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Monday, April 24, 2006

Beginning shortly, the TGIF database will be backed up every morning. The backup process is set to begin at 2:00 am EDT (+4 GMT) and should take roughly a half hour. This change in the backup schedule is being done to help safeguard against the loss of any data. During the backup process, subscribers will be unable to search TGIF, including using fastlinks. Users trying to log in to TGIF or using a fastlink will receive an error message during the backup process. If you have comments, questions, or concerns about this change, please send us your feedback!

Monday, April 17, 2006 (from POC)

Graphic now available to attach to "Automatic logon" URL for academic institution use

We now have a graphic file (gif) available which you can freely use to ‘front’ the deep-link logon which will directly logon TGIF users at academic institutions who have IP-mediated access arrangements in place with us.

Here’s the graphic file:  http://tic.msu.edu/images/tgifsearch.gif

Here’s the ‘auto-logon’ URL to put behind it:
http://turf.lib.msu.edu/cgi-bin/starfinder/0

Please feel free to include both in your class resource lists or syllabi, online catalog, webpages, etc. – recognizing that it will only “work’ if the computer it is executed from is within the IP range you specified for your institution.  Call or email if you have any questions about any of this!

Friday, March 31, 2006 (from POC)

SEGL -- A new window into the USGA Library

Somewhat quietly, the USGA Museum and Archives has begun to make available access to a massive amount of digitized golf-related material from the collection of the USGA Library. The importance and usefulness of this wealth of content to the golf course industry cannot be overestimated. Included are off-copyright PDF scans of books and periodicals up through the depression years, including many very rare items, which have pretty much been inaccessible to users unless you went to Golf House yourself. In particular, early golf course design and history scholars will be delighted by this new initiative.

Search access is via the USGA’s SEGL (Search Digitized Library Materials Online) engine, which includes a fill-in-the-blank interface, with checkbox limiting to either/or Archival papers, Books, or Periodicals. There is also an ‘Advanced Search’ alternative with additional limiters.

Results are presented as context-sensitive snippets with information on the file (& its size!); sorting is possible by publication year, relevance ranking, or title-alphabetic.

At this point in the process, be prepared for slow download times as you use this material, since items are presently normally loaded at the issue or work level – some books are files of 60 Mb or more, and even periodical issues can run 10-20 Mb!

At TIC, we will start to ‘harvest’ (ie. index within TGIF) the turf science and management, as well as golf course architecture, content within this material. It will take some time to do so, however – but watch for some of these gems – some of which have never been cited in the turf science literature, to my knowledge – to start to show within TGIF.

Kudos to the USGA for this (as yet rather) quiet effort!! It is a tremendous initiative, make no mistake.

And check it out, at:

http://www.usga.org/aboutus/museum/library/segl.html

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

The lecture to be given by golf course architect Ray Hearn this Saturday at the MSU Library has been cancelled.

Monday, March 13, 2006

MSU Libraries present Ray Hearn

A graduate of Michigan State University (Turfgrass Science 1983, Landscape Architecture 1989) and member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, Ray Hearn has been involved in numerous original course designs and remodeling projects since opening his own firm in 1996. Michigan courses recognized by "Golf Digest" include The Grande (Jackson) and Hemlock (Ludington), which was also noted by Golf Magazine as a Top Ten New Course. Additionally, Hearn is an instructor with the acclaimed "Golf Architecture in the British Isles," which is taught on location in Great Britain.

MSU alumnus Ray Hearn will discuss the design process for his award-winning Mistwood Golf Course in Romeoville, Illinois.

Saturday, March 25, 2006, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Presentation and Q & A, Main Library, North Conference Room (4th Floor West Wing) Michigan State University, Reception follows at 4:00 p.m. in the Turfgrass Information Center.

For additional information, contact Birdie Beckwith 432-6123 x 143

Thursday, March 2, 2006

Beginning with the next issue, the Turfgrass Information Center's (TIC) quarterly newsletter, The Sward, will be available electronically. The newsletter provides information regarding new endeavors at TIC, new developments in the Turfgrass Information File (TGIF), features of the website, the newest acquisitions and recent donors. The current issue of The Sward, previously distributed only to TGIF subscribers by mail, will now be available online in .PDF format to anyone who provides an email address. This new system will allow prompt delivery of the newsletter and will allow recipients to easily share it with interested friends and colleagues. Additionally, the electronic version may be more dynamic, including links to find out more information on an article or may contain live fastlinks.

If you wish to receive The Sward electronically, please email us at tgif@msu.edu.

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Over the years, the TGIF database has been utilized for everything from academic research to finding tips on sprucing up a lawn. At TIC, we would like to hear from you about how TGIF has helped you in your endeavors! User testimonials may be featured on the website, in promotional brochures, and to promote varying ways to use the database. To help us spread the news about the benefits of using TGIF, please email your testimonial to tgif@msu.edu.

Monday, February 27, 2006

The Sward, TIC's periodic newsletter dating back to 1989, is now archived! Take a look at how TIC and TGIF have grown through its 20+ year history! In the future, new issues of The Sward will also appear on this webpage.

Thursday, February 17, 2006

Due to a server upgrade, users may find previously-successful fastlinks may cease to function. This can be remedied by converting the old fastlink to the new, acceptable format. To do this, in the URL (web address), between "search1=" and before "&format=" change any "=" sign to be "%3D".

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

A new feedback feature now enables subscribers to submit feedback regarding individual records! The improved feedback function allows users to comment on a particular record without having to indicate the record number, as it is already provided for them on the new form.

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Explore the world of golf course architecture with two of Michigan's renowned designers, Jerry Matthews (January 14th) and Ray Hearn (March 26). Click here for brochure and registration form.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

CAST announces a Workshop on Water Quality & Quantity Issues for Turfgrasses in Urban Landscapes, January 23-25, 2006. More information, including registration details, can be found at www.castwaterquality.info.

Monday, December 12, 2005

Welcome to the new Turfgrass Information Center public web site!  We have spent the past several months redesigning and reorganizing our web pages to make information easier to find and easier to use. 

A new feature of the site is the Turfgrass Information Center Blog, a space to explore and discuss new items, common questions, and issues of the Turfgrass Information File and the Turfgrass Information Center.  We will be updating this section on a periodic basis, so check back for new enteries.

We'd also be glad to hear your comments about the new look and organization of our site.  Send us an email to tgif@msu.edu and tell us what you think!