Welcome to the Military Libraries Division Blog

Welcome to the Military LIbraries Division Blog.  We hope that you will find this blog a useful source of information on information, trends, and events that affect military libraries and information centers  and the people that run or use them.

June 30, 2009

DOD Libraries--Where to Find Them

Periodically one or more listservs will ask the question, "Where can I find a list of all of the military libraries?"   There does not seem to be a single, best list.  Here is a partial list:

Department of Defense Library List-http://www.dod.mil/other_info/libraries.html

The list is divided into service:  DOD, Service Academies, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard.  The Army, Navy and Air Force sections are further divided into types of libraries like Deparatment, Base/Post, Base/Post Overseas, Medical, Technical , Academic etc

Pritzker Military Library-http://www.pritzkermilitarylibrary.org/resources/military-libraries.jsp

Pritzker's list is small and primarily limited to the DOD academic libaries.

Military Libraries Division Resources- http://sladmil.cimes.fsu.edu/index.cfm?fuseaction=resources.main

DMIL offers a  growing list of military libraries, divided by branch of service.

Naval Postgraduate School, Dudley Knox Library- http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/Resources%20by%20Type/Libraries/LibrariesSubGuide.html#dod

The Dudley Knox library's list includes government libraries, military schools, libraries and museums.  The military libraries are divided by service.  The list also includes presidential libraries, university libraries, international libraries, and more.


June 29, 2009

Greta's Links--House Intelligence Committee Report

The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence approved the bill H.R. 2701 and released its report on the Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. The report - House Report 111-186 is available at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_reports&docid=f:hr186.111.pdf [long url so you may need to copy and paste into your browser]

The Chairman's statement about this report is available at http://intelligence.house.gov/Media/PDFS/ReyesRelease061809.pdf and among other things, the bill "amends the National Security Act to change the way Congress is 'fully and currently' informed of all intelligence activities." In a second provision, the bill creates a statutory and independent Intelligence Community-wide Inspector General (IC/IG).

The bill also:

· Authorizes an increase in funding for human intelligence collection and counterintelligence activities as well as research and technology

· Funding in support of US efforts in Afghanistan Pakistan as well as other global security issues

· Investment in cybersecurity capabilities

· Investment in critical language capabilities including five high-priority African languages

June 22, 2009

Greta's Links--Political Violence Against Americans--20098

The State Department has released the latest version of their report "Political Violence Against Americans."  The 2008 report is available at

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/125224.pdf.  There was no reports produced from 2003-2007.

Other versions of the report are available at http://www.state.gov/m/ds/rls/rpt/19691.htm
This report was known as "Significant Incidents of Political Violence Against Americans" from 1987-1997 and there was a previous study

"Lethal Terrorist Actions Against Americans: 1973-1986." Available at http://www.dod.gov/pubs/foi/reading_room/122.

June 16, 2009

The ABCs of Military Resources: Live from SLA/DC

Coming to you live from SLA.....Welcome to our wicked cool session on military sources :D

As a former public librarian in a military town, finding reputable sources for military related questions can be a puzzle. Venturing into this brave new realm requires savvy, time, and well...some expert advice!

Look no further cause we have the experts right here at today's SLA session!

Lily McGovern from National Defense University and Greta Marlatt from the Naval Postgraduate School are panelists for today's session with Sharon Lenius, Manager of the Virtual Library for the National Guard as moderator. The combined wealth of knowledge amongst these ladies is rather like having your own phenomenal cosmic power!

With the size of this audience, apparently this is a hot topic :D In fact the room is overflowing! Glad we posted the links to this session earlier. Librarians love to share the knowledge, and military librarians are no exception.

(Wow, we are now so full it's amazing! Hooray :D)

Ideas of note from the panelists:

Lily McGovern:

Techniques you'd use for any reference query you can use here:

  • The Reference Interview: Is this DOD specific?
  •  Get the terms, organizations, acronyms etc.
    • Start with Topic and Terminology  try using the DOD Dictionary or official wikis and websites.
  • Finding Resources: Who cares about this?
    • US Government manuals, Defenselink, organization websites.
      • Tip: You may need to drill down the organization website
      • Who reports on the topic? Think tanks? Organizations? GAO? CRS?
        • Tip: check those footnotes for more resources!
      • Specialized databases like DTIC or the JEL (Joint Electronic Library)
      • Search by .mil or .gov domains, use the site searches
      • Other resources: RSS Feeds, Social Network sites, Second Life, Podcasts
        • Check out official mililtary Blog sites
  • Really Stuck?
    • Network! Military Librarians LOVE to share the knowledge & we play well with others.....
    • Find a Subject Matter Expert
    • Join a Military Blog list


Greta Marlatt:

  • How do you feel when you get a military question?
  • Try not to panic, hang on for the ride :D

    • Check out the NDU Site: http://merln.ndu.edu 
  • Resources of note:
    • Use MIPALS (Military Policy Awareness Links)
    • White papers found on MIPALS
    • MERLN Digital Collections
    • Dudley Knox Library Website http://www.nps.edu/Library/index.html
      • Subject guides by topic
      • Ranks and Insignia (Know them!)
  • Service pages: These are key sources! Yes, there are seven ;)
    • Note the portals
  • Research Tools:
    • Air University Research Information Management System
    • DTIC Online (Defense Technical Information Center)
      • Key: Use the multi search for all service branches
    • Combined Arms Research Digital Library
    • AT& L Knoweldge Sharing Systems: Aqcuisitons
    • Air War College Gateway to the Internet
      • Think Tanks
        • Strategic Studies Institute
        • Command and Control Research Center
        • Peacekeeping & Stability Operations Institute
    • US Air Force Counterproliferation Center
    • Military Journals
      • AULIMP: Air University Library Index Military Periodicals
    • Bibliographies:
      • Air University, Joint Forces Staff College
    • Inspector General: DOD Office of Inpsector General: Weapons Systems
      • Afghanistan Reconstruction
      • Iraq Reconstruction
      • GAO: Government Accountablity Office
    • Defense Budget Information:
      • Dudley Knox Library site: Defense Budget Information
    • Pentagon Library
      • Appropriation laws, etc. (Legislative history!)
    • Army Heritage Collection Online
      • FM's
      • bibliographies
      • Joint Pubs
    • Air Force Historical Center
      • Organizational Records
      • Timelines
      • Chronologies
    • Naval History and Heritage
      • FAQ's are loaded with great stuff!
    • Marine Corps HIstorical Division
    • West Point
      • West Point Maps/Atlas Digitized! Campaigns!
    • FOIA: Foia Library (Freedom of Information Act)
    • Web Search Tools
      • USA.gov
      • Google US Government
      • GPO
      • Public Military domain Search: USA
    • Commercial Sources
      • GIS
      • Inside Defense
      • Proquest
      • Jane's
      • Stratfor
      • CQ
      • Worldcat
      • Praeger
      • Military Balance
      • Digital National Security Archive
      • DDRS
      • EIU
      • LexisNexis
      • Global Insight
      • Ebsco
      • Newsbank
      • Periscope
      • SIPRI
    • Good Non-Military Sites
      • FAS Federation of American Scientists: Military Analysis Network
      • Center for Defense Information
      • RAND
      • National Academies Press
      • Secrecy News
      • Internet Archive: The Wayback Machine (Get old files!)
      • Wikileaks
    • Murphy's Law of Combat!
      • Teamwork is essential...it gives somebody else to look at :D
      • Incoming fire has the right of way...

Blogging from the Front Lines (at SLA): MLD Kick-off Breakfast - 15 June 2009, 0700 hours

MLD enjoyed good company and a good meal as 86 members turned out for our kickoff breakfast!

Sponsored by LexisNexis, our government rep Kara Owens gave a brief presentation on her company’s “Rule of Law” Resource Center.  It is a free online resource featuring information and articles on human rights , rule of law and related topics. Visit the site at: http://law.lexisnexis.com/webcenters/RuleoflawResourceCenter.

We enjoyed scrambled eggs, BACON, assorted muffins and pastries, fresh fruit, cereal and juices, and of course great coffee (much welcomed at that early hour!)  Everyone was certainly glad to see each other again and excited about the (then-upcoming) SLA conference. A good time was had by all!

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Sharon loved the bacon!

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Carol and Connie graciously pose for the camera.

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Even at breakfast, Rachel feels compelled to provide instruction ;-)

June 15, 2009

Blogging from the Front Lines (at SLA): MLD Wreath-laying Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery

13 June 2009, 1315 hrs.

It was by far the coolest thing I have ever done.  And by that I mean,the most meaningful. It was over in just a few minutes.  While not quite sure I can put it in words at this time, I will try.

If you aren’t familiar with the ceremony, I recommend a youtube video search. It is a highly ritualized event, the details of which can be read about at Arlington’s website: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/ceremonies/wreath_layings.html.  Participating on behalf of the MLD were Sharon Butcher, Jim Dorsey, and myself – all of us with prior military service, along with Bill Cook, a veteran and representative from IEEE, one of our Partner/Sponsors. MLD Chair Emily Mardis was on hand to coordinate us all. I’m grateful for Pat Alderman of NDU, for arranging this amazing experience.

From left to right: Jim Dorsey, Sharon Butcher, Monika Maslowski, Bill Cook.

DSCN2338  

As a former Marine, I’m thrilled enough to be a military librarian for the Library of the Marine Corps in the first place. But I’m not sure anything else I might ever do will ever top this honor of honoring our fallen Soldiers, Sailors and Marines at possibly the most visible and respected monument in the nation.

I confess I did the typical “Marine-thing” and did some “recon” at Arlington last week. I humped the hill (the Tomb is about a 15-minute uphill walk from the Visitor’s Center), camouflaged in casual attire and flip-flops.  I silently scoped out the area, watched the Changing of the Guard Ceremony, determined where to check in. It never occurred to me that Arlington was such a tourist destination, and that scores of random strangers would be watching us do our thing. I was "good-to-go."

HA. HA. Not usually one to be nervous about anything, Saturday morning traffic on 95N made me crazy (and almost made me late), and the security guards at Arlington wouldn’t let me drive up  to the Tomb. Hence, another 15-minute hike, this time in heels and a black suit and skirt. OORRAA. Trying not to melt in the 80+ degree heat, we waited. Changing of the Guard... the first wreath ceremony, then our little squad of Military Librarians. The Sergeant gave us brief instructions and then joked with us before the ceremony to put us as ease.

To our credit, the ceremony went off without a hitch – the MLD wreath was a gorgeous creation of blue, yellow and white flowers with a blue banner, and really stood out from the others, which were the typical red, white and blue.

SLA09- 028  

I remember thinking, “wow the Styrofoam is squishy… it’s cool they’re letting us salute even though we’re not in uniform… Oh boy, I hope my Pop is proud of me now. If he’s not -- then he never will be.”

My father was an “Old Corps” Marine (1945-1957), one of those tough-as-nails Master Sergeant types that barely spoke a word about his time in service. But when I was a kid, he taught me to whistle the Marine Hymn (drive my mother nuts!) He didn’t live to see me enlist, at age 29, and serve as a field radio operator in the reserve unit based in the very town I grew up in. But I had his dog tags in my pocket. I had my dog tags in my pocket.

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My pockets just weren’t big enough for all the military people, places and things I have seen and known, respected and admired.  Even though my heart swelled with pride, my small act will never measure up to the sacrifices of those men and women who enlisted before me, and will certainly after me.  But that’s OK. We were there to give them the honor, not claim it for ourselves. And I will continue that tradition, as do all our Military Librarians, by working hard every day to support our men and women in uniform in all branches of our service.

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It was by far the coolest thing I have ever done. Or may ever do. That’s all I can really say.

Semper Fidelis,

Monika Maslowski
LCpl USMC(R), 1999-2003, MOS 0621
and Military Librarian.

June 12, 2009

Handout for ABC's of Miltary Resources available

Here is the handout that you will need for the ABC's of Military Resources, presentd by Greta Marlatt and Lily McGovern, 1330-1500, Tuesday, June 16 in room 142 of the convention center.

 

ABCs of Military Resources: Best Recommendations for Unclassified Resources to Answer Questions about the Military

Presentation at SLA 2009 Annual Conference

Washington

,

DC

Lily McGovern, National Defense University Library

Greta E. Marlatt, Naval Postgraduate School Library

In U.S. Navy jargon, gouge is the essential piece of information; the heart of the matter - this is our “gouge” on tips and resources for searching for military information

Trivia Question -- How many uniformed services are there?   

37 US Code Chapter 1, section 101

Air Force

Army

Coast Guard

Marine Corps

Navy

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Public Health Service [PHS]


 

Contents

SEARCH  STRATEGIES. 3

AWARDS, RANK AND INSIGNIA.. 3

SPECIALIZED SEARCH TOOLS. 3

OFFICIAL SERVICE SITES. 4

COMMERCIAL SITES. 4

REFERENCE TOOLS. 4

RESEARCH.. 5

JOURNALS. 6

MILITARY HISTORY. 6

BIBLIOGRAPHIES. 7

BUDGET. 7

CONGRESSIONAL/LEGISLATIVE. 7

EQUIPMENT. 8

INSPECTOR GENERALS (IG). 8

STATISTICS. 8

GOOD  NON .MIL  SITES. 8

MISCELLANEOUS. 8

SOCIAL NETWORKING.. 9

BLOGS/RSS/LISTSERVS. 10


 

SEARCH  STRATEGIES

·         Focus your thinking for military research by using the same techniques you'd use in any reference question

·         Determine which entity  would care about the topic to write about it

·         Look  for organizations that would have reason or ability to collect stats

·         Try  to understand the military organization/structure  to get to the right office or agency

·         Figure  out what the military calls it to use the right search terms [military lingo]

·         Search by the .MIL domain to get focused results

o        CAVEAT – many military schools and organizations are moving to .EDU and .ORG domains

·         Use the specialized search engines for more focused results

·         Site map and site search within sites

·         RSS feeds – Blog feed, MyiGoogle

·         Social Networking sites [LinkedIn, Facebook, Second Life etc.]

EXAMPLES

Military vs. armed forces

TAD – TDY

Acquisition [military vs business]

Rank -  CAPT [Navy] vs. Capt/Cpt [Air force, Army or Marine Corps]

Weapons [kinds = missiles, ordnance, mines, etc]

Need to disambiguate

                Sparrow [bird, missile]

                Typhoon [weather, submarine, military aircraft, close in weapon system ]

AWARDS, RANK AND INSIGNIA

                Rank

Officer Rank    

Enlisted Rank 

Badges and Insignia

Air Force Emblems and Badges

Army

Coast Guard

Marine Corps

Navy 

·         Officer and Specialty Insignia

·         Enlisted Ratings

Awards and Decorations

Order of Precedence

SPECIALIZED SEARCH TOOLS

Google US Government [formerly Google Uncle Sam]

USA.gov [formerly Firstgov]

DTIC Online MultiSearch

Catalog  of US Government Publications

Public Military Domain Search

OFFICIAL SERVICE SITES

Defense

Air Force 

Army

Coast Guard

Marine Corps

Navy

National Guard Bureau

OTHER HELPFUL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

White House

COMMERCIAL SITES

Inside Defense

Jane’s

Military Periscope

LexisNexis Congressional

Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU)

Global Insight

ProQuest

Ebscohost

Praeger Security International

NewsBank – Armed Services and Government News

NewsBank – Military Periodicals

CQ [various]

Military Balance

SIPRI Yearbook

Declassified Documents Reference System Online

Digital National Security Archive

Global Information System

STRATFOR

WorldCat

REFERENCE TOOLS

Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) Acronyms

Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) Thesaurus

DOD Dictionary of Military Terms

Glossary of Defense Acquisition Acronyms and Terms

Military Acronyms, Initialisms, and Abbreviations

Military Time

MilitaryHOMEFRONT  Glossary Terms

Military Slang

Military Slang

Phonetic Alphabet

Terms /Abbreviations / Acronyms

RESEARCH [see also Think Tanks]

Military

Acquisition Research Program

Air Force Institute of Technology [AFIT]

Air Force Research Institute

Air Force Office of Scientific Research

Air Force Research Laboratory

Air Force Scientific Advisory Board

Air University Research Information Management System

Air War College Gateway

Army Command & General Staff College (CGSC)

Army Research Laboratory

Army Research Institute (ARI)

Army War College

AT&L Knowledge Sharing System [acquisition information]

Center for Army Lessons Learned

Chemical and Biological Defense and Chemical Demilitarization Website

Defense Acquisition Guidebook

Defense Acquisition University

Defense Research &Engineering

Defense Science Board (DSB)

DeploymentLink

DTIC Online

DTIC Multisearch

Gulflink

Marine Corps University

Military Education Research Libraries Network (MERLN)

MERLN Digital Collections

Maxwell Archives [formerly Air University Research Web]

National  Defense University

Naval Research Advisory Committee

Naval Research Laboratory

Naval Research Laboratory Technical Reports

Naval Postgraduate School Research

Naval War College

Strategic Studies Institute 

Non-Military

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information's (OSTI) Science Conference Proceedings Portal

Rand

National Academies Press

Naval Studies Board

Science.gov

JOURNALS

Indexes

Air University Index to Military Periodicals [AULIMP]

Staff College Automated Military Periodicals Index [SCAMPI]  

Esbcohost  Military

ProQuest Military

Lexis Nexis Government Periodicals

Scholarly Journals

DoD and Military Electronic Journals  [good list]

Acquisition Review Journal

Air & Space Power Journal  

Army Lawyer

CTC Sentinel

High Frontier: The Journal of Space Professionals

Joint Force Quarterly (JFQ)

Marine Corps University Journal [coming mid-2009]

Military Law Review

Military Review  

Naval War College Review

Parameters

Strategic Studies Quarterly

Strategic Insights

Service Trade Journals

Air Force Magazine

Army

Marine Corps Gazette

US Naval Institute Proceedings

Sea Power

MILITARY HISTORY

Air Force  

·         Air Force Historical Research Agency

·         Air Force Historical Studies Office

               

Army

·         Center of Military History

·         Army Heritage and Education Center

·         U.S. Army Heritage Collection Online

·         USMA Digital Collections

·         Combined Arms Research Library

Marine Corps

·         U.S. Marine Corps History Division

Navy

·         Naval History & Heritage Command

National Archives

National Security Archive [GWU]

BIBLIOGRAPHIES

Air University Library Bibliographies

Army War College Library

Joint Forces Staff College Library

National Defense University MiPALS

Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval Postgraduate School Library  

Pentagon

BUDGET

DOD Comptroller

·         National Defense Budget Estimates for the FY Budget (Green Book)

Service

·         Air Force

·         Army

·         Navy/Marine Corps

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

Congressional  Committees

Appropriations Committees

·         House

·         Senate

Budget Committees

·         House

·         Senate

o        Democratic

o        Republican

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

DOD Congressional Budget Data

Defense Appropriations and Authorization laws

NPS Library Defense Budget  Information

CONGRESSIONAL/LEGISLATIVE

House Appropriations/Defense

House Armed Services Committee

Senate  Appropriations/Defense

Senate Armed Services Committee

Thomas

GPO Access Legislative Branch Resources

EQUIPMENT

DOD Facts and Figures

Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

Air Force Fact Sheets

Army Factfiles

Coast Guard Aircraft, Boats, & Cutters

Navy Fact File

INSPECTOR GENERALS (IG)

Department of Defense IG

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

Marine Corps IG

Navy IG

Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR)

Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR)  

STATISTICS

Population Representation in the Military

DOD  Personnel & Procurement stats

Defense Manpower Data Center

Demographic Breakdown Reports [Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute]

FedStats

GOOD  NON .MIL  SITES

Federation of American Scientists (FAS)

·         DOD 101 – An Introduction to the Military

·         Secrecy News

Global Security.org

Center for Defense Information (CDI)  

Homeland Security Digital Library (HSDL)

Internet Archives Wayback Machine [good for broken links]

MilitaryInfo.com

Military OneSource.com

Military.com

 Small Wars Journal  

Wikileaks  

MISCELLANEOUS

Army Field Manuals

U.S. Army Heritage Collection Online

Federal of American Scientists

GlobalSecurity

Library of Congress

CRS reports

·         Federal of American Scientists (FAS)  

·         Open CRS

·         University of North Texas

·         State Dept Foreign Press Center  

Directives, Instructions, Specifications and Standards

DOD

Air Force

Army

Coast Guard

Marine Corps

Navy [SECNAV/OPNAV]                                                                                                                              

ASSIST [Specifications and standards]

DOD SSP

Doctrine

DOD Libraries

Freedom of Information Act [FOIA] Reading Rooms

DOD  

Defense Intelligence Agency

Air Force

Army

Coast Guard

Marine Corps

Navy

Military FOIA sites list

Military Compensation

·         Pay and Allowances

·         Benefits

o        Survivor Benefits

·         Retirement

·         Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation

Military Music

Protocol, Customs and Traditions

SOCIAL NETWORKING

Army Images on Flickr

Army Links on del.icio.us

Army on Twitter

Army Videos on “YouTube”

Second Life [Military Lands]

US Army Combined Arms Center on Twitter

BLOGS/RSS/LISTSERVS

Army Libraries Discussion List

[subscribe: LISTSERV@ORATOR.USMA.EDU, subscribe ARMY-LIB (Your First and Last Name)

Military Libraries Division Discussion List

Army Blog

Navy Podcasts & RSS

U.S. Air Force Live [official blog]

Marine Corps RSS feeds

US Army Combined Arms Center Blog Library

SLA Military Libraries Blog

greta’s links

Military & Government RSS Feeds

MILBlogging.com

Military Information  [NPS Library]
Military Internet [NPS Library]

 THINK TANKS/RESEARCH CENTERS & INSTITUTES

Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Center

Africa Center for Strategic Studies

Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies

Cebrowski Institute for Innovation and Information Superiority

Center for Advanced Operational Cultural Learning

Center for Asymmetric Warfare

Center for Civil Military Warfare

Center for Contemporary Conflict

Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies

Center for Homeland Defense and Security

Center for Information Systems Security Studies and Research

Center for Stabilization and Reconstruction Studies

Center for Strategic Leadership (CSL)                             

Center for Strategy and Technology

Center for Technology and National Security Policy

Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs

Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction

Center on Terrorism and Irregular Warfare

Combating Terrorism Center

Command and Control Research Program (CCRP)

Culture and Conflict Studies

Culture, Region & Language Program

Cyberspace & Information Operations Study Center

Defense Equal Opportunities Manpower Institute

Defense Personnel Security Research Center (PERSEREC)

Defense Resources Management Institute

Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO)

George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

Global Center for Security Cooperation

Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) (NDU)

Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) (US Air Force Academy, CO)

Marine Corps Institute

Meyer Institute of Systems Engineering

Modeling, Virtual Environment and Simulation Institute

Near East - South Asia Center for Strategic Studies

Peacekeeping & Stability Operations  Institute (PKSOI)

Proteus USA

Spacecraft Research and Design Center

Strategic Studies Institute (SSI)

U.S. Air Force Counterproliferation Center (CPC)

PORTALS

Air War College [AWC]  

Army Knowledge Online [AKO]  

Navy Knowledge Online [NKO]

Air Force Portal

DTIC Research and Engineering Portal

DTIC Private STINET

Open Source Center

 

June 10, 2009

New DMIL Website Launched

Webmaster Monika Maslowski proudly announced the launch of the completely new Military LIbraries Division website.  http://sladmil.cimes.fsu.edu/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.index     The new website has a lean new look with separate sections for news, calendar, e- forums, grants and awards and partners.  All of the DMIL events at the SLA  Conference are listed in the calendar section.

Explore the new website and see how you like it. 

June 09, 2009

GovLoop Libraries

From the DGI Web 2.0 CommitteeGet in the Loop with GovLoop Libraries

We invite all SLA Government Information Division members to take a look at GovLoop.com, a site that is emerging as the leading social networking site for government workers at all levels around the world. This invitation is the latest step in building DGI 2.0 and exploring networks for our members.
 
GovLoop is similar to other social networking sites such as Facebook or LinkedIn, but the conversation is focused on topics like managing and leading in government, Gov 2.0, upcoming seminars, and knowledge management in government, with plenty of fun stuff sprinkled around. GovLoop welcomes “gov't employees (fed/state/local/intl); public policy students/professors; good gov't organizations; and gov't contractors with good intentions.”
 
A group for librarians has already been established on GovLoop by Dr. Curtis Rogers of South Carolina State Library. We’ve talked with him, it is an open group, and he’d love to have DGI members on board. The group is called Libraries – Local, State, Federal (
http://www.govloop.com/group/librarieslocalstateandfederal) and Curtis describes it as “a group for library employees to share ideas, keep up to date, and learn from one another.” The group is open to anyone. 
 
DGI members can use GovLoop as another place to network with other government librarians and information professionals, but also as a way to join in discussions with the wider world of government leaders, managers, and staff outside of the library world.
 
It can also be a good place to promote libraries in the public sector. For example, a GovLoop member recently started a discussion that is just begging for a professional, informative response from a DGI member: “How do you search? … Does anyone use libraries anymore?” (See:
http://www.govloop.com/forum/topics/how-do-you-search-what-search)
 

Be a Reference SupAStar :D

Not a brand new 2.0 tool, but of infinite use, Delicious let's you tag your favorite sites and organize in bundles, embed in your browser, and network with your friends/coworkers. Never, and I mean never lose your stuff again! Access it anywhere, from virtually any computer, any time. Tip: Firefox has multiple add-ons for Delicious, allowing greater flexibility. Also, if you use Firefox portable browser, this works wonders!

For a fun demo watch Social Bookmarking Made Easy

When you are ready, join a network and share the resource love.

Connect to me: rskmcu on Delicious and check out my resources.