Here at the library we're always looking for new ways to find more relevant information faster. This blog post from Online Colleges gives some very helpful tips for using one of the newest tools available on the web.
Bing has made quite an entrance in the Internet search world. This new way of searching provides quick and easy shortcuts that don’t always require reading through lists of websites and clicking on each one to find what you want. Check out the following tricks to see how Bing can help students and librarians find the information they need in a snap.
Finding Information
From doing math without a calculator to getting definitions, use Bing to find this information quickly and easily.
1. Use the background image. Hovering over different locations on the background image provides an opportunity to learn facts about the image or related topics.
2. Do math. Enter a math calculation directly into the search box to compute anything from simple math to trig functions.
3. Ask questions directly. Type a question into the search box and if the answer is located in Encarta encyclopedia, you will get an answer directly.
4. Get definitions. Enter "define" or "definition" along with a word to find a definition of that word.
5. Look up IP addresses. Type in IP: [IP address] (substituting [IP address] with the actual IP address) to find a list of domains associated with that IP address.
6. Find statistical information. Find statistical information by typing what you want to know, such as "population of Texas" or "number of bald eagles in America" to get the answer.
7. Locate area codes and zip codes. Enter an area code or zip code into the search box and find out with what location the number is associated.
8. Find business contact information. If you have ever tried to find a phone number for a business with little success, then try typing the name of the business in Bing’s search box. They frequently provide contact information even for companies with hard-to-find phone numbers.
9. Get used car information. Simply type a car’s VIN into the search box to get history on that car.
10. Get stock quotes. Add "stock" or "quote" to the name of the company or their stock quote symbol to find stock quotes and other financial information.
11. Find holiday dates. Enter the holiday and year to find out what date that holiday will occur.
12. Get sports information. Get scores, stats, game times, and much more quickly and easily by searching for your team only or adding specifically what you want, such as "Mariners score."
Research and Collaboration
Bing is great for Internet research and sharing that research for others. Find out how with these suggestions.
13. Save search results. Save your search results to a local folder online to have access to them without having to remember how you performed the search.
14. Share search results. If you have found important information you want to share, email your search results or share via Facebook.
15. Find specific types of files. Use a keyword and "contains: file type" (with file type being the file type you are seeking) to find PDFs, MP3s, and other files.
16. Get results from a specific region. Type your keyword and loc:US (or any other location) to get webpages from specific countries.
17. Restrict search to titles. If you want to find your keyword in a title only, use intitle: to search.
18. Disable search suggestions. If you don’t want Bing’s search suggestions, just click on "Turn off " at the bottom of the suggestions. To turn them back on, follow these directions.
19. Show more results. If you want more than 10 results per page, change your Preference to get up to 50 results per page.
20. Get search results as RSS feeds. Get your search results sent to your favorite reader where you can access them later or share with others.
21. Use related searches. When searching for a topic, use the related searches located in the left pane to more easily find what you are seeking.
22. Control search history. Learn how to turn off the search history or clear the search history here.
Images and Videos
Use images and videos easily and more quickly with Bing to find the information you need.
23. Easily find images. The image search on Bing provides many images that are easily scanable.
24. Preview videos. Get a whole page of video thumbnails, then just hover over each to start it playing.
25. Preview websites. Get an image of the website from your search results just by hovering over the link.
26. Find videos of a specific length. Whether you are searching for a full episode of your favorite show or a quick overview of a how-to, find the length video you want by following these instructions.
27. Specify the size image. When looking for an image, you can specify what size image you want, whether small, medium, large, or wallpaper.
28. Search for color or black and white. While performing an image search, specify if you want only color or only black and white images.
29. Ensure your images are safe for everyone. This blog post from Bing tells you how to ensure your image previews don’t show adult content.
30. Save Bing’s background images. If you want to keep the background images from Bing on your desktop, follow these instructions.
Travel
Whether you are going home for the holidays or traveling to the next big conference, use these tips to help facilitate your travel with Bing.
31. Find low air fares. Enter "flights from x to y" (with x and y being the cities of travel) to find low air fares as well as predicted fare trends.
32. Get flight status. Enter your flight number along with "flight status" to immediately find out the status of your flight.
33. Plan your stay. When you enter a place name, you will receive links for attractions, weather, nightlife, tours, and images of that location.
34. Find a hotel. Get star ratings, reviews, a map, and more details to help you find the perfect place to stay.
35. Eat out. Get maps, menus, and reviews easily for restaurants in the area.
36. Find directions. When you enter an address, you will get a map and directions powered by Microsoft Virtual Earth.
37. Get real-time traffic information. The traffic map has routes highlighted in red and green to designate which roads are having problems and which are good.
38. Find out the weather. Weather forecasts are easy to find and easy to read when you select "weather."
39. Convert currency. Type in "1 x in y" (with x and y being the currency abbreviations) to get an automatic currency conversion.
40. Take advantage of local search features. From detailed business listings to business scorecards to one-click directions, take advantage of the Bing local features.
Mobile
Just because you stepped out of the library or away from class doesn’t mean you can’t still access the benefits of Bing. Find out what you can do with Bing and your mobile.
41. Use their mobile site. The Bing mobile site is specially designed for mobile phone usage.
42. Download the app. From your mobile phone’s browser, go to http://m.bing.com/download/ to download their mobile app.
43. Get mobile with a text. Visit Bing for mobile to enter your phone number and receive a text with the link.
44. Download Bing Tones. Download these free MP3 ring tones for your cell phone from Bing.
45. Try Bing 411. Call 1-800-BING-411 to get information via text message or to contact a business directly–for free.
46. Get turn-by-turn directions. Save both home and work starting points to get turn-by-turn directions over your phone from Bing 411 if you don’t have a phone with GPS.
47. Get walking directions. If you are on foot, don’t rely on directions down highways, instead, get the step-by-step walking directions on your phone.
48. Get weather by phone. No need to get a meteorology degree online. Bing 411 also delivers very detailed weather for your specific location over the phone.
49. Find movies. Locate theaters, find show times, and buy tickets all from your phone.
50. Go shopping. Not only can you locate products, but you can also do a price comparison to ensure you are getting the best deal.
Originally found on the Online Colleges Blog
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
News Update
Christmas decorations are up in the library. Come and see our festive new look.
If you still have any books checked out from the library please bring them back. We like our books, and like even better to be able to loan them out to more people.
If any of you are interested in Twitter and like history there’s an interesting project that combines the two. The battle at Gettysburg has been reenacted as a Twitter feed. It's just a fun quick thing to read through and enjoy.
Best of luck on your exams, and have a safe and happy Christmas break.
If you still have any books checked out from the library please bring them back. We like our books, and like even better to be able to loan them out to more people.
If any of you are interested in Twitter and like history there’s an interesting project that combines the two. The battle at Gettysburg has been reenacted as a Twitter feed. It's just a fun quick thing to read through and enjoy.
Best of luck on your exams, and have a safe and happy Christmas break.
Monday, November 9, 2009
App Spotlight (free)
Epocrates Rx
Free mobile drug reference
Available for the following platforms:
The information contained within this application is created by healthcare professionals, and specifically formatted for the mobile devices listed above.
Features include: the drug guide, formulary information and drug interaction checker. This product also includes continual free updates and medical news! Also, it's easy to download Epocrates Rx to your handheld device.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
LSU's Middleton Library Celebrates 50 Years
A celebration marking 50 years of Library service was held October 23, at the Troy H. Middleton Library at Louisiana State University. When dedicated October 29, 1959 the Library opened with air-conditioning and open stacks where patrons could help themselves to the book collection. The library was officially named the General Troy H. Middleton Library being named after a World War I veteran, World War II war hero, three-star general, and President of LSU.
Library Director, Jennifer Cargill
Library Director Jennifer Cargill hosted a reception marking the occasion and special exhibits were featured including a list of the 50 best books of the last 50 years, a Banned Books exhibit, and an exhibit featuring photos of when the Library was initially built.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Seventh Annual Louisiana Book Festival
Legions of book lovers came together Saturday to discuss and promote literature at the seventh annual Louisiana Book Festival.Engaged festival-goers and 190 authors participated in panel discussions and conversations in the chambers and committee rooms of the Louisiana Capitol Building, a part of the festival that makes it unique, said Rebecca Hamilton, assistant secretary for the office of the state library.
Tim Gautreaux, the Morgan City native received the 2009 Louisiana Writer Award.
About 500 volunteers, many of whom are associated with the University’s School of Library and Information Science, put on the festival and keep events working.Students in the LIS program organize a group to volunteer at the festival every year, said Beth Paskoff, dean of the School of Library and Information Science.“Students work in many different areas of the festival,” Paskoff said. “It gives them an opportunity to see what kinds of things they may be doing in the future and meet people who may be their colleagues someday.”Suzanne Stauffer, assistant LIS professor, said the festival’s central location at the Capitol, state museum and state library adds another meaningful layer to the event.“I don’t know of any other capital where you can have this type of cultural festival literally in the middle of state government,” Stauffer said.
Tim Gautreaux, the Morgan City native received the 2009 Louisiana Writer Award.
About 500 volunteers, many of whom are associated with the University’s School of Library and Information Science, put on the festival and keep events working.Students in the LIS program organize a group to volunteer at the festival every year, said Beth Paskoff, dean of the School of Library and Information Science.“Students work in many different areas of the festival,” Paskoff said. “It gives them an opportunity to see what kinds of things they may be doing in the future and meet people who may be their colleagues someday.”Suzanne Stauffer, assistant LIS professor, said the festival’s central location at the Capitol, state museum and state library adds another meaningful layer to the event.“I don’t know of any other capital where you can have this type of cultural festival literally in the middle of state government,” Stauffer said.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Notable Reference Titles at the Library
APA Dictionary of Psychology
In 2007 the American Psychological Association (APA), the largest association of psychologists in the world, published its first dictionary. Although the APA has always been concerned with collecting and clarifying the terms of its discipline—as early as 1898 forming a “Standing Committee on Psychological and Philosophical Terminology”—it did not begin work on a dictionary until 1997, when it acquired the rights to the Longman Dictionary of Psychology and Psychiatry. Using this dictionary as its foundation, while consulting various other sources, the APA reference staff, in conjunction with a lexicographic team from Market House Books, compiled the first edition of the APA Dictionary of Psychology. With approximately 25,000 entries covering concepts, processes and therapies, as well as appendices which include information about notable individuals, institutions and organizations, the APA Dictionary is an essential resource for students and practitioners of psychology; additionally, it serves as an invaluable tool for those in law, education, social work and other such fields which occasionally cross boundaries into mental health.
Available in the College Library Reference Collection. APA Dictionary of Psychology, edited by Gary R. VandenBos, et al. American Psychological Association, 2007. Reference Collection call number BF 31 A65.
In 2007 the American Psychological Association (APA), the largest association of psychologists in the world, published its first dictionary. Although the APA has always been concerned with collecting and clarifying the terms of its discipline—as early as 1898 forming a “Standing Committee on Psychological and Philosophical Terminology”—it did not begin work on a dictionary until 1997, when it acquired the rights to the Longman Dictionary of Psychology and Psychiatry. Using this dictionary as its foundation, while consulting various other sources, the APA reference staff, in conjunction with a lexicographic team from Market House Books, compiled the first edition of the APA Dictionary of Psychology. With approximately 25,000 entries covering concepts, processes and therapies, as well as appendices which include information about notable individuals, institutions and organizations, the APA Dictionary is an essential resource for students and practitioners of psychology; additionally, it serves as an invaluable tool for those in law, education, social work and other such fields which occasionally cross boundaries into mental health.Available in the College Library Reference Collection. APA Dictionary of Psychology, edited by Gary R. VandenBos, et al. American Psychological Association, 2007. Reference Collection call number BF 31 A65.
The Encyclopedia of World History
Peter N. Stearns and thirty other prominent historians have worked for a decade to produce the sixth edition of The Encyclopedia of World History, a reference work that over the years has earned the reputation of being as indispensable as it is authoritative.
This latest edition contains more than 20,000 entries covering prehistory through the year 2000. Coverage of Western European history has been reduced to make way for additional material on Africa, South Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. In addition, coverage of traditional historical fields like national histories has been updated, and new historical fields such as women's history, social and cultural history, technology, and international government have been added.
Content is divided into broad time periods, from “Prehistoric” to “Contemporary.” Each section starts off with a global survey. This is followed by regional divisions within which individual countries or cultures are treated. By and large, information for each region and country is presented chronologically, although there are also some narrative overviews. The extensive table of contents and index are essential tools for finding one's way. Appropriately placed throughout the text are 57 black-and-white maps and 66 genealogy tables.
Thorough and up-to-date, this work will benefit anyone interested in our constantly changing, remarkably diverse human story.
Available in the College Library Reference Collection. The Encyclopedia of World History, edited by Peter N. Stearns. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001. Reference Collection call number D 21 E578.
This latest edition contains more than 20,000 entries covering prehistory through the year 2000. Coverage of Western European history has been reduced to make way for additional material on Africa, South Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. In addition, coverage of traditional historical fields like national histories has been updated, and new historical fields such as women's history, social and cultural history, technology, and international government have been added.
Content is divided into broad time periods, from “Prehistoric” to “Contemporary.” Each section starts off with a global survey. This is followed by regional divisions within which individual countries or cultures are treated. By and large, information for each region and country is presented chronologically, although there are also some narrative overviews. The extensive table of contents and index are essential tools for finding one's way. Appropriately placed throughout the text are 57 black-and-white maps and 66 genealogy tables.
Thorough and up-to-date, this work will benefit anyone interested in our constantly changing, remarkably diverse human story.
Available in the College Library Reference Collection. The Encyclopedia of World History, edited by Peter N. Stearns. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001. Reference Collection call number D 21 E578.
Encyclopedia of African American History, 1619-1895
Paul Finkelman, editor of the Encyclopedia of African American History, 1619-1895, explains in his introduction that his goal is “not only to educate and teach people about black history, but, more importantly to show users of these volumes how the history of America is, to a great extent, the history of race and race relations.” Arguably, this goal is achieved with the encyclopedia's more than 700 alphabetically arranged entries, covering aspects of daily life (“Childhood,” “Food,” “Work”); concepts (“Acculturation,” “Perfectionism”); events (“American Revolution,” “Harpers Ferry raid”); institutions (“Democratic Party,” “Howard University”); movements (“Great Awakening”; “Slave resistance”; “Suffrage, women's”); and places (“Brazil,” “Detroit,” “Kentucky”) as well as topics in the arts (“Minstrel shows,” “Oratory and Verbal Arts”); law (“Jim Crow Car Laws,” “Missouri Compromise,” “Voting Rights”); religion (“African Methodist Episcopal Church,” “Baptism,” “Black Theology”); and more.
Entries range in length from 500 to 1,200 words, and each includes a bibliography. Composite articles, among them “Black Nationalism,” “Native Americans and African Americans,” and “Slave Narratives,” contain subentries with separate bibliographies. In Volume 3 readers will find the directory of contributors, a list of entries arranged under broad topics, a chronology, and a detailed index. Approximately 300 black-and-white images are scattered throughout the text.
Unrivalled in breadth and scope, this encyclopedia is the preeminent source of information on African American history and is destined to become a trusted reference source for years to come.
Available in the College Library Reference Collection. Encyclopedia of African American History, 1619-1895: From the Colonial Period to the Age of Frederick Douglass, edited by Paul Finkelman. Oxford University Press, 2006. Reference Collection call number E 185 E545.
Entries range in length from 500 to 1,200 words, and each includes a bibliography. Composite articles, among them “Black Nationalism,” “Native Americans and African Americans,” and “Slave Narratives,” contain subentries with separate bibliographies. In Volume 3 readers will find the directory of contributors, a list of entries arranged under broad topics, a chronology, and a detailed index. Approximately 300 black-and-white images are scattered throughout the text.
Unrivalled in breadth and scope, this encyclopedia is the preeminent source of information on African American history and is destined to become a trusted reference source for years to come.
Available in the College Library Reference Collection. Encyclopedia of African American History, 1619-1895: From the Colonial Period to the Age of Frederick Douglass, edited by Paul Finkelman. Oxford University Press, 2006. Reference Collection call number E 185 E545.
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