UMBC now has trial access to The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism. The trial runs through August 4, 2011.

The Johns Hopkins Online Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism is an indispensable resource for scholars and students of literary theory and discourse. Revised extensively to reflect a decade of rapidly changing scholarship, the Online Guide features 48 new entries and subentries. Compiled by 275 specialists from around the world, the Online Guide presents a comprehensive historical survey of the field's most important figures, schools, and movements. It includes more than 240 alphabetically arranged entries on critics and theorists, critical schools and movements, and the critical and theoretical innovations of specific countries and historical periods.

For off-campus access, please login via VPN first (http://vpn.umbc.edu), and follow the link to the UMBC Library Homepage. Then follow the link under "News & Events" on the library homepage. For more info on remote access, see http://aok.lib.umbc.edu/services/remoteaccess.php.

Please let us know what you think. Send your comments to Janet Hack at jhack@umbc.edu.

As part of her Independent Studies in the New Media Studio, Fulbright Scholar Meri Collazos Sola developed a multimedia project using digital digital storytelling to explore identity and culture shock. The project website, www.cultureshockstory.com is based on Meri's research in the Intercultural Communications program.

"This project contains the materials I will focus on for my scholarly paper. The scholarly paper should be related to some of the topics that we've done for the core courses. The main topics of the research will be intercultural competency, creativity and two up and coming new media formats: digital storytelling and personal documentary film."

www.flickr.com UMBC New Media Studio's Multimedia Literacy Lab Spring, 2011 photoset

MCS101L, Multimedia Literacy Lab, is a one-credit course offered in two sections. The class is taken in conjunction with MCS333. Students were given 6 story prompts to choose from for their final digital story projects.

Final Projects

First Project

Patrons have been reporting problems accessing their library (catalog) accounts. This problem has been reported to ITD and we are waiting for a response.

Here is a brief description of the problem. When you try to log into your catalog account (either through the 'My Library Account' link on our website our through the 'my account' link in the catalog) the log in process starts as expected. You are asked to select your campus, then you get taken to the UMBC single sign-on screen (if you are not already logged into a UMBC account). After logging in you get a blank screen for a lengthy time which eventually switches to a basic catalog search, but it doesn't show you as being logged in you and have no access to your account.

We have a similar problem with Research Port. You are able to get into Research Port both on and off-campus. From on-campus, as long as you don't try to log into Research Port, everything seems to work fine. If you try to log in (either on or off-campus) it doesn't show as being logged in (your name doesn't appear) and there is a limited selection of databases available. The odd thing is that when we access the databases from off-campus via the proxy links on our website we are able to log in with no problem.

We hope to have this issue fixed soon. Thank you for your patience.

Charlestown Stories 2011 photoset

During the spring 2011 semester, students in MLL 495/695 Intercultural Video productions completed two community-base digital story projects. The first brought the class to the Arbutus branch of the Baltimore County Public Library to help tell the stories of the librarians and others in the community. This was the second year for the project.

Next the class went to the Charlestown retirement community for aa new round of Charlestown stories. This was a continuation of an award-winning project that began in 2006.

The semester culminated in a showing of all stories hosted by the Arbutus Library.

Arbutus Library Project photoset

Maybe you're waiting to see the Thor movie until after finals are over. Maybe you've seen it and you're dying to get more back story on the mythical God of Thunder. Maybe you've been staring at journal articles all morning and just need a break. Maybe you just love comics loaded with exclamation points! Whatever the reason, Special Collections has just the thing for you. As part of our fantastic Comic Books Collection, we have more than 200 back issues of the original Thor comic books dating from 1965 through 1990! The first issue in our collection, number 119, even includes a battle against one of Thor's movie foes, The Destroyer!

But Thor isn't limited to his own book. You might also know him as part of The Avengers, along with Captain America, The Hulk and Iron Man! Don't worry; we've got you covered there as well, with more than a hundred issues from the 60's, 70's and 80's. Catch up on the Avengers back story now, before their movie comes out next year! And before you ask, yes, we've got classic 60's and 70's issues of Captain America, the Incredible Hulk and Iron Man as well!

Special Collections will be open from 1 until 4 pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday all the way through Finals Week, and until 8pm on Thursdays. During the summer, we'll be open by appointment only. To find our superhero lair, enter the Library Gallery and walk straight back- you'll see our doors on the right. No secret decoder ring required!

To browse all of the comics available at Special Collections, enter comic books in the Collection field in the following search; or put in more specific search terms to find the exact comic you're looking for: http://umbc.pastperfect-online.com/37467cgi/mweb.exe?request=advform .

by Steve Ammidown, Special Collections Student Assistant

Maybe you’re waiting to see the Thor movie until after finals are over. Maybe you’ve seen it and you’re dying to get more back story on the mythical God of Thunder. Maybe you’ve been staring at journal articles all morning and just need a break. Maybe you just love comics loaded with exclamation points! Whatever the reason, Special Collections has just the thing for you. As part of our fantastic Comic Books Collection, we have more than 200 back issues of the original Thor comic books dating from 1965 through 1990! The first issue in our collection, number 119, even includes a battle against one of Thor’s movie foes, The Destroyer!

But Thor isn’t limited to his own book. You might also know him as part of The Avengers, along with Captain America, The Hulk and Iron Man! Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered there as well, with more than a hundred issues from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Catch up on the Avengers back story now, before their movie comes out next year! And before you ask, yes, we’ve got classic 60’s and 70’s issues of Captain America, the Incredible Hulk and Iron Man as well!

Special Collections will be open from 1 until 4 pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday all the way through Finals Week, and until 8pm on Thursdays. During the summer, we’ll be open by appointment only. To find our superhero lair, enter the Library Gallery and walk straight back- you’ll see our doors on the right. No secret decoder ring required!

To browse all of the comics available at Special Collections, enter “comic books” in the “Collection” field in the following search; or put in more specific search terms to find the exact comic you’re looking for: http://umbc.pastperfect-online.com/37467cgi/mweb.exe?request=advform .

by Steve Ammidown, Special Collections Student Assistant

Maybe you’re waiting to see the Thor movie until after finals are over. Maybe you’ve seen it and you’re dying to get more back story on the mythical God of Thunder. Maybe you’ve been staring at journal articles all morning and just need a break. Maybe you just love comics loaded with exclamation points! Whatever the reason, Special Collections has just the thing for you. As part of our fantastic Comic Books Collection, we have more than 200 back issues of the original Thor comic books dating from 1965 through 1990! The first issue in our collection, number 119, even includes a battle against one of Thor’s movie foes, The Destroyer!

But Thor isn’t limited to his own book. You might also know him as part of The Avengers, along with Captain America, The Hulk and Iron Man! Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered there as well, with more than a hundred issues from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Catch up on the Avengers back story now, before their movie comes out next year! And before you ask, yes, we’ve got classic 60’s and 70’s issues of Captain America, the Incredible Hulk and Iron Man as well!

Special Collections will be open from 1 until 4 pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday all the way through Finals Week, and until 8pm on Thursdays. During the summer, we’ll be open by appointment only. To find our superhero lair, enter the Library Gallery and walk straight back- you’ll see our doors on the right. No secret decoder ring required!

To browse all of the comics available at Special Collections, enter “comic books” in the “Collection” field in the following search; or put in more specific search terms to find the exact comic you’re looking for: http://umbc.pastperfect-online.com/37467cgi/mweb.exe?request=advform .

by Steve Ammidown, Special Collections Student Assistant

Through May 15, 2011, UMBC has trial access to Films on Demand.

Films On Demand is a web-based digital video delivery platform that allows you to view streaming videos from Films Media Group anytime, anywhere, 24/7! Thousands of videos are available for in-class use and remote viewing from the library, in the dorm, or at home.

Access information is available at: http://aok.lib.umbc.edu/databases/trials/fod.php

Please let us know what you think. Leave a comment or send your comments to Eric Jeitner at ejeitner@umbc.edu.