Results tagged “Reference” from Iwasaki Library Blog

That's right, you heard it here first: the same folks who brought you the nifty film review and television review guides have now done the same for theatre and performance reviews.

Use these comprehensive guides to identify the date of release, performance, or publication and then determine which indexes, databases, and full-text reference sources have coverage during the given year. Although it's easy to simply stop at the full-text databases, we encourage researchers to make use of both print and online indexes and sources. Not only is there variation in date range coverage, but each source - despite sometimes considerable overlap - indexes a given set of periodical titles (and even books in certain cases).

We hope that these graphic guides make the review-searching process easier. Enjoy, and let us know what you think!

If you're looking for reviews of old television programs, don't just sit there and pull your hair in frustration - turn to the new Television Review Indexes and Sources information graphic compiled by Emerson librarians.

And don't forget that there's a similar review-finder for film.

Coming soon, another review guide for theater and performance reviews!

Library adds Encyclopedia of Journalism to collection!
Librarians go wild, students in awe

Manny Paiges, Library Beat

Boston, Mass. - Just ask your friendly librarian, and she'll tell you: not all encyclopedias are created equal.

Within the last few weeks, on an undisclosed date, the Iwasaki Library acquired the 2009 Encyclopedia of Journalism, a one-of-its-kind six-volume scholarly behemoth that experts say is the encyclopedia to end all encyclopedias. Several of the librarians there have been observed in recent days whispering and shaking their hands in presumed delight while using the new reference work.

"It's kind of a big deal," exclaimed an anonymous source within the library.

With over 360 signed entries in the first four volumes alone, this attractively designed book leaves little to the imagination. This reporter noticed that each of these entries featured "further readings," and each of the volumes also included an index for the entire set.

"We're very pleased, that's all I can say at this time," said another unnamed source within the library, as she trembled and embraced one of the six volumes.

One of the librarians was eager to point out that volume 5 contains key documents in the field, including laws, court cases, codes of ethics and standards, educational statements, and data on the profession. Volume 6 appears to have even more information in the form of appendices that list journalism awards, country ratings of journalism freedom from Freedom House, and a guide to recent literature.

One student interviewed was clearly pleased by the new set. Hugh Tabb Lloyd, a 3rd year journalism student, pored over one of the volumes, smiling widely. "This thing might just save my ass," he said.

No, it's not just you - it is getting hot in here! Cool down with Climate Change: A Reference Handbook, one of many volumes in the Contemporary World Issues series. Each book in this fantastic reference series contains an overview, chronology, biographical sketches, facts and statistical data and/or primary source material, a directory of organizations, a list of other reference sources, and a glossary.

The 2006 Stern Review Report on the Economics of Climate Change commissioned by the British government warned that a failure to strongly and promptly reduce carbon emissions "could create risks of major disruption to economic and social activity, later in this century and in the next, on a scale similar to those associated with the great wars and the economic depression of the first half of the 20th century." And despite the now firmly established scientific consensus on global warming, a recent national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press revealed a disturbing decline in the proportion of Americans who (1) believe that there is solid evidence of a rise in global temperatures and (2) say global temperatures are rising as a result of human activity.

Use this week's "pick" to educate yourself on this most urgent matter.

This ain't your mother's dictionary folks, it's the real deal! Hey performing arts students, it's the Dictionary of the Theatre: Terms, Concepts, and Analysis!

More properly called an encyclopedia, this indispensable work is a must-use for any researcher grappling with the often elusive and squirmy antagonist of theatre and performance theory. The Dictionary features an illuminating thematic index, which groups entries into those concerning Dramatugy, Text and Discourse, Actor and Character, Genres and Forms, Staging, Structural Principles and Aesthetic Questions, Reception, and Semiology. Consisting of brief to mid-length entries with references, and authored by Patrice Pavis, a French expert in the field, this book may just become your new hero!

To research or not to research? There can be no question. Don't be a fool - consult this masterly tome when the demands of theory are upon you.

Introducing the latest addition to the Library's print reference collection, The Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Society!

With nearly 600 entries written by 376 experts and scholars, this new multidisciplinary encyclopedia is an excellent first stop for any research question that touches upon racial or ethnic topics. It contains more than 120 entries on specific groups in the United States, and over 100 essays treating race and ethnicity in other countries, making it relatively comprehensive in its scope. Don't forget about the very handy "Reader's Guide," a thematic table of contents in the front matter, or the appendix of related historical statistics for the United States.

From "Health Disparities" to "Higher Education: Racial Battle Fatigue" to "Hip-Hop," there's something in here for everyone at Emerson. Enjoy!

The Duke University Libraries, well known for its digital collections, has released thousands of historic TV commercials for free through a new resource called AdViews. The collection features ads for over 70 products and is neatly arranged into albums on iTunes U, the section of the iTunes Store full of free educational materials. This fantastic collection continues to grow and will eventually contain ads through the 1980's.

For now, ads range from the bizarre 1960's Crest campaign in which Bill Cosby stars as "Mr. Tooth Decay" and pals around, amid a pair of humongous teeth, with a karate master named "Bac Teria"; to the classic "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down!"; to the ridiculous Hardees ads from the 1970's, in which a boy and a girl voraciously devour hamburgers, get highly gendered toys from a "Fun Machine" (girl gets ring, boy gets plastic spider, both are thrilled!) , and barely notice that a cape-wearing, burger-loving villain named "Super Mouth" is on the loose and plotting to eat all of the juicy burgers.

If you enjoy vintage ads, you will easily become addicted to AdViews. You'll also probably enjoy geeking out with The Advertising Age Encyclopedia of Advertising and The Encyclopedia of Major Marketing Campaigns, both of which are available in the Library's Reference collection.

The Library now provides access to ProQuest Central, a research starting-point with particular strength in journalism, business and economics, health and medicine, technology, social sciences and humanities. A key resource for researchers of all levels, ProQuest Central includes the full text of over 8,800 publications across hundreds of subjects, including 400 newspapers, hundreds of scholarly journals and trade publications, 30,000 dissertations and 9,000 market reports.

Among the new features available in ProQuest Central is a collection of business databases - ABI/Inform, Hoover's, and Snapshot Series; a wide range of health & medicine databases; a full-text newspaper collection featuring both local and national papers; and a daily analysis service which summarizes and predicts the effects of the today's news on the world. With each search, you'll find suggestions and ways to refine your results.

Comment:
Many thanks to the wonderful Library staff during our capstone. We had a lot of specific research to do very quickly, and the reference librarians were invaluable to our success. Erica was especially helpful at the beginning (by the way - for future marketing students - geographical industry info. is available on the U.S. Census website - except for Mass.! I contacted them about it apparently Mass. is not part of some program), and Josh and Dan took a lot of time to help later on - we couldn't have done it without you!

Thanks, and have a great summer!
-Group 5, GMCA

Response:
You're most welcome!

The Summer Jobs Worldwide 2009 may have just the gig for you! This excellent guide affords general advice and job listings supplemented by "red tape" information detailing visa requirements and work permits. Conservation in France, leading hikes in Costa Rica, teaching English in Korea - check it out!

The St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture , available both in print and online, is the perfect beginning source for any related research interest. Covering the areas of social life, music, print, film, television, radio, sports, art and performance, this five-volume encyclopedia features entries on people, groups, bands, organizations, corporations, brands and products, films, genres, TV and radio shows, fashion trends, historical events, technologies, sports teams, social and political movements, social issues, and much more. With illustrations and bibliographies for most entries, the St. James serves as a general and interdisciplinary entry point into the secondary literature on 20th century American popular culture.

Edited by Robert Heath, with contributions from academics and practitioners, the Encyclopedia of Public Relations is an invaluable resource, available in print and online through the Gale Virtual Reference Library database. This two-volume work contains entries on the history, jargon, practitioners, and organizations in the field, as well as entries for theories, models, research methods, ethics, and much more.

The International Encyclopedia of Communication Online, the definitive multivolume reference work for this interdisciplinary field, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Expansive in scope, regularly updated, and extensively cross-referenced, its over 1,400 entries are grouped into 29 editorial areas representing major categories of inquiry, including communication theory, interpersonal communication, media effects, strategic communication, PR, and more. This essential resource includes entries for theories, concepts, methods, geographical areas, and more, making it an invaluable tool for the entire Emerson community.

Look for it on the Library's Databases A-Z webpage or in the FLO catalog!

Get help with both research and writing in one convenient location - the Library! A tutor from the Writing & Academic Resource Center will be available at the Library Reference Desk every Sunday from 8-10 p.m., no appointment necessary. Consult with the tutor about:

* Citations

* Grammar

* Paper Topics

* Thesis Statements

Remember that you can also make appointments for tutor sessions by stopping by the Writing & Academic Resource Center in person at 216 Tremont Street or by calling 617-824-7874.

Get help with both research and writing in one convenient location - the Library! Just in time for finals, a tutor from the Writing & Academic Resource Center will be available at the Library Reference Desk every Tuesday from 4-6, no appointment necessary. Consult with the tutor about:

• Citations


• Grammar


• Paper Topics


• Thesis Statements

As the race for the presidency heats up, you may find yourself searching for information on the competing campaigns and electoral process. Look no farther than the new Campaigns & Elections research guide! The guide brings together an array of resources, including blogs, websites, encyclopedias, campaign spots, directories, and so much more, to help you navigate the world of political communication and electoral politics. Check it out!

I want to thank the Emerson Library for actually listening to comments and recommendations. But I wish there was a way for students to know what new books or magazines have been added weekly.

As you may have noticed, the Fenway Libraries Online catalog has changed, and the new catalog isn't quite yet fully functional. Within the next few weeks, a "New Books" feature will be added as a search option in the catalog. In the meantime, however, we have online exhibits of recently added titles on our Flickr page.

Question
There is never anyone at the reference desk in the morning. Today there was no doorbell.

Answer

Summer Reference Desk hours start at 9:30 with an "on call" staffing model until 11:00. This typically means that we leave a doorbell at the Reference Desk so you can summon help when you need it. If you need assistance before 9:30 or don't see the doorbell, please ask at the Circulation Desk. A staff member there can assist you or help locate a reference librarian.

Are you a news junkie? Are you curious to know what’s been going on in Kyrgyzstan lately? Would you like to know what ordinary people around the world have to say about human rights, music, literature, their governments, and more?

Global Voices Online is the place for you to explore these and other issues not typically covered by English language press. Using an extensive network of translators and dedicated volunteers, this site “seeks to aggregate, curate, and amplify the global conversation online –shining light on places and people other media often ignore.”

Exploring the site by country, topic, or author is easy –tag clouds give a sense of who, where, and what is making news in the global blogosphere.

Are you

• Starting a project where you need data and statistics?


• Not finding the information you need for a paper or project?


• Clueless about choosing books and databases?


• Completely lost about how to start your research?

Sign up for a research appointment! A librarian will meet with you to help find information and develop a research strategy. We are happy to meet with you or your group!

You can sign up for an appointment at the Reference Desk or the Ask Us! section of the Library website. Appointments are available Monday-Friday 9-5 and Sunday 3-6. For group projects, please reserve a study space after your appointment is confirmed.

Looking to learn about comic improvisatory theater in Iran? Or political theater in the United States? How about Shared Experience Theater or Five Lesbian Brothers? Or the meaning of deconstruction with respect to drama?

To find the answers to these and a plethora of other questions, turn to The Columbia Encyclopedia of Modern Drama! This two-volume work features over 1200 entries on concepts, companies, countries, genres, movements, plays and playwrights from 1860 to the present. The work differs from other reference books on theater in its focus on practice and performance as well as written drama.

Entries have further reading recommendations, so it is easy to find additional materials. And just before the index there is a useful listing of entries by topic or country, making questions like “Who are contemporary playwrights from Malaysia?” a breeze to answer.

And be sure to check out selected entries written by Magda Romanska, Assistant Professor of Performing Arts and Head of Theatre Studies! Look for Denise Boucher. Sarah Anne Curzon, Merrill Denison, Linda Griffiths, Lois Reynolds Kerr and Marjorie Pickthall.