Apps for the faithful
I recently participated in a library project that involved my using an iPod touch for several months. While there was no love loss between me and this gadget, I was impressed and often amused by the many apps (downloadable programs that enable you to play games, access information, or perform various tasks) that have been developed for it, so I was interested in a recent Newsweek article about apps designed for religious believers. It’s always fascinating to see how new technology can be combined with some of our oldest traditions.
ARIS 2008
The 2008 ARIS (American Religious Identification Survey) report was released recently and got a fair amount of attention in the national media and the blogosphere (e.g., here, here, and here). And so here we have another great opportunity for students to compare survey methodology and results to their interpretations.
Maternity leave
I will be out of the office on maternity leave from September 8 through November 30. This blog may or may not be updated during that time–it depends on how demanding the baby is! You can continue to contact me by email [mhenry4(at)uh(dot)edu] or call the library information desk at 713-743-1050 for service.
Virtual Libraries debut
The UH Libraries’ website has an exciting new feature: virtual libraries for a variety of subject areas. These online subject guides bring together a wealth of resources relevant to specific disciplines and can be accessed by anyone. Please take a look and spread the word!
Religious Studies Virtual Library
Complete menu of Virtual Libraries
Digitization of the Dead Sea Scrolls
The New York Times ran a story this week about an ambitious project with great scholarly and general interest potential: the digitization of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Sophisticated technology is enabling photographers to create high-quality reproductions without damaging the scrolls, and the resulting images will be made available online. Currently, even those who have the good fortune to see the scrolls in person must usually view them in dim light, often surrounded by crowds of people, so digital copies anyone can conveniently access at their leisure will be a wonderful development.
Philosophy in the News
The Philosophers’ Magazine website includes a news page that aggregates stories of interest to students and scholars of philosophy. The stories can also be accessed through an RSS feed. Examples of articles currently listed include “Wittgenstein and market forces,” Steven Pinker’s controversial essay “The Stupidity of Dignity,” and a New York Times story about the growing popularity of college philosophy classes.
Full-text dissertations and theses
I’m pleased to announce that the UH Libraries have upgraded our subscription to the Dissertations and Theses database, so you are now able to access full-text versions of most dissertations and theses completed in the past ten years or so. This has been an option for UH dissertations and theses for a while, but now you can get projects from a wide variety of universities. I hope you enjoy this improved access!
To access the database, go the the UH Libraries homepage, choose Research Tools, then Databases, then “D” in the alphabetical list. If you are outside of the library, you will need to log in with your name and MyUH (PeopleSoft) ID number.
JSTOR gets a makeover
JSTOR, one of the most popular article databases for scholars of philosophy and religion, has rolled out a new interface. New features include MyJSTOR, which allows users to set up an account for saving citations, and improved searching and printing options. You can also visit JSTOR on Facebook, where it has attracted over 1800 fans and much adulation! (JSTOR’s staff should be commended for responding to Facebook users’ concerns in a timely and helpful manner.)
(Please note that if you are a UH-affiliated patron using JSTOR outside the library, you will need to access the database through the Libraries’ databases page and log in to search for and view articles. If you are not affiliated with UH, please contact your library to find out about access.)
Pew releases “U.S. Religious Landscape Survey”
This week news outlets from the New York Times to National Public Radio reported on the results of a major new survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. The study, called the "U.S. Religious Landscape Survey," attracted attention in particular for its findings about Americans’ attitudes toward denominational affiliation and their willingness to switch denominations. Since the entire report is freely accessible online, it would make a great tool for teaching about, among other things, the sociology of religion or religion in the media.
Events calendar is back in business
With the start of a new semester, local colleges and organizations are starting to promote upcoming speakers and programs, so I’ve been working on the events calendar. Check it out of you’d like to see some of the exciting things going on in the Houston area in coming months.
