Monday, July 29, 2013

Featured Online Resource - World Trade Organization (WTO) Statistics Database



This week’s Featured Online Resource is The World Trade Organization (WTO) Statistics Database (http://stat.wto.org/Home/WSDBHome.aspx). This online database from the WTO provides statistical information on the trade profiles of various countries.  This data includes where the country ranks in world trade, when they became a member of the WTO, and the types of commodities that the country exports/imports.  Additionally, the database provides information on the service profiles of the various members of the WTO.  This data includes infrastructure information, including transportation, telecommunications, and financial information.  

An example of a service profile for Belgium is included below.
Every week, the Ort Library brings you a new and outstanding resource from the Web or from one of the library's databases. To get an archive of all FOR entries, click here. Also, you can suggest a website that provides well-organized access to useful info.



Friday, July 26, 2013

American FactFinder Seminar Held July 25



The Lewis J. Ort Library welcomed Ms. Nesreen Khashan, Data Dissemination Specialist from the US Census Bureau, on Thursday July 25, 2013 for a half-day workshop on American FactFinder (http://factfinder2.census.gov).  The workshop provided participants with an overview of Census Bureau Programs and the tools that can be used to find statistical information.  In addition, participants learned about what information can be gathered from the 2010 Census compared with what information can be gathered from the American Community Survey.  The American Community Survey provides information in the following areas: demographic, social, economic, and housing.  Participants also learned how to use EasyStats (http://www.census.gov/easystats/) and learned how to use American FactFinder to map data that has been retrieved.

Participants practicing their new skills.

 Participants practicing their new skills.

 Ms. Nesreen Khashan, Data Dissemination Specialist, US Census Bureau

Friday, July 19, 2013

Featured Online Resource - Smithsonian's Collections SearchCenter



This week’s Featured Online Resource is the Collections SearchCenter from the Smithsonian Institution (http://collections.si.edu/search/).  The SearchCenter provides users with the opportunity to search the over 8 million digital records that the Smithsonian has developed.  Additionally, even though there are over 860,000 digital files that contain images, videos, and journals, this is still a small portion of the actual physical collections that the Smithsonian holds.  

Users can search by keyword, through images, or by browsing by a category.  

 

Every week, the Ort Library brings you a new and outstanding resource from the Web or from one of the library's databases. To get an archive of all FOR entries, click here. Also, you can suggest a website that provides well-organized access to useful info.
 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Featured Online Resource - The National Archives Experience: Digital Vaults

Consider taking a virtual field trip this summer to the National Archives by visiting their Digital Vaults (http://www.digitalvaults.org/).


Digital Vaults is an online collection of some of the National Archives' most important digitized documents.  This can be an entertaining visit for anyone interested in United States history, or it can be a practical research opportunity, particularly if you are looking for primary sources as part of your research.

The Digital Vaults web site allows you to locate documents by performing keyword searches or browsing through assigned tags.

You may also randomly shuffle the documents to see what treasures are available.

 


If you're looking for a challenging puzzle, consider the "Pathways" challenge.   The challenge provides a clue, plus some suggested tags as a starting point.  Choose the tag that you feel is the best fit, and then browse the images to find the answer to the question.  The answer you find to one question will provide the tag "hints" for the next question.

If you're working on a creative project, the web site allows you to create posters or movies with the images available.

Every week, the Ort Library brings you a new and outstanding resource from the Web or from one of the library's databases. To get an archive of all FOR entries, click here. Also, you can suggest a website that provides well-organized access to useful info.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Registration Extended for American FactFinder Seminar

REGISTRATION EXTENDED UNTIL JULY 10, 2013

The Lewis J Ort Library at Frostburg State University is pleased to announce a FREE half-day workshop on the US Census Bureau’s American FactFinder online resource.  Ms. Nesreen Khashan, Data Dissemination Specialist from the US Census Bureau, will be the presenter.  

American FactFinder is an excellent resource for finding data from the American Community Survey and other demographic statistics.  Attendees will learn about the types of information available, and also have the opportunity for hands-on practice in the library’s computer classroom.

The workshop will be held on Thursday, July 25, 2013 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Library Instruction Center (LIC) at the Lewis J Ort Library, Frostburg State University.  The workshop is free, but registration is required.  Please visit the following link for the registration form and more information: http://libguides.frostburg.edu/affseminar

If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Hartman at lahartman@frostburg.edu, MaryJo Price at mprice@frostburg.edu, or Theresa Mastrodonato at tmmastrodonato@frostburg.edu