Laptops Available for Library Use!

Yes, the UCC Library now has laptops to loan out to students for use anywhere in the library. In a nutshell: 1) check out a computer, using your student ID; 2) use it responsibly; 3) return it to the desk before it's overdue. Yes, there are some policies, like bring it back to the desk within 3 hours or pay a big fine, don't check it out on your card and then hand it over to your friend with a reputation for dropping things, don't save your 10 page paper to the hard drive and expect it to be there tomorrow. Stuff like that. The policies are pasted right on top of the computer. And they're pasted right here, if you want a preview:

1. Library laptops are available to currently enrolled UCC students for 3 hour periods for use inside the library only.

2. Only UCC students currently enrolled in CREDIT CLASSES, faculty, and staff are eligible to check out Library Laptops. Credit students pay student technology fees to make these laptops available. Students must have their UCC ID card with a current term sticker.

3. If you checkout a laptop, it is assumed you know how to use it responsibly. The library staff and lab aides are not able to provide hardware or software troubleshooting, tutoring, or assistance.

4. Laptops will be available on a first come, first served basis and may not be reserved in advance. Only one laptop at a time may be borrowed by an individual.

5. Laptops may be checked out at the circulation desk from 8 a.m. until one hour before the library closes. Laptops must be returned at least a half hour before closing.

6. Laptop checkouts can be renewed, if there is no other student waiting. The library does not maintain a waiting list.

7. Save files to your own storage media. Do not save personal files or download software to the laptop hard drive at any time. Files will be deleted and you may lose the privilege of checking out laptops.

8. The student to whom the laptop is checked out is responsible for any associated costs if the laptop is lost, stolen, damaged, or overdue. Do not leave the laptop unattended.

9. Report any problems with the laptop immediately. If available, another will be checked out to you.

10. Laptops are battery powered, unless it is plugged in. Watch for “battery low” warnings.

11. Comply with all library and college policies regarding use of technology. (http://www.umpqua.edu/library/aup.htm)

12. Don’t be late! Return the laptop before it is overdue. Always return the laptop to a library staff member and do not leave it unattended. FINES: $10 overdue fine per hour . $1500 replacement cost for a lost, damaged-beyond-repair, or stolen laptop. After 24 hours overdue, the laptop will be considered lost.

13. The College is not responsible for any viruses which may be transferred to a user’s personal storage device, nor is it responsible for any lost or corrupted files.

Global Road Warrior? Credo?

What stereotypes of Venezuelans are accepted by foreigners? What is the literacy rate in Ireland? What is the main religion in Iceland? The UCC Library recently picked up a new subscription to "Global Road Warrior", a new database, that answers these questions and provides easy-to-find information about countries and cultures around the world.

Choose a continent:


Click on a country:


From the country profile, you can choose a subject on the left, print screens, and grab the citation by clicking on "Cite this document".

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The library is also subscribing--on a trial basis--to Credo, a database of 348 reference books. This is a great place to start researching any topic to learn more about it. All 348 books are available completely online and can be searched simultaneously. Or you can search books by subject. If you find a book you like, you can browse it by its table of contents, look through the images in the book or search through it by keyword.

To give you an idea of the variety of ways you can approach the books in Credo, here's an index of some of the pictures found in "The Encyclopedia of Folk Art":


When you zero in on a topic in Credo, note the list on the left side of the screen. You'll find a list of related entries elsewhere in Credo, as well as a list of related resources. The related resources provide a list of other library databases, including the library catalog. Click on a resource to carry on your search outside of Credo. Kinda cool.

Time to Vote!-- Election 2008

It is an interesting time on the national stage recently, and your chance to make a difference is fast approaching. That's right, it's time to vote! To help you be more informed, more efficient, and more effective this November, check out this list of resources for everything from local ballot drop-off points to national Presidential election predictions!

Who's Who in the Presidential Race?

John McCain (Republican candidate)

• Sarah Palin (Republican Vice Presidential Candidate)

Barack Obama (Democratic candidate)

• Joe Biden (Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate)
  

National Presidential, Congressional, and Senate Races, 2008:

• C-SPAN: Campaign 2008 Election Forecast (added content from Congressional Quarterly)

• CNN: America Votes 2008

• Fox News: Elections 2008

• NPR: Election Map 2008

• New York Times: Election Guide 2008

• Washington Post: Presidential Candidates 2008
  

Local Elections

Douglas County Elections,

Includes current candidates, local measures, county office requirements, drop site locations for returning your ballot, and signage regulations.

Need more information on your rights and responsibilities as an Oregon voter?

Voting in Oregon: a Douglas County FAQ

Voting Instructions

Douglas County Voter's Pamphlet

• Don't have time to mail your ballot? Local Ballot Drop Sites & Hours

County election results (updated throughout the evening on Election Day)


Oregon State Elections Division

Oregon Election Calendar 2008

August 26 candidate filing deadline / voters' pamphlet filing deadline

September 20 ballots mailed to long-term absent voters (overseas and military)

October 6 ballots mailed to out-of-state voters

October 8-10 voters' pamphlet delivery

October 14 voter registration deadline

October 17-21 ballots mailed to voters other than long-term and out-of-state voters

November 4 election day

December 4 certification of election results

National Voting Resources Online

Vote411

A "one-stop source for election-related questions." Information about polling places, candidates, election registration and polling deadlines, and much more, sorted by state. Created by the League of Women Voters Education Fund.

Vote Source [edit 10/2]

"Your source for making informed election decisions." Another great site from the League of Women Voters that covers both national and local contests and candidates.

Project VoteSmart

Project VoteSmart is a non-profit, non-partisan effort to provide information on national "candidates and elected officials in five basic categories: biographical information, issue positions, voting records, campaign finances and interest group ratings."

FactCheck.org

A resource site from the non-profit Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania that "monitors the factual accuracy of what is said by major US political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases."

OpenSecrets.org

A resource site put together by the non-profit Center for Responsive Politics, OpenSecrets allows one to search for campaign finance reports for candidates and elected officials by region and jurisdiction. Each profile also includes a brief synopsis of past funding trends and when the official is due for their next election cycle.

FiveThirtyEight

This site gathers election predictions for the Presidential race from all major polls, as well as the current predictions for the House and Senate. (538 refers to the number of seats in the Electoral College.)

OnTheIssues.org

See where each candidate stands on most major policy issues by vote count and past statements, organized into a list of common controversial topics.

The Tableless Library

You never know what may happen in a library during the summer. On the last day of Summer Term the furniture disappeared over a couple of hours. An intrepid student carried on to finish her finals. "Who needs tables?"

Meanwhile, we moved the Reference books. All of them.

















The chairs went out the door. . .

And the tables and sofas.

And all that was left was a vast empty space.

This was definitely not business as usual.

The painters showed up.

The carpeting began. First one side of the library,

And then the other.

Then everything went back together again.


Thanks to the flexible students, the Facilities crew, the Job Corps painters, and the library staff.

For more photos of the project, check out our photos on Flickr.

Get a life...locally

All things considered, it looks like many of us are planning on staying a little closer to home this summer. Maybe you have work commitments, or the price of gas going up-up-up has you down. Whatever the reason, there's nothing that says you can't have some fun right here in Douglas County! Check out our local maps to the summer events, farmers' markets, and educational and recreational activities near and dear to you. If you like, you can even add some of your own suggestions!

(Leave us a comment below with your suggestion, or click on "view larger map" and choose edit to add your activity directly!)

Douglas County Summer

View Larger Map


Douglas County Wineries

View Larger Map

Test Yourself

UCC Library now subscribes to LearningExpress, a database full of many, many self-paced tests and skills improvement courses. Test your knowledge--no pressure for a grade! Set up a free account for yourself and develop your skills at your own pace. Tests are scored immediately.Some of the subjects and categories of tests covered in the database are: GED, Advance Placement, Business Writing, College Entrance Practice Tests, Computer Skills (MS Office suite, Outlook), High School Skills Improvement, Law Enforcement, Math Skills, and Reading Skills. There are online “Improvement Courses” for writing, math, algebra, vocabulary, spelling, and more. There are courses for creating a resume, creating a cover letter, and tips for interviews.

You can reach the database here: http://www.LearningExpressLibrary.com?HR=http://www.umpqua.edu And it is linked from the library website: click "Find An Article" from the library homepage. You can also find the link from the Library Tab in UCCLife. From your UCCLife account you can use the database from off campus.You’ll be asked to sign in—just create your own username and password—to track on which tests you’ve taken.

Please let us know if you have any feedback on this product--whether you find it helpful or not. Thanks!

Budget cuts mean reduced Douglas Co. Library hours

The likelihood of losing the "safety net" timber payments from the federal government to Douglas County this year has led to a call for budget reductions county-wide, including a plan to cut public library services by about 20%.

According to an article in Thursday's News Review on page 2 (not up at nrtoday.com yet, but I'll post a link when it is available), the library system is looking to reduce open hours from 322 to 284 per week. Most noticeably effected is the downtown Roseburg branch, which would cut its Monday hours completely.