SLRC News & Updates

One by request and the other because, well, we were already requesting the one so why not? The trials run through Oct. 8, 2021. Please be sure to submit feedback -- yay, nay, or meh.

The online MLA guide has been switched over to the 9th edition! No need to update any bookmarks or D2L links -- it's still at upresearch.lonestar.edu/mla. We also have a copy of the handbook on reserve at the front desk if you'd like to peruse.

What Stayed the Same: The Vast Majority

• Document format - heading, spacing, etc.
• Same basic principle with the universal checklist of elements for building citations. Some small changes to labeling ("optional" elements > "supplemental"; "other contributors" > "contributors").

Mostly this edition focused on refining the 8th edition handbook rather than sweeping changes. MLA added much-requested guidance and explanations about writing style in particular as well as citations. The 9th handbook is over twice as long as the 8th, with more visuals, as a result.

What Changed:

• EBSCOhost and ProQuest are to be treated as secondary containers for database citations, as opposed to the (actual) database names like Academic Search Complete.
• E-books will say "e-book ed." for version, in addition to any editions, etc.
• URLs may include the https:// rather than strictly omitting it, depending on whether you want live, clickable links or not.  In our guide, we have stuck with omitting it. However, we recommend specifying in your assignments whether you want live (i.e. clickable, blue, underlined) links or not (or links that are clickable but don't look like it). As ever, the most important thing is internal consistency.

What Was Added:

• 1 page about annotated bibliographies. Not worth mentioning -- design your assignment as you see fit with regards to these.
• New chapter on using inclusive language.

Is there a book or movie or database you'd like access to (without buying it yourself)? The Libraries have a new form to make this easier to request!

• Library Materials Recommendation Form

Who can request?

Students, faculty, and staff may all request materials. (Community members, too, but that's more for the joint-use CyFair and Tomball libraries.)

Will you actually buy it?

Each request will be evaluated based on the library collection development policy, the justification provided with the request, the needs of the collection, and so forth.

Also, publishers don't all like working with libraries. If a movie or book just...isn't available to buy through one of our platforms, there's unfortunately nothing we can do about that. We'll try to find a solution, but sometimes our hands are tied.

If you buy it, when will it be available?

Depends. Streaming videos in Kanopy or FOD are available almost instantly when we make the purchase. E-books lag about a day, it seems. Databases take the most time, since there are contracts to be reviewed and signed and then a specific url has to be set up for the authentication. (Databases may also have a trial period first to help with the decision process.)

I want something but I don't know what.

If it feels like the library resources for your subject are lacking, but you don't know what product/database/thing would make it better, talk to your librarians! We'll snoop around for possibilities, and you can decide what you'd like to officially request.

To ensure the currency and relevancy of the assignment guides, we go through the guides at the end of each major term (fall, spring, summer) and unpublish any assignment guides that were last requested more than 3 semesters earlier. I.e. now at the end of fall 2020, we're leaving up guides from summer 2020, spring 2020, and fall 2019, but guides from summer 2019, spring 2019, or older will be unpublished.

But I still use that assignment!

Okay, awesome! Just send an email to uplibrary-ref@lonestar.edu (or directly to elaine.m.patton@lonestar.edu) to let us know you're still using both that same assignment and the associated guide. Let us know if you've made any changes to the assignment, and/or send us a fresh copy of the assignment to include. We'll tag the article with the current semester and start the clock over on it.

Be forewarned, though, we're probably going to give you a nudge in return about reincorporating a live librarian workshop with your class! :) Nearly all the assignment guides were created to accompany a librarian-led instruction session. It's not strictly a requirement, but we do of course have rather strong feelings about the value of those sessions: not only to introduce your students to the databases or citations or what-have-you, but also just to develop relationships and become a slightly-more-familiar face to the students. You can sing our praises all you want in class and in the syllabus, but most students aren't going to "hear" you and make the time to come talk to us. Also, library anxiety is a very real phenomenon -- students are intimidated by the library!