  All you need to do is enter your library card number or zip code, depending upon the database, to enter these sites.

We will be doing a series of blog posts about our database offerings here at Search Smart.  Today we will focus on a powerful resource called LearningExpress Library.  This site includes a little bit of everything.  You'll notice the Learning Centers on the left-hand side of the screen.  Resources to help students from grades K-12 are included, as are others for college students.  Students will also be pleased to learn that practice exams and guides for the ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and more can be taken.  GED preparation assistance is available, too.  LearningExpress will even track your progress, though you will have to create a quick account with them to do so, which is as easy as coming up with a username and password.

The software tutorials are extremely popular.  You can take interactive tutorials on products like Word, Excel, Windows and Mac Operating Systems, Photoshop, and more.  The best part is that tutorials are available for the different versions of each product.  For instance, you can take a tutorial for Word 2003, 2007, 2008 for Mac, or 2010.

Adult learners can visit the Workplace Skills Improvement Learning Center and improve their skills in resume/cover letter writing, interviewing, business writing, and networking.  If you are interested in practicing for a civil service or occupation exam, you can do so here.  Practice exams for nursing, firefighting, CDL, real estate, law enforcement, and more are available to you. 

Take some time to visit LearningExpress Library today!

Excel 2007 Course