MIT Libraries News

The Composer Forum series presents Either/Or:

Contemporary music ensemble Either/Or will perform in the Lewis Music Library:

Date: Thursday, February 13, 2014
Place: Lewis Music Library, Bldg. 14E-109
Time: 5-6 pm
Reception to follow
Free and open to the public

The performance will feature selections of music by Alvin Lucier to be performed in concert at the MIT Chapel on 2/15/14. Sponsored by MIT Music and Theater Arts.

You asked us to bring it back, and we were happy to oblige! Starting Monday, February 3, if you have a question, you can ask us via chat. For the spring term, the service will be staffed as a beta from 12-5, Monday through Friday. To ask a question, just type your Kerberos ID in the chat box on the Ask Us! page. Of course, you’re still welcome to ask questions in person, over the phone, or via e-mail. We just figured sometimes it’s easier to get a real-time answer on your computer, tablet, or mobile device.

Got feedback on the new service? Tell us! We still consider it a beta, so your input will help us to make it better. Interested in what else might be new in the Libraries? Check out the list on our betas page!

The Barker Engineering Library will be closed all day on Friday, January 31.

The closure is to facilitate the memorial service and reception for Ann J. Wolpert, Director of the MIT Libraries from 1996-2013.

Access to the Barker 24/7 study space is expected to resume at 9:00pm and the library will be open for regular business hours on Saturday.

All other MIT Libraries locations will remain open for regular business hours and the 24/7 study spaces in Dewey and Hayden will be available after closing.

We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

You asked and we listened!  With the start of spring term, we’re doubling the loan period for most MIT Libraries’ materials.  Now you’ll get a 60-day loan for items like books, graphic novels and MIT theses.  But wait, there’s more!   We’re also increasing the number of times you can renew your loans. MIT faculty, students and staff can now renew loans up to 5 times (unless they’ve been requested by someone else).  The longer loan periods plus increased renewals can add up to a loan of 360 days–nearly one year– for MIT faculty, students, and staff!

As always, you can visit Your Account to view loans and renew eligible items.  However, a gentle reminder: If you’re finished with your library materials before your loan ends, please return items to any MIT Libraries location, including the book drop in the Stata Center Student Street.

Stay tuned in the coming months for additional changes that will make MIT Libraries’ materials more accessible and make your loans easier to manage.   For more information about current library policies, check out our Circulation FAQ.

Want to let us know your thoughts about improving library services?  Tell Us!

The MIT Libraries’ spring hours begin this Monday, January 27, 2014.

Barker and Dewey
Monday-Thursday: 8:30am-11pm
Friday: 8:30am-6pm
Saturday: 11am-7pm
Sunday: 11am-11pm

Hayden (Humanities & Science) and Rotch
Monday-Thursday: 8:30am-12am
Friday: 8:30am-8pm
Saturday: 11am-7pm
Sunday: 11am-12am

Lewis Music
Monday-Thursday: 9am-9pm
Friday: 9am-6pm
Saturday: 1pm-6pm
Sunday: 2pm-9pm

These hours will remain in effect through Friday, May 23, 2014. For a complete list of library locations and hours, visit our hours page.

Have questions? Ask Us!

This week was an all-things-MIT-Music for the conservation lab. We de-installed the “Noteworthy Connections” exhibition in the Maihaugen Gallery  featuring the music treasures from the Lewis Music Library and the Institute Archives and Special Collections.

MIT’s Chorallaries, an a cappella music group, provides cheerful music to listen to while we make protective enclosures for some of the illuminated music manuscripts folios that will be used for teaching next semester. We are curious to discover more “whistle-while-you-work” music created by MIT faculty, staff, and students.

On Monday, January 20, 2014, the following libraries will be open as follows:

Barker, Dewey, Hayden (Humanities & Science), and Rotch:

8:30am-6pm

Lewis Music:

10am-6pm

All other library locations will be closed; all locations will resume IAP hours on Tuesday, January 21.

Have questions? Ask Us!

The MIT Libraries is hosting a series of classes on related to Energy this IAP. Some classes require registration.

Image courtesy of NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

Energy Sci/Tech Information: Where to Go, What to Do 
Tuesday, Jan 14, 3:00pm-4:00pm, 14N-132

Energy Information: Maps and Data to use with GIS 
Thursday, Jan 16, 1:00pm -2:30pm, 14N-132

Hydrology Tools with GIS
Thursday, Jan 30, 10:00am-12:00pm, 14N132

For a complete list of IAP classes offered by the Libraries, please see our Calendar of Events.

Piano obtained through the Class of 1982 Music Library Fund

Library music! Open mic in the Lewis Music Library, a chance to try out the new piano. Come jam, perform, or just listen. Everyone welcome. Bring your own music or use the library’s (we’ve got lots!).

Two dates: Friday, January 10, and Friday, January 24, 2014
Place: Lewis Music Library, Bldg. 14E-109
Time: noon- 1 pm

Refreshments provided

Due to the Institute closure, the MIT Libraries will be closed Friday, January 3, 2014.  The Libraries 24×7 study spaces will continue to be available, along with most of the MIT Libraries electronic resources.  Library business and winter break library hours will resume after the Institute closure is over. Please refer to MIT Emergency Information for further updates.

The MIT Libraries IAP hours begin this Monday, January 6 and continue through Sunday, January 26. Hours are as follows:

Barker, Dewey, Hayden (Humanities & Science) and Rotch
Monday-Friday: 8:30am-6pm
Saturday-Sunday: 11am-7pm

Lewis Music
Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm
Saturday-Sunday: 1pm-5pm

The 24-hour study facilities in Barker, Dewey and Hayden libraries will remain open during IAP. For a complete list of library hours, visit our hours page.

Have questions? Ask Us!

Please be aware that due to a scheduled software upgrade, BorrowDirect will be unavailable Monday, December 30, 2013, from 8:00am – 12:00pm EST.

During this outage, you will not be able to place new BorrowDirect requests. After the upgrade is completed, BorrowDirect requesting via MIT’s WorldCat should be operational. Boston Library Consortium (BLC) requesting will be available through MIT’s WorldCat as usual during this time.

Have any questions?  Ask us!

The MIT Libraries winter vacation hours begin this Saturday, December 21 and continue through Sunday, January 5, 2014.

Barker, Dewey, Hayden (Humanities & Science), Rotch
Monday-Friday: 9am-6pm
Saturday-Sunday: 1pm-6pm

Lewis Music*
Monday: 9am-5pm
Tuesday: 9am-12pm

*Lewis Music Library will be closed December 21-22, 25-29 and January 1-5.

All library locations will be closed the following dates for the Christmas and New Years’ holiday:

Wednesday, December 25 – Thursday, December 26
Wednesday, January 1 – Thursday, January 2

The 24-hour study facilities in Barker, Dewey, and Hayden libraries will remain open as usual throughout winter vacation. For a complete list of location hours, visit our hours page.

Have questions? Ask us!

Looking for a spot to hunker down as you prepare for finals? The Libraries may have just the spot you need.

Though most of our Libraries close for regular business between 11PM & midnight, you may continue to use some of the study spaces 24 hours. Barker, Dewey and Hayden Libraries offer MIT card access to study spaces with 140+ seats overall, providing a variety of options for independent and group work. Barker and Hayden also provide access to Athena computing and printing and you will find food vending options nearby.

If you have any questions, feel free to Ask Us! Good luck with finals!

photo by L.Barry Hetherington

The MIT Libraries probably has what you need this IAP, offering over 70 different classes! Topics covered include:

• Culture, Arts, and Society
• Data Tools and File Management
• Geographic Information Systems
• Life Sciences
• Managing and Citing Your Information
• Mapping
• Patents and Copyright
• Research Funding and Other Academic Tools
• Statistical Software Workshops

Some classes require registration. For a complete list of IAP classes offered by the Libraries, please see our Calendar of Events.

Want to research change over time in social and economic trends for states and local areas across the U.S.?  Use the American Community Survey!

American Community Survey data are released in annual or multiyear estimates (depending upon geographic area) and measure citizens’ experiences in a wide range of social and economic issues.  However, assessing trends over time can be challenging when working with ACS multiyear estimates, so get tips in an upcoming Census webinar: Using the ACS to Measure Trends Over Time.

In this webinar, demographers, planners, and researchers will provide guidance for measuring trends with ACS data.

WHEN: Friday, December 13, 2013, 1–2 p.m. (EST)

Space is limited. Register.

ICPSR Research Paper Competition

Using data from the ICPSR (Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research) data archive for one of your classes?  Submit your paper to the ICPSR Research Paper Competition and get a chance to win a $1,000 cash prize!

ICPSR sponsors the competition to highlight the best research papers using quantitative data from the ICPSR archive.  Special prizes are given for using data in their minority, fertility, or HIV data collections.  Note: Some competitions are limited to undergraduate or master’s students.

Deadline for submission: January 31, 2014.

For details on the competition and for help finding data in the ICPSR archive, see ICPSR’s page on the competition or contact Katherine McNeill, Social Science Data Services Librarian, at mcneillh@mit.edu.

ICPSR Summer Undergraduate Internship Program

ICPSR now is accepting applications for its 2014 summer internship program for undergraduates, an NSF-funded program.

• Explore a research question from start to finish — including literature searches, data analyses, and creation of a conference-ready poster on your research findings
• Work in small groups and with faculty mentors
• Gain experience using statistical programs such as Stata, SAS, and SPSS
• Stipend given

For an example, see a video of a past ICPSR intern presenting on his research project.

Applications are now being taken through an on-line application form. Two letters of recommendation are required, and can also be sent over the Web.

Deadline for application: January 31, 2014.

For more information, see ICPSR’s page on the program or contact Katherine McNeill, Social Science Data Services Librarian, at mcneillh@mit.edu

Please be advised that some library users are receiving emails with the subject line “Reactivate library account.” These emails are spam and are not from the MIT Libraries.

The email asks you to reactivate your account by going to a Login Page, and is signed with a fake librarian name and contact information. Please ignore all emails asking for your library account information.

Users with “Your Account” can securely login to their library accounts through Touchstone. If you have any questions about how to use Your Account please see our Circulation FAQ page.

Do you use statistical software packages, such as R, Stata, SAS, or SPSS?  Want to be more effective with statistical analysis, research technology, or social science research methods? No need to struggle with these issues on your own!

MIT has two new resources that can help:

1. Guide to Statistical Software

• Learn how to access statistical software (e.g., R, Stata, SAS) at MIT
• Find resources for learning and using these software packages

2. Research Technology Consulting

This service is available to help you individually with:

• Learning or troubleshooting statistical software packages such as R, Stata, or SAS
• Data analysis support and programming advice
• Statistical methodology questions
• For social science research projects:
  • Research project planning and guidance
  • Use of research technology (e.g., screen scraping, social network analysis, and more)

To make an appointment or ask for tips on a project:

• email support@help.hmdc.harvard.edu with your MIT affiliation and a detailed description of your question; or
• drop by their weekly office hours Fridays 1-4pm at Harvard.

This service, based at Harvard, is provided by the Harvard-MIT Data Center and available to the MIT community as a pilot.

Learn Statistical Software in Workshops
In addition, attend one of the upcoming workshops on statistical software.

The Harvard-MIT Data Center also provides: a data repository, research computing environment, and a specialized computer lab.

For questions about these services, contact Jennie Murack, Statistics Specialist, or Katherine McNeill, Social Science Data Services Librarian.

Need help getting through finals? Check out our finals week survival kit.

• Finals week study breaks — Take a study break, have a snack, and de-stress. Therapy dogs at Hayden!
• Study spaces — Take advantage of our 24/7 study spaces throughout finals week.  And don’t forget about our group study rooms, if you’re looking for other great places to study.
• Need a distraction?  We’ve got fun stuff — manga, movies, music, and more.
• Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for chances to win an MIT Libraries t-shirt during the study breaks!

If you have any questions, feel free to Ask Us!