Do you have a VHS tape or CD that you would like to convert into a more usable form? The Anderson Academic Commons has its own full-service digitization lab that can help.

Digital Conversion Services can convert a variety of analog or digital media into either digital or electronic formats. The trained media technicians in Digital Conversion Services can either directly convert your media or edit and enhance it. Check out the Digital Conversion Services homepage for details on the many types of media that can be converted.

Making a request to have your media converted is easy. Simply send an email to library-av@du.edu, with the details of your project, including the type of media you would like to convert, the format that you would like to convert it into, and details on how and when you would like the final product to be delivered. Requests should be submitted with at least 72 hours notice.

Conversion projects are, of course, subject to copyright laws. You will need to complete the Copyright Acknowledgement Statement before the project can be completed. While you may wish to review the general pricing list, Digital Conversion Services recommends that you schedule a consultation to review the specific pricing and requirements for your unique project.

Converting your media to newer forms will allow you to preserve and access your content for years to come…and it may just give you the final reason that you need to get rid of your old VCR.

Because of the different learning styles in our community, the library subscribes to several online language learning programs: Mango, Livemocha, Tell Me More, and Transparent Language Online.  In addition, for those who wish to download audio lessons to a iPod or MP3 player, we have Pimsleur.

In collaboration with the Center for World Languages and Cultures, we have created a research guide, Language Learning Programs, in which we list the languages included and the special features offered for each program.

You must register to use the programs.  We have included that information on the tabs in the research guide for the individual programs.

The Center for World Languages and Cultures recommends you try the different programs to see which is right for you.

If you have any questions about the library’s language learning subscriptions, please contact Peggy Keeran, Arts and Humanities Reference Librarian, at peggy.keeran@du.edu.

The language learning programs are only available for current DU faculty, staff, and students. If you are alumn, contact your local public library to inquire if they offer any online language learning programs, or if they have audio CDs for the language you wish to learn.  If they don’t have either, they may be able to borrow audio CDs via Interlibrary Loan for you for the language you wish to learn.

The Digital Media Center located in the Anderson Academic Commons is a new service that will assist students, faculty, or staff with any multimedia editing project, including video production, audio engineering, or still photography enhancement.

Bring the media you want to edit on an external drive, like a USB, Firewire, or Thunderbolt hard drive, and staff in the Digital Media Center will assist you in using software like Adobe Photoshop and After Effects, or Apple’s Final Cut Pro X. A staff member is always available for walk-in tutorials as available or scheduled appointments.

The Center is open:

Mon.-Thur: 8am-12am
Fri.: 8am-8pm
Sat.: 9am-8pm
Sun.: 10am-12am

Visit the Digital Media Center portfolio page for more information as well as helpful tutorials: portfolio.du.edu/media

Accessing materials in the new library will be faster and more efficient than ever.

Our extensive library collections will be stored in both the Anderson Academic Commons (opening on March 25) and in our offsite storage at the Hampden Center. You can retrieve materials stored in the easy-to-use moveable compact shelving on the lower level of the AAC by yourself, or you can use our popular book paging service to have materials retrieved for you. Simply click on the Request It button in the online library catalog, and library staff will retrieve your items and have them waiting for you at the Lending Desk.

Just as you did during the library renovation, you can also use the Request It button to request materials stored at the Hampden Center. Library staff will work hard to ensure that your requested items will be delivered to the Lending Desk within hours; you will receive an email when they are ready for pick up.

We began moving the books back into the library on March 5.

The monographs collection is being shelved in the compact shelves on the lower level.

The compact shelving can be moved manually, three stacks at a time. For assistance, ask at the Lending Desk, located near the front entrance, or look for instructional signs in the area.

The new books will be located on the main level, and the browsing periodicals and newspapers next to the Front Porch Cafe. The DVDs will be located on the upper level.

You will be able to continue using “Request It” to request most available materials, whether located in the library or at Hampden Center.

NAICS stands for North American Industry Classification System. Implemented in 1997, it is updated every five years in order to account for new industries.

This system is used by U.S. government statistical agencies to classify business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistics related to the U.S. business economy. It is a hierarchical system representing 20 economic sectors, made up of two to six digits, with each level becoming more specific. To learn more about the organizational structure for 2012 NAICS codes click here.

There are several ways to find a NAICS code; some of them are described below.

1. Go to the following URL to access the NAICS search engine: http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/. Enter the name of the industry you are researching (do not do company searches in this database).

You will retrieve a list of codes that contain the keyword/s you used. Look through the list to find the one that looks relevant. Be sure to click on a link to read the description and verify that it is the correct code.

2. If you have the name of a company, use a database like Hoovers Online to find it. Once in Hoovers take the following steps:

a. Enter the name of your company in the search box.

b. You will get a list of results. Click on your company’s name.

c. Once you have accessed the company’s record click on the “Industry Information” link located in the “Company Index” section located under the company’s name.

d. Once you have clicked on the “Industry Information” link you will find the NAICS and SIC codes. Sometimes companies will have several codes and those will show up in Hoovers. The main codes are in bold.

You can also use the tutorial below to learn how to find a code:

NAICS Tutorial

Once you have a code you can use it to find information in databases. For instance, use:

1. CenStats to find U.S. business patterns.

2. FirstResearch to find industry reports

3. Bizminer for industry ratios and financial benchmarks.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) compiles their policy statements in the source titled, Social Work Speaks.  The ninth edition, published in 2012, contains policy statements  that were adopted by the Delegate Assembly in 2011, including 18 revised statements.

Invaluable for students in social work policy classes, Social Work Speaks provides 64 public and professional policy statements on a wide range of social issues, such as adolescent health, capital punishment, disasters, family violence, homelessness, immigrants, mental health, people with disabilities, racism, school violence, transgender and gender issues, welfare reform, and youth suicide, among others.  Each statement presents a background summary, an issue statement, a policy statement, and a list of references –all of which can be helpful in identifying key legislation, publications, and organizations.

Although the table of contents are posted at the NASW website, Social Work Speaks is not available in electronic format at this time.  To consult the latest print volume, please come to the Research Center where you will find Social Work Speaks located in the Reference stacks with the call number HV88 .N118 2012.

You can also review the Social Welfare Policy research guide for additional policy resources.

When American Factfinder 2 was launched in 2011, it was a challenge to use, even for librarians. Very recently the front interface was retooled and is now much easier to use.
What is American Factfinder 2, you might ask? It is the Census Bureau’s searchable database for population and housing census and statistics, as well as for economic census and statistics.
Now, without knowing a great deal about data structures, census definitions, or industry codes, you can still get data rather easily.

Here is the web address for AFF2: http://factfinder2.census.gov/
For most research purposes the Guided Search function may work the best. This is a stepped approach in which you make selections step-by-step and have confidence in the data being retrieved.
Of course, you could plumb the depths of AFF2 much better with some guidance. University Library Reference Librarians are available for research consultations and can help you retrieve data from American Factfinder.

What is a popular source?

You are used to professors requiring the use of peer-reviewed, scholarly articles in class, but you recently had an assignment that required finding a popular source. What is a popular source, and what is the best way to locate one?

A popular source is geared toward the general public. It is not as reliable as an academic source, and often does not have a list of references, which can make it difficult to verify its authenticity. Examples of popular sources include magazines and newspaper articles.

Using library databases

One way to limit your search to popular sources is by using the built-in filters within a database. A search in the multidisciplinary database Academic Search Complete, for example, will produce a results page like the one below. Use the checkboxes listed under “Source Type” on the left side of the screen to limit your search to newspapers and magazines; you will be left with a results list filled with popular sources. Many of our other databases have similar filters that allow you to limit your search to include only popular sources.

Newspaper databases

The library subscribes to numerous databases that only contain information from newspapers. Try searching Access World News to search newspapers throughout the world or limit your search to a particular newspaper by using a resource such as the New York Times (Proquest Newstand). Check out more newspaper resources under the Newspapers (Current) link under the subject listing on the Databases tab of our homepage.

Other search strategies

Spend some time thinking about popular sources that you are familiar with that publish articles on your topic. Visit the websites for those sources and spend some time browsing the content there. Using these strategies and resource will allow you to locate popular sources effectively; if you need further assistance, the Research Center will be happy to assist you.