MIT Libraries News

photo by: Tom Pixton

All MIT Libraries locations, with the exception of the 24-hour study facilities in Hayden and Dewey libraries, will be closed Thursday, December 23, 2010 through Sunday, January 2, 2011, as a cost saving measure to meet Institute budget reductions.

During the closure, the Libraries’ website, Barton, Vera and access to electronic licensed resources will be available.  However, most library staff will be on furlough and will not be available to offer assistance. A small number of staff will be on-call to address any reported system outages; reasonable attempts will be made to bring systems back online as soon as possible.

While it will continue to be possible to make online requests for some MIT Libraries’ services or materials, these requests will not be acted upon until the Libraries reopen.  Due dates for materials on loan have been adjusted to reflect the closure – no items will be due during this period and fines will not accrue.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

Visit our library hours page for a complete list of individual library hours.

Please send questions, comments or concerns to budgetfeedback-lib@mit.edu.

Impulse Borrowing Display titles

Dewey Library’s Impulse Borrowing Display of selected new books occupies the low shelves flanking the stair to the Lower Level.

Check the display out and you are (practically) guaranteed to find something that you will want to read and, with luck, that will give you new ideas to think about.

- Some recent examples from impulse borrowing -

Want to learn more about Facebook?  Check out these titles
The Accidental Billionaires, by Ben Mezrich – HM742.M49 2009

The Facebook Effect,by David Kirkpatrick – HD9696.8.U64.F335 2010

Come browse the Dewey Impulse Borrowing Display.  You may be surprised by what you find!

In honor of Peter Diamond’s receipt of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, the Libraries have put its collection of his books on display in the Dewey Library Impulse Borrowing Section.  Come see his work on pensions, social security, taxes, government expenditure, and more.

Interested in examining Diamond’s thesis?  Access it online via DSpace@MIT, along with the theses many of the students he has advised available in the MIT Theses Collection.

Looking to gain skills in working with statistical analysis software packages?  The following classes will be taught by the Harvard-MIT Data Center (HMDC) Statistical Trainer starting this week.  Note: pre-registration required; also, there will be time at the end of each session for individual assistance, so feel free to bring your research questions.

Where: All workshops held in 1-115.

1. Introduction to Stata

This workshop is designed for individuals who have little or no experience using Stata software. You will learn how to navigate Stata’s graphical user interface, create log files, and import data from a variety of software packages. We will also share tips for getting started with Stata including the creation and organization of do-files, examining descriptive statistics, and managing data and value labels.

When: Thursday, September 30th, 1-4pm; Space is limited: pre-register online

2. Data Management in Stata

Topics covered include basic data manipulation commands such as: recoding variables, creating new variables, working with missing data, and generating variables based on complex selection criteria. Participants will be introduced to strategies for merging datasets (adding both variables and observations), and collapsing datasets. Prerequisite: a general familiarity with Stata (such as taking the Intro. workshop).

When: Thursday, October 14th, 1-4pm; Space is limited: pre-register online

3. Regression Using Stata

This hands-on class will provide a comprehensive introduction to estimating the linear regression model using ordinary least squares in Stata. Topics covered include: univariate and multiple regression, dummy variables, interaction effects, hypothesis tests, assumption testing, and strategies for organizing model testing. Prerequisites: General familiarity with Stata, including importing and managing datasets and data exploration (such as taking the Intro. workshop); knowledge of the linear regression model and ordinary least squares estimation.

When: Monday, October 25th, 1-4pm; Space is limited: pre-register online

4. Graphics in Stata

Graphs are a powerful and memorable means of communicating quantitative information. This hands-on class will provide a comprehensive introduction to graphics in Stata. Topics for the class include graphing principles, descriptive graphs, and post-estimation graphs. Prerequisite: a general familiarity with Stata (such as taking the Intro. workshop).

When: Thursday, November 4th, 1-4pm; Space is limited: pre-register online

5. Introduction to SAS

This course is intended for individuals with little to no experience using SAS, a powerful statistical software package available on Athena.  With hands-on exercises, explore SAS’s many features and learn how to import and manage your data in SAS. Novices welcome!

When: Monday, November 15th, 1-4pm; Space is limited: pre-register online

6. Introduction to R

Get an introduction to R, the open-source system for statistical computation and graphics available on Athena. With hands-on exercises, learn how to import and manage datasets, create R objects, and generate figures. Novices welcome!

When: Monday, December 6th, 1-4pm; Space is limited: pre-register online

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Can’t make these times? MIT affiliates can alternatively attend these workshops at Harvard.

Questions? Contact Katherine McNeill, Social Science Data Services and Economics Librarian, mcneillh@mit.edu.

Monday, Sept.20 at 3pm in Killian Hall (14W-111)

Join us for a lively discussion and Q&A with Gioia De Cari from “Truth Values: One Girl’s Romp though MIT’s Male Math Maze,” an autobiographical solo show in which she reflects with wit and wisdom on her experience at MIT, the world of elite mathematics and the role of women in science.  The discussion will be followed by refreshments and a chance to win tickets to “Truth Values!”

This event is sponsored by the MIT Libraries in conjunction with “Tell her to go to it” an exhibit on women’s experiences at MIT. For more information about the exhibit see the gallery website, or contact maihaugen-lib@mit.edu.

Learn how to manage your articles and cite your references more effectively in these hands-on workshops.  Register now for October.

All workshops will take place in the Digital Instruction Resource Center (DIRC), 14N-132.

Managing Your References:   Overview of EndNote, RefWorks, and Zotero

WHEN:   Wednesday, October 6, 5 – 6pm

Citation management software is an important tool in today’s academic world.   These software packages allow users to search databases, retrieve relevant citations, and build a bibliography, to be added to a paper or thesis or stored for future reference.  But which software product should you use, and how do you get started?

This session will focus on Endnote, RefWorks, and Zotero, the three major options for citation software at MIT.  We will compare the three and introduce some of the basic concepts and functionality of each program.

Please pre-register for this session.   Contact Mat Willmott with questions.

EndNote Basics

WHEN:   Wednesday, October 13, 5 – 6pm

EndNote is a “personal bibliographic software” package that allows you to create and manage a database of bibliographic references.  Come to this hands-on workshop to learn how to use Endnote to manage your citations, create bibliographies and more.

Please pre-register for this session.   Contact Peter Cohn with any questions.

RefWorks Basics

WHEN:  Wednesday, October 20, 5 – 6pm

RefWorks is a web-based resource to help you organize references, create a bibliography, and easily cite references as you write your paper.  It allows you to create individual or group accounts.

Please pre-register for this session.  Contact Anita Perkins with any questions.

Zotero Basics

WHEN:  Wednesday, October 27, 5 – 6pm

Zotero is a free, open-source program for Firefox that helps you collect, manage, cite, and share your citations and files.  With one click, you can save PDFs and citations for most articles, then cite them in Word or OpenOffice.  Make a searchable PDF library and find out how to publish dynamic bibliographies and collaborate by using group collections.  In this hands-on session, learn tips and tricks on how to use Zotero more efficiently to save you time and energy.  Bring a laptop or use one of our computers.

Please pre-register for this session.  Contact Remlee Green with any questions.

Did you know that you can create a desktop icon that links to Econlit, the American Economic Association’s (AEA) electronic bibliography of economics literature from around the world?

For instructions, see the AEA web site.  Note: In their instructions, the URL for access to MIT’s subscription is http://libraries.mit.edu/get/econlit.

This Libraries have changed our access to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).  Our IMF data products, namely:

• International Financial Statistics (IFS)
• Balance of Payments Statistics (BOPS)
• Direction of Trade Statistics (DOTS)

are now accessible via Global Insight.

For details on how to extract IMF data via Global Insight, see: http://libraries.mit.edu/dewey/ifs.html.

Welcome to the MIT Libraries!  We look forward to meeting you.  Join us for an event and learn what the Libraries have to offer.

Orientation: Fall 2010

Undergraduate Students || Graduate Students || All Students

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS:

Academic Expo
What: An expo of MIT’s academic departments and programs. The Libraries will be ready to answer your questions and offer information about our resources and services. Pick up handouts and goodies.
When: Wednesday, September  1, 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Where: Johnson Athletics Center (W34). Look for the Libraries’ banner.

Freshmen Explorations: Ice Cream Social
What: Build your own ice cream sundae!
When: Thursday, September 2, 2:30 – 3:30 pm
Where: Lipchitz Courtyard (Building 14); rain location: hallway in front of Hayden Library (Building 14)

Hitchhiker’s Guide Library Tours
What: A walking tour of all the MIT Libraries, with special gifts for the first 10 attendees at each tour.
When: Saturday, August 28, 1:30 p.m, Thursday, September 2, 11 am and *Thursday, September 2, 2 pm
*this tour also stops for ice cream outside the Hayden Library, courtesy of the MIT Libraries
Where: Meet in Lobby 7

GRADUATE STUDENTS:

Graduate Student Orientation: Grad School 102
What: An introduction to the MIT Libraries services and resources.
When: Tuesday, August 31, 3:30 – 3:50 pm
Where: 34-101

11th Annual New Graduate Student Reception
What: A reception for new graduate students, with beverages and light
refreshments provided.
NOTE: Tickets may be purchased for $5 at the Graduate Student Council Information Booth.
When: Wednesday, September 1, 5 – 7 pm
Where: Barker Library Dome (Building 10-500)

ALL STUDENTS:

Health & Wellness Fair
What: Libraries’ staff will be ready to answer your questions and offer
information about our resources and services. Pick up handouts and goodies.
When: Friday, September 3, 1:30 – 4:30 pm
Where: Kresge Oval, outside the Student Center

24/7 study rooms in Hayden and Dewey libraries will remain open

All MIT Libraries’ locations, with the exception of the 24-hour study facilities in Hayden and Dewey Libraries, will be closed Friday, July 2 through Saturday, July 10, as a cost saving measure to meet Institute budget reductions.

During this period the Libraries’ website, Barton, Vera, and access to electronic licensed resources will be available. However, most library staff will be on furlough and will not be available to offer assistance. A small number of staff will be on-call to address any reported system outages; reasonable attempts will be made to bring systems back online as soon as possible.

While it will continue to be possible to make online requests for some MIT Libraries’ services or materials, these requests will not be acted upon until the Libraries reopen.  Due dates for materials on loan have been adjusted to reflect this closure – no items will be due during this period and fines will not accrue.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

See: http://libraries.mit.edu/hours for a complete list of individual library hours.  Please send questions, comments or concerns to budgetfeedback-lib@mit.edu.

Hayden Library — home to the Humanities & Science Libraries — is open till 2am daily during Finals

from Thursday, May 13 to Friday, May 21:

weekdays, 8am-2pm and Saturday & Sunday, May 15 & 16, 10am-2pm.

Extended hours are for the MIT community only.

Hayden will close Friday, May 21 at 7pm.  Summer hours begin May 22.

Photo by Christopher Harting

The MIT Libraries’ Summer Hours will begin on Saturday, May 22, 2010.

Barker, Dewey, and Hayden (Humanities & Science) Libraries:
Monday-Friday 10am – 6pm,
Saturday closed, Sunday 1 – 6pm

Rotch Library:
Same hours as above except Sunday closed

Lewis Music Library:
Monday-Friday 11am – 5pm,
Saturday-Sunday closed

For a complete list of locations and hours see the Libraries’ website.

Please note all libraries will be closed Memorial Day weekend (May 29-31) and for a week during the Independence Day holiday (July 2-9).

WHEN: Friday, April 30, 12 – 1pm

WHERE: Digital Instruction Resource Center (DIRC), 14N-132

Zotero is a free, open-source program for Firefox that helps you to collect, manage, cite, and share your citations and files. With one click, you can save PDFs and citations for most articles, then cite them in Word or OpenOffice. Make a searchable PDF library, and find out how to publish dynamic bibliographies and collaborate by using group collections. In this hands-on session, learn tips and tricks on how to use Zotero more efficiently to save you time and energy. Bring a laptop or use one of our computers.

Please pre-register for this session.

Contact Remlee Green with any questions.

WHEN: Wednesday, April 21, 12 – 1pm

WHERE: Digital Instruction Resource Center (DIRC), 14N-132

EndNote web is a web-based product available to MIT users as part of the Libraries’ subscription to Web of Knowledge. Come learn how to use Endnote Web to manage your citations, create bibliographies and more.

Contact Peter Cohn with any questions.

WHEN: Friday, April 16, 12 – 1pm

WHERE: Digital Instruction Resource Center (DIRC), 14N-132

EndNote is a “personal bibliographic software” package which allows you to create and manage a database of bibliographic references. Learn how to find and use information more effectively in our hands-on workshop.

Please pre-register for this session.

Contact Howard Silver with any questions.

Building on an existing collaboration between the MIT Libraries and Harvard College Library (HCL), undergraduate students at Harvard and MIT may participate in a pilot program which, for the first time, enables reciprocal borrowing privileges for undergraduates at the two institutions.

As of April 5, 2010 Harvard undergraduates will have borrowing privileges at MIT Libraries and MIT students will enjoy similar privileges at participating Harvard libraries.  The program, which will be evaluated after 14 months, offers undergraduates from both institutions access to the complementary circulating collections of each institution’s libraries.

MIT undergraduate students may apply online for an HCL Special Borrower card.  Once confirmed, students may obtain a photo ID from the Widener Library Privileges Desk.  The card gives the bearer borrowing privileges at participating HCL libraries including:

• Cabot, Chemistry, Fine Arts, Harvard-Yenching, Loeb Music, Physics, Tozzer and Widener.

MIT graduate students and faculty have existing borrowing privileges at HCL libraries and may also apply for cards online.

More information about Harvard borrowing privileges.

WHEN: Friday, April 9, 1 – 2pm

WHERE: Digital Instruction Resource Center (DIRC), 14N-132

Learn how to use the Libraries’ resources and databases to research your own articles or find past articles written about MIT. This workshop will show you how to connect from your desktop to a wealth of online resources licensed to MIT, such as LexisNexis, Factiva, Proquest, historic newspaper databases and more. The experts at the Libraries will show you best techniques. This workshop is tailored to MIT communications professionals, or those with an interest in journalism and science writing.

Contact Anita Perkins with any questions.

WHEN: Friday, April 9, 12 – 1pm

WHERE: Digital Instruction Resource Center (DIRC), 14N-132

Take the popular search engine to a new level. Learn basic searching as well as tips and tricks that will make you truly love Google.

Contact Georgiana McReynolds with any questions.

WHEN: Thursday, April 8, 5 – 6pm

WHERE: Digital Instruction Resource Center (DIRC), 14N-132

Using citation management software to create and maintain a collection of references is becoming more common and important in today’s academic world. These software packages allow users to search databases, retrieve relevant citations, and build a bibliography to be added to a paper or thesis or stored for future reference. But which software package should you use, and how do you get started?

Please pre-register for this session.

Contact Mat Willmott with any questions.

WHEN: Thursday, April 8, 12 – 1pm

WHERE: Digital Instruction Resource Center (DIRC), 14N-132

For researchers struggling to manage their data, basic strategies will be provided for:

• best practices for retention and archiving
• effective directory structures and naming conventions
• good file formats for long-term access
• data security and backup options
• metadata, tagging, and citation
• other relevant issues

Contact Amy Stout with any questions.