New Blog...Same Library

We have finally set up a new URL and blog for the library. Please see the new blog for new posts as we go forward. This blog (itplibrary.blogspot.com) will remain available as an archive of past posts.

Conference at Sofia University 2014: Call for Presentation Proposals

The Society for Humanistic Psychology of the American Psychological Association is inviting proposals for its annual conference to be held at Sofia University on Mar. 13-16, 2014.

The conference theme is Human Dignity and Humanistic Values

Submission Guidelines and Form: http://www.societyforhumanisticpsychologyconference.com/proposal-submissions

Proposal Deadline: 12/1/2013 by midnight PST.

Films on Demand Trial: 11/6/2013 to 11/21/2013

By patron request, we have set up a database trial for Films on Demand. They are an academic streaming video database provider. The trial includes unlimited usage. Interested Sofia community members may contact us for logins at refdesk@sofia.edu

 

Films On Demand: Humanities & Social Sciences Video Collection
Start Date: 11/6/2013
Expiration Date: 11/21/2013
http://digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=36783

Films On Demand: Philosophy & Religion Video Collection
Start Date: 11/6/2013
Expiration Date: 11/21/2013
http://digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=36783

Films On Demand: Psychology Video Collection
Start Date: 11/6/2013
Expiration Date: 11/21/2013
http://digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=36783

Enjoy! We appreciate your feedback about these trials as it helps to give us information about what our patrons find useful and we can possibly plan to subscribe to one or more of these databases in the future.

Creating a Search Journal

Learning about library research is an ongoing and dynamic process. We find that students and faculty often find having a search journal a helpful tool for this process. Using a search journal as a regular reflective process deepens and informs your process. What works? What doesn't?  With each journalling session you can reflect on your research process, weaving together practical discoveries with your own insights and state of mind.

The journal can take any form that works: a small handmade journal for each assigned paper, a binder full of paper, a Word document, or a Google Doc that you open and maintain every time you are online.

We suggest you follow a few helpful tips if you are starting a search journal for the first time:

The most important thing is to journal about what is useful to you. If you make it a natural part of your research, you will find that searching becomes easier.  What is the search process like for you? What are you learning from it? 

Be sure to document both useful keywords and keywords that proved to be deadends. What are their definitions and are they part of the language of a particular field? You may want to create a mindmap of terms you discover so that you can see where there may be patterns or gaps.

Document relevant authors you discover along the way. They may be future peers if this becomes your area of expertise. You can watch who cites these authors for additional good content. 

Track journal titles that address your topic. You can return to these journals when you find you want to keep up with new articles in this area.

Keep a list of databases or websites that yielded the best scholarship. You may want to use them again.

New Transpersonal Psychology Book Worth Exploring

Some of you may already know about the new book about the field of transpersonal psychology:

The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Transpersonal Psychology

We are so proud that so many of our faculty, alums and students contributed to this scholarly text. We have a print copy on display in the library on the table nearest the Reference Collection. We will attempt to ask all of the authors to sign it, but that may take some time.

We also purchased an e-book copy of the Handbook. This is available in the ebrary e-book collection. This is a multi-user access title, so 3 people can access it at once. Please be patient and try again if you are that 4th person. We will track usage to see if we need to purchase another e-copy.

Questions about this book? Please email us.

ISSSEEM Journal Archive

ISSSEEM, an organization devoted to the study of energy medicine, publishes Subtle Energies & Energy Medicine Journal and has now made their entire archive of issues available online.

The rich collection goes back to 1990 and currently include 60 issues. The collection is searchable and browsable.

They also offer a digital archive of Bridges Magazine and eSEEM Newsletter.

APA Style Guide for Electronic References: Free for Sofia Students, Staff and Faculty

For new and returning students, please take advantage of your access to the most recent APA Style Guide for Electronic Resources. This guide was released last year. This document functions as a helpful supplement and update to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association with regard to various types of e-resources.   We purchased it and placed it on two sites for protected access: Angel and ebrary. This is licensed content that is for your personal use only.

The ebrary copy will function as a reference copy (reading, printing out sections), etc.

The Angel copy will be available for download as a PDF by students, staff, and faculty who have an Angel account. This PDF copy can be kept or printed for personal use. Please contact us at refdesk@sofia.edu if you do not have an Angel account. 

Ebrary

1. Go to http://site.ebrary.com/lib/itp/docDetail.action?docID=80093361&p00=apa
2. If you are off campus, log in using your Library Database Username and Password.

Library Site on Angel (please log in before accessing)

1. Go to  http://itp.angellearning.com/default.asp
2. Log in as usual.
3. Click on the Library link under institutional resources.  Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the APA Guide to Electronic References 6th Ed. document. You will be able to download the pdf document.

Please note that this document only addresses citations for electronic materials. In a rapidly changing world, we hope this will be of use to you.

Let us know if you have any problem accessing this document. 

More Information from the Publisher:

Adapted throughout to meet the latest reference standards from the Sixth Edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association^®, this guide is the go-to source for referencing online and web-based research materials. Available in an easy-to-use PDF format, the APA Style Guide to Electronic References provides an authoritative reference guide to help navigate the ambiguous world of reference sources found online, including:

• The key elements to include when referencing electronic sources, especially those with incomplete or missing information

• Common usage of digital object identifiers (DOIs) in validating reference material

• Reference information for websites, Internet message boards, electronic mailing lists, and social media

• Reference information for data sets, software, and online measurement instruments

• And much more

With a wealth of detailed examples, the APA Style Guide to Electronic References will be an indispensable resource for anyone conducting online research in the social sciences.

All about E-Books: Sofia University Library's E-book Collections Overview

E-books seem to be a hot topic in recent months. The Sofia University Library currently has a number of e-book collections with full text digital books to read and download. All e-book collections are accessible from the Access Databases page.

All e-books can be read online in your favorite browser. With some e-books, you can download and keep chapters. With some you can download and read sections on a short term basis.

PsycBooks: Chapters from 2,000 books published by APA, and other publishers, classic books in psychology, and authored entries from the APA/Oxford University Press Encyclopedia of Psychology. Chapters are downloaded as PDFs to keep. Found in the EbscoHost Database collection.

ebrary: Searchable database of over 80,000 recent full text books in many academic fields. Titles are added monthly. There are several options for reading or using the e-books in ebrary. Read online as long as you have an internet connection. Download or print sections. If you wish to download the entire text, you will need Adobe Digital Editions and the copy you download will expire in 14 days.

Springer E-Books in Behavioral Sciences: Database of over 400 books in behavioral sciences published by Springer from 2005-2013. New titles are added each year. Chapters are downloadable as PDFs to keep.

There are also smaller collections of e-books in other databases:

Counseling & Psychotherapy Transcripts: Database of therapy and counseling session transcripts that includes 40 digital reference works. Sections are printable.

Ebsco e-book Collection: Full text for selected transpersonal books. Small but growing! Found in the EbscoHost Database collection. Read online as long as you have an internet connection.

Questions? Email us your questions or set an appointment.