Brickbats & bouquets

We value your feedback and while we love receiving the bouquets (thanks Vicki), we also encourage you to suggest ways in which we can improve the services we offer.

You'll find our suggestion box at the issue desk, or, if you prefer, you can leave a comment here. We respond to all your suggestions, either posting a reply on the noticeboard outside the library, or right here on the blog.

Do you like people? Do people like you?

Then you may well consider the vocation of a librarian. This short film provides a glimpse of the exciting and varied working life you can expect.

And in case you're worried that librarianship is too sedentary an occupation for you, the solution may well be the the Betty Glover Library Workout Tape. Come on everybody let's aerobicise!

Ms. Dewey

Need help finding something? Have you asked Ms. Dewey? (That’s her on the right in case you were wondering). While her results may not be great this avatar sure has attitude. Ms. Dewey may not displace Google just yet, but for a bit of frivolous Friday fun she can’t be beat.

Get Firefox!

Hot on the heels of the release of another web browser, the Mozilla Foundation have released Firefox 2.0.

You'll love the improved tabbed browsing, integrated search and if you spend more time than you should composing postings for your online courses you'll appreciate the built-in spell checking.

If you haven't already, do check out Firefox— downloaders can't be wrong! Oh, did I mention that it's free?

Labour Day

The seasons sure move fast in the Library! Monday is Labour Day and to celebrate the struggle for an eight-hour working day the Library will be closing for the day. However, for most Kiwis it signals the onset of summer and a trip to the beach. See you all on Tuesday!

Weeding in the Library

Spring is here and the weeding has begun! In consultation with academic staff we're busy withdrawing books from our collection which are rarely used or are no longer relevant to your curriculum needs.

Withdrawn books are available for you to take home from the trolleys on the ground floor. Get in quick to make your fortune selling these unwanted gems at Amazon Marketplace—The best book of WordStar is selling for 68 US cents!

The freedom to read

While we may not stock Last Exit to Brooklyn, Groupie, or even any Hank Janson, Librarians have a long history of protecting your freedom to read and this week we celebrate Banned Books Week.

New Zealand has its own examples of the censorship of books. An early case involved Jean Devanny's 1926 book The butcher shop:

Set on a large sheep station near Taihape during the post-war years and featuring bloodshed, murder, suicide and 'a most vivid description of the symptoms of delerium tremens'.

"Its frank portrayal of farming conditions" were thought to be "detrimental to the Dominion's immigration policy" and the book was banned!

Looking for a date?

Then do we have just the thing for you! The 2006/2007 Library Calendar is available now from the Issues Desk for the low, low price of just $8.00. You can preview the 15 glorious photos of your Library that grace the pages of the calendar at our Flickr homepage.

Buy one for all your friends and family this Xmas. Remember the overseas post cut-off date is 11 November!

What's bright green and…

Have you noticed the bright green Webhealth kiosk that has just been installed in the library? From the kiosk Webby will help you:

• Find a Health or Social Service such as a counsellor, family service or a GP.
• Keep up-to-date with what’s happening in your local community.
• Find quality information relating to health and wellbeing.
• Get connected to Online Chat Assistance services.
  

Finally, don't forget to introduce yourself to Webby by completing a short survey and go into the monthly draw to win… well we don't know, but if you do win be sure to let us know!

New Scientist, fifty not out

To celebrate a half century covering science and technology stories around the world, ScienceDirect is providing free full text access to New Scientist magazine. Beginning with the August 12 issue, until the end of the year, we have electronic access to the weekly magazine. Enjoy!

Shhh, no talking in the library!

The Library has received a number of requests from students for a quiet area and accordingly has designated Group Study Rooms 4 and 5 on the second floor as quiet study areas.

These rooms have been taken off the self-booking sheets for a period of six weeks so that we can monitor usage and establish whether there is an ongoing need. Let us know what you think by leaving a comment.

It was forty years ago today…

Beatles Revolver
Originally uploaded by poc67.

…well actually it was forty years tomorrow that The Beatles released what is widely regarded as their finest album: Revolver. Ray Andrews has added to the fortieth celebrations by releasing Abracadabra!—a free e-book that tells the story of the Beatles 1966 album.

If you like that e-book have you browsed the library's collection of electronic books? ebrary alone contains 26,000 books covering most subjects with links direct from the library catalogue. Login and begin storing your favourite e-books on your own bookshelf today.

Distance Library Service

The Library Distance Service is provided for staff and students at Wintec campuses outside of Hamilton and for Wintec students studying courses by distance or living outside of Hamilton.

If you are unsure of your entitlement please contact Carolyn Paulsen. Phone 07 834 8800 ext. 8488, or email lbdes@wintec.ac.nz

Food in the Library?

You can now bring food and drink into the Library to enjoy in places where there are areas of café tables and chairs. Please be considerate towards other Library users.

Under construction

Sign of danger
Originally uploaded by Wintec Library.

As the Library is now next to a construction site, there could be some disruption in the shape of noise and dust over the next few months.

In the meantime, watch progress from a safe distance by viewing our demolition photo set over at Flickr; remember to check back often as we add new pics. How do you like our new perimeter fence?

Welcome back

Sunrise at Waipapa Point
Originally uploaded by Will Ellis.

Welcome back to a new semester and to our new library blog. We hope that, despite the weather, you managed to enjoy the break.

We will be posting the very latest library news here first, so to keep up-to-date with the goings on in your library subscribe to our news feed, or, to have the latest library news delivered to your inbox enter your email address:

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