Andrea Koeppe – St. Thomas Libraries Blog - Page 3
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Andrea Koeppe

Database Highlights & Trials, News & Events, Uncategorized

UST Libraries to cancel subscription to Kompass

The libraries first subscribed to Kompass in 2004 and at the time it was the only resource that provided international company and industry information. Since that time the libraries have acquired other databases that provide the same type of information, most notably Euromonitor Global Market Information Database and OneSource Global Business Browserwhich contains data from Kompass and other international company sources. While Kompass is not an expensive product, especially compared to other business databases, the business librarians felt the information in Kompass is readily available in other sources and the money needed to pay for Kompass would be better used on other products.

Therefore, we will be cancelling the title and it will disappear on March 31st. Please send your comments and concerns to Andrea Koeppe 2-4674 or arhudson@stthomas.edu

News & Events

Celebrate Banned Books Week at the UST Libraries

The UST Libraries will join thousands of libraries and bookstores across the nation to observe Banned Books Week from September 27th – October 1st. Since its inception in 1982, Banned Books Week promotes the idea that while not every book is intended for every reader, each person has the right to decide what to read, listen to, or view. According to Barbara Jones, director of the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom “Protecting one of our most fundamental rights – the freedom to read – means respecting each other’s differences and the right of all people to choose for themselves what they and their families read.”

Throughout the week the UST libraries will observe Banned Books Week with displays in the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library Center and the Charles J. Keffer Library, updates on the UST Libraries Facebook page and an informative UST Banned Books Week website which will link to other libraries, articles and videos that focus on issues of intellectual freedom.

Also returning is the popular Banned Books Week trivia contest posted on the UST Banned Book page. Test your knowledge each day of the week with a new question about a famous or infamous work of literature. Each day’s lucky winner will be selected randomly from amongst the correct answer and will receive a $5 gift certificate to the UST bookstore.

News & Events

GOOOOAAL!!! Your guide to the World Cup

If you are anything like me you have the vague sensation that there is this incredibly important, emotional event going on right now all across the globe, but you can’t quite put your finger on what it is.  The global event in question of course is the World Cup, and once every four years almost everyone on the planet comes together for this amazing shared experience.  This year I decided that I wanted to join this global party but I have to admit that I am intimidated because I know so little about soccer/football. 

So in order to help myself, and perhaps others, I put together a guide of links to football sites, podcasts, feeds and some funny videos to get me up to speed about things that the rest of the world already knows. 

If you would like to contribute a link or anecdote I would love to add it to the guide and by 2014 I will really *really* ready.

Business & Economics

The battle being fought for your computers and your security

The 2008 Conficker computer worm upped the ante in the battle of cyber-security experts against the creators of malicious viruses and worms. While The Cuckoo’s Egg remains a classic book about the onset of tracking hackers, this article from The Atlantic shows that the war is far from over.  As the author Mark Bowden points out the stakes in the battle against newer, more sophisticated and insidious computer viruses have never been higher.  

The security experts profiled in the article employ old fashion Sam Spade-type detective work along with their state of the art technologies and unprecedented collaboration with experts across national borders.  I am hesitant to say that I enjoyed this article because of the serious issues involved, but if you are going to read an article about global cyber attacks what is the harm if it also reads as well as an espionage thriller?

The Enemy Within by Mark Bowden from The Atlantic

News & Events

Play daily Library Week Trivia!

Do you know lots of interesting and obscure facts that most people would call ‘useless’?  Well prove them wrong by playing the UST Libraries daily trivia contest.  One lucky winner will be chosen from the correct answers to win a ‘valuable’ prize. 

Here is the question for Thursday, April 15th.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is scheduled to open a new 22,500 square-foot Library and Archives in downtown Cleveland this year.  Who is the current Director of Library and Archives for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Do you think you know the answer? If you do follow this link to the UST Libraries Library Week page to read further rules and answer the question via e-mail in order to be eligible for the prize. And while you are on the Library Week page be sure to check out our other events such as book sales, a golf tournament and scavenger hunts that will continue throughout the week.

Thank you and I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Kudos

Kudos to Karen Brunner!

I was talking to one of the full time MBA students yesterday and she told me that she is a fan of our new chat reference feature. She then told me how amazed she was that not only was she able to chat with a librarian around midnight about her ABR project, but that she was very happy with the help she received. And I should note too that the Applied Business Research project she was working on involves a relatively high level business research so she assumed that she was talking to one of us (!)

Because of the late night timing of her questions (and I did verify that she was working/chatting past 10 PM) I knew it had to be Karen she was ‘talking’ to. I was very pleased when she told me all of these things that I had to share.

Thank you Karen for making her very happy and making the rest of us look good!

News & Events

Visit the world’s most beautiful libraries

People can speculate about the demise of physical libraries and print collections but as of right now a room full of Kindles can not inspire this kind of beauty.   Not that the UST libraries are so shabby, but if you would like to view some truly spectacular photos of libraries from around the world click here

library1

bodlein

library2

Business & Economics, Uncategorized

For those of you who wonder how social media sites make money

I am always telling my two young children not to say ‘stupid’ which is hard for me because sometimes that word is very appropriate. The most recent case in point is from an article from the Silicon Alley Insider about all those stupid (yes I said it) applications that live on Facebook.   What I love about this article  is that it contains a series of 41 screen shots of how to play a game like Fishville.  I was always curious about the look, purpose and appeal of these games, but I absolutely refuse to sign myself up. 

But don’t be fooled by the simple graphics and smiling fish! 

What is not stupid but instead kind of frightening is how much money companies like Zynga make through their games and by creating networks that other, even more unscrupulous advertisers can join.  My newest, most favorite technology business blog TechCrunch has covered this phenomenon in a series of in-depth articles that are a fascinating dissection of how these companies operate. 

It almost makes you nostagic for the days of the annoying pop up windows.

Business & Economics

Bad news, good news, bad news

The bad news is that the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the jobless rate is now at over 10% which is the highest rate of unemployment since 1983.   The good news is that one of the most visible companies in the world, Google, is hiring!  The bad news…have you seen their interview questions?  I know they are in a position of strength to pick and choose – but come on!  Does that also mean they have the right to mess with our heads?  If you are in the process of polishing your resume, take a quick peek at some of these questions  so you can be sure you know what you are getting yourself into.   Rest assured that answers are also provided. 

You’re welcome!