Resigning Blog

Greetings all,

Just a brief message to inform you all that this blog will temporarily cease to be used while the library considers the best approach to blogging for the future. The blog was orginally launched for university purposes and formed the research phase of the real blog which is yet to come, fully endorsed by TNQITAFE. Thank you for your contributions, feedback and support over the past eight weeks. It has been an odyssey of sorts into new social software and emerging technologies and a downright pleasure moderating this blog. I look forward to chatting with you all online again very soon.

Cheers,
Tracey

Get a whole lot more out of life...

I'm not talking about Lifesavers.... Well, actually I am. But not the type you're thinking of... I'm talking about a different kind of lifesaver - LIBRARIANS! Most people don't know that Librarians tend to get a whole lot more out of life and if you're best friends with one, you're lucky! We're information and knowledge lifesavers who know how to get a whole lot more out of search engines, subject directories, google, the Internet, books, journals, magazines, specialist publications, reports, newspapers , Wikipedia and even the humble telephone directory. We don't know everything but we can find anything. It's what we do best. Just Ask Us. Make your library your lifesaver and start getting a whole lot more out of your life!

Note: Image courtesy of www.spatter.typepad.com

TNQIT Library Help...

If you're not sure how to get the most out of your electronic library experience, then there is plenty of help available to you online at the TNQIT Library Website. Perhaps you need some help using the catalogue, or you need to know how to reserve items? Whatever your problem is, we're bound to have an anwer available 24/7 just by visiting our How To website. Jump online and check it out for all the information you need on how to:

Place a reservation
Place a booking
Place an interlibrary loan request
Request a photocopy of an article
Suggest an item for purchase
Set up an alert profile
Renew your loans
Change your PIN
Cancel a reservation, booking or request
Add a review

There's also a really helpful Finding Information page where you can learn how to Search the library catalogue. Check out the FAQ page for lots of useful stuff and don't forget you can always Ask a Librarian if you get stuck!

Note: Image courtesy of Flickr

Inter Library Loans

So you've found the resource you need, but the library doesn't have a copy in their collection. DOH! What do you do now? Contact Us to arrange an Inter Library Loan (ILL). Inter Library Loans are simply borrowing partnerships between libraries that allow them to loan materials from one another's collections on behalf of patrons. Put simply, it just means if we haven't got what you need, it doesn't mean we cannot get it for you from another library. You can search the Cairns Public Library Catalogue, the JCU library catalogue, the National Library of Australia's catalogue, the QLD TAFE Library Network Catalogue or even try Libraries Australia. We can access materials from any library in Australia. And if you're not really keen on researching who has it, just leave the detective work to us! Next time you need something and your library doesn't have it, remember ILLs and give us a call on 07 4042 2539 or drop us an email at Cairns.Library@deta.qld.gov.au. If you know your library number (student number) and PIN number, you can even fill out the online ILL Request Form. We'll get you what you need. No worries.

First Australians...

In the Transformations Conference of 2005 in Canberra, SBS Managing Director – Nigel Milan said that SBS's biggest documentary series to date would soon go into production. Called First Australians, it would explore – over eight one-hour episodes – the history of indigenous Australia. Milan stated that we need to rectify the neglect of the past. We need to learn our history to be proud of our history. He said that it seems there is a desire to forget rather than a hunger to remember and that Australian multiculturalism didn’t begin after the Second World War. It began with the first fleet in 1788. Milan went on to say how vital it is that we, as a people, understand our origins and the circumstances of our history. And so, First Australians was created. An epic documentary spanning the full history of the western settling of this nation and the story of Indigenous Australia told from their perspective... the First Australians.

This landmark production is a great resource for those of indigenous background or those studying indigenous studies at TAFE. It is essential viewing for all Australians. On the official website, you can discover the story, search for people, places and events, upload your own story, create and share a video playlist and discuss the series. You can even watch previous episodes and search your family history.

New episodes are featured on SBS every Sunday and Tuesday evening at 8:30pm. If you've already seen an episode or have been following the story, post your thoughts here on the comments link.

Image courtesy of SBS

The Far North Queensland Collection

Did you know the TNQIT Library is home to the QLD State Library's FNQ Collection? The FNQ Collection is part of the John Oxley Library , and has been housed and managed onsite in the TAFE for many years by our very own Dr. Brian Stevenson (pictured). Brian is also the Liaison Librarian for the Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (FATSIS). His knowledge of the Far North and Indigenous history is extensive and he provides a valuable link to the ATSI community with their past. Brian can be contacted on (07) 4042 2539 or by email Brian.Stevenson@deta.qld.gov.au.

If you're on campus or in the Cairns area, drop in and have a look or ask Brian for a tour of the collection. It is worth the trip for the rich history and story of Far North Queensland and the tales of those who represent the past of this area. If you can't get in to see it, contact Brian and he will happily field your questions and point you in the right direction for accessing information on the exciting and interesting history of FNQ.

Tis the Season...

Well, the year is wrapping up quickly and here in the library we are beginning to feel rather festive. In the spirit of the season, we need your help in giving our community a wonderful Christmas. In partnership with the local Salvation Army, our library will be the collection point for Tropical North students and staff to contribute to the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal. Over the next six weeks, we need your support in giving food and wrapped gifts. Be sure to clearly label your gifts so it is obvious what age and gender they are appropriate for and keep food stuffs to canned items and boxed cereals and biscuits etc.

We have a rather novel Christmas Tree gracing the centre of the library (you really need to pop in for a peek… it’s rather special and very… library oriented…) Bring your items in or simply keep them in your faculty administration offices and we will be around on Fridays from now till Christmas to collect items and bring them back to the library for under the Christmas Tree. As the hub on campus, the library is a great centralised point to bring us together as an institute. If you're off campus, we'll keep you updated with pics on this blog. If you're on campus however, keep your eye out for roving librarians with trolleys and Christmas bells spreading goodwill around campus and drop in and be part of the giving. Join with us, and as an organisation, let’s make a difference in our community this Christmas.

Your Library Team

Note: Image courtesy of Flickr

Lost in Space... how to make search engines work for you...

Ever been frustrated trying to find information using Google or other search engines? Our friends round the corner at James Cook University have developed a fantastic online tutorial designed to show you how to make search engines work for you... The Lost In Space tutorial is a series of seven modules including

Module 1 - Starting a Search
Module 2 - Features you may have missed
Module 3 - Some search tricks
Module 4 - Going further in your search
Module 5 - Advanced search techniques
Module 6 - Refining and limiting searches
Module 7 - Evaluating and citing results

Each module takes around 10-15 minutes to complete and an online How-To & Help guide is available at all times to guide you through. If you've ever been overwhelmed by information avalanche (you know, 27 billion results...) or you simply cannot find what you're looking for and you've given up, give Lost in Space a go... you'll never get lost in cyberspace again!

Standards Online

Attention Trades Students... did you know you can access Australian Standards online anytime and anywhere you have an internet connection? Login details, conditions of use and instructions on how to find what you need and use the site are available on the library services section of the TNQIT website, or by clicking here.

Standards are expensive to purchase and are ammended all the time. It's great to know you can access the most current information just by jumping online. You can print or save the standard you need. If you save the document it will be encoded with a predetermined expiry date, after which it will cease to be accessible. The electronic PDF files and accompanying materials are the subject of copyright. Under licensing agreements, you can print an entire standard, but you may only copy 10% of it on a photocopier. The site is easy to use and a great asset to all our trades staff and students. As always, if you need assistance, just contact us.

Bookcrossing.com... The Reader's Revolution

BookCrossing is the act of releasing books “into the wild” and then following their journeys and the lives they touch. It's a global phenomenon, with members from over 150 countries from Antarctica to Zimbabwe! The goal of BookCrossing is to make the whole world a library. BookCrossing combines serendipity, adventure, altruism and literature in a unique mix that true booklovers find irresistible. With its similarity to releasing messages in a bottle, or notes in helium balloons, BookCrossing brings people together in unique ways. BookCrossers register their books at the website so that each has its own BCID (BookCrossing ID number), which is used to “tag” or label the book inside the cover. People who “catch” a wild book follow the instructions on the label, then visit the website to see where the book has been. They make a new journal entry on the book and release it into the wild again.

Registering your books with bookcrossing.com, then giving them to a friend, a charity, or otherwise releasing them "into the wild" and following their progress and travels, is infinitely more fulfilling than the small satisfaction you'll get by looking at your books in your bookcase every day. It's also a fascinating exercise in fate, karma, or whatever you want to call the chain of events that can occur between two or more lives and one piece of literature. Oh, and we should mention, it's absolutely free and absolutely private, too.

TNQIT Library originally launched our Bookcrossing Zone in the Library in 2005. The library has now registered and released hundreds of titles! Students and staff alike are enjoying the bookcrossing corner where they can browse the free recreational reading titles and grab whatever takes their fancy. One of the original titles we released, “Angels & Demons” by Dan Brown surfaced in Mumbai, India after last being seen here in our TAFE library. With books coming in from all over campus and then showing up in exotic locations like Maharashtra, Mumbai, India, and with international visitors coming to TAFE to check out the new BC Zone, BookCrossing has brought recreational reading, treasure hunting and networking opportunities to the Cairns TAFE community.

If you haven’t yet discovered BookCrossing, visit the Zone in the library or log on to http://www.bookcrossing.com/ and help us make the whole world a library! Intrepid explorers, treasure hunters, book lovers & adventurers beware… This sport is addictive! Be part of a reader’s revolution and join in the fun today!

Who's who in the library? Tracey Fisk

I am the cadet library technician here at TAFE, which means I want to be a librarian when I grow up :) In truth, it simply means I am still studying toward my qualification. I love libraries and am passionate about what I do. I work closely with Rachel, our Client Services Librarian and do lots of the background stuff behind the scenes here. I am the moderator for this blog and am always keen for feedback on how to improve it so it is a useful one-stop-information-shop for our students, especially those of you not on campus. Feel free to contact me for library help on 07 4042 2483 or drop me an email Tracey.Fisk@deta.qld.gov.au.

Your Passport to the world of information

Your membership to the Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE Library is your passport to the world of information around you. Did you know, if you're currently an enrolled student with TNQIT, you're automatically a member of the library with access to full borrowing priveledges. Click here to read about our loans information. Did you also know that you actually don't need a library card??? Your student number is your library membership number. If you're on campus, you can use your student ID card or simply confirm your ID and address details at the library desk to borrow. If you're a remote student, just have your student number or contact details on hand when you call. The library can also provide you with a PIN number to enable you to view your library account, renew your loans or reserve items online. All these functions are available through the library login page. Just remember your Borrower ID is your student number. Contact us to set up your PIN for you, then you're off to the world of information around you! Bon Voyage!!!

Library Loan Information

If you're unsure just what you can borrow and for how long, check out our loan information.

Students are welcome to borrow up to 15 items at a time. Standard loan period for books is 4 weeks. Videos, magazines & DVDs are 1 week loans.

If you need longer, you can renew your items up to twice provided they are not reserved for others. Don't forget, extended loan periods apply to remote library users. Just contact us for assistance.

Statistically Speaking...

The Australian Bureau of Statistics is a fantastic resource for students. You can find current national statistics, including Australia's Population, Key National Indicators, Census Data, the Consumer Price Index or CPI, the Labour Force, and National Accounts Releases. Other useful information include the National Regional Profiles where you can drill down until you see the data available on Cairns and the Far North of Queensland.

The ABS offers Key Products including Australian Social Trends, Measure's of Australia's Progress, Australian Yearbooks, Australian Economic Indicators, and other papers & articles. There's even a really useful Google Search embedded link which automatically delivers current statistical headlines from around the nation.

Themed links include information on Economy, Environment & Energy, Industry, People and Regional. The First Visit? page is a great introduction and will help guide you in terms of where to find what you need. There's even a dedicated page for Students. As always, HELP is just a click away. You can contact the ABS or just ask your library.

Tropical North QLD TAFE Remote Library Services Blog Policy

The Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE's Remote Library Services blog has been developed to better serve the needs of remote students of TNQIT without access to a campus library. It has also been established as an online student discussion forum. As such, it is dedicated to the discussion of studying as a remote student as well as providing information about the range of remote library services available.

The TNQIT Remote Library Services blog will be inspired by the services and collections of the TNQIT Library in conjunction with their usage, promotion and dessemination.

Comments Policy

Comments are open to all and will be moderated by the blog administrator. Commentary, opinion and reaction to posts are welcome. Comments should be relevant to the specific post to which they are attached. The TNQIT Library reserves the right not to post any comment determined to be detrimental to the purposes of the blog, or to the organisation.

Comments will be deleted if they have content that:

• is abusive
• is off-topic
• is culturally inappropriate or racist
• promotes hatred of any kind
• is offensive in nature or contains offensive language
• is SPAM
• contains plagiarised material
• contains commercial content

TNQIT Library reserves the right to edit and re-use comments in publications (website, documents, reports etc). The Library reserves the right to change, add or modify the blog policy at any time.

21st Century Piracy - Copyright and you

Let's talk copyright. Often students are unsure of their rights and obligations with copyright. Basically, fair use provisions entitle you to copy 10% or 1 chapter of a book, 1 article from a journal, and 10% of the words or 1 chapter of electronic information. If you're really keen, you can check out the entire 1968 Copyright Act.

TAFE QLD's statement on copyright can be read here. There are many other resources available online to answer your copyright questions. Smartcopying is the official guide to copyright issues for Australian schools and TAFE. The Australian Copyright Council (ACC) is your one-stop-shop for all the copyright information you'll ever need! Two particularly useful resources are the ACC's downloadable and printable PDF information sheets Research or Study and Fair Use: some myths and misconceptions.

In copyright law, the objective of encouraging the creation of new works is balanced by the objective of making material available for socially desirable purposes such as research and education. The ACC states

"the purpose of copyright is to provide an incentive for people to produce new works for the benefit of society as a whole. The incentive is created by the opportunity to be paid when other people use and disseminate those works. Copyright can also reward people who create works without expecting payment, when their works end up being used by others."

Of course, if you dont want to be a copyright guru, just ask your library!

Information Literacy

Knowing how to find, access, use and evaluate information is an important skill for students. If you're new to the world of information or are returning to study after many years out of an educational environment, then grab yourself a cuppa and check out these free online information literacy tutorials built by some of our state's best universities. Pilot is an online information literacy program created by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). It comprises six modules designed to help students with the skills and tools they need to find and manage information effectively. James Cook University created the VISA program for much the same purposes. VISA is an acronym for Virtual Information Skills Activity and is a series of nine modules JCU calls your Passport to the World of Information Literacy. The tutorials are self paced. You can do them in your own time, in any order.

Don't forget the Learning Support Team on Campus in Cairns too. They are always eager to help students. You can speak to the Learning Support Unit by contacting the TAFE. TNQIT has a range of support services available to students. These online modules will get you started. Please comment on how useful you found them and keep your eye out for more postings on information literacy in the future.

Let's talk Referencing in your assignments

Students often ask us what referencing is and how to go about it. Referencing is simply about acknowledging the sources of information you use. If you use a direct quote or someone else's ideas, you need to reference it. Plagiarism and copyright violation are considered academic misconduct in TAFE QLD, and there are penalties for offences. Southbank Institute's Plagiarism & Copyright Policy gives a good introduction to these issues.

There are many different referencing styles. It's best to check with your teacher which style they expect you to use. Generally, the Harvard system is used in TAFE. James Cook University has a really helpful Harvard Referencing Guide. SkillsTech Australia , the lead TAFE institute in trade and technical training, also have useful information on The Harvard Referencing System. You can download and print their PDF version here.

Sometimes students worry that referencing reveals they have no ideas of their own. This is a simple misconception. Referencing actually enhances your academic work. It shows you have read widely to inform your opinion and your ideas are based on the current school of thought in the professional arena. So there you have it. Referencing demystified!

Note: Image courtesy of Queen Margaret Univeristy, Edinburgh

POLL Tell us what you think

If you're a remote student at Tropical North Institute of TAFE, then this is your blog and we'd like to hear from you. Please take a moment to vote in the poll running on the right hand side of the screen. We value your feedback. With it, we can build the blog you need.

Who's who in the library? Rachel Bailey

Rach is our fearless leader of customer service. As TNQIT's Client Services Librarian, she is a key staff member in the library team for remote students. Rach is always looking for ways to improve our services and is especially interested in your thoughts on how we can deliver better services to those of you in remote areas unable to visit the library in person. She is also very helpful, very cheerful and very friendly. She brings lots of sunshine to the library and we are all very spoilt to work with her. You can email Rach with your remote library services questions and ideas, or contact her in the library on (07) 4042 2440.

How to access help as a remote library user

If you're a currently enrolled TNQIT student living in a remote area of Far North Queensland, the library can assist you by posting resources you need directly to your home. We will even include a reply paid, return addressed envelope so you needn't worry about where to send it or how much it will cost. It's free - and all part of the standard service we provide to our remote students. All you'll need to know is when your resources are due back. Of course, we'll send you a date due slip with the rest of your parcel, listing all your items and their respective due dates. Too easy. So, how do you access help as a remote library user? Simply Contact Us.

Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE
Library - Cairns Campus
PMB 1, Cairns, Qld, 4870
Phone: (07) 4042 2539
Fax:(07) 4051 7302
Email: cairns.library@deta.qld.gov.au
Web: http://www.tnqit.tafe.qld.gov.au/student_services/library/index.html

Note: Image courtesy of Lindsay's Stamps

TNQITAFE Exhibition Fever! Burst of Nature

The students of TNQIT are producing creative works at fever speed this spring! The Tropical North Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander TAFE students have put their creative genius together to create "Burst of Nature". The Cairns Regional Gallery invites you to the official opening at 2pm, Saturday 18th October at the Cairns Regional Gallery on the corner of Abbott and Shields Street, Cairns. The TAFE's very own Wayne Licciardello will be the guest speaker on what promises to be another wonderful showcase of talent among our arts students. The exhibition, presented by the Queensland Government, Tropical North QLD Institute of TAFE and the Cairns Regional Gallery, will continue till 23 November 2008.

Jawan Garrda - Us Friends Exhibition

Mossman TAFE Cultural & Visual Arts students are hosting an exhibition of traditional & contemporary weaving, jewellery, prints & fabrics. The "Jawan Garrda - Us Friends" exhibition is proudly presented by Queensland Government Arts, Tropical North QLD TAFE, Cairns Regional Council & Go Troppo Arts Festival, Port Douglas. The exhibition will be held at the Port Douglas Community Centre October 18th and 19th & will be open 10am - 5pm.

Contacting Your Library

As a remote student, you are welcome to contact the library any way you can. Feel free to email us on Cairns.Library@deta.qld.gov.au or give us a call on 07 4042 2539. If you have access to a fax machine, that's fine too; just fax away to 07 4051 7302. We are happy to talk with you the most convenient way. Whether you need help researching an assignment, referencing an essay, finding information, searching the internet or finding articles using the library's online resources, we are here to help you. You'll find all the details you need on the TNQIT library website. Happy adventuring in Library Land!

Cheers, Tracey

Useful Websites

Did you know you can access really useful websites that will help you in your coursework, general studies and assessment tasks all via the Useful Websites link on the TNQIT Library website? This A-Z listing of subject links has been put together with you and your studies in mind. Perhaps you're a justice student and you need legislation... Simply click on L for legislation, then the Legislation link to take you to a gateway that will provide you instant access to Australian and State Acts and legislation. Nursing, Justice Studies, Indigenous, Child Care... irrespective of what you're studying, useful websites will help you get what you need without the searching. We've done the hard work of finding the information for you. It's what we do best so you can spend your time doing what you love. Useful Websites. Gotta love that.
Cheers, Tracey

Banggu Minjaany Art Gallery Ngwayu Exhibition

Here are just a few of the magnificent turtle shells featured in Kevin Edmondstone's Ngwayu Sea-Turtle Collection currently on exhibition in the Banggu Minjaany Art Gallery located in R Block on the Cairns Campus. A much respected Visual Arts Tutor at TNQIT, Kevin dreams of making a living from art and inspiring his children to follow in his footsteps. "I want to learn as much as I can about the art world and then go back to Yarrabah to be an art teacher in my community".

The exhibition is open Monday to Friday between 9am & 4pm .

NGWAYU Sea Turtle Exhibition

Congratulations to local Indigenous Artist and TAFE Visual Arts Tutor Kevin Edmonstone, who launched his sea turtle exhibition at our very own Banggu Minjaany Art Gallery last Friday, 10th October. Kevin began painting at 8 years of age and today is one of Australia's great Indigenous Artists. His work is prized by the National Gallery of Australia and proudly exhibited here at Tropical North TAFE. We have included the inspiring story behind his collection here:

This is an exhibition of self discovery and a journey to reclaim culture. Sea turtles have been in existence since the beginning of time. I have used the turtle shell as a base for my paintings symbolizing the passing down of wisdom and knowledge of culture from my ancestors. The turtle shell is important to me because at the age of 23 I found my family and I found my culture. At this time of my life I began to know my culture, gaining the missing piece of my identity. My family taught me the customary way of hunting. At this young age, I hunted my first turtle, but cutting turtles was one of the first things I learnt. Turtle shells are illegal to sell, so I have made a replica out of plaster and have painted them with acrylic using paintbrush and airbrush.

Kevin is a great inspiration to our visual arts students and local indigenous artists. His work is simply stunning. This remarkable exhibition is worth a visit, and if you're around campus, make sure you drop by and check it out!

So, WHO is this Blog for?

The tnqit-tafe blog is the library hub for remote and distance students of Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE. If you're an on campus student, feel free to look around and make yourself at home. We'd enjoy your company and you're welcome to visit. There's lots of interesting stuff and library help available to you here. If you're a bonafide remote Tropical North TAFE student however, living somewhere else in the Top End, then we intend to bring you all the library and information services we can through this blog. In the future, you can expect postings on:

• What resources should I use for my course or assignment?
• How do I search the library catalogue?
• How do I reserve or request an item from the library?
• Who do I call for HELP!?
• What is the QLD TAFE Library Network about?
• What are online resources and how can they help me in my studies?
• How do I log in to the student network?
• What's a Library ID and PIN and how do I get one?
• What's happening on campus in Cairns?
• How do I access library services as a remote student?
• Really? Useful Websites will help me find the info I need without me searching the Net?
• I've got Google, why do I need a library?
• How do I find the information I need?
• Now I have the info I need, how do I use it?
• My assignment has to be referenced? What does this mean and how do I do it?
• How do I borrow from the library as a remote student?
• What library services are available to me? etc.

We will also look at some useful TNQIT links that you may need from time to time, like Student Services, the Student Handbook or the TAFE's Contact Details. Maybe you need to know about Programs or Courses, or what's available for Indigenous Students? We'll keep you up to date on everything TAFE and more.

There'll be the occassional quirky posting, insights into what really happens in your library (ssh!) and lots of encouragment as you study towards your educational and vocational goals.

So, welcome to the journey as we humbly begin. We hope you get busy on this blog and ask for help, drive us crazy with questions, make suggestions on how we can deliver better services to you as remote students and comment away on your perfect library and how we can help you on your TAFE journey.

Your library friends in the Far North,
Rachel & Tracey

Welcome to the TNQIT Remote Library Services Blog!

Welcome to the end of the world... well, at least the Top End of Australia; Cairns in the Far North. Way up here, everything is remote, compromised by vast distances across the monsoonal tropics. A new initiative of your library at Tropical North QLD Institute of TAFE, this Blog is an invitation to build bridges over these geographic distances that separate us and to inspire communication and dialogue between us. In the days ahead, we hope that this space will become a vital connection point for you, the remote students of Tropical North TAFE, bringing the full array of library services to you - wherever you are and whenever you need us.

Access to info 24/7. Welcome to your new BBB (read: Best Buddy Blog).

Join us on the journey,

Rachel Bailey & Tracey Fisk