Summer Cleaning

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer! Here at the library we are taking advantage of being closed so that we may provide you with clean areas for study and research.  The staff has been diligently dusting and vacuuming the book shelves all in anticipation of a new semester.  

See you all in August!

SWC libraries are closed

SWC Libraries are closed for the semester break.  

Libraries will open for fall semester on August 19. 

Have a question? Ask a librarian 24/7, even when the library is closed. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Need help?

Ask a Librarian

Real People

Real Help

24/7

Now that you've found the information...

... decide if it's good information. 

How to evaluate the quality of information in five easy steps:

Authority

• Is the author a qualified expert in the field?
• What is her/his occupation, position, education, experience?
• What are her/his credentials?
• Who endorsed or published the information?

Objectivity

• What is the purpose of publication? Does the material inform? Explain? Persuade?
• Are assumptions, personal bias and opinions clearly stated?
• Is information presented in a clear and reasonable fashion?
• Are conclusions supported by facts?
• Is the site supported by advertising or run by a business?
• Is the author affiliated with particular organizations, institutions, or associations?

Accuracy

• What were the author's sources?
• Was the work peer reviewed and/or edited?
• Is the work free of grammatical and typographical errors?
• Do facts and conclusions check out with other reputable sources?

Currency

• When was the work written and published?
• Are the author's sources up-to-date?
• Has the information been updated or revised?
• Is there provision for corrective feedback to the author?

Scope

• Is it clear what topics are covered?
• Are they covered in sufficient depth?
• What is their relevance to your research?

Have a question? Ask a librarian!

This Week in CQ Researcher

Telecommuting: Is working from home productive?

"Recent restrictions on telecommuting by tech giant Yahoo and retailer Best Buy are spurring debate over the merits of working from home. Some companies say allowing employees to telecommute reduces turnover and boosts profits. But Yahoo's leaders say collaboration and innovation suffer when everyone isn't in the office together. Advocates argue that telework has been crucial for parents and other caregivers struggling to balance work and family obligations. Yet, while the advent of mobile working — by smartphones, tablet computers and laptops — has helped workers remain productive, it also has led more and more people to labor long hours from home, often at night and on weekends. Global communication by email, videoconference and Skype has become so integral to business that some corporate leaders say they no longer see telework as a distinct form of work."

Read the entire report on the CQ Researcher database, which is accessible from off campus with the current passwords.

Have a question? Ask a librarian.

Check It Out

Politics and Society in Contemporary China
by Elizabeth Freund Larus
Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2012
New Book Shelf:  JQ1510 .L37 2012

"Elizabeth Larus begins with a broad sweep of China's modern history—from the imperial era to the present—providing essential context for understanding the current political environment. She then makes sense of the dramatic political, social, and economic changes that have occurred across some six decades. The result is a rich and detailed analysis that is both thought-provoking and accessible, appropriate for students at all levels." review from publisher

Check out this book for four weeks with your SWC photo ID card! Have a question? Ask a librarian.

Taking an online class for the first time?

Join us for an hour! We will cover the basics of what you need to know to get started with Blackboard and online learning.

No need to sign up in advance!

Have a question?

Ask a librarian

24 hours a day

7 days a week

Real people, real help

Summer @ SWC Libraries

We are open and ready to help you! Stop by the library, or visit us online.

Summer Session Hours

Main Campus 

through July 25, 2013 

Monday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

 Closed: Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Higher Education Center at Otay Mesa

through July 24, 2013

Monday: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

 Tuesday: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

 Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Higher Education Center at San Ysidro

through July 25, 2013

Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Wednesday: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Thursday: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Database of the Month

ARTstor

ARTstor includes nearly one million images in the areas of art, architecture, the humanities, social sciences and other visual culture from around the globe.

Instructions for accessing ARTstor from off campus are available on the library's website. You must first create an ARTstor account from any computer on the Southwestern College campus.

Have a question? Ask a librarian!

SWC Libraries Closed Today

SWC Libraries are closed today, Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Libraries will reopen Monday, July 8.

Have a question? Ask a librarian -- 24/7 chat reference is available.

Check It Out

Weight in America : obesity, eating disorders, and other health risks
by Barbara Wexler. Gale, 2013
New Book Area: RM 222.2 .I43 2012

"Provides information from academic and governmental sources on every aspect of overweight, obesity, and eating disorders, including their prevalence in the United States, their consequences, public opinion about them, and methods of combating them." from publisher

Need help?

Ask a librarian!

 

Real People

Real Help

24/7

 

This Week in CQ Researcher

 

Internet Shopping: Should States Require Online Retailers to Collect Sales Taxes?

"Online retail shopping has grown fourfold since 2002 and now accounts for about 10 percent of discretionary retail spending in the United States. But whether that growth trend continues could depend, in part, on whether Congress allows states to require all e-retailers to collect state and local sales taxes. Currently, only online shopping sites with a physical presence in a state must collect the levies. Some shoppers may refocus their buying on brick-and-mortar stores if buying online no longer offers a tax advantage. Meanwhile, polls show growing concerns about privacy among online shoppers. Marketers routinely collect detailed information about shoppers' habits, preferences, purchases, age and gender in order to send them targeted advertisements and special offers. Smartphones and tablets even allow marketers to know the exact location of shoppers and send them targeted ads as they pass by particular stores."

Read the full report in the library's CQ Researcher database. Access is available from off campus with the current passwords.