New Database Added: Films on Demand

Library Services now subscribes to the Films on Demand database. With Films on Demand, students, staff, and faculty have instant access to thousands of full-length, high-quality educational videos.

Films produced by organizations such as BBC, History Channel, and PBS are available in dozens of subject areas. Users can also organize & bookmark clips, and create & share playlists.

This database can be accessed on campus or from home.  Film titles have been added to the library’s catalogue as well and can be identified by the [electronic resource (video)] notation in the item title.  Simply click on the Available Online link in the catalogue record to access the film.

Those who prefer to browse can access Films on Demand via Library Services’ databases page.  Simply click the Advanced Article Search link on the main library page, choose General/Multidisciplinary from thesubject areas list, and then click Connectnext to the entry for Films on Demand.  Ifyou are accessing the database from home, you will be prompted for your Studentor Staff/Faculty ID number. 

If you have questions about Films on Demand or would like more information, please contact the information desk at 403-504-3544.

Two New Databases: Computers and Applied Sciences Complete &Points of View Reference Center

Library Services has added two new databases to its collection of resources. The new databases are EBSCO's Computers and Applied Sciences Complete and the Points of View Reference Center.

COMPUTERS AND APPLIED SCIENCES COMPLETE

This database provides the latest information on research and development in computer sciences and related disciplines. It will not only provide insight into the latest technologies, but also the business and social implications of those technologies.

It has nearly 2,200 periodicals are indexed and full-text is provided for more than 1,000 titles. Coverage for each title will vary, but some full-text and indexing is as early as 1970. Click here to view the database's holdings.

In addition to being listed under the Complete Database List page, Computers and Applied Sciences Complete can be found alphabetically under the Sciences and Trades & Technology  headings on our Databases page.

POINTS OF VIEW REFERENCE CENTER

This database provides a wide variety of essays on controversial subject matter that affects all aspects of society. The essays present both the pro and con aspects of the debate and are designed to provoke further discussion, thought, and study of the subject matter.

The Points of View Reference Center is listed under the Complete Database List page, but can also be found under the General/Multidisciplinary heading on our Databases page.

Each database is accessible by staff and students from on-campus or at home. You can view our complete database collection by clicking here.

If you have any questions, please contact the library's Information Desk via email, instant messenger, text message (403.866.5872), telephone (403.504.3544), or in person.

New Database: Career Cruising

Library Services has added Career Cruising to its list of database resources!

Career Cruising is a career guidance and planning resource. Some of the tools available in the database include: a built-in résumé builder; an employment guide and job search tool; an interest based assessment tool; skills assessment; a learning styles inventory; 550+ career profiles; and information about colleges, universities, and apprenticeship training.

Career Cruising can be accessed on and off campus by faculty, staff, and students of Medicine Hat College. To directly connect to the resource, click here.

Career Cruising, as well as other databases, can be located on the Library Services website in the Databases section. It will be listed alphabetically under the  Career & Vocational Guidance, the Complete Database List, the General/Multidisciplinary, and the Reference links.

If you have any questions, please contact the library's Information Desk via email, instant messenger, text message (403.866.5872), telephone (403.504.3544), or in person.

New Database Added: Criminal Justice Abstracts with Full Text

Library Services has added EBSCO's Criminal Justice Abstracts with Full Text database to its collection of resources. This database is replacing the ProQuest Criminal Justice Periodicals database.

Justice sends mixed messages by Dan4th

The Criminal Justice Abstracts with Full Text database provides information on many criminal justice topics that include: criminology, corrections and prisons, criminal investigation, forensic sciences and investigation, substance abuse and addiction, and probation and parole. The database offers full-text coverage for more than 200 periodical publications, and also includes full-text books and monographs.

Coverage for each title will vary, but some periodical titles are available as far back as 1910. For a complete list of the database's holdings, click here.

This database is accessible by staff and students from on-campus or at home. You can view our complete database collection by clicking here.

If you have any questions, please contact the library's Information Desk via email, instant messenger, text message (403.866.5872), telephone (403.504.3544), or in person.

Oxford Dictionaries Online Now Available

Library Services has added Oxford Dictionaries Online to its databases collection.

Oxford Dictionaries Online is a comprehensive and fully searchable dictionary of American, British, and World English. This resource defines more than 350,000 words and includes audio pronunciations. The Oxford Dictionary Online provides regular updates to the dictionary as the English language continues to develop.

In addition to the definitions and updates, Oxford Dictionaries Online provides: 600,000+ antonyms and synonyms in its thesauruses; more than 1.9 million example sentences; and guides for grammar, spelling, and writing. The “My Oxford Dictionary” service allows you to create a personal profile to save entries and searches.

Oxford Dictionaries Online can be found in the databases section of the Library Services' website. It can be located under the Complete Database List, Education, English (Language & Literature), General/Multidisciplinary, Language Learning, and Reference headings.

Faculty, staff, and students can connect to the resource from on-campus or at home. To connect to the Oxford Dictionaries Online, click here.

If you have any questions, please contact the library's Information Desk via email, instant messenger, text message (403.866.5872), telephone (403.504.3544), or in person.

Mango Languages: Language Learning Resource Added

Library Services has added Mango Languages to its list of database resources. Mango Languages is an online language instruction program that will help develop a user’s knowledge of a particular language, in the following fields: comprehension, cultural insight, grammar, pronunciation, retention, and vocabulary.

Mango Languages currently provides instruction in 34 languages, which are:

Arabic (Levantine) Chinese (Cantonese) Chinese (Mandarin) Croatian Czech Danish Dari Dutch Farsi (Persian) Finnish French German Greek Haitian Creole Hebrew Hindi Indonesian

Irish Italian Japanese Korean Norwegian Pashto Portuguese (Brazil) Russian Slovak Spanish (Latin America) Tagalog Tamil Thai Turkish Ukrainian Urdu Vietnamese

You can learn more by visiting Mango Languages TV.

Mango Languages can be accessed on and off campus by faculty, staff, and students of Medicine Hat College; to directly connect to the resource, click here.

Mango Languages, as well as other databases, can be located on the Library Services website in the Databases section. It will be listed alphabetically under the Complete Database List or the Language Learning links.

If you have any questions, please contact the library's Information Desk via email, instant messenger, text message (403.866.5872), telephone (403.504.3544), or in person.

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NOTE: Library Services' subscription to Tell Me More, our other languages learning resource, will be discontinued on 31 August 2011.

"Southern Alberta Newspapers" Database Cancelled

Due to changing fee structures and low usage, Library Services has discontinued its subscription to the Southern Alberta Newspapers database.

This database permitted users partial access to digital content produced by the: The 40-Mile County Commentator, The Coaldale Sunny South News, The Lethbridge Herald, Medicine Hat News, The Prairie Post, The Prairie Post West, Taber Times, and The Vauxhall Advance newspapers.

If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please contact Library Services at: reference@mhc.ab.ca, or by telephone at: 403.504.3544.

Database Updates 2011

Every year libraries across the province of Alberta have to negotiate access to database resources, which are used to access journal, magazine, and newspaper articles. Fortunately organizations such as The Alberta Library (TAL) and the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library (LHCADL) make negotiations easier. Despite a relatively health economy, libraries are still feeling the effects of the latest economic recession.

Library Services' administration has tried to maximize the resources available through the aforementioned organizations, but we will still lose access to some databases. The databases that will no longer be available include:

• Agricola (EBSCO)
  
  
• Association Unlimited (Gale)
  
  
• Computers and Applied Sciences Complete (EBSCO)
  
  
• Film and Television Literature Index with Full Text (EBSCO)
  
  
• Gale Virtual Reference Library (Gale)
  
  
• Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition (EBSCO)
  
  
• International Bibliography of Theatre and Dane with Full Text (EBSCO)
  
  
• MEDLINE (EBSCO)

Agricola and MEDLINE are still free and searchable indexes (with some full-text content) that are made available by the United States' Departments of Agriculture, and Health and Human Services, respectively.

Though we have lost several resources, we have gained some World Book Encyclopedia resources. Those new World Book products include:

• Encyclopédie Découverte (French language)
  
  
• World Book Kids
  
  
• World Book Student

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ADDITIONAL CHANGES

Some additional changes to be aware of are:

• The "Nursing/Health Studies" section of the database directory has been renamed. It will now be titled "Health Studies/Nursing." The URL will remain the same, so there is no need to change your bookmark.
  
  
• The following headings have been removed from the database directory: "Career Development," "Media," and "Philosophy," because we no longer subscribe to specific databases related to these fields of study.
  
  Databases under the General/Multidisciplinary heading can be used for these subject areas.
  

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If you have concerns regarding these changes please contact the Library Services Information Desk at: reference@mhc.ab.ca, or by telephone: 403.504.3544.

New Databases Added - Automotive & Business

Library Services has added three new databases to support students in the automotive and business/management/marketing programs at Medicine Hat College. The new databases are:

ALLDATA ONLINE

ALLDATA Online replaces the Chilton Library database for students in the automotive program. This database is a powerful, easy-to-use resource for automotive technicians requiring information about vehicles that includes, but is not limited to: diagnostic trouble codes, diagrams, part locations, specifications, and technical service bulletins, etc. The database provides information for most vehicle makes and models since 1982 and is updated regularly.

FIRST RESEARCH

This Hoover's Inc. database contains industry profiles, call prep sheets, and provincial and state profiles. These resources, "are essential for call preparation, enhancing presentations, underwriting credit, and for quickly learning a company's key business issues."

Monthly statistics and quarterly trend updates for more than 900 industry segments. This database also provides monthly employment, business, and real estate trends in each of the Canadian provinces and US states.

HOOVER'S

Hoover's is a database that provides comprehensive information and profiles about companies and industries, and the people that run them. This resource also provides news feeds about those companies, industry, and people. It is updated regularly.

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With the exception of ALLDATA Online, the databases are accessible by staff and students from on-campus or at home. If you are having trouble connecting, please contact Library Services via:

• Phone: 403-529-3867 (local), 1-866-282-8394 ext. 3867 (toll free long distance);
• E-mail: reference@mhc.ab.ca;
  
• instant messenger;
  
• text message: 403-866-5872; or
• visit us at any of the library service desks in Medicine Hat or Brooks.
  

You can view our database collection by clicking here.

Library Online Services Disruption - 5 May 2010

On Wednesday, May 5, 2010, Library Services will experience a scheduled disruption of some online services from approximately 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. This disruption is a result of an incremental and planned upgrade to our library system in conjunction with our partners at the University of Lethbridge.

Our patrons will experience the follow disruptions to our online services during this time:

• Unable to use the library catalogue to search for book and audiovisual materials, and renew materials remotely.
  
  
• Unable to remotely log-on to databases to locate journal, magazine, or newspaper articles.

No other services will be disrupted during this time, so you will still be able to check materials in/out of the libraries, access databases from on campus, receive assistance from our online information services (Ask A Question, Online Agents (IM service), and text messaging (403-866-5872)), etc.

We apologize for the inconvenience this might cause.

"ebrary" E-book Collection Trial

Medicine Hat College Library Services is currently offering our patrons access to the ebrary e-book collection. This trial database will give you access to the following ebrary collections:

• Academic Complete (47,000 titles and growing)
  
  
• Community and Career Colleges (a subset under Academic Complete; 20,000 titles)
  
  
• Canadian Publishers (15,000 titles from Canadian publishers)

All three sets can be searched from one convenient search box or you can try the advanced search features for a more focused search.

Trial access is currently available from the Medicine Hat or Brooks Campuses of Medicine Hat College only and will expire March 31, 2010. To access the ebrary, click here.

Please give us feedback on this resource by contacting us at:

• Phone: 529-3867 (local), 1 (866) 282-8394 ext. 3867 (toll free long distance);
  
  
• E-mail: reference@mhc.ab.ca;
  
  
• Text Message: 403-866-5872; or
  
  
• visit us at any of the library service desks in Medicine Hat or Brooks.

Library Online Services Disruption - 12 January 2010

On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, Library Services will experience a scheduled disruption of some online services from approximately 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. This disruption is a result of incremental and planned upgrades to our library system.

Our patrons will experience the follow disruptions to our online services during this time:

• Unable to use the library catalogue to search for book and audiovisual materials, and renew materials remotely.
  
  
• Unable to remotely log-on to databases to locate journal, magazine, or newspaper articles.

No other services will be disrupted during this time, so you will still be able to check materials in/out of the libraries, access databases from on campus, receive assistance from our online information services (Ask A Question, Online Agents (IM service), and text messaging (403-866-5872)), etc.

We apologize for the inconvenience this might cause.

IMPORTANT: Database Updates!

With hard economic times, come hard economic realities that libraries must face. Due to provincial cutbacks in funding to the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library (LHCADL), Medicine Hat College Library Services will no longer have access to certain database resources that allow our patrons to access journal, magazine, and newspaper articles.

The databases that we will lose access to include:

• Catholic Periodical and Literature Index (EBSCO)
  
  
• Child Development & Adolescent Studies (EBSCO)
  
  
• Communication and Mass Media Complete (EBSCO)
  
  
• Family & Society Studies Worldwide (EBSCO)
  
  
• Garden, Landscape & Horticulture Index (EBSCO)
  
  
• Gender Studies Database (EBSCO)
  
  
• Health and Wellness Resource Center (EBSCO)
  
  
• Hospitality & Tourism Complete (EBSCO)
  
  
• International Political Science Abstracts (EBSCO)
  
  
• LGBT Life with Full Text (EBSCO)
  
  
• Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text (EBSCO)
  
  
• Literature Online (LION; ProQuest)
  
  
• New Testament Abstracts Online (EBSCO)
  
  
• Old Testament Abstracts Online (EBSCO)
  
  
• OmniFile Full Text, Mega Edition (H. W. Wilson)
  
  
• Professional Development Collection (EBSCO)
  
  
• ProQuest Education Journals (ProQuest)
  
  
• ProQuest Science Journals (ProQuest)
  
  
• Religion & Philosophy Collection (EBSCO)
  
  
• Sociological Collection (EBSCO)
  
  
• Vocational & Career Collection (EBSCO)
  
  
• Wildlife & Ecology Studies Worldwide (EBSCO)
  
  
• World History Collection (EBSCO)

Thanks to the college’s membership with The Alberta Library (TAL) which allows access to a number of databases in common with other libraries in the province, and with the databases that the library purchases on its own, the college will still have a wide range of databases that cover the programs taught at Medicine Hat College.

Databases that we will add to supplement our content include:

• Education Full Text (H. W. Wilson)
  
  
• General Science Full Text (H. W. Wilson)
  
  
• Humanities Full Text (H. W. Wilson)
  
  
• Index to Legal Periodicals Full Text (H. W. Wilson)
  
  
• Library Literature & Information Science Full Text (H. W. Wilson)
  
  
• OmniFile Full Text, Select Edition (H. W. Wilson)
  
  
• Political Science Complete (EBSCO)
  
  
• Readers' Guide Full Text (H. W. Wilson)
  
  
• Social Sciences Full Text (H. W. Wilson)
  
  
• Wilson Business Full Text (H. W. Wilson)

These changes will be effective January 1, 2010.

Though there is a net loss of resources that might seem somewhat drastic, MHC Library Services’ administration has worked to ensure that the most comprehensive and critical resources are maintained to maximize the quality and quantity of academic literature that is available to our patrons. Despite the losses, you can still expect the same level of professionalism and service provided by the staff of Library Services as we move forward in the current economic environment.

If you have concerns regarding these matters, please contact Keith Walker (Director, Library Services) at: kwalker@mhc.ab.ca, or by telephone at: 403-529-3867.

"TeachingBooks" Education Resource Added

Library Services has added TeachingBooks to its list of resources available to the students of Medicine Hat College.

TeachingBooks is a database resource for educators that are teaching books targeted to children and young adults; it also provides supplementary information about authors of those books. Additional resources include short movies, audio book readings, and book discussion guides to bring multimedia elements into the classroom. All of these resources will help enhance "lesson planning, author studies, and professional development to support the many ways books can be integrated into all subject areas in the K–12 curriculum."

For more details and to access this resource, click here.

For a full list of all of our database resources—which includes access to journal, magazine, and newspaper abstracts and articles, as well as educational streaming media—click here, or select the Journal, Magazine, and Newspaper Articles link from the library's homepage.

"Tell Me More" - Language Learning Resource Added

Library Services has added Tell Me More to its list of resources available to the students of Medicine Hat College. This resource will introduce and progressively develop a user's language skills in: Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish (European), and Spanish (South American).

Tell Me More will guide you through the language learning process with:

• Easy-to-comprehend content created by expert instructional designers
• Specialized oral communication content
• Supplemental Business and Culture specific content
• Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening Workshops
• 37 different types of learning activities/interactions
• Speech Recognition with playback and achievement scale
• Spoken Error Tracking System (SETS®) technology automatically detects and corrects your pronunciation errors
• Professional voice-overs, videos, 3-D animations, and real-world graphics
• Anytime, anywhere accessibility

For more details and to access this resource, click here.

For a full list of all of our database resources—which includes access to journal, magazine, and newspaper abstracts and articles, as well as education streaming media—click here, or select the Journal, Magazine, and Newspaper Articles link from the library's homepage.

New Database Added: Canadian Cochrane Centre [Cochrane Library]

The Canadian Cochrane Centre, part of the Cochrane Library, has been added to our list of library resources. This database contains a large collection of evidence-based medical treatments and tells you "which health treatments work, which ones don’t, and which may cause harm."

When you search the Canadian Cochrane Centre, five other databases are automatically included in your search of the library, which include: The Cochrane Database of Systematic and Methodology Reviews, The Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), The Cochrane Methodology Register, The NHS Economic Evaluation Database, and The Health Technology Assessment Database.

This database is currently a Canada-wide trial that began on April 15, 2009 and will expire in 9 months.

All resources can be accessed from on campus or at home. For a complete list of all of our database resources, click here.

Two New Databases Added

Medicine Hat College Library Services has added two new databases to its ever growing collection. The new databases include:

CANADIAN POINTS OF VIEW (from EBSCO)
This database provides a wide variety of essays on controversial subject matter that affects all aspects of Canadian society. The essays present both the pro and con aspects of the debate and are designed to provoke further discussion, thought, and study of the subject matter.

eHRAF ARCHAEOLOGY (from Yale University)
This database "is a cross-cultural database containing information on the world's prehistory. This annually-growing eHRAF database is organized by archaeological traditions. The full-text sources are subject-indexed at the paragraph level."

All resources can be accessed from on campus or at home. For a complete list of all of our database resources, click here.

Atomic Learning Added to Databases

Atomic Learning has been added to Medicine Hat College Library Services databases collection. Atomic Learning provides over 35,000 short video tutorials for more than 100 software applications. Some of the applications include those in Adobe Creative Suite, Apple iLife, Blackboard (for instructors and students), Microsoft Office 2007, and more. Additionally, many are accompanied by closed captioning and do-it-yourself downloadable tutorials for a hands-on approach to learning the applications.

Atomic Learning can be accessed from on campus or at home. If you want to access and learn more about this resource, click here.

Atomic Learning is provided courtesy of the the college's Information Technology Services department.

Evidence-Based Complementary Medicine Database Discontinued

The Evidence-Based Complementary Medicine database from EBSCO has been discontinued. This database will, however, be replaced with the Natural & Alternative Treatments (NAT) database, which is also from EBSCO. NAT will be available for selection from our list of database resources in the near future. For more information about NAT, click here.

For a complete list of our database resources that will let you access over 25,000 full-text journals magazines, and newspapers, click here.

Three New Databases Added

Medicine Hat College Library Services has added three new databases to its ever growing collection. The new databases include:

THE NURSING REFERENCE CENTER [from EBSCO]
This database provides a point-of-care resource intended for staff nurses, nurse administrators, nursing students, nurse faculty, and hospital librarians. It delivers the most recent clinical evidence and knowledge on conditions and diseases.

THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD NEWSPAPER COLLECTION [from Heritage Microfilm]
This is a free database that will allow you to search thousands of PDF images from the Lethbridge Herald. The documents will range from 1905-1955.

PAPEROFRECORD.COM [from Paper of Record]
This free database provides more than 21 million PDF images of newspapers from Canada and around the world. The years of coverage will range from publication to publication. In order to gain full access, you will have to create a personal account with the site (Library Services has not received any unsolicited e-mail (i.e., spam) from this organization).

All resources can be accessed from on campus or at home. For a complete list of all of our database resources, click here.