Alkek Library News

After Graduation, Keep on Using Online Resources Through Texas Public Libraries

You've graduated. Now what? You can still use our public access computers physically here in Alkek, although remote online resources are restricted to current students.

Have you thought about getting a library card for your local public library? Your local public library in Texas offers online access to journals, business resources and ways to enhance your career skills. Don't forget to check out audio cd's so you can continue to build your body of knowledge during commutes....

Here's a list of public libraries in the state of Texas.

 

Library Hours for Spring Break

The Alkek Library will observe the following hours for Spring Break

For more information call 512-245-3681 Monday - Friday.

Week Day Hours Saturday, March 10, 2012 CLOSED Sunday, March 11, 2012 CLOSED Monday, March 12, 2012 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2012 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2012 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Thursday, March 15, 2012 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 16, 2012 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday, March 17, 2012 CLOSED Sunday, March 18, 2012 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.

Video Tutorial For The New Discovery Tool (pictured above)

Here's a tutorial on the Discovery Tool - a new way to search many of Alkek Library's databases and multiple formats of sources (books, articles and more). Note: Discovery does not search all of our holdings, so you might want to visit the databases page for more results.

Use Interlibrary Loan to Get Materials From Other Libraries

You've found the perfect journal article or book. It turns out Alkek doesn't have it! What to do?

Use Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and we'll get you the article, book, DVD or CD from a partner library. A journal article will probably be delivered electronically to your email. Physical items such as books or DVDs are physically picked up at the library and must be returned according to their due dates.

Databases will usually automatically give you a referral option to ILL. If you find a book on Amazon or by word of mouth, you must directly access the ILL page here to make your request.

Plan your research ahead - delays are brief, but generally expect a few days for a journal article and a week and change for a book.

How to Search For Foreign Language Books

1. Select catalog in the upper left side of the library home page. Or just start here.

2. Use the drop down menu on the right to select your language.

3. enter an * in the keyword box to get everything we own in that language

Too many things? You can only search this function with a keyword, so try these ideas:

If you know a keyword in your language, that's helpful. For example: historia, desarrollo,  negocios, etc...

Or, enter a large city that is a publishing center (Buenos Aires, Mexico City, etc...) for books published in that country.

 

Read Our Books on Negotiation Tactics

We've all had to learn how to be better negotiators - in our relationships, buying products (such as cars or apartment leases), and careers.

Well, there's a whole subset of science devoted to this topic. From general principles to a very specific list of 20 things salespeople will pull on you (and how to respond), these negotiation books have helped out many a previously clueless person. 

Get that upper hand! Or at least feel as though you made an informed decision.

Quick link to our e-book holdings on negotiation.

The regular books on negotiation, located in the Alkek Library.

Quick Link to All Texas Fiction

This link will take you to all the Texas fiction. I've arranged it by most recent first. 

We got your Joe Lansdale, Cormac McCarthy and more right here!

Texas has an amazing literary heritage. Browse the authors in the link or discover books set in your hometown.

Banned Books Week is Sept. 24-Oct.1

Celebrate your freedom to read with Banned Books Week.

We've made a great guide to banned books here.

From the American Library Association:

Intellectual freedom—the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular—provides the foundation for Banned Books Week.  BBW stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints for all who wish to read and access them.

Here a list of some of the most banned books of the 20th century. Do you have a favorite on the list? 

Upload a video of yourself reading from a banned book on the official Banned Books YouTube channel.

Avatars Explain Scholarly Vs Non-Scholarly

Alkek Closed June 18 and June 25 (both Saturdays)

Planned construction for the new North Campus Housing Complex requires that electrical power to Alkek Library be shut off on two Saturdays in June – June 18 and 25.  As a result, the Alkek Library will be closed on both those days