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Milestone reached!

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libraryFor the first time ever BCIT’s Burnaby Campus Library has surpassed the 100,000 milestone for number of visits to the Library in a single month!

During October 2014 we had a combined gate count 104,588 for the Library and ehPod! That an average of 3,400 visits per day.

This breaks the previous monthly record of 95,411 set in October 2012

The top ten things we learned during Open Access Week

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From October 22nd  – 29th a number of free sessions were provided by SFU, UBC and Douglas College libraries to provide information on projects and resources involving Open Access. A number of us from the library attended different sessions and we’ve put together this list to share what we found out.

  1. There is a lot of data to support open textbooks – here are statistics in favour of Open Textbooks shared by Rajiv Jhangiani:
    a. Since the 1970s the cost of textbooks has increased by an astounding 812%
    b. There is a direct relationship between textbook cost and students success (eg. 35% choose not to register for a course due to textbook cost and 23% regularly go without textbooks due to cost)
  2. The BC Campus Open Textbook project’s free high quality textbooks are just a start. Other, more interactive, Open Online Resources are the future.
  3. Phylo the trading card game is an open source and open access project that started at UBC because some scientists discovered that “Kids know more about Pokemon creatures than they do about real creatures*” and they wanted to do something about it.
  4. In order to flip the classroom, UBC Anatomy has produced videos and other learning objects which are freely available on the web with Creative Commons licensing: http://www.neuroanatomy.ca/
  5. What a Book Sprint is – a group of people getting together to create and publish a book within 3-5 days: BCCampus hosted one and created this book: British Columbia in a Global Context
  6. In order to address quality concerns, many open textbooks, including some at BC Campus are accompanied by faculty reviews.
  7. The Open Access Button site  – provides a button that can be added to your favourites bar that allows you to search for a free version of an article when you encounter a paywall
  8. Student peer reviewed journals are being published at SFU and UBC with Open Journal Systems, and the articles are indexed in Google Scholar
  9. The Public Knowledge Project School at SFU offers free, online courses in Open Journal Systems for journal managers, editors and reviewers
  10. Instructors are engaging their students as producers of content in all kinds of ways and, for the most part, students are posting their work on open access sites with Creative Commons licensing. Students are enthused about working on assignments that have value and are shared with an audience of more than one or two people.

 

Open Access Week is here!

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Open Access literature is digital, online, free of charge and free from most copyright and 120x240licensing restrictions. (Suber, P. (2012). Open Access Overview. Retrieved from http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/overview.htm). This is something to celebrate!

UBC is offering free sessions on open access publishing and open education and SFU is offering free sessions on student publishing and open textbooks

If you want to know more about Open Access (OA) and what is available, check out BCIT’s Open Access Research Guide. It has links to sources of OA ebooks, OA data and OA ejournals, as well as links to OA research and OA publishing information.

Double double?

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What would your response be to the possibility of doubling the space currently available in the ehPod? Your feedback is important to us.

Surveys are available at ehpod logo2sm_CMYK_taglinethe Service Desk at the Burnaby Campus Library and in the ehPod. Those who complete the survey will be eligible to be included in a random draw for a Tim Horton’s gift card. Survey closes September 26, 2014.

 

 

Our sandbox has eReaders and tablets

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some of the items in our technology sandbox

some of the items in our technology sandbox

The BCIT Library has a Technology Sandbox with tablets and eReaders available for 14 day loan to students, staff and faculty. What have we got?

  • a Kindle Paperwhite
  • a Kobo Arc
  • a Sony eReader
  • a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, Galaxy Tab 7, Galaxy Tab 8 and
  • a Surface Windows RT

So drop by the Burnaby Campus Library Service Desk and check one out. You might also want to have a look at our guide to eBooks and eReaders to find out a bit more about using the different devices.

Make it raw, make it vegan…

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TAKE 5 -  five featured titles available from BCIT Library:

Thinking about going raw, vegetarian or vegan? You can read up on it first with these selections. Or if you’ve already made the switch, these books might provide some new recipes to spice things up.

Eat raw, eat well : 400 raw, vegan and gluten-free recipes
Call #: TX 837 M29 2012

  • for novices and experienced raw food eaters this book starts with chapters on “Raw foods know-how” and “Equipping your kitchen” and includes recipes for pancakes, sloppy joes and mac ‘n cheese

Raw food for dummies
Call #: TX 837 S67 2013

  • a starter guide, including recipes for those new to the raw food movement. Chapter 22 – Ten reasons to go raw and Chapter 23 – Ten foods best eaten raw  – are particularly intriguing.

Raw food cookbook and diet: 75 easy, delicious and flexible recipes for a raw food diet
Call #: TX 830 R39 2013

  • not only recipes but also information about making the transition to a raw diet, the benefits of eating raw, and tips on stocking your kitchen for a raw diet.

Appetite for reduction: 125 fast and filling low-fat vegan recipes
Call #: TX 837 M744 2011

  • “not your mother’s low-fat cookbook” – plant based recipes for barbeque, lasagna, curries, stews and more!

Quick-fix vegan: healthy, homestyle meals in 30 minutes or less
Call #: TX 837 R62497 2011

  • starters, snacks, salads, sauces, sandwiches, pastas, soups, and desserts that can all be prepared in 30 minutes or less

Bike to Work Week 2014 is here

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TAKE 5 -  five featured titles available from BCIT Library:

May 26 to June 1 is Bike to Work Week . Whether you are a keen two-wheeled commuter or interested in bicycling more, we have some titles you may find useful.

Bike repair and maintenance for dummies
Call #: TL 430 B35 2009

  • outlines the anatomy of a bike and how to repair and maintain specific sections
  • provides advice on when to seek professional help
  • the part of tens includes steps to take before you ride, how to improve the comfort and performance of your bike and considerations in fitting your bike

The enlightened cyclist: commuter angst, dangerous drivers and other obstacles on the path to two-wheeled transcendence
Call #: GV 1041 E65 2012

  • a humourous look at the trials and tribulations of commuting by bike
  • the author also writes a monthly column for Bicycling magazine (note: articles from Bicycling magazine are available through the Library website) and blogs at bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com

The big book of bicycling: everything you need to know, from buying your first bike to riding your best
Call #: GV 1041 B536 2011

  • from the editors of Bicycling magazine
  • covers training, buying gear, maintaining your bike  and rules of the road

Essential bicycle maintenance and repair
e-Book

  • step-by-step instructions for do-it-yourself road bike repairs
  • includes photographs, glossary, and advice on choosing a bike shop

Build your own electric bicycle
Call #: TL 437.5 E44 S595 2010

  • assemble your own electric bike from scratch or customize one you’ve purchased
  • complete with diagrams and charts to illustrate the instructions

Shelfie

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photo 2Library Pubic Services Assistant Casey with The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, call #: PS 3566 L27B4 1966.

“It’s good to remember to read something less technical sometimes. The call number for literature starts with ps. This can be your post script to your studies.”

Get social with your work search

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TAKE 5 -  five featured titles available from BCIT Library:

Whether you are looking for a summer job or full-time work we have resources to help you develop your resume, cover letter and portfolio and polish your interviewing and networking skills. Here are five titles that focus on the social media aspect of your work search.

LinkedIn for networking and job search : basic and advanced techniques
Streaming video available via Films on Demand

  • a 30 minute presentation on how to create your profile, build your network and make the best use of all of LinkedIn’s features

Before you apply: resumes, portfolios and your online persona
Streaming video available via Films on Demand

  • the basics for creating resumes and portfolios
  • guidance on using Facebook, LinkedIn and other social networking tools in a professional manner

Job searching with social media for dummies
Call #: HF 5382.7 W33 2013
or 2011 version available as an eBook through MyiLibrary

  • online job hunting strategies from networking, to preparing a video resume, to finding hidden opportunities
  • all of the features of the for dummies series, including tips, warnings and the “part of tens”

The power formula for LinkedIn success: kick-start your business, brand, and job search
Call #: HD 30.37 B74 2013

  • advice on finding positions and creating your personal brand

I’m in a job search – now what??? using Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter as part of your job search strategy, 2nd ed.
Available via Books 24×7

  • tips on using the major social networking sites and network aggregator tools in your job search
  • includes links to examples from the author, other career coaches and college career offices

*Note: access to e-books and streaming videos requires login with a BCIT ID number and password. Books 24×7 requires 2nd login with BCIT email and Books 24×7 password.

Farewell Farley Mowat

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TAKE 5 -  five featured titles available from BCIT Library:

Canada lost one of its most prolific and well known authors last week with the death of Farley Mowat. In our collection we have many titles by and about Mowat, here are five to get you started.

The World of Farley Mowat : a Selection From His Works
Call #: PS 8526 09 A6 1980
This collection of  excerpts from Mowat’s extensive bibliography arranged by geographical location will leave you wanting to read more. The maps on the front and back flyleafs illustrate where in Canada each work was set.

Resue the Earth! Conversations  with the Green Crusaders
Call #: QH 77 C3 M6 1990
Although published in 1990, this text of Mowat’s interviews with 13 Canadian environmentalists and conservationists includes advocates – like David Suzuki  and Elizabeth May – who are at the forefront of the sustainability movement today.

The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be
Call #: QL 795 D6 M78
The story of Farley Mowat’s youthful adventures with his dog anthropomorphic dog Mutt.

Ten million books: an introduction to Farley Mowat
Streaming video from NFB
25 minutes ; 1981
This documentary includes Mowat’s recollections of the experiences that have found their way into his books and readings from some of his works.

Finding Farley
Streaming video from NFB
62 minutes; 2009
Husband and wife filmmakers, their 2 year old and dog undertake a 5000 km journey, retracing Mowat’s literary footsteps.

Check out our catalogue for more titles