Reference at Newman Library

Year: 2012

Books24x7 Links In Catalog Still Not Working

Just a reminder that the links to Books24x7 titles in the catalog still don’t work. If someone needs to get to a book in Books24x7, they can still do so by going through the main link to Books24x7 on the Databases page and then search by title for the book they need. One thing that you may notice when you are in the Books24x7 database is that the feature that lets users create their own accounts to save books in folders is overridden with a “CUNY Baruch College” account (click the annotated screenshot below for a larger image showing places where this personal account info can be seen).

There isn’t a way for users to create their own accounts right now, as this setup we have is just a workaround that the vendor came up with recently to meet our request that users not have to create personal accounts just to get into the database in the first place (users should be able to click right into a book or launch a search and then decide later if they want to create a personal account where they might save things).

We have been working hard with the vendor, BCTC, and the CUNY Office of Library Services to troubleshoot the problem with the links in the catalog. We’ve also reached out for assistance on several relevant mailing lists and gotten lots of solutions that haven’t quite fixed the problem. As soon as it is fixed, expect to see a new blog post about it (and sighs of relief from Mike and me).

American Factfinder Tutorial

The Census Bureau’s American Factfinder (AFF) is the primary source for census datasets that include the 2010 and 2000 Census, the American Community Survey, and the Population Estimates Program. The new version of the AFF was launched at the beginning of this year; it gives users more options for searching for data but can be a bit bewildering.

I’ve created a how-to handout with screenshots that demonstrates one method for retrieving data. I provide two examples: one is downloading a profile for a census tract from the American Community Survey, and the other is downloading a comparison table for ZIP Codes from the 2010 Census. Links to the handout are available throughout the New York City Data LibGuide on several pages, and on the US Census Data LibGuide. It’s embedded in a box labeled American Factfinder.

While the AFF is the ultimate source for census data there are some easier sources you can refer users to depending on what they’re looking for; these include the Social Explorer database, the Infoshare database, the NYC Department of City Planning, and the PUMA and ZCTA Google Maps embedded in the Neighborhoods tab of the NYC Data Guide. Embedded in the Neighborhoods tab is a separate guide with recommendations for finding NYC neighborhood census data that highlights these options.

South Africa resources re shale gas

I have helped several students who are working on a project dealing with South Africa and shale gas. Sometimes this is referred to as shale oil.    They need information on legal requirements, including South African laws, and  economic aspects, and environmental concerns. Shale gas, shale oil, fracking or fracturing, natural gas liquid extraction, or natural  gas extraction are among the keywords that can be searched.  “Environmental concerns” might be described in other terms–water safety, water pollution, water quality, air pollution, etc.

Our legal databases, Lexis Nexis Academic, Westlaw Campus and Westlaw Next, do not have the South African statutes or regulations.  Lexis-Nexis Academic can be searched for news articles about this issue.

South African government websites that have some policy information, as well as pending legislation, can be found at these sites:

Pending bills: http://www.parliament.gov.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=128

Department of Mineral Resources: http://www.dmr.gov.za/  (has information on policies and regulations)

Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs http://www.environment.gov.za/?q=search/node/fracking (report on fracking.)

Some databases that can be helpful, providing news, industry outlooks, include:

ABI Inform Global

Business Monitor International–search shale oil and limit to South Africa

CIAO

Factiva

ISI Emerging Markets–has many news articles and company reports.  Limit search to South Africa.

From looking at some results, I learned that there was moratorium on development late last year, and there are recent articles about what is now being considered.

Areas of South Africa with promising shale gas deposits are in Great Karoo and Little Karoo, also called Wet Karoo.

South African publications can be located by searching Journals/Magazines.  The Economist and The Financial Times can be searched for news articles.

The South African Institute of Mines and Metallurgy is available as an open access journal.  There is an article about fracturing in the most recent issue: http://www.saimm.co.za/journal-papers

The Energy Information Administration for the U.S. has this report re South Africa: http://www.eia.gov/cabs/South_Africa/pdf.pdf

Link to special report on economic aspects: http://www-static.shell.com/static/zaf/downloads/aboutshell/econometrix/econometrix_report.pdf

Other resources may be found by doing a Google search.

I hope these resources are helpful.