Brown Library News & Events

Mango Languages Database Trial

Shannon Pohrte — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:48:01 +0000

Are you interesting in learning a new language or just need some help with your Spanish class? Try out the Mango Languages Database Trial.

Mango is a self-paced learning system with a focus on simplicity. It was designed for anyone to start using, without the need for a help manual. Mango is easy to setup and even easier to use! You’ll learn more than grammar, vocabulary and culture, you’ll learn how to communicate. Mango’s self-paced learning environment offers the simplest way to learn a new language. Mango is not a flashcard system. Instead, Mango teaches actual conversational skills within the context of real-world situations.

Some of the languages covered are Italian, Spanish, German, Japanese, Farsi and many more. It can also be used as an ESL tool.

So please try it out and let us know what you think.

Library Closing at 2:30 Today, January 20

lisa — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:11:36 +0000

Due to the snow and the threat for significantly more to come in the next few hours, Brown Library and the rest of campus will be closing at 2:30pm. Classes scheduled for any time after 2:30pm will be canceled.

Brown Library will reopen tomorrow at 9am. Enjoy the early closing and be safe in your commute home.

Wikipedia Blackout January 18

lisa — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:59:37 +0000

Even though I know you’re not relying on Wikipedia to get all your research done for your classes, I felt a warning was due anyways. Wikipedia will be blacking out its English language site as protest over the SOPA (about) and PIPA bills that are working their ways through Congress. What does this mean for you? Just make sure that if you are going to do online research outside of the library’s databases you prepare yourself for a lack of availability from Wikipedia and a few other websites. Unfortunately, there is no workaround to gain access to these sites while they are protesting the proposed legislation. If you have questions on where you can access information that is similar to Wikipedia please contact Brown Library and we can point you in the direction of other resources that can fulfill your information needs.

Monday, January 16- Library Closed

lisa — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:03:56 +0000

Brown Library will be closed Monday, January 16 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The library will reopen with normal hours Tuesday the 17th at 7:45am.

Requesting Books Through I-Share

lisa — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:05:32 +0000

One of the most commonly asked questions at the beginning of each semester is how you can place a request for a book you’ve found in I-Share. To help you set up an account and place your first request, we’ve created short videos explaining the process.

Before you can place your request, you will need to create an account in I-Share. Watch the video guide.

Once your account has been created, you can then request your book. Watch the video explaining how to request a book.

If you are unable to request a book or create an I-Share account, please call the library at 815-740-5041.

Free Textbooks Contest from Neebo

lisa — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:14:59 +0000

The library is always my first recommendation as the place to get your textbooks for free, but this contest from textbook supplier Neebo might be worth trying too!

How do you enter? Head over to the Neebo Facebook page and Like them. This enters you into their sweepstakes. If you’re one of the 100.000 lucky winners you simply pay shipping (ok, so it’s only almost free) and you are sent your textbook for the semester. The details to the contest are on Neebo’s Facebook page, so head on over and take a look. Can’t hurt to try right?

Welcome Back Students!

lisa — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:44:20 +0000

It can be hard getting back into the swing of things after a month off, especially a month that encourages lots of eating and general merriment. But it’s back to school for USF students and we’re here to make this semester a little easier than the last. As always, the librarian at Brown Library are ready and waiting to help you borrow your textbooks instead of purchasing them, help you decide on a research topics, guide you through your actual research, and even just help you find a new book to read for the fun of it!

Want more ideas on what the library can do for you? Check out 12 Things You Can Do At Brown Library in 2012!

Thursday Find: Animated Christmas Classics

lisa — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:12:55 +0000

It was only a few weeks ago that I posted about YouTube’s collection of free, full length movies and highlighted a few of my favorites. Today we’re going back to YouTube to watch some animated Christmas movies!

There’s a decent selection of Christmas classics, though there’s no simple way to search for the free Christmas movies (browsing is required) but here’s a link to the list of free animated Christmas movies on YouTube. Here’s one to start you off, Christmas Classics Number 1, featuring everyone’s favorite reindeer.

Wednesday Find: Christmas Traditions

lisa — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:16:05 +0000

I love hearing about the different ways that people celebrate Christmas (my personal favorite is the Christmas Pickle) and so to learn more on the backgrounds of different Christmas traditions, I went to the one place that’s great for this kind of information and little else: Wikipedia. As it turns out, they have an entire category devoted to Christmas traditions.

The list is a bit heavy in American traditions as opposed to those of other countries, but there’s still quite a bit to learn. And who know’s maybe you can incorporate a thing or two into your celebrations this year! Have a favorite, unique Christmas tradition? Let me know about it!

Tuesday Find: The Commerce of Christmas

lisa — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:22:29 +0000

I imagine that a lot of people look at Christmas shopping the way I do; every year I say I’m going to rein in my spending a little bit, and every year it doesn’t happen. Just how much do people spend on Christmas? Here’s two infographics to help you put it in some perspective.