Our Library Information Guide has directions with screen shots showing how to format margins, paragraphs, fonts, etc. for papers in APA and MLA style. These are for Word 2016 and Google Docs. We also have model papers. All files are PDFs that can be downloaded, printed, or uploaded to course websites. We hope you find them helpful.
Category Archives: Library News
Indiana has a new State Insect
Last week Governor Holcomb signed legislation making Say’s Firefly our first official State Insect. Say’s Firefly is named after noted Hoosier entomologist Thomas Say. Read all about it on the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website, where you can subscribe for updates about all things relating to nature, and download an app that is great for exploring our State parks. Find out more about Thomas Say from our database Biography in Context.
Edible Book Festival 2018
International Edible Books Festival registrations are open! Everyone is invited to participate in this, one of our most popular public events. Create an entry or come for the fun. The festival will take place on April 2nd from noon to 2 p.m. in the Student Life Center. Exhibits will be served once judging is concluded, so come early to see them all before they are munched! Find out more
Staff Profile: Ellie Puckett
Librarian Elina Puckett is the organizer of our Edible Books event, and the subject of our Staff Profile this month.
What do you do at the Library? I am your evening and Saturday librarian. In this capacity, I am here with one purpose in mind – to help you succeed academically, whether you need help with research assistance, citation guidance, technical issues, Library resources and so forth. You name it and I will be happy to help! My other responsibilities include providing Library instruction classes in the evening, assisting with the website maintenance and serving as a liaison librarian for the School of Business, Logistics, & Supply Chain, as well as the School of Health Sciences. I am also in charge of the Library events, such as the Edible Book Festival, Finals Week Refreshments, and the visiting Therapy Dogs.
How did you gain your expertise? I draw my professional experience from several academic libraries where I worked previously. Ivy Tech Library has been my home for the last 14 years. My educational background includes a BA in Education, and a Master of Library Science from IUPUI.
What is unique about your background that could be of service to the Ivy Tech community? Family, friends and coworkers would probably describe me as a “health nut”, because my true passions in life are holistic green living, nutrition, exercise, attachment parenting and so many more health and wellness topics. I am constantly doing research, so if you have a topic in mind, I will surely have a good resource to recommend for reading or watching.
What is your favorite thing to do outside the Library? As some of you may know, I am married to my colleague Jonathan (hint: same last name) whom I met 14 years ago, when we both started working at Ivy Tech within a few months of each other. Together we raise our four beautiful children! Working for many years on numerous collaborative projects prepared us for parenting challenges better than any parenting books!
What is a favorite book you would recommend? I have way too many, all non-fictional. So instead, here is my latest obsession, about to become part of our collection: Eating on the Wild Side: The Missing Link to Optimum Health by Jo Robinson. (Amazon review: “Ever since farmers first planted seeds 10,000 years ago, humans have been destroying the nutritional value of their fruits and vegetables. Unwittingly, we’ve been selecting plants that are high in starch and sugar and low in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants for more than 400 generations. Eating on the Wild Side reveals the solution–choosing modern varieties that approach the nutritional content of wild plants but that also please the modern palate” Read more)
What is a website you would recommend? I subscribe to and follow quite a few health-themed YouTube channels. One of my latest favorites is Pick Up Limes
Lexis-Nexis becomes Nexis Uni
We are excited to announce that Lexis-Nexis, our legal studies database, has implemented a major upgrade and changed the name of its academic service. It is now Nexis Uni. The new user screens are much easier to use; the layout is similar to our other databases. The filters and limits that you add as you are searching are now prominently displayed, and you can even save them for later searching. There are some differences in the Nexis Uni search results screen from Lexis-Nexis, but you will find the same functionalities and more. A good way to familiarize yourself with the changes is to open both Nexis Uni and Lexis Nexis and run the same search. Our access to Lexis-Nexis will be ending soon, so don’t delay!
Staff Profile: Jean Adkins
Jean is one of the friendly faces at our Information desk during the afternoons. Her computer expertise is particularly valuable to us.
What do you do at the Library?
I am a Library Assistant. I help patrons find the resources they need, or get them with a librarian for further assistance. I also assist patrons with the computers, software, and printers. My extra duties include working on the libraries financial accounts and maintaining usage statistics for our various databases.
How did you gain your expertise?
During my military career, I was exposed to various computer systems and a wide range of people. This background helps in my interactions with our patrons. Since my retirement from the Air Force, I have worked with maintaining computer systems and as support staff for a university’s online program, which gave me experience in the educational environment.
What is uniquely helpful to your work here?
I attended college courses pretty much my entire military career. So, I can relate to students who are juggling work, school, and other responsibilities. This experience also taught me how important it is to keep the mind active and always learning.
What is your favorite thing to do outside the Library?
Outside the library, I enjoy playing with my dogs, reading, and getting involved with church activities.
What is a favorite book or website you would recommend?
I do not have a favorite book. I read a wide variety of books, but tend to like mysteries the most. Since I like needlework projects, I check out the Hobbies and Crafts Reference Center website a lot.
Welcome to Spring term 2018!
Yes, it is spring — in the academic calendar at least.
The Library’s mission is to help you have the most successful semester ever! We would like to extend a special invitation to Dual Credit students (and teachers) to use our resources. Research assistance is just part of what we offer:
Do you need computer access? Read more
Do you need help navigating IvyLearn or MyIvy? Our staff will guide you. We also assist with using Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint; using different browsers; email; printing and scanning documents.
Looking for a quiet place to read or study? Read more
Looking for a tutor? We host the CAE English and Math tutoring on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Waiting for your textbooks? You can read Reserve copies in the Library. If you don’t see yours listed, use the online form in the link above to request it be added. Professors can add books to course Reserves at any time during the semester. Having a reserve copy available means all students can do the assigned readings.
We have several dozen new books on current issues. Each is shelved in the area relevant to the issue covered, but you can search the series titles in IvyCat: Thinking Critically, Issues in Society, Digital Issues, Cell Phones and Society.
We have over 150 databases that our vendors update, so instructors should check the resources and links you have used in the past. Our librarians are skilled in searching and a consultation will save you time. If we don’t have a book or article, our Inter-Library Loan clerk will request a copy you can borrow.
Have time for some recreational reading? Browse our local and national newspapers, popular magazines, or new bestseller print books. This month’s titles include poetry, mysteries, and science fiction.
Light up December
Welcome to December, the darkest month of the year in the northern hemisphere. It’s not surprising that all cultures and traditions in this area have celebrations involving lights or fires and feasting. We have displays of cookbooks from our extensive collection that you can check out for your holiday cooking.
Our December graduates will surely shine brightly on all around them. We wish them all the best as they leave us. Special thanks to our wonderful library student assistant Cassondra.
New Products in the Library include the Testing and Education Reference Center database. It has practice entrance exam questions for public safety jobs, for Accounting certification, Teacher Praxis exams, the GED, SAT, CLEP, LSAT, and many more. Also included are tools for assessing career choices, writing your resume, and interviewing.
GFCLearnFree is a resource that we’d like to reintroduce. This portal contains hundreds of free training tools for students and really any adult trying to function in the USA. Improve your computer keyboarding and mousing, understand how Excel spreadsheets work, get an overview of using social media tools, reading a transit map, and so much more.
Staff Profile: Meet Stress Relief
Finals are upon us, so this month’s staff interview focused on stress relief strategies. I asked everyone to share their favorites.
Nicole Treesh, Library Director: Doing word puzzles on my iPhone, using free apps like Words with Friends, Word Crossy, and Infinite Word Search.
Ann Spinney, Afternoon Librarian: Blowing soap bubbles. It makes you take deep breaths, the bubbles are pretty, and they don’t make too much of a mess. (Please don’t try this inside the library!)
Elina Puckett, Evening Librarian: There is nothing more easily accessible, free and relaxing for me as a walk outdoors. I call it my “internal shower”, as it does exactly that – it cleanses your system inside out, by pumping freshly oxygenated blood through your veins. It gets you de-stressed and gets your head straight. Don’t be afraid of the weather – there is no bad weather for a walk. Hot or cold your body will adapt to it in just 5 to 10 min of walking. And guess what, it doesn’t have to be only at home – a lunchtime walk increases your learning and working productivity. Best nearest spot to Ivy Tech – Johnny Appleseed park.
Carol Gibbs, Library Assistant: My number one stress reliever as of late is holding a baby. There’s nothing better than cuddling a squishy little body, especially if you get a big toothless smile back. Everything stressful melts away. I realize not everyone has access to a baby, but maybe I could talk my daughter into some sort of rental agreement? I have some stress relief available in my office, too – I have lots of bubble wrap!
We are united in recommending petting a dog or cat for stress relief, and as usual we will have therapy dogs in the Library during exam week. Check our library website for the schedule.
November: Fly by the Library
Fly by the library this month and check out our display of aviation books. We won’t tell you to buzz off! We’ve got over 300 books on all aspects of flight technology, and children’s books too. Books are just the tip of our resources, which include access to 100 journals presenting and analyzing the latest in motor and aircraft designs, fluid dynamics, atmospheric experiments, and so forth. Search in our databases using the subject phrase “Aerospace sciences” or key words Astronautics or Aircraft.
November is National Aviation History Month, designated to celebrate the many accomplishments of our nation in these fields. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s online exhibits are a rich resource. Currently posted are stunning photographs of the moon, along with collections highlighting how aeronautics changed our lives – and our minds.
If you search the library’s Indiana Memory database using the key word aviation, you will find that many pioneering aviators and aviation technologies were born in Indiana. Our Aviation Technology and Aviation Maintenance Technology programs will no doubt be hatching more!
Speaking of high-flyers, this month’s staff profile is our full-time Librarian Liz Metz.
What do you do at the Library?
I have been the Full-time Librarian for almost a year now. My main goal as Librarian is to make the Library accessible to students, faculty, and staff. I do this by helping people who visit the Library, creating guides for Library resources, and teaching classes about how to use the Library. I am responsible for collection and resource development for the School of Information Technology and the School of Arts, Sciences, and Education. I am also the cataloger here at Ivy Tech Community College Northeast, which means I get all of the new books in the computer so that they can be searched for and checked out.
How did you gain your expertise?
I completed my BS at Purdue University, focusing on Elementary Education. When I graduated in 2009, I ended up working two part-time positions in the same elementary school – one in the Library, and one as a Title I instructor. At the end of the school year, the funding for the Title I program was cut, and I was on the search for a new job – which is how I got my start here at Ivy Tech! I started as a circulation aide and between the two positions, I realized I really enjoyed working in a library, and I started working on my MLS online through IUPUI. Luck was with me, because shortly after I completed my MLS, the part-time librarian positon opened up. That position eventually turned into the full-time position I’m in now!
What is unique about you that could be of service to the Ivy Tech community?
My Elementary Education background has been beneficial when students come looking for children’s books – I can almost always find one that works. I’m also fascinated by tech and computers, and while I’m not an expert, I can usually figure out solutions to the problems students bring in.
What is your favorite thing to do outside the Library?
My husband and I are both gamers, and we really enjoy playing together. Right now I’m working my way through a re-play of the Kingdom Hearts games in anticipation of the tentative 2018 release date of a new game! I also have a bit of a zoo at home, and love snuggling with my four cats and 6-month-old German Shepherd, who I hope to train as a therapy dog.
What is a favorite book you would recommend?
When I’m looking for something fun to read, one author I always enjoy is Neil Gaiman. I love how he usually mixes in a little mythology to his writing, and presents a mixture of fantasy and suspense. I got to meet him a few years ago when he was on his signing tour for The Ocean at the End of the Lane and was extremely excited to have him sign my copy of Sandman Volume I.
What is a favorite website you would recommend?
I love puzzles and brain teasers, so I spend a lot of time on Conceptis Puzzles (http://www.conceptispuzzles.com/). Many of the puzzles need to be purchased, but they publish a new free puzzle in each category every Friday, and some of the categories are available as apps with even more free puzzles.
Don’t forget to check out our list of new releases – they are all fiction this month.
Fort Wayne & Warsaw Library Blogs 