Open Access Dissertations

May 11th, 2010 • Robb Brunansky

SBTS students have been able to access electronic copies of recent SBTS dissertations through the UMI Dissertation Search for several years. Now, students can search for open access dissertations from other institutions using two different search tools that access the same database.

The Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations Scirus ETD Search is a search utility that assists researchers in finding open access electronic theses and dissertations. This search utility accesses the same data as the VTLS Visualizer search described below, but it provides a different interface that helps researchers narrow their searches by subject.

The Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations VTLS Visualizer ETD Search is a search utility that assists researchers in finding open access electronic theses and dissertations. This search utility accesses the same data as the Scirus search described above, but it provides a different interface that helps researchers narrow their searches by language, continent, country, date, format, and source institution.

We hope you find both of these search tools helpful. You can find links to these and other dissertation tools on our Dissertations and Research Projects Databases page.

Library Computing Survey Results

April 13th, 2010 • Robb Brunansky

Thanks to everyone who participated in our recent library computer survey. We have received and compiled all the feedback and will be making changes as appropriate to help improve your library computing experience. In response to survey results, we have already made some changes:

• A stapler has been made available on the second floor by the printer
• DVDs now play properly on all computers in the lab

Many of you requested more available IT support staff. For those who don’t know, Matt Pierce is available in the afternoons Monday-Friday to answer your questions and help troubleshoot problems in the lab. His office is located in the printer area on the second floor. If you can’t find Matt or he’s not here, feel free to ask the circulation staff for help. If they can’t help, they will find someone who can.

Many of you also requested better wireless coverage in the library. We are taking steps to improve coverage. Perhaps you’ve seen the blue network cables hanging from the ceiling by the PhD offices on the third floor. These are future locations of more wireless access points. We hope by the Fall semester to have every inch of the library covered with a strong, consistent wireless signal. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we acquire and install the necessary hardware.

Several of you commented about the price of printing in the library. According to our survey, 36% of people who print in the library pay with cash. Let me encourage you to use your Shield Card to pay for printing as that will immediately reduce costs. You can add money to your Shield Card at 5th & Broadway, on the main floor in the library, or online with a credit card. Printing is a service that 5th & Broadway provides within the library for your convenience. Comments or questions about pricing should be directed to 5th & Broadway.

Again, we appreciate all the feedback we received throughout March as you completed our survey. We hope you are rewarded for your participation by a better library computing experience as we respond to your comments and concerns. If you have any other feedback, be sure to let us know.

Recent Items Page and RSS Feeds

March 31st, 2010 • Robb Brunansky

For some time, Boyce Centennial Library has had an area on the main floor where patrons could browse new titles recently added to the collection. We are happy to announce that we now have an online new titles section where you can browse new titles from anywhere you have a computer and internet access. Not only that, but our New Titles Page provides RSS feeds to notify you whenever a new title of interest is added to the collection.

New titles have been grouped into ten major categories: Old Testament, New Testament, Preaching, Church History, Leadership, Missions, Systematic Theology, Education, Counseling, and Apologetics. You can subscribe to RSS feeds for one, several, or all of these subject areas.

In the weeks and months ahead, expect to see improvements coming to the New Titles Page as well as new features. If you have feedback about this new application, or if we have left out a category you’d like to see added to the page, send us an email and let us know.