Ask-A-Librarian Goes Mobile!

Scenario: You're away from home and school, you do not have access to a computer, you suddenly remember you have a paper due that requires you to cite two reputable sources. What can you do?

Answer: Use your smart phone! New, free mobile apps now make it possible for you to use the Washington State Ask-a-Librarian service called "Ask-WA" on your Android or iPhone smart phone. You can ask questions of actual research librarians in real time, 24 hours a day just like you would from your computer!

Even if you get a librarian from another institution, Olympic College librarians always review questions from Olympic College students. Since we are familiar with many of your assignments, we may have additional resources or useful information to add to your original live chat session. To get this kind of "post-chat" follow-up, make sure to provide your email address!

Download the Adroid app here:
http://www.androidpit.com/en/android/market/apps/app/gov.wa.sos.askwa/Ask-WA

Download the iphone app here:
http://itunes.apple.com/app/ask-wa/id384143749

Ask-a-Librarian and get that paper in on time!

Welcome! Library Services Overview

Welcome to Fall Quarter everyone! Just a quick reminder of the many services and resources we have available for you. Students, did you know you can:

• Call a librarian at the Library Reference Desk at (360) 475-7252 (on campus ext 7252)
• Find Library Hours on our web page?
• Chat live online with a librarian for help on your research 24/7?
• Talk with a librarian in person for help with what books or articles you could use for a paper?
• Explore the many online databases and encyclopedias we subscribe to?
• Use group study rooms?
• Find Course Reserve material in our catalog from your instructor?
• Check out brand new laptops from our circulation/check-out desk?
• See displays of the library's new books?
• Find quiet, pleasant places to study and use your wireless laptop?
• Review custom research guides for particular OC classes as well as general subjects?

Come explore! Talk with us, we want to help!

End of Quarter Crunch? Librarians can Help!

Hello Students! Here we are again... so soon... at the end of another quarter. We at the library want to help you finish up the quarter successfully! If you are struggling to wrap up those final papers and presentations, or need just a couple more articles or reference sources to cite, librarians can assist you! We can help you with using software like PowerPoint, "tweaking" your search strategies in ProQuest or EbscoHost, or suggesting other databases that match your topic or assignment. Also, if you need a quiet place to study up for exams, the library has some wonderful spaces for individual and group study.

• Call a librarian at the reference desk at 360-475-7252.
  
Monday-Thursday 8am-9pm
Friday 8am-5pm
Saturday 10am-4pm
Sunday Noon-6pm


• Chat with a librarian 24/7 via the link to QuestionPoint on the library website!

Please note: You may be chatting with a librarian from another academic library within our national 24/7 cooperative reference service. OC librarians may follow up on those chats with additional information.

• Study Rooms are available in the Haselwood Library basement.
  
  

Google Documents

Google Documents. A common problem for students is communicating electronically with their professors. Specifically, many professors want written work turned in to them In Microsoft Word (.doc) format. Microsoft Word is a robust word processing program that’s also got a robust price tag, so most students are facing a big hurdle -- How to comply with professors’ demands without shelling out even more money? You’ve paid tuition, been exploited by textbook publishers, and now you need $250 for software? NOT! Google Documents might be your best solution!

Google Documents is a free Web-based software suite that gives you tools to create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. And if you download them correctly, your documents will be compatible with Microsoft Word, creating harmony between you and your professor. Google Documents was initially created as a collaboration tool, but it will also work as your personal document editor and storage space on the Web.

http://docs.google.com/

--Kent Mercer,MLIS