The Library will be closed Thursday, November 26th through Sunday, December 6th. Please e-mail us at library@dctc.edu if you need anything.
Our Online Resources and Library Guides will remain open, as always.
Have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving, everyone!
November is Native American Heritage Month, also known as National American Indian Heritage Month. Join us in celebrating the rich history, the variety of cultures, and the many contributions of Native Americans to the world. Learn more with books, ebooks, and videos from our collection.
Check out these sites for more information:
Opposing Viewpoints is constantly adding and updating coverage of current events and social issues, perfect for students writing argument papers. Here are some new and recently updated topics:
Have you ever used Gale OneFile: Computer Science? It contains resources on all things computer – hardware, software, communications, and more! The database provides information on computer-related product introductions, news and reviews in areas like hardware, software, electronics, engineering, and the application of technology. Content types range from academic journal articles to newspapers, books to videos. Coverage runs from 1984-present.
Here is just a sampling of the topics you can research:
Search tips:
What does it look like in action?
Landing page:
A basic journal article search:
A subject guide search for laptop computers:
Let us know how this database works for you! Email library@dctc.edu or call 651-423-8366 with feedback and questions.
Happy Take a Hike Day! And no, it doesn’t mean “get out of here” – it literally means to put on some shoes and go for a hike outside. While there isn’t much information about the history of Take a Hike Day, it was apparently started by the American Hiking Association to encourage people to try hiking. The health benefits of hiking are manyfold, including increasing muscle and bone strength, improving balance, decreasing stress and anxiety, and building relationships with companions. It’s an easy activity to begin, without a need for much equipment beyond shoes and a water bottle. And the best part for right now? It’s covid-friendly! Outdoor activities where you can socially distance are supported and encouraged at this time, and hiking definitely fits the bill.
If you’d like to hike but aren’t sure where, Dakota County has numerous parks and trails that are all open now. Other counties have trails as well; just search for your county name and ‘hiking’. The state also maintains numerous paved and unpaved trails.
If you have questions about hiking, feel free to email library@dctc.edu! We’ll do our best to help.
Have you ever used LearningExpress Library? This excellent learning & test prep resource covers a variety of topics useful to DCTC students:
You can prepare for the journeyman electrician exam, the ATI-TEAS for nursing, the ACT or SAT, the GED, and CLEP tests, among others. You can access free e-books, articles, and tutorials on interview prep and resume writing, improving your writing and grammar, or prepping to become a U.S. citizen. There are even Spanish-language resources. I encourage you to explore all that the LearningExpress Library has to offer!
Any questions? Email library@dctc.edu!
Films On Demand added 643 new videos in October. There are studies of decades from the 1940’s to the 2000’s, a feature on the Vietnam War, counseling tips from Lee Greenberg, a documentary on mental illness among Olympic athletes, and so much more! Take a look!
Have you ever used Gale OneFile: Communications and Mass Media? It contains journal articles on all aspects of the communications field, including advertising, public relations, linguistics, and literature. Coverage runs from 1969 to the present.
Here is just a sampling of the topics you can research:
Search tips:
What does it look like in action?
Landing page:
A basic journal article search:
A subject guide search for journalism:
Let us know how this database works for you! Email library@dctc.edu or call 651-423-8366 with feedback and questions.
AccessScience added new content in September and October. New briefings include:
New and updated articles include:
Veterans Day is this Wednesday, November 11th. What is Veterans Day, and why do we celebrate it?
Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day. It was instituted by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 to commemorate the ending of World War I. At the time, World War I was referred to as “the war to end all wars”. It was hoped and believed that another global war would not be fought. While the war officially ended in June 1919, an armistice agreement (armistice means to stop open acts of warfare – like a cease-fire) went into effect at 11:00 a.m. on November 11th, 1918 (the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month). Thus November 11th, 1918 is generally referred to as the end of the war. President Wilson said the day was to be “filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory”. Because of the belief that World War I was the last world war that would be fought, peace was something significant to be constantly celebrated and remembered. In 1938, Armistice Day was made a legal national holiday with parades and public speeches, as well as a temporary pause of business at 11:00 a.m.
How did Armistice Day become Veterans Day? In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, veterans organizations urged Congress to change the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor all American veterans, not only those from World War I. Now Veterans Day is a holiday to celebrate all American veterans, past, present, and future. If you’d like to learn more about the history of Veterans Day, I encourage you to visit the Veterans Affairs page devoted to this holiday.
What are some common ways of celebrating Veterans Day? Many towns still hold parades and ceremonies. Veterans are often invited to attend and/or speak at such ceremonies. Schools may hold assemblies with students’ family members who are veterans in attendance. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers an excellent teacher’s guide for planning a Veterans Day celebration. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs usually holds a Veterans Day program, but this year they are producing a video that will be posted on their website on Veterans Day.
You can send a message to our DCTC veterans by filling out this form. You can also see a few DCTC students and staff who are veterans on the DCTC blog.
If you are a veteran or in active service, or the family of a service member, we encourage you to visit our Military and Veterans Service Center for all the great campus resources available to you.
Have a safe and happy Veterans Day!
