AIDallas Library

A blog to support the faculty, staff and students at our school.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Many many slides

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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Remember slides?


The library is getting rid of old 35mm slides, some are in good condition, some are not. Subject matter ranges from fashion to construction to art to old graduation pictures. I know you will love the 1980s fashion shows. I'll be putting boxes out over the next few days. I am sure some creative student can come up with a good use for them. Come and get them.
And lest you feel compelled to tell me that we can donate them, the Dallas Museum of Art is also getting rid of their slides, or if you think we should digitize them, we don't have the rights to do that, plus some of the slides were already legally digitized. We need the room, they don't get used any more. They have got to go. Spread the word.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Library News 11/11/09



A big thank you to all the veterans and their families for serving our country.


So what's new in the library?


The Mildred M. Kelley Library has a large number of software tutorials in CD-ROM and DVD format available for student use as well as an online tutorial service, VTC. Tutorial discs may be checked out for three days. Many tutorials are multi-disc sets, but because of the demand for these items, only one disc at a time may be checked out. The call number of each disc follows the author. In order to check out a tutorial disc, present the call number and a valid AiDallas ID card at the Circulation Desk.


We have new Gnomon tutorials, this is a list of tutorials we have added in 2009:


3D matte painting and camera mapping
Stoski, Chris.
CDR TUT 345

Character design for production concept techniques /
Han, Richard Peter.
CDR TUT 339

Character modeling for production character modeling and texturing techniques with Ian Joyner /
Joyner, Ian.
CDR TUT 257

Character modeling in Maya and ZBrush the making of Jester, volume one / with Alex Alvarez.
Alvarez, Alex.
CDR TUT 340

Character texturing and rendering the making of Jester, volume two. /
Alvarez, Alex.
CDR TUT 342

Character texturing for production materials and texturing techniques with Ian Joyner /
Joyner, Ian.
CDR TUT 256

Character texturing for production texturing techniques /
Neall, Ben.
CDR TUT 338

Creature design. designing with Photoshop, XSI and ZBrush / with Aaron Sims.
Sims, Aaron.
CDR TUT 337

Creature detailing for production
Pierlot, Laurent.
CDR TUT 259

Creature modeling for production
Pierlot, Laurent.
CDR TUT 260

Creature texturing and rendering for production
Pierlot, Laurent.
CDR TUT 258

Digital creature painting design and technique using Adobe Photoshop /
Zar, Chet.
CDR TUT 328

High resolution 3D vehicle illustration 3D rendering and compositing /
McCaffrey, Brendan.
CDR TUT 344

Introduction to ZBrush 3 tools and workflow /
Meier, Meats.
CDR TUT 335

Matte painting production techniques matte painting for film /
Stoski, Chris.
CDR TUT 346

Mental ray fundamentals /
Hartle, Matt.
CDR TUT 325

Mental ray global illumination /
Hartle, Matt.
CDR TUT 326

Mental ray lighting and shaders /
Hartle, Matt.
CDR TUT 327

Practical light and color theory and application /
Vickery, Jeremy.
CDR TUT 333

Sculpting comic book style
Brown, John.
CDR TUT 332

Texture painting weathered surfaces : photorealistic texturing /
Campion, Paul.
CDR TUT 347

The digital maquette. art direction and digital sculpting /
Petroc, Zack.
CDR TUT 334

The techniques of Scott Robertson. basic perspective form drawing /
CDR TUT 323

The techniques of Scott Robertson. how to draw aircraft /
CDR TUT 330

The techniques of Scott Robertson. how to draw cars : foundation techniques /
CDR TUT 329

The techniques of Scott Robertson. how to draw hovercraft and spacecraft /
CDR TUT 331

UV mapping for games
Escalante, Mayan.
CDR TUT 349


We've talked to a bunch of classes this quarter and mid-start is tomorrow so here we go again. So far, this quarter we've had 25 classes in the library plus around 15 tours. There are still a good number on the schedule for the rest of the quarter.


Some students are making me crazy by doing exactly what we advise them not to do which is write the stupid paper and then come to the library to find references to add to their paper. PEOPLE!! The point is to do research, find information related to your topic, note your references and then write your paper. It's ever so much easier that way, really! The tried and true method.


We are in the process of implementing a new catalog to replace Athena. I think it will be an improvement but it might be a bumpy road getting there. The new system is Voyager and is used in many colleges around the country.


I'm working on Christmas crafts and I could use old Christmas cards if you have some that you want to put into a good retirement.














Monday, November 02, 2009

Voting Tuesday in Texas

Here are some good links about the voting tomorrow:

https://team.sos.state.tx.us/voterws/viw/faces/SearchSelectionPolling.jsp

There are a large number of state constitutional amendments so it helps to have them translated into plain language. I like The League of Women Voters for that.

http://www.lwvtexas.org/2009VG/2009CAVG[FINAL].pdf

Why vote? It's one of the obligations of living in a democracy, you need to participate to make it work.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Halloween in the Library


It's Halloween. I had a great idea for a costume but just didn't have time to put it together, maybe next year. If you stop by the library today, we have a treat for you.


So, what's new?

Safari has a new release with some nice enhancements. Don't forget that Safari Books Online has more than 7,785 books on technology, creative professional and business topics. You can use their sophisticated search functionality to locate a specific book or to find the best content available across several books on a given topic. You can get to Safari from the library web page. If you are off campus, you will need the log-in and password which is available in the library if you show us your valid AI Dallas student ID card. We don't give the passwords out over the phone.


Omnimusic


Last week, students were having problems with downloading from Omnimusic in the Audio lab in the culinary building. It turns out the right version of Quicktime wasn't on those computers. I believe this has been corrected. As always, let us know if you have any problems with any of our services.


Speaking of Problems...


In the last couple of weeks, students had trouble getting to the library webpage from their laptops. It turns out there is some kind of problem with putting www in front of the web address. Don't do it and you should be fine. aidlrc.aiiresources.com is the way to go.


We did 11 College Orientation tours this week. It was a bit of a beating but completely worth it if the students learn to use the vast resources in the library.


Registration is coming up! Don't wait until the last minute!! Here are some reasons to register as soon as you can:



  1. Better selection of classes and times

  2. Late fee kicks in at a certain point

  3. Easier to arrange for classes with your friends

  4. Saves the advisors and school directors from tracking you down

  5. Save a tree, don't make them send you paper reminders

  6. If you have to make arrangements at work or for childcare, then the sooner you know your schedule, the better

  7. The early bird gets the worm

  8. If you sign up for a class, you might be the one that keeps them from dropping the class for lack of interest

  9. Shorter lines

  10. The first step to breaking the procrastination habit!!



Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Library News 10/21/2009




I haven't been to see Where the Wild Things Are yet, I will soon. I was sure that someone would come and ask us what the library has on Spike Jonze who directed the movie. Since no one has asked, here is a preemptive list:


DVD VP 196

The work of director Spike Jonze [videorecording] : a collection of music videos, short films, documentaries and rarities


Side A: Music videos: California (Wax), Sure Shot (Beastie boys), Drop (The Pharcyde), Cannonball (The Breeders), Sabotage (Beastie Boys), Da funk (Daft Punk), Whjat's up Fatlip? (Fatlip), Undone (Weezer), Praise you (Fatboy slim), Sky's the limit (Notorious B.I.G.), Weapon of Choice (Fatboy Slim), Buddy Holly (Weezer), Elektrobank (The Chemical Brothers), It's oh so quiet (Bjork), Feel the Pain (Dinosaur Jr. If I only had a brain (MC 900ft Jesus) -- The interviews -- Making of drop with the Pharcyde -- audio commentaries. Side B: Rarities: How they get there, Mark Paints, Oasis video that never happened, Rockafella Skank, The woods -- Documentaries: What's up Fatlip, Amarillo by Morning, Torrance Rises.


We also have these movies:


DVD VP 014

Being John Malkovich


DVD VP 1262

The Fall



Dave Eggers was one of the writers for the screenplay, we have an anthology that he edited, which means he help select the stories in it.


PS 645 .B47 2002

The best American nonrequired reading, 2002


For more on Maurice Sendak, who wrote Where the Wild Things Are, we have these books-


NC 975.5 .S44 K87 2003

The art of Maurice Sendak : 1980 to the present


and a book that Mr. Sendak put together:


NC 1850 .S44 A4

Posters / by Maurice Sendak


Hey, if you look to your right (unless you are getting this in email), you will see that the library has a Facebook page, as Mr. Rogers used to sing, it's such a good feeling , the feeling you know that we're friends.





Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Library News 10/14/2009

We are nearly to the end of our food drive. Today we delivered 82 food items to the student food pantry. Here is a picture, courtesy of Kari Doyle.

The criteria for stuff that was icky caused some debate among the library staff.

I turned my nose up at canned new potatoes while several people said they were delicious.

Cristina questioned the jelly but I said all the peanut butter that we received really needed some jelly to go with it. I half expected Joe to steal it before it got to the food pantry. Now we know what to get him for Christmas.

There were a lot of cans of corn and really enormous cans of tuna along with some Vienna sausages that I have my doubts about.

Don't forget that you can pay your fines with food until Sunday.