MIT Libraries News

MIT Libraries subscribe to Knovel and this fall, we’re participating in a contest for all science and engineering students (over 60 participating universities).

The contest starts on Monday 9/29/08!

Check out these tutorials if you have not used Knovel before.

How to play:

• Starting 9/29, Go to http://www.info.knovel.com/challenge/
• Use the Knovel search box in the widget to find answers
• Answer 3 questions correctly

All entries with 3 correct answers will be entered into a drawing for Nintendo Wiis, iPod Nanos, and iTunes Gift Cards.

If you have any quetsions, please feel free to contact Erja Kajosalo.

The latest in the series of podcasts on scholarly publication and copyright is an interview with Dr. Gari Clifford, Principal Research Scientist and Instructor in Biomedical Engineering in the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences & Technology, and Engineering Manager for the Laboratory for Computational Physiology at MIT.

In the podcast, Dr. Clifford explores themes related to author rights and open access that have emerged in his experience with scholarly publishing. In particular, he explains why he prefers to publish in open access journals, what problems he sees with the journal publishing system, and his view that the choice of journal is “as important as the research itself.”

Download the audio file. (18:58 minutes)

The other episodes in the podcast series are available on the scholarly publication website.

To subscribe to the MIT Libraries’ Podcasts on Scholarly Publishing, paste this link into iTunes or another podcast reader: http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/6772/

We encourage and welcome your feedback, which you may direct to copyright-lib@mit.edu.

The following classes will be taught by the Harvard-MIT Data Center (HMDC) Statistical Consultant in fall 2008.

1. Introduction to Stata
Get an introduction to Stata, the statistical analysis software package commonly used at MIT. With hands-on exercises, learn how to import and manage datasets. Novices welcome!

When: two repeat sessions, attend either of the following:

• Tuesday, October 7th, 12-2pm or
• Wednesday, October 22nd, 12-2pm

2. Introduction to Regression Using Stata
This hands-on class will provide a comprehensive introduction to estimating the linear regression model using ordinary least squares in Stata. Prerequisites: General familiarity with Stata (such as taking the above Intro. workshop) and the linear regression model.

When: Friday, October 31st, 12-2pm

3. 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: Friday, October 10th, 12-2pm

Note: All Workshops Held In: E53-220

Space is limited. To register, contact: Katherine McNeill, mcneillh@mit.edu.

See also: Consulting: Interested in one-on-one help with statistical analysis and software? The Harvard-MIT Data Center (HMDC) Statistical Consultant can help you via email or an in-person consultation. Contact her via our email form.

Please join us at The MIT Humanities Library as MIT’s Christopher Capozzola introduces his new book.

“Uncle Sam Wants You” tells the gripping story of the American homefront in World War I, revealing how the tensions of mass mobilization led to a significant increase in power in Washington, and made wartime America the scene of some of the nation’s most serious political violence.

“Uncle Sam Wants You” is published by Oxford University Press.

Christopher Capozzola is an Associate Professor of History at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

This event is sponsored by authors@mit, a lecture series cosponsored by MIT Libraries and The MIT Press Bookstore.

Where: The MIT Humanities Library Reading Room (14S-200)

When: Wednesday September 24th, 5:30pm

The event is free and wheelchair accessible.

For more information, call call 253-5249, or email authors@mit.edu. See the MIT Press Bookstore’s “Events” page for a list of upcoming events.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Time: 10:00am–3:00pm

Location: Bush Room, 10-105

Stop by and browse titles in subjects including Biology, Computer Science, Economics, Earth Science, Engineering, History, Philosophy, Miscellaneous Science, Political Science & Social Science.

Open to the MIT Community only; Dealers and their representatives by appointment only.

Questions? Contact the Gifts Office at gifts-lib@mit.edu or x3-5693.

All proceeds benefit the Libraries’ Preservation Fund.

Looking for a journal article, conference proceeding, technical report or book chapter that’s in the Library Storage Annex?  Don’t have time to run out and make photocopies?  We’ve got a new service for you!

Now you can get delivery from the Annex without leaving your home/office/dorm room/lab. Use the “Request PDF” button in the Barton catalog record to get PDF delivery from the Annex to your desktop. The Library Storage Annex will scan and deliver documents up to 50 pages.

This service is free to members of the MIT community with an Illiad account.

Need real-time coverage of news, commentary, research, analysis, and data on global macroeconomic information?  Then try RGE Monitor, a new database from the MIT Libraries, that lets you track this information in an easy, centralized source.  Note: users may be asked to set up an account in order to access our subscription.

Access the database at http://libraries.mit.edu/get/rge.

Please join us for the final Town Meeting about the Dewey Library renovation on Tuesday, September 9th at 5:30 p.m. in E53-216. We will provide an overview of the project and hope to receive feedback from members of the MIT community on the plans. You bring the comments and we’ll bring the pizza!

More information about the project is available on our renovation website at:

http://info-libraries.mit.edu/redew/ .

Katharine Dexter (McCormick), a pioneer of the women’s suffrage and birth control movements, was also one of MIT’s most important benefactors. A dedicated alumna, one of her most significant gifts was a residence for women, McCormick Hall, which opened in 1963.

For an English composition class at MIT, she wrote of her determination to be fully prepared for entering MIT – preparation that included a degree from another institution and study in France and Germany. Her composition is included in the Object of the Month exhibit by the Institute Archives and Special Collections.

The papers of Katharine Dexter McCormick, which include student papers, class notebooks, and family correspondence, are available for research in the Institute Archives and Special Collections, 14N-118, Monday – Thursday, 10 am – 4 pm.

Photograph courtesy of the MIT Museum