February 16-22nd is Career Week at DePaul.  This year the  DePaul Career Center is offering a series of "career–related activities and seminars for experienced adults, those in transition, and those looking for change." The schedule of activities and events is available here, but be sure to visit the DePaul Career Center for information all DePaul students and alumni can use, like their "Resume Drive Thru" service and other job search assistance.  

The spotlight is also on the DePaul University Libraries' Career Collection this week.  We feature books that will help perfect your resumes and cover letters, as well as books for people just begining to explore their career options. The Richardson Library Career Collection is located on the first floor near the back of our reference collection,  and the Loop Campus Library Career Collection is located below the windows of our database search room. 

The library is pleased to announce that Writing Center will again staff an Outpost at the Lincoln Park Campus library.

Students may drop in for consultations at tables located near the Reference Desks. Appointments are not necessary--the Library Outposts operate on a first-come first-served basis.

Lincoln Park Library Outpost, Richardson Library (2350 N. Kenmore Ave.)
Tuesday: 12 pm-5 pm
Wednesday: 12 pm-5 pm
Thursday: 12 pm-5 pm

For more information on how the Writing Center can help you, please visit:
http://condor.depaul.edu/~writing/index.html

You bet.  You can find what we have by searching the library catalog.  You can access the catalog a number of different ways, but one way to start you search is to click on the word “Find” in the middle of our page.  Next, click on the link that says, “Videos, Music & Images”.  You should see a list of helpful FAQs for finding films, and link to DePaul’s Library Catalog.

To find a specific film (e.g., Casablanca)
•    Type the title of the movie in the search box, and select 'Title' from the Search by menu.
•    Use the Quick Limits drop-down just below the search box to select "Films/videos/DVDs".

To find films on a topic (e.g., Japan)
•    Type your keyword(s) in the search box.
•    Use the Quick Limits drop-down just below the search box to select "Films/videos/DVDs".

DVDs and videocassettes are shelved on the first floor of the Lincoln Park campus library in the Media Viewing & Listening Room; swipe your DePaul ID to enter. At the Loop campus, you'll find video materials in the AudioVisual Room, DPC 10011. DePaul students, faculty and staff can check out up to two videos for a seven-day period.

If DePaul's copy is checked out, or we don't have the movie you are looking for, feel free to contact us by phone, email, or IM via our Ask A Librarian service, or just stop by the reference desk at any campus; we'll be glad to help you locate what you need.

We probably all have a little spam in at least one of our email inboxes--those unsolicted messages offering to boost our staminia or enhance various parts of our anatomies. But what does an offer from Tortoiseshell S. Factual for the "Cheapest AND The Best!!!!!" have in common with pork and ham in a can?

According to the OED, to "spam" is "To flood (a network, esp. the Internet, a newsgroup, or individuals) with a large number of unsolicited postings, or multiple copies of the same posting. Also intr.: to send large numbers of unsolicited messages or advertisements,"¹and cites the earliest usage for the verb as 1991 (although it applied to programing and not internet communications at the time).  Fortunately, page 3 of the introduction of Anti-Spam Measures: Analysis and Design provides us with a bit more background: 

"The eytmology of the word "spam" is, usually, explained by using an old skit from Monty Python's Flying Circus comedy program...In the sketch in question, a restaurant serves all its food with lots of Spam, which is canned meat and an acroymn for 'Shoulder of Pork and Ham.' The waitress repeats the word several times in describing how much Spam is in dishes on the menu.  When she does this, a group of Vikings in the corner start singing a chorus of "SPAM SPAM SPAM..." at increasing volunes in an attempt to drown out other conversations.  As 'unsolicited buld e-mail' disturbs Internet communication likewise, it was termed "spam."²

The wikipedia article on "Spam (electronic)" has a few more examples and a more detailed history.  You can also watch the orignal Monty Python skit on YouTube.  

 

¹ Spam, v. In the Oxford English Dictionary online. Retrieved December 5, 2008, from http://library.depaul.edu/CheckURL.aspx?address=http://dictionary.oed.com/entrance.dtl

² Schryen, G. (2007). Anti-Spam Measures: Analysis and Design. Berlin: Springer.

Photo credit: Galore, Janet. spam. 2006. <http://www.flickr.com>

Well…no.  Of course not.  But we’ve all been there—we know how the stress builds up this time of year.  

We will, however, do our best to help you find what you need as quickly and efficiently as possible.  You just need to ask.  Stop by one of our reference desks, give us a call, email or IM.  We can even set up an appointment to sit down with you and show you, step by step, how to find what you are looking for.   Of course, you’ll still have to read and evaluate what you’ve found and organize your thoughts into a paper or presentation.  That’s where the Writing Center comes in:  appointments are available through November 18th at the 250 McGaw and 1620 Lewis Locations. This link will take you directly to the appointment page of the Writing Center: http://condor.depaul.edu/~writing/html/sched/index.html.
Drop-in appointments are also available at the Lincoln Park Library Outpost from 12-5 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and at the Loop Campus library from 12-6 on Mondays.  

Good luck!

(This was, by the way, a real question sent to Ask a Librarian.)

Although the deadline to register has passed, vote.depaul.edu has information on how you can still get involved this election season, polling place locations and links to the candidate's websites. Be sure to scroll down the page to view the list of programs and activities being hosted by various organizations around campus.

Check out DePaul Votes '08  for links to registration information, polling locations, and more background information.

 

Today is one of the days the International Earth Rotation Service of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures sets aside to add or subtract a second from the atomic clock to "coordinate atomic and astronomical time."  In case you were feeling a little off.

Source: Chase's Calendar of Events, 2008. Lincoln Park Reference, R.905 C487A1

 

EveryBlock Chicago is a mash-up of government information and Google Maps.  I LOVE the way it pulls together public information from disparate city agencies and departments and adds layers of relevance and accessibility.

You can locate crime reports, restaurant inspection scores, property transfers, street closures and even filming schedules. Search by address, zip code or neighborhood and you'll see a map loaded with the locations of each event. EveryBlock also includes business reviews from Yelp and lost and found ads from Craigslist. You can even look at pictures that have been geotagged in Flickr!  It's a really easy way to explore your neighborhood or your city.