Lib Skills Complete : Drop-in Library Research Workshops

Have a research paper to write? Want to save time by learning to do library research more efficiently?

Attend one of our hands-on library research classes to learn how to find the information you need. Reference librarians will demonstrate expert searching techniques and coach you while you practice your new skills.  These classes are directed at new and returning students.

Learn how to:

• Find your life lines: research guides, subject librarians and Ask Away service
• Do research from home and get started on your paper
• Use FastSearch and the Library catalogue
• Identify journal article databases that work best for your topic
• Use Academic Search Premier – a multidisciplinary full-text article database
• Refine and focus your search to produce relevant results
• Find materials from known citations
• Request materials that are not available at SFU
• Renew books & check your library record
• Google more effectively, yet more cautiously

Lib Skills Complete are offered at Bennett library in January 2012. Registration is not required. Classes are 50 minutes long and are held in the Instructional Lab (Room 4009) on the 4th floor.

Check out the schedule here: http://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/tutorials/lib-skills

Txt Us! 604.724.5898

Please note that semester loan items borrowed between November 30, 2010 and March 30, 2011 are due May 13th, 2011. Fines and suspensions can be avoided by returning and/or renewing books before that date.

Renewals:  Semester loan items can be renewed online or by phone for the first three (3) renewals. An unlimited number of renewals can be made in person (materials must be present) at the Loans / Circulation desks of any SFU library.

Renew on line.

Renew by phone at 778-782-4345 (Bennett), 778-782-5050 (Belzberg), and 778-782-7411 (Surrey)

Renew in person at any SFU library

Hours: Please check the open hours of the libraries at the three campuses.

Book Return Locations:

1) BURNABY CAMPUS
At the Burnaby campus, the overnight return depository for the W.A.C. Bennett Library is located to the left of the library doors and is open to receive your returns during the hours the Library is closed.

2) HARBOUR CENTRE CAMPUS
The Belzberg Library (downtown) book drop is open when the library is closed and the building is open. The book drop is located to the left of the library front door, room 1000, 515 West Hastings Street.

3) SURREY CAMPUS
The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board Academic Library (Surrey Campus) book return is accessible during Mall hours and with card reader access after hours. The book return is located to the left of the Library entrance, on Podium 3, 250 -13450 102nd Avenue, Surrey. For maps and directions see http://www.surrey.sfu.ca/surrey_contacts. No equipment, reserves or special loans please.

The SFU Library (Burnaby campus) will be offering RefWorks tutorials specifically for Graduate Students.

RefWorks is a web-based bibliographic management tool which allows researchers to:

* Store your references online and format bibliographies instantly.
* Format your paper according to the citation style you specify.
* Work collaboratively with SFU colleagues or colleagues from other institutions who also subscribe to RefWorks.
* Export citations from a variety of article indexes and database service providers into your RefWorks account.

There are two workshops scheduled:

Monday, June 14th @ 10:30 – 12:20 for RefWorks for Arts, Humanities & Social Science Graduate Students

and

Wednesday, June 16th @ 10:30 – 12:20 for  RefWorks for Sciences & Applied Sciences Graduate Students

*Please note: registration is required for the graduate workshops. Please register here.

Further information on these tutorials is available from the SFU Library website: http://www.lib.sfu.ca/my-library/refworks/training

The SFU Library (Burnaby campus) will be offering RefWorks tutorials specifically for Graduate Students.

RefWorks is a web-based bibliographic management tool which allows researchers to:

* Store your references online and format bibliographies instantly.
* Format your paper according to the citation style you specify.
* Work collaboratively with SFU colleagues or colleagues from other institutions who also subscribe to RefWorks.
* Export citations from a variety of article indexes and database service providers into your RefWorks account.

There are two workshops scheduled:

Tuesday, March 23rd @ 10:30 – 12:20 for RefWorks for Arts, Humanities & Social Science Graduate Students

and

Thursday, March 25th @ 10:30 – 12:20 for  RefWorks for Sciences & Applied Sciences Graduate Students

These tutorials are drop-in; no advanced registration is required.

Further information on these tutorials is available from the SFU Library website: http://www.lib.sfu.ca/my-library/refworks/training

Now that we’re all back from the break and getting refocused on academics, it might be time to check out the Student Learning Commons (SLC) services for graduate students.

1. WORKSHOPS
Note that there is just one more grad workshop this semester on March 9th – “Poster Perfect: Creating Posters for Presentation”.  For more information or to sign up, see http://workshops.learningcommons.sfu.ca/node/720

2. READ AHEAD SERVICE
The SLC offers a “Read Ahead” service for graduate students. This service provides the opportunity for in-depth feedback on longer pieces of writing. You are invited to submit the writing you wish to discuss prior to booking an in-person appointment. Contact SLC Writing Services Coordinator Renee McCallum by phone: 778.782.7165 or email: ramccall@sfu.ca.

3. EAL/ESL SERVICES
If English is not your first language, English as an Additional Language (EAL) specialist Tim Mossman is available to help you improve your spoken and written English through individual consultations, workshops, and personalized learning plans. Contact him directly by phone: 778.782.8510 or email: tmossman@sfu.ca.  For EAL workshops, see http://workshops.learningcommons.sfu.ca/workshops/9

4. MORE SERVICES FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
For SLC services see http://learningcommons.sfu.ca/services/graduate-students
For Library services see http://www.lib.sfu.ca/my-library/services-for-you/grads

Beginning February 2010 the SFU Library is pleased to administer a central fund to support SFU authors who publish in Open Access journals that charge Article Processing Charges.

Memberships or monthly invoicing arrangements are in place with these publishers:

* BioMed Central
* Public Library of Science
* Hindawi Publishing

SFU authors who are faculty, staff or graduate students are eligible to use the Central fund.

Additional details can be found at
http://www.lib.sfu.ca/collections/scholarly-communication/sfu-open-access-fund

Good news!  The maximum number of online renewals has been increased from two (2) to three (3). This change affects most library books, reserve and media items.  To renew your materials online, log-in to your library account and check off the items that you’d like to renew.

You can also renew your items over the phone (up to 3 times): 778.782.4345 (Bennett Library), 778.782.5050 (Belzberg Library), or 778.782.7411 (Surrey Library).

And, of course, feel free to visit any of our branches to renew your items in person anytime.