Using social media for research

Many people use social media -- Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, etc. -- to stay connected to their family and friends, and many companies have adopted social media to market their products and services. But researchers also are increasingly using social media to keep up in their fields and to participate in online communities of practice.

The International Centre for Guidance Studies has prepared an online guide titled Social media: A guide for researchers designed to help researchers learn more about using social media and select the best tools for them. They note:

One of the most important things that researchers do is to find, use and disseminate information, and social media offers a range of tools which can facilitate this... Social media can change the way in which you undertake research, and can also open up new forms of communication and dissemination.

When deciding which tools are best for you, first consider where people in your field "hang out." Do they use LinkedIn or Facebook for networking? Tumblr or Twitter for microblogging? Delicious or Diigo for bookmarking? Zotero or Mendeley for citation sharing? Or some other tool listed here?

What social media tools do researchers in your discipline use? Please comment!

'Text me this call number'

Since more and more students are using their cell phones to write down call numbers for books, the Library has added a new feature to the catalog that enables users to send call numbers to their cell phones via text messages.

Now, when you search PILOT, our catalog, and find a book whose call number you want to write down, you may send the call number to your cell phone via a text message. Here's what you'll see in PILOT:

Click on the link 'Text me this call number' and then enter your cell phone number and select your provider. The call number will be sent to you via a text message, saving you the trouble of writing it down on slip of paper. Then just go the Collection and the floor where the book is located.

As always, if you have questions, ask a Reference Librarian for assistance.