New look library area for Dubbo

The Dubbo Library collection was recently relocated for 6 weeks while the water cooling towers were removed and replaced with air conditioning. During this period the collection was housed in one of the presentation rooms and was moved back into the library space in time for the first week of semester.

The library space was redesigned to create a more open and inviting atmosphere. The new look was revealed on Monday 27th July and has received positive feedback from staff and students.

"We need to think outside city squares"

CSU's Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter has an opinion piece We need to think outside city sqaures published in todays Higher Education supplement of The Australian newspaper. The piece examines some of the educational challenges facing Australia as a nation and looks at issues such as how to improve education participation in regional and rural areas of Australia.

Australian Survey of Retirement Intentions

A University of Tasmania report researched Baby Boomer employees from a wide range of occupations to determine their retirement intentions. (Text adapted from the AustralianPolicyOnline). To read the full report click here

Orange Learning Commons Warming Party

The opening of the Orange Learning Commons was celebrated with a Warming Party yesterday afternoon. Staff from the Library were joined by academic staff, research students, general staff and the architect to celebrate the new building, and the fantastic opportunities and benefits it will produce for the students at Orange Campus.

While the weather may have been cold and tempestuous outside, inside the mood was warm and friendly, with great food and a splash of wine on offer.

See below for some photos of the warming party, and a glimpse of the new building.

Restrictions on the parallel importation of books

Australia's restrictions on the parallel importation of books result in higher local book prices and should be lifted according to the recommendations in this Productivity Commission report. (Text adapted from AustralianPolicyOnline). Read the complete report here

If it's not on(line) it's not on.

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

Probably, but who can be sure?


If an article is published but no one can access it, does it exist?

It does, but apparently it might as well not, according to the American Chemical Society. They are taking the bold step of making all their journals online-only.

For the full details see Ars Technica


We would like to hear your thoughts on this. Do you only access journal articles that are online? Or do you prefer print? Let us know below.






http://www.pollmonkey.com/p.asp?U=641960570

Free online texts!

Would you like access to extra textbook material in your subject area?

Check out our new eTexts Collections page! It's a useful list of selected websites offering freely available electronic texts that may not be found in the CSU Library catalogue.

Covering a wide variety of topics, these eTexts collections are organised into categories of General, Arts, Education, and Sciences.

Two of these resources, Connexions and Flat World Knowledge, contain material which represents an exciting new trend in textbooks called "open textbooks". Open textbooks are collaborative endeavours by experts in various fields to produce open access educational content. With the cost of textbooks rising to unaffordable levels, this may provide one lower-cost digital solution in the future.

You can find eTexts Collections via the eBook Collections tab on the Library's eBooks web page.

NAIDOC celebrations at the Thurgoona Learning Commons

This week is NAIDOC Week and a great opportunity for all Australians to celebrate the history, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. "Honouring Our Elders, Nurturing Our Youth" is this year's National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) theme.

This week sees the beginning of festivities which are happening all around Australia. Dan Clegg, the Indigenous Community and Student Liaison Officer at Winan-Gidyal, Thurgoona Learning Commons, has some great local activities planned:

• Flag raising ceremony
  Local Wiradjuri Elder to perform a "Welcome to Country", play didj and sing a couple of songs in Wiradjuri language. The flag raising will be followed by lunch.
• Bush Tucker BBQ
  Carried out by qualified contemporary and traditional Koori chef from Sydney. Includes kangaroo, crocodile, emu, yabby, native herbs, spices and fruits.
• NAIDOC Trivia Quiz
  Open to Thurgoona Learning Commons staff and DSS staff with a prize (painting/painted emu egg) being awarded for the most correct answers.
  

Stay tuned for details of these and other NAIDOC events to be held at CSU Campuses!

*Pictured above are Thurgoona Learning Commons Indigenous Services Staff and Library Services Staff.

Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage: key indicators 2009

This report has an important long-term objective. It is to inform Australian governments about whether policy programs and interventions are achieving positive outcomes for Indigenous people. This will help guide where further work is needed. (Text adapted from the Australian Government Productivity Commission). Read the full report here

The Orange Campus Library is moving

Temporary closure of the Orange Library

We have exciting news!

The Orange Campus library will be moving next week into the new Learning Commons, so we will be closed Monday and Tuesday (July 6^th and 7^th) as we move. Library staff in Bathurst (ph: 6338 4723) will be able to deal with any urgent issues on the Monday or Tuesday.

Please note that on Wednesday we will still be moving some items and can therefore only deal with routine and urgent requests on this day.

Full library services and inter-semester hours of 9.00am – 5.00 pm will commence on Thursday 9^th July.

If any library items need to be returned during Monday or Tuesday, they can be placed in the after hours return chute in the C3 building at the Orange Campus, or left at any of the other CSU Campus Learning Commons.

We thankyou in advance for your understanding about the reduced library services during this time, and look forward to seeing you in the new Learning Commons.