Access e-resources at your desktop

Hi,

For the benefit and convenience of all, direct access to the following e-resources has been activated. 

No login / password required henceforth.

IEEE-ASPP

Springer

J-GATE

Access Engineering

ASTM Digital Library

Direct Access to Elsevier Science Direct would be activated in a week's time.

Please proceed to the Institutes' website (www.sfitengg.org > Library > E -Journals 2012) if the above links do not work.

Springer offers free access to research articles on E. coli bacteria

Over 400 articles on the E. coli bacteria available online free of charge on SpringerLink

Springer Science+Business Media is offering all journal articles and book chapters which deal with the E. coli bacteria free of charge on its online information platform www.springerlink.com. The articles can be found by using the search terms “Enterohaemorrhagic and Escherichia and coli” or by using the link www.springer.com/ehec. A total of over 400 scientific articles are available to print out or download from now until 1 September 2011
Source: http://www.springer.com/biomed/ehec?SGWID=0-1728613-0-0-0
To download, click here

Libraries take the digital route

PUNE: Keeping pace with the times, libraries at research institutes have begun to digitise their book collections.
The Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute is in the process of scanning books between 1500 AD and 1900 AD, while the Bhaskaracharya Pratishthan, which has a rare collection of pure mathematics, also plans to use the digital platform.
One of country's foremost research institutes, the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, has digitised its books from the 16th century onwards. Plans are afoot to make it available to the public through the internet on a membership basis. The Jayakar Library of the University of Pune has also scanned over 3,000 books so far. The Deccan College received a grant from the Union government last year for this purpose. "The first phase of digitisation will consist of books published between 1500 and 1900. Work on the project began a year ago and we are half-way through. The grant is just enough for us to digitise the books in this period. Once we receive more funds, work will continue," said Trupti More, a librarian at Deccan college.
The college has a collection of 1.7 lakh books in Marathi, Hindi and English, many of them travel guides from the 16th century. They also have manuscripts on the Vedas, astronomy and ayurveda.Suresh Patil, chief librarian of Jayakar Library, said, "With changing reading habits and the advent of technology, libraries also need to update themselves. Digitising books makes it more accessible and convenient to readers, academicians and researchers. It increases the reader database and ultimately spreads knowledge."
Patil stressed that digitisation makes it easy to search for books, authors, theses and references. "Earlier, we used to spend hours searching for books or authors. Now we just have to click a few times." Jayakar Library has over five lakh books and 2,300 manuscripts in Hindi and Marathi. The Gokhale Institute will soon digitise over 20,000 books, mostly on social science and economics, dating back to the 1680s. Many of them have come apart and cannot be given to those wanting to read them. Instead the institute will scan them so that readers can either take a printout or download them, or even read them on the computer screen. The Institute has received a grant of Rs 20 lakh for the project from the University Grants Commission. Nanaji Shewale, chief librarian of the Gokhale Institute, said, "Once the project is complete, online access will become possible."
Source: Times of India dated 9 May 2011

Balbharati goes online

To beat annual shortage, Balbharati goes online
Starting June, the textbooks for Std I to VIII will be available in PDF format on the website www.balbharati.in free of cost : Deepti Khera mirrorfeedback@indiatimes.com
To tackle perennial shortage of its textbooks, Balbharati has decided to upload them on its web site (www.balbharati.in) in the PDF format. Starting from June the textbooks, for Std I to VIII, will be available online free of cost.
The PDF files will contain all the illustrations and exercises that the textbooks have. Balbharati has now been printing textbooks for nearly 55 years. An official from Balbharati, which also serves the Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research, said, “Each year Balbharati prints more than six crore textbooks. With such a huge amount of print orders, there is a possibility of a time lag. In order to avoid shortages, that would cause hardships to students, we have decided to take this move.”
Priyanka Verma, a student studying in Std VI, said, “Last year, I enquired at all the local stores, but my math book was just not in stock. It was only a month after school started that I got the book. Till then I managed on photocopies.” Priyanka isn’t alone. Shimin Patel, parent of a Std VII student, had to go to the extent of writing to officials at Balbharati officials to get the science book for her daughter, as all the nearby stored were out of stock. Former Director of Balbharati Vasant Kalpande, whose idea it was to go online with the textbooks, said, “Students will no longer have to hunt for textbooks. We hope to start upload most books from the start of this academic year itself.”
He added, “Some Marathi medium textbooks for Std I and II have already been uploaded.”
Chairperson of Maharashtra’s Education Board Ujwala Patil also approved of the move, saying, “Students can now heave a sigh of relief.” Currently, Balbharati prints more than six crore textbooks every year
Source: Mumbai Mirror dated 9 May 2011

Alternatives to Photoshop

Fotoflexer.com
A free online image editing software. You can add animation to your photos, cut a person out of the background, crop, resize, and lots more! There is even a neat feature for creating posters! A great little tool for basic image editing techniques.
Gimp.org
An open source image manipulation program. Great tool for photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring.
Inkscape.org"
An Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, CorelDraw, or Xara X, using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format."
Pixlr.com
For photoediting

Free Access to superb GALE resources

In celebration of National Library Week, you will have FREE access to superb Gale resources listed below from April 10th - April 24th. Access the products below or add the access widget to your homepage: Gale NewsVault — The definitive cross-searching experience for exploring Gale's historical newspaper and periodical collections — with access to more than 10 million digitized pages. Global Issues in Context — Empower your users with the tools they need to understand today's world issues from a truly global perspective. GREENR (Global Reference on the Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources) — From the green-collar economy to questions of energy and resource management, GREENR is the foremost online reference portal for sustainability and environmental studies. Powerspeak Languages — The perfect language learning resource teaches users how to immerse into cultural authenticity. New languages include ESL Mandarin, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Korean. Science in Context — From global warming to space exploration, students are drawn into the subject by integrating pure information with today's headlines and videos — showing how scientific disciplines relate to real-world issues. Slavery and Anti-Slavery: A Transnational Archive — The largest, most ambitious collection devoted to the study of slavery. In its entirety, it will consist of more than 5 million cross-searchable pages. Part I: Debates over Slavery & Abolition available now.

Source: http://www.gale.cengage.com/NLW/, Accessed on 13/04/2011

ProQuest Celebrates National Library Week with Free Resources

Company asks Facebook friends why libraries rock and opens access to popular databases April 10 through 16 ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 11, 2011 - ProQuest, an information firm central to research, is celebrating National Library Week (April 10-16) by giving libraries new opportunities to market their rich online database services to their communities and giving citizens a chance to share their love of libraries on the company’s Facebook page. ProQuest will provide free internet access to a variety of popular resources found exclusively through library web sites. ProQuest has also created new web icons, banners, and a screensaver to help libraries highlight the online research databases available through their websites year-round. "Libraries have a wealth of unique, online resources that address all sorts of questions challenging their communities. Whether people are building a family tree or completing a homework assignment, their library can help, and it's open 24/7 through any internet connection," said Lynda James-Gilboe, ProQuest senior vice-president of marketing and customer care. "National Library Week is a perfect opportunity to take a look at the reliable information that's available online through the library." During National Library Week, ProQuest will open databases that support some of the most common information questions posed to libraries. Resources for genealogy, history, general reference, and homework help will be open at www.proquest.com/go/celebrate. Among the resources are patron favorites such as ebrary's Public Library Complete and School Collection, ProQuest African American Heritage, ProQuest Civil War Era, CultureGrams, eLibrary, SIRS Issues Researcher, and SIRS Discoverer. All of the databases are filled with carefully selected content that passes ProQuest's high standards for quality and reliability. None include advertising. April 11-15, ProQuest is gathering comments from Facebook friends, asking them to fill in the blank in "My library rocks because...?" The company will post a short video each day on Facebook, asking a question about libraries. Fans are encouraged to respond to the question in the comments section. To enter, users "Like" ProQuest on Facebook at www.facebook.com/proquest, then click the Sweepstakes tab, and fill out the entry form for a chance to win one of five $50 Amazon.com gift cards or a grand prize of an iPad 2. All libraries are encouraged to add www.proquest.com/go/celebrate to their web sites during National Library Week. Free marketing resources are available at www.proquest.com/go/nlwaccess. ProQuest's celebration of National Library Week is rooted in its longstanding support of libraries and librarianship. ProQuest's outreach and advocacy efforts extend deep into the library community. Among its varied programs are tools and services that help librarians connect with their communities, free database access and scholarship support for library students, and sponsorship of a range of awards that recognize outstanding library school educators and honor local efforts to protect intellectual freedom. In 2009, ProQuest initiated the Library Volunteer Program, which organized volunteer efforts to support Washtenaw County (MI) libraries and community groups. The Library Volunteer Program will kick off its third year this spring. ProQuest is also a corporate member and premier partner to numerous library organizations including the American Library Association's short list of Library Champions, corporate membership in the Urban Libraries Council, a sponsor of the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, as well as many others. Involvement with these organizations is part of ProQuest's commitment to the role of libraries as cornerstones of healthy, informed communities. Source http://www.proquest.com/en-US/aboutus/pressroom/11/20110411.shtml

Download Engineering Books

For downloading engineering books, click here.

Mumbai is now home to a State Central Digital Library Centre

The Government of Maharashtra has opened the State Central Library Digital Centre in Mumbai, located in the Andheri East district. A 3-storey facility, the new library houses digital content in CD/DVD-ROMs as well as various reference and academic books, all of which are available for free to the general public.
Each floor gives access to different types of learning – the ground floor is meant for children and senior citizens, housing a multimedia computer with digital academic material, movies, and games, as well as books in Hindi, Marathi, and English. There apparently is also an Xbox360! The first floor is meant for the general public, and consists of over 200 CD/DVDs, a legal database of DELNET, Manuputra, and the British Council Library, apart from 48 internet-enabled and well-specced computers. The second floor is meant for reading, and also contains its fair share of books. The third floor houses a cafeteria and an AV room.
Certainly one of the first of its kind in India, the State Central Library Digital Centre will hopefully pave the path for more such centres across the country. For those of you living in Mumbai, and those visiting, here’s the address:

State Central Library Digital Centre
Guru Hargovindji Marg(Next to The Mirador)
Andheri (East)Mumbai.

Source: Thinkdigit

Now, use scratch cards for online learning

New Delhi. And you thought scratch cards can only win you television sets, gold coins and holiday vouchers!
Macmillan India imprint Full Marks has come out with a support website for students of class VI-XII mainly following NCERT books that can be accessed by using a scratch card.
The website can be accessed by students, teachers and parents who bought the Full Mark Series of books by registering using a unique access code - the Scratch Card Number - printed on the inside of the back cover.
The number can be viewed once a user scratches over the box marked for the purpose. After registration, one can login using a user name and password and access the website.
According to Full Marks, its website offers plenty of practice exercises and assignments different from the ones given in its books to build clarity and proficiency in the subject.
"Fullmarks.org marks our commitment to be a complete player in the education business. The website opens a world of possibilities for students. Access to over 24,000 questions for students appearing in entrance examinations like AIEEE, PMT and IIT-JEE makes their task easier and faster," says Macmillan Publishers India Ltd managing director Rajiv Beri.
According to him, the website is an attempt to provide complete tutorial support to students so that they can master the art of writing perfect answers to different types of questions given in their course books developed by NCERT.
"Taking advantage of the fact that the Internet is a knowledge resource and digital library, this website offers useful links for further references which might be of use to the students," says Beri.
Students can also ask questions to the authors to clarify a concept or seek solutions to problems and questions given in the textbooks.
Source http://www.expressindia.com

Billion Beats

Hi,
Billion Beats is an e-paper launched on the eve of Children's Day on 14th. November, 2007 by respected Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Billion Beats

Watch That Page

Hi,
WatchThatPage is a service that enables you to automatically collect new information from your favorite pages on the Internet. You select which pages to monitor, and WatchThatPage will find which pages have changed, and collect all the new content for you. The new information is presented to you in an email and/or a personal web page. You can specify when the changes will be collected, so they are fresh when you want to read them.
Source: http://www.watchthatpage.com/ (Accessed on 20/05/2010)

'N-LIST Project'

Kapil Sibal inaugurates 'N-LIST Project'
New Delhi, May 4 (ANI): Union Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal inaugurated the "National Library and Information Services Infrastructure for Scholarly Content (N-LIST) Project" here on Tuesday

The N-LIST project provides access to more than 2,100 electronic journals and 51,000 electronic books to students, researchers and faculty from colleges and other beneficiary institutions through servers installed at the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) Centre.
Authorized users from colleges can now access e-resources and download articles required by them directly from the publisher's website once they are duly authenticated as authorized users through servers deployed in the INFLIBNET Centre.Faculty, staff students and researches from colleges covered under section 12B of UGC Act are eligible to access e-resources through the N-LIST project. These colleges are required to register themselves on the N-LIST Website.Currently, 665 colleges are registered members. Registered colleges are issued Log-in ID and passwords for their authorized users including faculty, staff, researchers and students.Colleges that are not covered under 2F/12B Act of the UGC may join as N-LIST Associate Members.The UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium, INFLIBNET Centre, INDEST-AICTE Consortium and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi are jointly executing the N-LIST Project.The project provides for cross-subscription to e-resources subscribed by the two Consortia, i.e. subscription to INDEST-AICTE resources for universities and UGC-INFONET resources for technical institutions; and access to selected e-resources to colleges. (ANI)
http://news.oneindia.in/

NISCAIR ONLINE PERIODICALS REPOSITORY (NOPR)

Hi,
The following journals published by NISCAIR can now be accessed online:
IJBB: Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics
IJC-A: Indian Journal of Chemistry -Section A
IJC-B: Indian Journal of Chemistry -Section B
IJPAP: Indian Journal of Pure & Applied Physics
JSIR: Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research
IJRSP: Indian Journal of Radio & Space Physics
IJCT: Indian Journal of Chemical Technology
IJEMS: Indian Journal of Engineering and Materials Sciences
IJMS: Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
IJEB: Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
IJBT: Indian Journal of Biotechnology
IJFTR: Indian Journal of Fibre & Textile Research
IJNPR (NPR): Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources (IJNPR) [Formerly Natural Product Radiance (NPR)
JIPR: Journal of Intellectual Property Rights
BVAAP: Bharatiya Vaigyanik evam Audyogik Anusandhan Patrika
ALIS: Annals of Library and Information Studies
IJTK: Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge
Source: http://nopr.niscair.res.in/ accessed on 27/04/2010

Nature India

Nature India is a one-stop site for information on Indian science. The website, serving the scientific community of the world’s largest democracy, provides information on jobs, events, the best research and science news from India. Through in-depth features and commentaries, leading members of the scientific community, scientists and journalists reflect on contemporary issues affecting Indian science. It also provides free access to some handpicked premium content from various NPG journals.

http://www.nature.com/nindia/index.html

Source: Website of Nature India/ Accessed on 13/04/2010

National Library Websites

www.library.uq.edu.au/natlibs/websites.html

Source: University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (Site accessed on 13/04/2010)