New report on the state of the Canadian retail sector

From Industry Canada and the Retail Council of Canada:
State of Retail: The Canadian Report 2010
The retail sector contributed "$74.2B to Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2009..."

New look and feel for "Search for Books"!

RRU Library's online catalogue has a new and improved look and feel, full of new features like links to Google Books full-text previews and direct export to RefWork! Let us know what you think by contacting us.

Fall 2010 issue of EnviroStats available

Included in this issue:
Trends in glacier mass balance for six Canadian glaciers.
"The six glaciers studied for this article experienced statistically significant reductions in their mass over the length of the data series. The major difference between the two regional groups of glaciers was the rate of mass loss, with the glaciers in the Western Cordillera losing mass at a faster rate than those in the High Arctic" (from summary section).

New from CIAO database

From the National Endowment for Democracy:
Evaluating the Evaluators: Media Freedom Indexes and What They Measure
Author: John Burgess

From the United States Institute of Peace:
Graduate Education and Professional Practice in International Peace and Conflict
Author: Nike Carstarphen, Robert Harris, David J. Smith & Craig Zelizer

From the Institute for National Strategic Studies:
Somalia's Endless Transition: Breaking the Deadlock
Author: Andre Le Sage

All RRU research databases can be accessed from the Search for Articles link at the RRU Library webpage.

Sage Research Methods Online database trial

RRU Library is helping Sage Publications beta test a new database called SAGE Research Methods Online (SRMO). This product has not yet been released, so we get an exciting first peek at this interesting database and the chance to provide feedback while it is still in development. Note that there is a draw for an iPad for those who complete the survey.

A little about the database: The site contains 504 book titles, including the entire QASS (aka Little Green Book) series, 6 dictionaries, 4 encyclopedias and a Major Work containing journal articles. We also have a visual Methods Map tool and playlist functionality called SRMO Lists.

Contact us at reflib@royalroads.ca for access instructions. We have access until Dec.31.

Canada 4th in Forbes.com best countries for business ranking

Best Countries for Business - Canada dropped to 4th from 3rd.

Aid Worker Security Database

AWSD is a new database that provides information on violence against aid workers from 1997 to present. Data can be downloaded to Excel.

Google Scholar can now link to RRU Library databases

The preferences in Google Scholar must be preset to link to the contents of our databases. To do this select Google Scholar from the RRU Library database menu. Next, select the link Scholar Preferences (in the top right corner of the page). Under the option Library Links select the box Royal Roads University - Full-Text @ My Library. Lastly click on the Save Preferences button at the bottom of the page.

Life long learning report available from Statistics Canada

Lifelong Learning Among Canadians Aged 18 to 64 Years
"Between July 2007 and June 2008, an estimated ten million Canadians aged 18 to
64 had participated in some type of education or training whether it be for personal
interest or their career or job."

Human rights and the World Bank

From Knowledge @ Wharton: 'A Clash of Expertise': Adding Human Rights to the World Bank's Agenda
"The Bank's organizational culture -- including its management structure, incentive system, decision-making process and internal power dynamics -- has contributed to human rights' short shrift..."

New OECD statistics available

The OECD Factbook 2010 is available online! Data can be downloaded to an Excel spreadsheet too!