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

Birthday Book Program

SFIT LIBRARY INVITES YOU TO ……CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY WITH A BOOK Be a part of the new “Birthday Book” program, which starts this year! We would like to give you an opportunity to make a personal contribution to our central library in honour of your own birthday or of your beloved ones. You may purchase a NEW book of your choice to place in the library. You are requested to write your name on the first page of the gifted book. So, start your birthday celebrations by helping us grow the library collection. You may choose a book from the “Wish List” available at the Central Library. Remember that this gift is not mandatory at all, but at the same time, you would be sharing your world of thoughts and books with the fraternity.

World Book and Copyright Day Celebrations

World Book and Copyright Day on April 23

SCOPE

By celebrating this Day throughout the world, UNESCO seeks to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright. ORIGIN April 23: A symbolic date for world literature for on this date and in the same year of 1616, Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. It is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors such as Maurice Druon, K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo. It was a natural choice for UNESCO's General Conference to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone, and in particular young people, to discover the pleasure of reading and gain a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity. The idea for this celebration originated in Catalonia where on 23 April, Saint George's Day, a rose is traditionally given as a gift for each book sold. The success of the World Book and Copyright Day will depend primarily on the support received from all parties concerned (authors, publishers, teachers, librarians, public and private institutions) and by all those who feel motivated to work together in this world celebration of books and authors.

(Source: http://portal.unesco.org, accessed on 05/04/2011)

ACTIVITIES PLANNED AT SFIT In view of the aforementioned, the Central Library and the Library Advisory Committee invite you to be part of any / all of the below mentioned events: 1) Book-Mark making contest: Make a catchy book-mark (a marker made using paper to enable a reader to trace back the page he / she were reading) and drop it in the box kept in the library before 18/04/2011. 2) Your Dream Library: Draw a picture of your dream SFIT Library and drop it in the box kept in the library before 20/04/2011. 3) Cover page design: Design a cover page for the Library e-newsletter which is brought out every six months & drop it in the box kept in the library before 18/04/2011. The previous newsletters may be accessed on the library webpage. 4) Book Crossword: Test your knowledge of book names by solving this cross-word. Register for this event before 18/04/2011. Contact Ms. Namrata Mankad (Room No. 505) or the Library. The event will be held on 20th. April, 2011 between 3.00 pm to 4.00 pm. 5) Author Puzzle: Search for the names of the authors in this puzzle. Register for this event before 18/04/2011. Contact Ms. Namrata Mankad (Room No. 505) or the Library. The event will be held on 20th. April, 2011 between 3.00 pm to 4.00 pm. 6) Donate a book on your birthday: This would be an on-going program; the details of which are given overleaf. For staff: If you are participating in the Book Crossword or Author Puzzle, kindly put a tick against the space provided against your name in the signature list which will be circulated.

Overdue Fines

The Central Library at SFIT imposes fines on overdue items. These fines are designed to ensure prompt and timely return of library items and give everybody a reasonable chance to access the items. We do not want anybody to stop making use of the Library because of its fine structure. Please do not hesitate to come up to us if you have problems related to lost books and /or overdue books.
We have always encouraged the practice of informing us at your earliest in case of any matters pertaining to the library.
Nonetheless, the fine structure is given below:
Rupee 1/- per day for the first five days (inclusive of the due date stamped on the date slip)
Rupees 3/- per day for the next ten days
Rupees 10/- per day for the following days

Overdues amounting to more than rupees one hundred should be paid by a A/C Payee cheque drawn in favour of "St. Francis Institute of Technology" in "The Catholic Syrian Bank", Borivali (W), which is just opposite the institute and the deposit slip be submitted to the Library, against which your library cards will be released.
The above practice will be followed with effect from 25th March, 2011.

New books in the Central Library

Hi,
Following new books have been added:
Introduction to Evolutionary Computing / A.E. Eiben and J.E. Smith - 03 copies
Distributed Operating Systems: Concepts and Design / Pradeep Sinha - 10 copies
Healthcare Information Management Systems: cases, strategies and solutions / Ball Marion, Charlotte Weaver and Joan Kiel - 01 copy (REFERENCE ONLY)

SFIT Library Quiz 3

Library Quiz - March 2011: The quiz will be live for the period 03/03/2011 to 31/03/2011.
Click on the link below to answer the quiz.
SFIT Library Think Tank

International Women's Day

International Women's Day 2011 Theme

Each year around the world, International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. Hundreds of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.

Organisations, governments and women's groups around the world choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues.

THEME: So while many people may think there is one global theme each year, this is not always correct. It is completely up to each country and group as to what appropriate theme they select.

Below are some of the global United Nation themes used for International Women's Day to date:

- 2011: Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women
- 2010: Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all
- 2009: Women and men united to end violence against women and girls
- 2008: Investing in Women and Girls
- 2007: Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls
- 2006: Women in decision-making
- 2005: Gender Equality Beyond 2005: Building a More Secure Future
- 2004: Women and HIV/AIDS
- 2003: Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals
- 2002: Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities
- 2001: Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts
- 2000: Women Uniting for Peace
- 1999: World Free of Violence against Women
- 1998: Women and Human Rights
- 1997: Women at the Peace Table
- 1996: Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future
- 1975: First IWD celebrated by the United Nations

Reference Source: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/theme/ (Accessed on 08/03/2011)

Marathi Bhasha Diwas Photos

We celebrated "Marathi Bhasha Diwas" on 28th. February, 2011 in our Institute.
Marathi Bhasha Diwas is celebrated on 27th. February every year as it is the birthday of the legendary poet V.V. Shirwadkar, popularly known as Kusumagraj. This year marks the centenary of the birth anniversary of the poet.

In 1989, poet Kusumagraj was honoured with the Dnyanpeeth Award, the topmost award for literature instituted by the Government of India, for his contribution to Marathi literature. He was only the second Marathi litterateur after V. S. Khandekar to receive this award. He served as the President of the first International Marathi Parishad (Convention) in 1989.
Kusumagraj’s contribution to Marathi literature and his love for the language prompted the International Marathi Convention to dedicate his birthday, 27th February, as the Marathi Language Day. The idea behind observing this day is to create awareness and pride about Marathi culture and its roots, apart from encouraging research and development of the language.

The Marathi Abhimaan Geet composed by Shri. Kaushal Inamdar also completed a year in the month of February this year. This very song is sung by 105 singers, accompanied by 356 co-singers. The video for the song follows this post.

A slant to English Language

www.engrish.com

www.tinyurl.com/funnyeng

A board on a road, next to the University of Mumbai was for a long time displaying "UNIVERCITY". It was corrected soon after an evening newspaper reported the mistake. Many labels in Japan bear English names, which are sometimes mis-spelt, creating a humorous havoc. Such incidences are housed on the above websites. Go forward and have some fun!

Book Exhibition Photos

Telephone Directory of the World

www.teldir.com

www.infobel.com/en/world

Cultivate your hidden talents

www.teras-wish.com/articles

www.teraliegh.com

Some people, it seems, are born knowing their own purpose, and go after it with a single-minded purpose.

Most of us, however, spend our lives searching for that purpose, while we live a fearful and unhappy life, afraid to take the risks involved with change.

Source: www.teras-wish.com

Courtesy: Vivek Mehetre, Webjagat, Loksatta dated 23/02/2011.

SFIT Library Blog crosses 1 thousand hits!

Our Library Blog was launched in the month of April 2010...today it has crossed one thousand hits!

Thanks to all those who have contributed toward this venture!

Book Exhibition

We cordially invite all the SFITians for the 3rd. Book Exhibition on February 22, 2011 between 9.00 am to 5.00 pm at the following venue:

Assembly Hall, SFIT

Book Art

www.tinyurl.com/bookartorigami

www.flicker.com/photos/bookofart

Isaac Salazar is an accountant in New Mexico. When he's not crunching numbers he's working on his side project, called "Book of Art," which is pretty freaking awesome!

Source: http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/isaac_salazar_pop-up_books_for_typographers_18546.asp

Courtesy: Vivek Mehetre, Webjagat, Loksatta dated 17/02/2011

Download Engineering Books

For downloading engineering books, click here.

Stamp Exhibition

www.coolstamps.com

http://home.scarlet.be/evan.belle/stamp

www.collectiblestampsgallery.com

Courtsey: Vivek Mehetre, Webjagat, Loksatta dated 11/02/2011

How is a physical archive still relevant in today's hyper-connected world?

How is a physical archive still relevant in today’s hyper-connected world?
Published: Wednesday, Feb 9, 2011, 2:27 IST Place: Mumbai Agency: DNA
It helps address the digital divide
With scarce archiving of women’s perspectives, every effort counts. An outfit such as ours is completely digital and has its own audience. But there is still a vast digital divide; there are voices that still struggle to find a place in cyberspace. So the SPARROW archive plays an important role. At the same time, I relate to their need to be financially independent. When you're trying to build an organisation, you need consistent funding.
Sapna Shahani, director, Women Aloud: Videoblogging for Empowerment (WAVE)
It rescues and preserves lost voices
CS Lakshmi started SPARROW at a time where it was not very common to have things dedicated to women. Instead of just archiving published material, she has rescued creative works by women that would otherwise be languishing in a cupboard somewhere.Despite the move towards digitisation, I believe some things have to be kept in the form they were created in. So there is definitely a place for real archiving. Just because it’s expensive, it shouldn’t be made redundant.
Chandita Mukherjee, director, Comet Media Foundation, NGO
It helps documents personal histories
I became involved with SPARROW when CS Lakshmi began documenting the lives of Indian women artistes. In their oral history workshops, a lot of spontaneous creation took place. I remember doing an improv dance and music session with the late Kathak dancer, Damayanti Joshi. I admire Lakshmi’s resolve in documenting the inner struggles of artists, instead of just seeking out celebrities. In that sense, SPARROW serves a great purpose in documenting cultural history.
Neela Bhagwat, Hindustani classical singer
It provides reliable information
I remember flipping through these little booklets SPARROW had published about Indian women in cinema history. I still have them in my collection. There’s something about the physicality of a book that is comforting to me. As a journalist, I use a combination of the internet and books for my research. The internet tends to be limited to excerpts and cross-references, but for in-depth knowledge about a subject, I prefer referring to books, where the likelihood of errors is far lower than on the internet.
Meenakshi Shedde, journalist
Source: DNA dated 09/02/2011

Preserve 'her story' before it's lost

Preserve ‘her story’ before it’s lost
Published: Wednesday, Feb 9, 2011, 1:23 IST By Uttarika Kumaran Place: Mumbai Agency: DNA
Why is it we all know that Jawaharlal Nehru was India’s first prime minister, but many would struggle to remember his sister, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit —the first Indian woman to hold a cabinet post and later became governor of Maharashtra? Or the fact that RK Laxman is considered India’s greatest cartoonist, while the name of Maya Kamath barely registers? And who would’ve thought something as frivolous as rangolis could give one a glimpse into the political and social concerns of the women who drew them?
The Sound and Picture Archive for Research On Women (SPARROW) library in a non-descript building in Dahisar (East), doesn’t claim to have the answers. But in an ostensibly pluralist world, where even bringing up the gender issue is increasingly being considered myopic, it definitely raises some interesting questions.
Taking flightSet up in 1988 by Dr CS Lakshmi, Dr Neera Desai and Dr Maithreyi Krishna Raj, all pioneering figures in the field of women’s studies in India, SPARROW was an unusual name for what was, back then, an unusual endeavour. “In most of our work, we were always looking for material currently found in SPARROW but usually absent in other archives and documentation centres,” says DR CS Lakshmi, director, SPARROW.
With funding from the Dutch organisation HIVOS in 1997, the ten-year grant period that followed were the most crucial years in the growth of the archive. Today, the archive stores 5,000 books in 11 Indian languages and countless more journals, journal articles and newspaper clippings covering all areas of history and culture related to women. SPARROW’s anchor project on oral history has produced video and audio recordings of a diverse set of women, from those involved in the freedom movement, practitioners of traditional systems of medicine, artists, writers and educationists.
Losing speedToday, the library that holds this veritable treasure house of women’s histories is called Dr Neera Desai Memorial Library, named after the late Dr Neera Desai who taught an entire generation of feminists to rise above abstractions and examine their own realities.
In this spirit, SPARROW has consistently organised exhibitions, writers’ camps and cultural festivals to take the archive out of the library and into public spaces. However, over the past two years, the absence of adequate funding has meant that such activities have considerably reduced. For now, SPARROW has been able to tide over the fund crunch via donations from individual donors as well as a Charity Art Raffle organised last year.
But the atmosphere at the SPARROW office, despite many leaving for better-paying jobs, remains upbeat. And although the immaculately kept library finds few visitors, except for researchers and stray students, the team, buried deep in newspapers, women’s magazines, audio tapes and transcripts, keeps the archiving mission going on full steam.
Malsawmi Jacob, a Mizo poet and writer, and currently editor at SPARROW, claims the best thing about her work is that it gives her a window into so many different lives. Speaking as an employee, however, Jacob admits times have been tough. “Several people have left since they haven’t had a rise in salary in the past four years. I myself have had to take up a part-time position here,” she says.
The sky’s the limit“The function of an archive is to retrieve marginal histories,” explains Dr Lakshmi. As a case in point, she talks of the 1998 SPARROW publication on Sakhubai, a tribal woman and member of Kashtakari Sanghatana, an organisation in Maharashtra that saves tribal communities from exploitation. She adds, “Sakhubai will never be part of any textbook. That’s why I strongly feel that if you want to change the education system, change the material that people can have access to.”
With this in mind, SPARROW has also taken up ‘Women in Science’, a project commissioned by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, to document the achievements of 20 Indian women scientists. “We will also publish a small booklet about these scientists, aimed at young girls who are on the verge of making a career choice,” says Dr Lakshmi.
However, SPARROW’s primary concern is to generate enough funds to become self-sufficient. “For an archive like ours, we need commerce. Otherwise we are project-dependent and at the mercy of funding agencies. If we have an adequate corpus, we won’t need to compromise,” says Dr Lakshmi.
Giving wings to SPARROWSPARROW recently launched A Sky to Fly, an initiative to find 2,000 supporters to contribute Rs2,500 annually for the next four years. This amount will translate into archival activities, publications, outreach projects and infrastructural expenses for SPARROW.
To donate, email sparrow1988@gmail.com or visit www.sparrowonline.org
Source: DNA dated 09/02/2011

Footfalls increase as Mumbai bookstores experiment

Footfalls increase as Mumbai bookstores experiment
Published: Friday, Feb 11, 2011, 3:28 IST By Humaira Ansari Place: Mumbai Agency: DNA
In the name of live events, one would typically associate bookstores with book launches and reading sessions.
The audience — an assorted concoction of society’s high-heeled, the literati and of course the quintessential book lovers. Few book browsers present at the venue would stick along. But that was then.
Picture this: It’s a Sunday morning and a bunch of gleeful kids are engrossed in making props — Akbar’s crown or a capseller’s hat, which they will later put to creative use while enacting famous childhood tales. An art-cum-story-telling workshop, only that the venue is not a conventional private art class. Walk into a Crossword Bookstore on a Sunday morning, and you’ll realise it’s a regular feature here.
The activity is part of Crossword Children’s Hour, something the bookstore started with its first store at Mahalaxmi, 14 years back. But what started as a mere story-telling session on a Sunday morning has now evolved into much more.
The result, a gamut of activities — colouring contest, extempore story narrations, singing, drama, fancy dress and dancing contests to festive workshops around Diwali and Christmas...you name it, and they have it all.
“Our target audience is essentially children between the ages of 4-12 years. Through these workshops we want to inculcate reading as a habit. We are sowing the seeds now, so we can reap its benefits 7-8 years down the line,” says Sivaraman Balakrishnan, manager marketing, Crossword Bookstores.
And since the stores are selling more than just books, read: toys, stationery, DVDs, there is a constant need to take on marketing initiatives to push sales in the respective categories.
“Landmark caters to not just books. We have large areas dedicated to toys, DVDs and games. Hence the promotional activities need to be balanced out,” says Lijin Thomas, head marketing, Landmark.
From Scrabble to Squap contests and Hot Wheels Racing to Lego Block Building Challenge — Landmark conducts periodic contests. Many of the events are organised to get the products off the shelves. And kid’s fare is a regular event every December. “Toy activation in a coordinated fashion started in 2008 and every year in the month of December sales go up by 25-30%,” Thomas adds.Besides tangible sales, these events also mean an increase in footfalls at the store. Children’s Hour at Crossword for instance has no registration fee, but the attendance for the Sunday sessions have increased by 30% last year alone.
Thomas also contends that the toy specific events are essentially hosted in a challenge or contest format because, “children like to experience certain toys rather than just seeing demos”.
It is of little surprise that when famed cartoon superstars, Spiderman or Dora visit the store, sales of stationery that includes these characters increases.
Moving outside the ambit of children-related activities, Oxford hosts a variety of non-children centric events as well. Panel discussions on social issues like LGBT and 26/11, theatre workshops, live music performances, tarot reading and occasional movie screenings etc, the store has ventured out to include a bouquet of events other than just readings.
Tathagata Chowdhary, a theatre producer, was looking for fresh actors for his play. And he chose Oxford (at Churchgate) as the venue to hold his theatre workshop. “The store is one place in town which is close to many colleges in the city. The crowd is young and there’s a lot of connect,” says Chowdhary who was happy with the response.
Earlier, Chowdhary had also organised a panel discussion on one of the longest running plays in the history of English theatre The Mousetrap based on Agatha Christie’s novel. And for people who see these events as a distraction; Chowdhary holds that these activities, be it at coffee shops or bookstores are value additions. “A person who reads Agatha is more than likely to attend a related discussion,” says he.
To each to his own. But for now, as bookstore shelves become all inclusive, and marketing minds dish out fun activities, customers aren’t complaining. Not just as yet.
Browsing books, how about a tarot reading?
I have been doing tarot reading at Oxford for three years. The energy of the shop makes a lot of difference. And the candles and bright table cloth attracts many walk-in customers. The bookstore also ensures that the footfalls comprise educated people. My clientele includes bankers, corporates, government officials, students and home-makers. Over three yearsmany repeat clients have become my brand ambassadors. Earlier I used to operate from 5-8, now I am sitting there till 10pm. People like the idea that a tarot reader is sitting there and not running away the next day.They can always get back to me. Rajni Tandon, tarot reader at Oxford Bookstore
Stories, song, dance and more for kids...
We’ve been organising events around our new storybook series, The Adventures of Toto the Auto, at various Landmark stores and the kids have absolutely loved it. The bookstore is a great venue to connect with parents and engage the children in stories, songs, dance and drawing. We see the crowds growing with each subsequent event and now even have parents contacting us to do the same event for them at their kid’s birthday party.Preeti Vyas, CEO, FunOKPlease Publishing India
Story-telling with a difference
I think it’s very exciting to use alternate spaces and not stick to conventional ones. The story-telling workshops we hold at Crossword include reading, story-telling and story enacting. And the creative workshops use art and craft as a medium to hook the children. Though the various media —internet, gaming, television —are stimulating, there’s very little left to the imagination. It is important to inculcate the habit of reading in children. And the art story workshops at Crossword is one of the ways we try to generate and retain children’s interest in reading. Raell Padamsee, head, Academy for Creative Expression
Source: DNA dated 11/02/2011