New Books, Bestsellers, Hit Movies & More…
Check out our book, popular reading, DVD and audiobook (including Playaways) acquisitions for the month of November! Go to our New Books page or use the links in the left hand column.
Author: Lisa
You Write It, RefWorks Will Cite It!
Are you struggling with formatting your research papers? Try RefWorks! RefWorks is a tool that creates bibliographies and formats research papers in the citation style of your choice (e.g. APA, MLA). You can easily compile, edit and format bibliographies by importing references directly from the library’s online databases – including ProQuest and EBSCO – or by entering them manually.
So what are you waiting for? Create your personal RefWorks Account and you’ll have access to it from anywhere in the world.
For information about creating your RefWorks account please visit our RefWorks research guide. To get more help with RefWorks please take a look at the RefWorks quick online tutorial, enroll in one of Refwork’s complimentary training webinars, view a pre-recorded webinar session, or contact the Reference Desk.
Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday Facts & Figures
For many of us, the Thanksgiving holiday means two things – turkey with all the trimmings and the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Just how crazy do we get? Here are some interesting facts from a few of our library databases, the U.S. Census, and the experts at the National Turkey Federation.
Talkin’ Turkey
A National Turkey Federation (NTF) survey reveals that nearly 88 percent of Americans eat turkey at Thanksgiving. How big are those birds? According to the NTF the average weight of turkeys purchased for Thanksgiving is 15 pounds. 1
The U.S. Census also dishes out some mouth-watering food facts: 2
- It is estimated that 250 million turkeys will be raised in the United States in 2009. The typical American ate 13.8 pounds of turkey in 2007.
- 1.8 billion pounds of sweet potatoes were produced by major sweet potato producing states in 2008. Per capita sweet potato consumption was 5.2 pounds in 2007.
- The forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2009 is 709 million pounds. Massachusetts residents might be surprised to learn that the Bay State is ranked second in cranberry production at 190 million pounds (behind Wisconsin which weighs in at 400 million pounds).
- Bring on the green bean casserole. In 2008, the contracted production of snap (green) beans in major green bean-producing states was 794,777 tons.
Ready, Set, Shop!
Industry analysts at IBISWorld estimate that total retail sales on the traditional Black Friday weekend will increase 2.8 percent from last year, totaling $42.9 billion. Will you be one of the masses? IBISWorld is predicting that 76.9 million people will be hitting the stores on Black Friday.3
Cyber Monday is also a boon for retailers. According to market research firm Mintel, in 2008 the National Retail Foundation (NRF) reported that 37% of consumers were planning to shop online during work on the Monday following Thanksgiving.4 There’s a bright outlook for the upcoming holiday season, as Forrester Research expects online retail sales to reach $44.7 billion during the months of November and December 2009, an 8% increase over 2008. 5
Looking for more information? Contact a Reference Librarian – we can provide research assistance and help you navigate the library’s databases. The staff of the Bentley Library wishes everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!
[1] “Turkey History and Trivia”. National Turkey Foundation. n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2009. <http://www.eatturkey.com/consumer/history/history.html>.
[2] “Facts for Features – Thanksgiving Day November 26, 2009”. U.S. Census Press Release. 30 Sept. 2009. Web. 18 Nov. 2009. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/pdf/cb09ff22_thanksgiving.pdf>
[3] “Consumers Eat And Drink To Be Merry This Season“. IBISWorld Press Release. 10 Nov. 2009. Web. 18 Nov. 2009. <http://www.ibisworld.com/pressrelease/pressrelease.aspx?prid=206>
[4] “Holiday Shopping – US – June 2009”. Mintel Oxygen database. 2009. Web. 18 Nov. 2009. <http://academic.mintel.com>
[5] “US Online Holiday Retail Forecast, 2009”. Forrester Research database. 2 Nov. 2009. Web. 18 Nov. 2009. <http://www.forrester.com/>
Thanksgiving Holiday Hours
Thanksgiving Holiday Hours
Tuesday, November 24:
7:30am – 9:00pm
Wednesday, November 25 through Saturday, November, 28:
CLOSED
Sunday, November 29:
1:00pm – 2:00am
Please note that the Deloitte Café closes at 4:00pm on Tuesday, November 24, and will not reopen until 8:00am on Monday, November 30. For more information about the library or cafe hours please view our hours calendar. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
“Help, I Just Need 3 Sources by Tomorrow!” Drop-in Research Help for Students
Do you have a paper or project due soon? This drop-in research help session is for you! Bring whatever you are working on to a reference librarian and get immediate expert assistance. You will walk away with the source or two (or three) that you need! (Of course, you can always contact a Reference Librarian to get immediate help – they are here 7 days a week).
Pre-registration is NOT required! Drop-in to the library’s Research Instruction Center (RIC), during the scheduled times (the RIC is located on the lower level in room 11). We are holding six drop-in sessions during the week of November 16:
Monday, November 16:
2:00pm – 3:00pm
6:00pm – 7:00pm
Tuesday, November 17:
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Wednesday, November 18:
1:00pm – 2:00pm
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Thursday, November 19:
6:00pm – 7:00pm
Listen Up! New Audiobooks On Display…
In the car or on the bus, on the treadmill or out for a jog, relaxing on the couch or stuck in front of your computer at work…consider how much faster the time will pass if you’re listening to an audiobook! Our current display highlights some of our most recent audiobook arrivals – both on CD and in digital Playaway format.
Interested in contemporary fiction? Check out Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and The Coral Thief. Rediscovering literary classics? We just received Cranford and The Pilgrim’s Progress. Want to tickle your funny bone? Kathy Griffin, Craig Ferguson and David Cross are here for you. Keeping up with current events? We’ve got the mortgage meltdown and the miracle on the Hudson covered. You get the picture – we’ve got something for everyone!
New items are being added daily. Please stop by and take a look.
Now Showing at the Art Gallery: Martin Cain
Martin Cain
FOUND
an exploration of auditory and visual detritus
November 11 – December 10, 2009
Opening on Wednesday, November 11, 2009, this new exhibit at the Caturano and Company Art Gallery features the work of artist Martin Cain in an installation titled “FOUND”.
All are cordially invited to an opening reception for the artist on Sunday, November 15, 2009, from 2:00pm – 4:00pm.
Located on the main floor of the Bentley Library, the Caturano and Company Art Gallery is free and open to the public. Check the online calendar for information about the Library’s hours.
October Acquisitions: New Books, DVDs & Audiobooks
Check out our book, popular reading, DVD and audiobook (including Playaways) acquisitions for the month of October! Go to our New Books page or use the links in the left hand column.
