Library Purchases Springer Computer Science eBook Sets 2005-2007 and 2008

Alkek Library has purchased the Springer Computer Science eBook packages for 2005-2007 and 2008. The acquisition of future years' sets will depend on budget and usefulness of the electronic format. With the purchase of these sets, Texas State also gets access to Lecture Notes of Computer Science from 1997 to present. The 1997-2004 access to LNCS will continue as long as we license the current year collection.

E-book titles and chapter headings are searchable at http://libproxy.txstate.edu/login?url=http://www.springerlink.com. Within the Computer Science subject collection, you may limit to content type “Books” or search all content types. If you do not specify content type, you will retrieve journal articles along with book chapters. A green square indicates titles with full-text access (PDF).

The titles are not yet in the library catalog but will be eventually. Meanwhile, a title list is viewable at http://www.springer.com/e-content/ebooks?SGWID=0-40791-12-377411-0 . The list will be updated as 2008 books are published and added to the collection.

Happy New Year!

Hopefully everyone is having a relaxing break in preparation for the upcoming spring semester. Alkek Library re-opened on January 3, after having an extra day off in remembrance of President Gerald Ford. Our hours will be from 8am to 5pm Monday - Friday until the new semester begins. We are closed on the weekends until the semester starts and also on MLK this year.

For some interesting reading while the library is closed or you are off campus, check out the E-books page. A new link added yesterday is to Librivox whose goal is to make available all books in the public domain available in mp3 and .ogg audio format. All Websites listed on the E-books page offer free electronic books or audio books. The e-books in the databases or via NetLibrary are not free, but if you are affiliated with Texas State (either a student, faculty or staff) you can access these electronic books using your NetID.

Happy reading...

Looking for FREE Textbooks?

Did you make the decision not to buy your textbook this semester due to the high costs of them? Then you might be interested to know that there are a growing number of Websites that provide free online e-books. This article posted on the U.S. News and World Report Website discusses the rising costs of textbooks and how more and more students are looking for alternative ways to get their books for class. You might check out these two Websites: Textbook Revolution and Textbook Media (Freeload Press) to see if any of your textbooks are available online for free. You can also view the E-book Collection Webpage to look for more free e-books.

At Alkek, we do not as a general rule have the textbooks used for classes at Texas State. Sometimes we may have the current editions, but often it is older editions of the book. If the book fits the needs of the collection, then it is probably on the shelf. All you need to do is check the Library Catalog to see if the book is here.

You can also request the book using the Interlibrary Loan Service if we do not have a copy available for checkout. Often the checkout period is longer and sometimes you can renew it.

If you have other Websites with free e-books that may not be mentioned here, post a comment!

New Database

A really cool database for people who need to study for a standardized test such as the SAT or MCAT is the Testing & Education Reference Center . Here is the quote from the db:

Prepare for the GED; civil service and military entrance exams; licensing tests for law enforcement, real estate, the postal service, and many other fields; plus college and graduate school admissions exams. Includes guides for CLEP, AP, TOEFL, ASVAB, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, ACT, SAT and many others.

Other interesting features of the database include a college, graduate program, and specialty or vocational school search and, also a large collection of e-books.

If you are a member of the Texas State community, you can access the database from home to prepare for the test you need to take. There are also full-length practice tests available.
I think this is a great resource.....