It has been a while since our last post, lets just say library world has been pretty busy!  This you would have noticed if you are a regular on site, and you may have even noticed if you are a virtual visitor.

The library has subscribed to a new horticultural database:  Plantfile  take a look and see how easy it is to use.  The good thing about Plantfile is the easy way you are able to identify plants – if you know it has purple flowers, needlelike leaves and grows in boggy soil – Plantfile will tell you what the plant is likely to be!

Library staff up-and-down the coast have also been working hard on a new website.  We have prepared a lot of the back room stuff ready to go live soon.  All the good stuff will still be there, but hopefully you will see a streamlined userfriendly collection of information resources.

Teaching staff will also be happy to know library staff have been assigned to ‘look-after’ a specific faculty.  Each librarian will discuss your needs and talk with the campus librarian to service your campus communities in the best ways possible.  Staff will be able to access information via the Library’s intranet where you will find our regular offerings, but also some new ways to access quality information.

Your WOW for this week/fortnight/month… is World Weather.  This site provides official weather observations for cities around the world.  Take a look and see how others are bearing under today’s climatic conditions!

Congratulations everyone for getting this far.  The end of Semester 1 and term 2 commences for TAFE students on Friday 26 June 2009.  From Monday 29 June through to Monday 20 July the library will revert to our non-term time opening hours.  These are:

Mon – Thur 9am – 1pm then 2pm – 4pm

Fri 9am – 1pm.  The library will not be open Saturday.   

The Learning Centre will shut down entirely from Monday 29 June through to Monday 20 July.

University students have a longer break and will be back on 27 July.

Thanks to everyone who took part in the library week activities.  I am sure those of you who grabbed a passport and undertook the quiz learned something new about the library.

Prizes include movie tix from the Ritz Cinema in Port, Boost Juice gift cards and some vouchers for the itsa bookshop here on campus.  The winners are:

Kerry K, Chris D, Francie C, Helen P, Jan P, Krissa W, Brandon C, Courtney A, Alison P, Karen De G, Eloise G, Vera T, Annette H, Tanya E, Rosemarie M & Kim H.

If you are yet to pick up your prize they are available from the library!

So much for a website of the week (WOW) I hear you say, well we are going to correct that – well for this week anyway!

A couple of the staff here in the library have been working with the Certificate III students in Fitness, undertaking an exercise program and gym routine.  Speaking from personal experience, the students really know what they are on about!  You get an initial ‘going over’ consultation where your vital stats are taken, blood pressure, measurements and what you want to gain from a gym program.  Then in the following weeks your assigned student sets up a program that works all muscles and includes a cardio routine. 

This is a good program, because you are not only instructed in how to best get a work-out using gym machines, but they also advise on such things as sensible eating and what to watch for when you are exercising at home or solo in a gym.  With this in mind take a look at the Exercise Prescription website where you will find exercises using gym equipment or at Fitness Australia’s homepage where you can read their online journal reps magazine!

For those of you who are unsure – take a look at the statistics – Australians are now fatter (26% of the population are obese) than our Western competition – The Americans (25%) – WE ARE OFFICIALLY THE FATTEST COUNTRY ON EARTH!   The longest journey starts with a single step.  Take a walk today and dont use the rain as an excuse!

This coming week is Library and Information Week, you can check it all out on the Australian Library and Information Association website (unless you are a librarian, you will probably be bored silly though…).  With Library Week in mind take a look at the resources available on UNESCO’s World Digital Library.  Here you will find historic information from 9 locations around the world.  Take a look at the Oceania images for Infomation concerning Australia.  Also remember that the library is celebrating Library and Information Week.  Pop into the library, pick up your passport, answer a few questions and you’ll be in the running for some great prizes!

Ask any of the library staff for information!

Hello Bloggers and watchers of the Port Macquarie TAFE library…

Sorry it has been a while since you were last updated.  We hope you have not been starved of WOWs due to the lack of contact – anyway that will be rectified from today!

There is lots of news, watch out for Port TAFE Library’s Library and Information Week competition where you could win movie tix, book vouchers or a coffee or two.  We have recently recieved alot of new books and other resources and an Aboriginal artist has painted the library walls with an educational themed mural.  Work is also underway on a new library website and you will see changes on our electronic face very soon!

Remember to bookmark us, and come back for a visit soon!

This year University of Newcastle students will only have 1 week break over Easter, unlike TAFE students.  In this regard the non-term time library hours will alter slightly, as below:

Closed Friday 10/04 through to Monday 13/04

Open Tuesday  14/04 – Thursday 16/04 9am – 1pm then 2pm – 4pm.

Friday  17/05 9am – 1pm.

Closed on Saturday 18/04

Monday 20/04  Thursday 23/04 9am – 4pm.

Friday 24/04 9am – 2pm.

Closed on Saturday 25/05

We will reopen with normal term time hours on Monday 27 April.

If your items are due, and  you wont be at TAFE, please phone for renewals on 6581 6233.

The library staff would like to wish you all a wonderful Easter break.  Come back refreshed and relaxed.  But whilst you are having that well earned break, have a look at these Websites of the Week!

Keep up-to-date with world news from the Newseum Front Page website.

Need to answer those tricky questions about Easter around the world?

What is Chocolate and how is it made? – Check out the Cadbury’s site.

Have a safe and Happy Easter!

Take a look at the embedded video to get a better understanding about Copyright.  This video clip is based on American Copyright Law, but provides a basic understanding of the ideas.

http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=991abb7febfd7832927f

Port Macquarie TAFE Library staff have been busy acquiring new resources for the use of students and teachers.  Please see the attached link of all the newly acquired books: http://tafecat.tafensw.edu.au/POR_NEWTITLES.html

Thanks to Robyn and Heather for their hard work ordering and processing these new titles!

Please let us know if you would like to see something specific in the collection – we always welcome suggestions for resources that students think will benefit their studies.

As Port Macquarie staff also service Wauchope Campus, students from Wauchope are also welcome to send their requests to us too.

Have a fun and relaxing Easter break!