Recycle your used pens by dropping them in bins at the Biomedical Library, Geisel library, and elsewhere on campus.

In partnership with TerraCycle and OfficeMax, a campus-wide program has been initiated to collect our defunct writing instruments across campus.  The writing instruments will be sent to TerraCycle and be upcycled and made into fun and innovative products.

TerraCycle will donate two cents for every writing instrument received to support the Sustainability Resource Center on campus.  All pens, mechanical pencils, correction tape dispensers and markers are acceptable including Sharpies, highlighters, and dry erase markers.

The next time you are in the libraries, drop off your old writing instruments for this worthy cause.  For more information, see http://blink.ucsd.edu/buy-pay/responsible/environment/writingbrigade.html

This month the libraries are hosting workshops on Ted, the course management system run by ACMS’s Instructional Web Development Center.  Instructional specialists from IWDC will be leading these workshops.   Please check out the schedule of workshops and sign up!

On October 4, 2012 from 12-1 pm, Dr. Beatrice A. Golomb will speak about “Chocolate: My Favorite Vegetable” as part of the UCSD Biomedical Library lunchtime seminar series.

Chocolate is a “vegetable.” It is a plant-based product, rich in “phytonutrients” and antioxidants, with health protective properties. Chocolate has long been viewed as an indulgence, and like many indulgences, has been presumed best avoided. But when the evidence is viewed, chocolate has repeatedly – defied supposition, producing favorable effects on (or bearing favorable associations to) blood pressure, blood sugar regulation, cholesterol profiles, heart disease, cognitive function, and (is it possible?) dental cavities. Favorable associations to longevity have even been documented. Still, trifling matters like lifespan have garnered far less attention than has the finding that regular chocolate consumption is linked – mirabile dictu to more favorable body weight. As is the case for many nutrients, regular consumption, not necessarily high quantity, shows the most favorable profile. In keeping with the contrarian character of evidence relative to supposition, the one outcome chocolate has been popularly presumed to benefit is the one which the evidence fails to support. Which one? Some mysteries must be left to the talk.

Beatrice Alexandra Golomb, MD, PhD is a Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego with a joint appointment in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. She has been lead investigator on a number of studies and clinical trials with research interests under two broad themes: medical reasoning; and the impact of oxidative stress and cell energetics in health, aging, and disease. Offshoots of the former interest include (among others) treatment/exposure risk-benefit balance, impact of conflict of interest on medical findings and information purveyal, why double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials are none of the above, and placebos. Branches of the latter interest include cholesterol and statin drugs, metabolic syndrome, aging, ALS, autism, and Gulf War illness, as well as antioxidant and pro-oxidant foods/nutrients/exposures such as coenzyme Q10, trans fats, pesticides – and, of course, chocolate. A number of her studies have been featured in national and international print, radio and television media, from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and The Economist to Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show.” Space is limited so RSVP as soon as possible in order to reserve a seat. Feel free to bring a discreet lunch; cookies and water will be provided.

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund has published a new guide, Communicating Science:  Giving Talks.  It covers “tips on putting together talks, insights into how to use technology to your benefit, horror stories about speeches gone wrong, and pointers to inexpensive, approachable resources available in most communities to polish speaking skills and gain confidence. ”  You can download it electronically or request a free print copy here:

http://www.bwfund.org/pages/361/Career-Development-Guide—Communicating-Science:–Giving-Talks/

The Libraries are holding workshops on Data Management Plans, since having a plan for your data is now required by NSF funded researchers.  If you need to ramp up on these requirements or just want to learn how to create a plan for your research data, sign up for one of these workshops.  http://libraries.ucsd.edu/services/data-curation/data-management-plan/workshop.html

The new carpet is in on the first floor at the Biomedical Library and it looks so much better.  The furniture and reference collection are being moved back into place this morning and we are getting back to normal.  As of 9:00 am, the public-use computers have not yet been set up, but they’ll be back up soon

On Tuesday, July 17th, the server that runs our library catalog and circulation systems will be replaced, a process that could last from 6:15 am – 3:15 pm.  During that time, a number of important library systems will not be available:

• Roger (the UCSD Library catalog) will be down.  Alternative: use Melvyl, the UC-wide library catalog
• The “Request” functions in UC e-Links, Circuit and Melvyl will not work. Alternative: use the blank Interlibrary Loan request form.
• The online room reservation system will not function properly. You will not be able to place new reservations during the outage.
• Books – including reserves – will be checked out manually.

Need to freshen up your Google searching and Google tools skills?  The Biomedical Library is not offering any Google classes this summer — but Google is!

Starting July 1st, Google is offering a “free, online, community-based course” called Power Searching with Google.

For more details, and to sign up, visit their website.

On May 17, 2012, Dr. Henry C. Powell gave a presentation called “From beliefs and spells to the scientific method: A long slow journey for the art of Medicine” as part of the Biomedical Library’s lunchtime seminar series and the Libraries-wide celebration of “Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine.”  Dr. Powell has created a suggested reading list of books that he mentioned during the talk and a few others, as well.  Enjoy!