Monthly Archives: December 2012

New Credit Courses: Information Futures, Local History Detective, & Image as Information.

by adowning

The Newman Library is offering three new three-credit courses as part of its Minor in Information Studies.

  • INFORMATION FUTURES
    Students will examine ideas about the impact of information on the future. The course will be structured around the speculative literature from the past and the present, and will engage students in a model of predictive research to imagine the impact of information on the future. The past, present, and future will be examined through three prisms: information artifacts, human activities, and societal structures (social, economic, cultural, and political). Visual media, fiction, and analytical resources will be used to discover how people and groups have thought about information and its capacity to change who we are and how we live.
  • LOCAL HISTORY DETECTIVE
    This course is designed to provide students with an overview of how the history of a community can be revealed through the use of primary materials. From Colonial Times to the present, American settlers have had the foresight to save remnants of their history for future generations. In addition, independent historical societies and early museums, as well as local and federal governments have played significant roles in preserving the past. Specialized collections, real and virtual repositories, and the many kinds of sources valuable to local history research will be explored.
  • IMAGE AS INFORMATION: Image-Based information & Resources
    This course examines theoretical principles and practical approaches to visual-based information retrieval, evaluation, and use in academic, professional, and daily-life activities. Students will gain a greater understanding and awareness of social, ethical, and structural issues related to participating in a visual-interactive information culture as informed producers/consumers (prosumers). Visual literacy and presumption literature concepts will be applied to exploring, creating, and evaluating image-based information and resources.

For more information, contact Professor Randy Hensley, Head of Instruction for the Newman Library

New Online Resource: Mango Languages – Language Leaning Program

by adowning

The Newman Library has licensed Mango Languages for all students, faculty, and staff.  This interactive learning program teaches practical conversation and cultural awareness. The 45 languages offered include: Arabic (Levantine), Chinese (Cantonese), Chinese (Mandarin), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dari, Dutch, Farsi (Persian), Finnish, French, French (Canadian), German, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Pashto, Pirate, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Slovak, Spanish (Latin America), Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu and Vietnamese. There is also a mobile app that users can download to learn a language on the go.

You do not have to create an account to use this database. However, if you want to track your progress, you should create a personal account.

Use Your Copycard Balance by December 27

by adowning

Baruch College’s contract with the Library’s current photocopy service vendor has expired.  The vendor will remove the photocopiers on December 27, 2012.  Any balance on copycards at that time will be lost.   The Library’s printing and scanning services are not affected.