QR Codes in the Library

Have you ever seen those funny looking barcodes around the store or in the newspaper? Next time you stop into the Seminole State Library, you might notice several QR codes posted around the building. If you have a smartphone, download a QR Code reader from here- I-nimga is, in our opinion, the best QR Code reader available- and play along with us!

We have eight different codes plastered around the library- see if you can find them all, and then come tell us about it at the desk! We also have a display in the second floor computer lab with examples and some history behind the technology...so come check that out too!

And lastly, before you leave for the day, stop by the designated computer terminal to create your own QR Codes. Please post them on the display board so everyone can see your message, and take a look at what others are doing. We want you to experience this technology first hand and show us what you can do with it.

All Campuses closed Monday May 30th for Memorial Day

First established in 1868 by a civil war veteran in remembrance of his fallen comrades, Memorial Day is now a nationally celebrated holiday.
Memorial Day, now officially declared each year by the president of the united states, began as "Decoration Day" to honor those soldiers who fell during the American Civil War (1861-65). As America aged and her armed forces continued to serve, the holiday became Memorial Day as all war dead were honored. Read the history from the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Some of the celebrations on Memorial Day include:

• Flags at half-mast: "On Memorial Day the flag should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon only, then raised briskly to the top of the staff until sunset, in honor of the nation’s battle heroes." (From the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs.) Read more here.
• Poppies: Canadian poet and military surgeon John McCrae honored the dead of the World War I Battles in Flanders with his poem "In Flanders Fields," and the red flowers he wrote of have become an emblem of remembrance. Click here to read the poem and learn more about poppies on Memorial Day.
• At Arlington National Cemetery, a wreath is placed at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

What is your college degree worth?

Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Work Force staff Anthony Carnevale, Jeff Strohl and Melanie Melton have just published What's it Worth? The Economic Value of College Majors.


This 82 page report is available on line - and annual salaries for many different areas are reported. In addition, race and gender information is provided.

Netlix in the Library

Need to watch a movie for your class? Are you in between classes and and to watch a movie or favorite TV show. The Library now offers Netflix instant streaming of select movies and television shows on two Roku media players. Come to the Informations Services Desk if you are interested.

Citing Websites, APA style

For many learners, trying to follow the APA style guidelines can be an extremely frustrating process, especially when the item you’re trying to cite doesn’t fit neatly within a given category, for example, citing from a Website. Keep in mind there might be reasons why there aren’t clear citation examples. In this case, Websites don’t tend to be cited in academic writing – instead researchers and students make use of peer-reviewed articles. So make sure you consider if your source is appropriate before citing it.

Here’s a blog entry I found, How to Cite Something You Found on a Website in APA Style that goes over the best practices for citing from Websites. Because this blog is put out by people from the APA (American Psychological Association), it has some weight and authority behind it instead of some professors’ ‘best APA tips’ page that you might find on the Web.

The APA Style Blog is actually part of the larger APA Style Website, which has a lot of useful resources and might clear up a few APA headaches before they become raging migraines.

Welcome back, students!

Now that Summer Term has started, here is a quick refresher of some the services the library offers that you may not be aware of:

• Student ID's are made in the library at Sanford and Altamonte
• We lend out Kindles and Nook eReaders
• We offer live chat from our home page for instant assistance
• The library has 38,000 e-books you have access to 24/7
• Streaming movies area available for your class assignments with our Netflix subscription
• Netbooks can be checked out in the library, as well as headphones and portable DVD players