Library News for German Studies

Foreign Languages and Search Engines

From the blog Search Engine Showdown: http://www.searchengineshowdown.com/blog/2008/03/language_limit_showdown.shtml

Language Limit Showdown.

• Find out which search engines allow you to limit by language. And which languages.
• Which search engines provide translated search capabilities.
• Which ones provide online machine translations

But don't forget--you have access to Oxford Online Language Dictionaries.

Emblem Books--What are they and where can I find them?

Emblem Books

What are they?  A type of illustrated book developed during 16th and 17th centuries. Prevalent in continental Europe.

For more info, see:

• From Oxford Reference Online: http://libproxy.wustl.edu/login?url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/SEARCH_RESULTS.html?q=emblem&category=s13
• "emblem book." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 19 Mar. 2008  http://libproxy.wustl.edu/login?url=http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9032507.
• Claire Preston, University of Cambridge. "Emblems and Imprese." The Literary Encyclopedia. 21 Feb. 2003. The Literary Dictionary Company. 19 March 2008. http://libproxy.wustl.edu/login?url=http://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=325

Digital Collections of Emblem Books:

• German Emblem Books at Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Glasgow Emblem Digitisation Project
• Emblem Books at the Univ. of Minnesota
• Digitalisierung von ausgewählten Emblembüchern der frühen Neuzeit at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
• Other sites

Emblem Books at WU Libraries:

• As part of Early English Books Online, we have a number of English emblems books available online: http://catalog.wustl.edu/search?/demblem+books+english+early+works+to+1800
• http://catalog.wustl.edu/search?/demblem+books

Finding Internet resources in the WU Catalog

If you want to limit your catalog search to Internet resources, the best way to do this is to go to ADVANCE SEARCH, and then limit your search by LOCATION: INTERNET.

Here's an example: WORD: DUDEN and LOCATION: INTERNET.

If you have questions, contact Brian (bvetruba@wustl.edu ; 935-4824)

"Google-like" Toolbar--Quick Access to WU Libr. databases, catalogs

Tired of having to remember the URL for the WU Libraries website or how to get to a subject guide? You can save time by installing the snazzy LibX Toolbar to your browser.

• Will work on both PCs and Macs
• Works with Internet Explorer and Firefox.
• Easy to install

LibX Toolbar will save YOU precious time:

• Left menu has quick links to Subject Guides, ILLiad, Fulltext Journal page, and more more.
• Center box provides a quick search of catalogs. You can search by keyword, title, author, and other option. You can select WU Catalog, WorldCat.org, or Google Scholar.
  
• Embedded links to WU library catalog in websites. Look for the red "WU" icon

More info.

LIMITED TIME OFFER--Brian will assist any student, staff, or faculty member in German with installation.  Contact: Brian

Using RSS to Read Library News for German Studies

Just a reminder that you can use an RSS-reader to be alerted whenever there's a new post in Library News for German Studies. This will save you from having to remember to check it.

RSS feed for Library News for German Studies: http://wulibraries.typepad.com/germannews/index.rdf . Just paste this in your RSS--reader.

Not sure what RSS is or need more info: see Keeping on Top with RSS .

Changes to WU Catalog

Over the summer months, we mad a number of improvements to the WU Catalog.

• LESS SCROLLING NECESSARY! 50 items will be displayed on each search result page. Previously, only 12 were displayed.
• MORE INFO ON SEARCH RESULT LISTS. Besides title, author and publisher, the search result list ("hit list") will include call number, location, and status.
• NEED QUOTES FOR PHRASE SEARCHING. If you're searching a phrase, you'll need to put the phrase in quotes or it will be AND-ed together like in Google. For example: "Young Germany" will have different results than Young Germany.
• CAN MAKE MULTIPLE REQUESTS AT ONCE.
• More info on changes.

Finding Dissertations/Theses

To search for a WU thesis or dissertation, search the Catalog which will most likely have links to the online version. You can also search  Dissertations & Theses @ Washington University in St. Louis. We do have online access to most WU theses and dissertations.

To search for any dissertation or thesis, use Dissertations & Theses (Proquest). One nice feature with Proquest is the ability to view 24-page previews of many theses and disseratations. Note: to inter-library loan a thesis or dissertation, don't click on "Order a copy" in Proquest. You will need to log in to ILLiad, click on "Request a Thesis", and fill out the form yourself.

Staying Informed with Alerts!

A number of library databases, electronic journal providers and some search engines allow you to set up alerts for new information that is added to the database or search index about a particular subject. Some providers, such as Project Muse, provide table of contents for newly published issues of journals. These alerts can come in two forms: email sent to you or through an RSS-reader. Some offer both delivery options, others just one.

Database/Providers of particular note for Germanists:

• Ingenta (email instructions; RSS instructions)
• Project Muse (email instructions; RSS instructions)
• BDSL (RSS instructions)

Complete list of databases and providers offering alerts

Don't forget, if you want to be informed about new books and other materials in the Libraries, use the Catalog Alerts.

Have questions? Ask Brian (bvetruba@wustl.edu ; 935-4824)

Keeping on top with RSS!

What is RSS?  RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication" or "Rich Site Summary". It is a way of being automatically alerted to new journal table of contents, links to fulltext articles, new content on websites and webblogs, and news.

How does RSS work? You register with an RSS aggregator or RSS-reader, such as Google Reader (my favorite) or Bloglines. Internet Explorer 7, Mozilla, and Firefox also have built-in RSS readers. In your aggregator or reader, you subscribe to that sites you're interested in. Each time there's new content, it will be noted in your reader.

Benefits with RSS:

• Don't need to remember to check website, webblogs for new content.
• Alternative to email alerts, thereby cutting down on email and SPAM
• Can quickly skim new content and separate the wheat from the chaff

German literature/Humanities RSS feeds

• Library News for German Studies (feed URL: http://wulibraries.typepad.com/germannews/index.rdf )
• BDSL (alerts for new articles, books on subjects)
• WU database and journal alerts
• H-Net Online RSS (announcements, jobs, discussion lists, reviews)
• Intute: Arts and Sciences (feeds for various subjects) 

More info on RSS: "What is RSS?"; "RSS Feeds are the Better Email Newsletters"

I'm a big fan of RSS and I'll be happy to assist anyone with getting set up with RSS. A number of your colleagues in the Department are using it.

Brian (bvetruba@wustl.edu; 935-4824)

BDSL Linked to Online Journals, ILLiad, Catalog

Like the MLA Int'l Bibliography and other WU databases, the Bibliographie der Deutschen Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft (BDSL) is now linked back to WU's online journals, our Catalog, and ILLiad. Once you find an article or book you're interested in, look for the familiar "Get It" icon on the right side: 

By clicking on "Get It!", you can find out whether we have online or print access to an item. And if not, you can go directly to ILLiad and the ILL request form will automatically be filled out.

What is BDSL? It's a comprehensive, international bibliographical database of German literature. More info

For questions, ask Brian (bvetruba@wustl.edu or 935-4824)