Biological Abstracts now complete!

Biological Abstracts, the premier database for the life sciences, is now searchable online from 1926 to the present, thanks to the Library's recent purchase of all backfiles. What does this mean? In the past, a BU researcher could search BioAbs from 1997 to the present online but would have to use the print indexes for materials indexed between 1926 - 1996. Now, researchers can search virtually all the life sciences literature, including biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, botany, pre-clinical and experimental medicine, pharmacology, zoology, agriculture, and veterinary science, in one database containing over 11.3 million references.

To access Biological Abstracts, visit the Library's Find Articles and More pages, including Databases A-Z and Databases by Subject > Biological Sciences and other pages. As always, if you have any questions, please contact the Reference Desk at 570-389-4204.

Computers in the library

We've received feedback lately about some slow computers in the library.

First, thanks for letting us know about these computers.  We do want to hear about problems like this so we can fix them.

Second, now that we know about the problem, we are taking steps to fix it.  In order to do that, we will have to take the computers offline. We don't want to do this during finals week, so it will happen after the end of the semester.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Extended study hours in Library during finals

The Schweiker Room and the Gathering Place (next to Starbucks) will be open until 2 AM during finals. Please note: the rest of the Library will close at the usual time, 12 midnight. Only the 2 rooms will remain open later. If you have any questions, please call the Circulation Desk at x4205.

Over 50,000 e-books now available in *ebrary Academic Collection *

The ebrary Academic Collection, containing more than 50,000 e-book titles in all academic subject areas, is now available on the Library's web site. For a 'Quick Guide' on how to use, click here. For an 11-minute training video, click here.

The video will show you how to:

1. Conduct a search – Use simple or advanced.
2. Open a document – Click on the title name or jacket.
3. Explore the document – Navigate to search terms, search the document for key words, jump to relevant chapters, flip through pages.
4. Highlight text and take notes – Create a bookshelf (if needed) to save and organize your research.
5. Use InfoTools – Link out to other online resources to expand your research.
6. Print pages, and copy and paste text – ebrary provides automatic citations with a URL hyperlink back to the source.
7. Manage, archive and share research – Organize your bookshelf and email folders to peers.

In the weeks ahead, look for more tips and pointers on how to get the most out of the ebrary Academic Collection!

ADAM Interactive Anatomy now on the Web!

The interactive anatomy teaching tool, A.D.A.M. Interactive Anatomy, is now available on the Web through the Andruss Library Web site. Go to Find Articles & More > Databases A-Z > ADAM Interactive Anatomy. The tool also includes a Multimedia Encyclopedia, a library of 3D images, and over 3,000 illustrations for teaching clinical concepts.

 

The database is paid for with Tech Fee funds and administered by Office of Technology, Technology Support Services, Desktop Software.

 As always, if you have any questions please contact the Reference Desk, x4204.

Free Coffee and Cookies during Finals Week!

Students! Take a quick break from your studying this finals week and stop by the Schweiker Room in the Library for free coffee and goodies. Professors will be on hand Monday through Thursday night, December 13-16, from 6 pm to 9 pm to dispense coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cookies, and wisdom. So stop by, grab something to eat or drink, and say hi!

Coffee Nights are sponsored by the Association of Pennsylvania State College & University Faculties (APSCUF), the Friends of the Bloomsburg University Library Association (FOBULA), and the Global Awareness Society International.

Best Wishes and Good Luck!

Library Hours During Finals

Here is the library's schedule for the rest of the semester:

Thursday, 12/9:  7:30am-midnight
Friday, 12/10: 7:30am-9pm
Saturday, 12/11: 9am-9pm
Sunday, 12/12: 10am-midnight (after hours room open until 2am)
Monday, 12/13: 7:30am-midnight (after hours room open until 2am)
Tuesday, 12/14: 7:30am-midnight (after hours room open until 2am)
Wednesday, 12/15: 7:30am-midnight (after hours room open until 2am)
Thursday, 12/16: 7:30am-midnight (after hours room open until 2am)
Friday, 12/17: 7:30am-4:30pm
Saturday, 12/18: 9am-5pm

For additional information about the library's hours, you can view our Library Hours page.

The Dust Settles

Thank you for your patience as we have been reconfiguring the 1st and 2nd floors.  We're almost done!

Updated floor plans, showing the new locations of the Reference Collection, Current Periodicals, and others, are now online.  You can see them here.

A few of the changes noted on the floor plans are still in the works.  Look for those next semester.   

Government Information Survey

Please take a few minutes to let Andruss Library know the value of the government material that we collect.

The Government Printing Office, the agency that oversees the distribution of government documents to Andruss Library through the Federal Depository Library program, has put together a survey on the value on government material in libraries.  You can access it here:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HSLCRRB. 

The survey contains 16 questions and should take 10-15 minutes to complete. It focuses on how well Federal Depository Libraries, including Andruss Library, provide access, services, and collections relating to government documents.

Responses should be received by December 31, 2010. After the close of the survey, the Government Printing Office will send Andruss Library a report with the aggregated responses and comments.

Please contact Katie Yelinek, Coordinator of Government Documents, with any question. 

Library Quiet Zones

Are you looking for a quiet place to study or work on a research paper?

The 3^rd & 4^th floors of Andruss Library are designated as Quiet Zones. In accordance with student preferences and campus culture, the 1^st and 2^nd floors are more open for group work and social interaction.

If you are seeking a quiet location to study, please use the 3^rd & 4^th floors of Andruss Library. If there are problems on the 3^rd & 4^th floors with noise, we need your assistance and cooperation. When you receive a cell phone call - or a friend stops by - please keep it quiet and brief, or take the conversation elsewhere.

If someone else is not maintaining the Quiet Zone atmosphere, remind them of the quiet zone designation. If the noise persists, notify the staff at the Circulation or Reference Desks. They will investigate the situation. Library staff members also attempt to enforce moderation of noise on the 1^st & 2^nd floors. If you think that it is too noisy there, please consult with our staff.

Because Library staffing is often limited, we appreciate your help and cooperation in maintaining Andruss Library as a desirable place to be.

RefWorks Open Workshops

Need help with your paper or research project?

You've got to write it... but RefWorks helps you put the pieces together!



Come attend an open workshop to learn how RefWorks can save you time.

Learn how to --

• Store your research in a permanent place
  
• Format your bibliography — hundreds of styles available
• Format in-text citations, footnotes, or end-notes
• Get your references into RefWorks using Google Scholar, library online databases, and other online services
  
• Share your research with classmates or colleagues

Students, staff, and faculty are invited to attend one of two open sessions this week:

• Wednesday, December 1, 5 - 5:50 pm
• Thursday, December 2, 12 - 12:50 pm

Registration not required. For more information, contact Linda Neyer, Reference Librarian, phone 389-4801 or email lneyer (at) bloomu.edu.

Check out laptops in the library

Working in the library and need a laptop?  Andruss Library now has six laptops that you can borrow for use in the library.  You can check them out from the first floor circulation desk.

Library Hours

Starting Friday, November 5, the library will be open from 4:30 pm until 8:00 pm every Friday evening for the month of November (5th, 12th, 19th, closed 26th). There will be no reference services provided from 4:30 pm until 8:00 pm on the Friday's. If you need assistance please use our Ask a BU Librarian email.

Database Trials

Andruss Library is currently running 3 database trials. Faculty and students are welcome to test drive them and provide us with your feedback. The databases under consideration can be accessed via the Databases A-Z page > Trials page or via the direct links below, on-campus only. Please let us know if you have any questions.

 

·         ebrary Academic Collection

Academic Complete continues to be the largest multidisciplinary e-book database licensed to libraries throughout the world, under a simultaneous, multi-user access model with continual growth throughout the subscription term. Furthermore, it is one of the few e-book products that enables you to upload and integrate your own digital materials such as theses and dissertations, yearbooks, and newspapers with DASH!™ (Data Sharing, Fast). Trial ends 11/17/10.

·         Literature Criticism Online  

Online version of Gale's 10 literature criticism print sets, which collate and reproduce editorially selected critical responses to authors, works, and topics. In e-book, pdf format. (Note: Andruss Library currently subscribes to the following print sets which are included in the online database: Contemporary Literary Criticism, 20th Century Literary Criticism, 19th Century Literary Criticism, Shakespearean Criticism, Children's Literature Review, and Drama Criticism.) Trial ends 11/16/2010.

·         Literature Resource Center  

Full-text database supporting literary research of all types. Larger than the LCO, it provides broad, current, and comprehensive coverage of authors, works, and literary topics from all genres and time periods and from around the world. (Note: Includes content from 1998 for all 10 Gale literary criticism titles, including ones currently not available in Andruss Library: Literature Criticism from 1400-1800, Classical & Medieval Literature Criticism, Short Story Criticism, Poetry Criticism.) Trial ends 11/16/2010.

LN

Criminal Justice Abstracts

We will be switching the Criminal Justice Abstracts database over to an EBSCOhost interface.  This is happening because EBSCOhost bought the company that owns CJA.  Right now we have access to CJA through both the old CSA interface and the new EBSCOhost one.  That should be the case through the end of this semester.  After that, we should have CJA only through the EBSCOhost interface.

The new interface will provide access to full-text articles and will have the blue and green look of all of the other EBSCOhost databases. 

Mental Measurements Yearbook with Tests in Print

Mental Measurement Yearbooks and Tests in Print have been combined into one database. The links on the Library's 'Databases A-Z' page and 'Databases by Subject' have been updated to reflect this change.

Here’s the new description:

•    Mental Measurements Yearbook with Tests in Print   
Searches MMY and TIP simultaneously. MMY is a comprehensive guide to 2,000+ testing instruments, from MMY Volume 9 to present, containing descriptive information, professional reviews, and reviewer references for tests in psychology, education, business, and leadership. TIP is a comprehensive bibliography to all known commercially available tests currently in print in the English language. EBSCOhost

The listing for Tests in Print has been changed to Tests in Print (combined with Mental Measurements Yearbook) and remains on the 'Databases A-Z' page and the 'Social Sciences/Law' database page.

As always, if you have any questions you can contact your liaison librarian or the Reference Desk.

Pardon our dust!

The Library is in the process of shifting some collections, and although we're putting up signs and labels, some items may be 'in transit' or difficult to find. If you can't find what you're looking for on the shelf, please ask for help at either the 1st floor Circulation Desk or the 2nd floor Reference Desk.

What's happening:
Currently, the 1st floor Bound Periodicals are being moved to the 2nd floor empty Reference Collection stacks. Shelving will next be removed from the 1st floor area to open up the space and reinstalled in the Microforms area to house the Reference Collection. Once this phase is completed, the Reference Collection can be moved to the 1st floor along with the Reference Desk. All this is being done to make the Library a more user-friendly and inviting space, so we appreciate your patience in the months ahead!

As always, if you have any questions, please contact the Reference Desk at 389-4204 or send us an email at reference bloomu edu.

The View from Andruss Library

Check out a real-time live view of the Quad from Andruss Library.

QuizWhiz for Students!

Students, use your research skills to win prizes in the LexisNexis QuizWhiz! Open only to students, QuizWhiz is a research game that has a different question each week to can be answered using LexisNexis databases. You can earn points which can be redeemed for gift cards from national retailers in values of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.

To play, go to the LexisNexis Academic database here and click on the link for QuizWhiz at the top of the screen. You'll need to register with an email address and provide your real name and a mailing address to allow LexisNexis to validate your eligibility and send you the gift card. The information collected will be protected in accordance with the LexisNexis privacy policy posted here.

Competition runs from September 13 through November 15, 2010 with questions updated as frequently as twice a week for opportunities to earn more. If you have any questions, stop by the 2nd floor reference desk in the Library or call us at 389-4204.

Films on Demand: Recently Added Videos

We are amazed at the quality and quantity of films added to our new database, Films on Demand, each month. The following new titles caught our eye:

Anger: Myths and Truths about the Emotion
Don't Hesitate, Communicate: Effective Communication in the Office
Facebook Factor: Social Networking for Profit
Feedback on the Job: Accepting Criticism
Gone Sideways: Serendipity in Science
Lessons in Compassion: Teaching Bedside Manner
Non-Verbal Communication
Order in the Court
Your First Resume and Interview

To view FOD's 'new titles' list, which is updated monthly, click here.

Reference Manager Overview

For a comparison of features available on several different reference manager programs including RefWorks, EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley, and CiteULike, read Martin Fenner's blog post on Gobbledygook, a Nature blog.

Andruss Library Information Literacy Assessment Results

The 2009-2010 AL Outcomes Assessment & Information Literacy is now available on the Library web site here. The report discusses freshmen and senior students’ scores on an information literacy assessment which has been given for the last 4 years and its implications for instruction. Information literacy refers to a set of abilities requiring individuals to "recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information,” and the importance of information literacy has been recognized by Middle States Commission on Higher Education as an important student outcome. Furthermore, improving students’ information literacy has been identified as one of BU’s proposed General Education outcomes and one of BU’s proposed Strategic Plan ‘academic excellence’ goals.

The key challenge identified is the need to improve students’ research and information skills by the time they graduate. When analyzed by college, BU senior students’ scores range between 45.05% and 67.72% for the 25-item information literacy assessment, with an overall composite score of 55.53% correct (n=120, SD=14.35). A reasonable goal is that seniors could achieve scores in the range of 70% - 80%, and the report identifies specific areas in which information literacy instruction may be strengthened. Question analyses indicate the five lowest scores for BU senior student outcomes in which information literacy instruction can be improved:

(1) understanding and writing literature reviews

(2) understanding copyright and fair use

(3) using Boolean logic and other appropriate commands when constructing a database search

(4) developing strategies to begin research and to modify a search

(5) differentiating between the types of sources cited (book, journal article, book chapter, etc.)

In addition to sharing this information with classroom professors who request librarians to provide information literacy instruction to their classes, the Library Outcomes Assessment & Information Literacy Committee plans to use the information to identify specific topics for new tutorials and for revision of the General Library Research Tutorial to increase students’ information literacy by the time of graduation. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Reference Desk at 389-4204 or the librarian liaison for your department. -- LN

New "Discovery" Search

The Library has made the transition to a new federated search engine called Discovery Search.

Now when you use the 'Search for..' box on the Library web page to find 'Articles', you'll notice the results display in a new interface, which we think is easier to navigate. Among other things, results are now 'clustered' by topic, making it easier to drill down through the results to get what you want.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact the Reference Desk, phone 389-4801, or stop by the 2nd floor of the Library to talk to a librarian.

LN

Library of Congress Unlocks Doors for Creators, Consumers with DMCA Exceptions

Mashup artists, smartphone users, academics, and people who are visually impaired are all winners, thanks to the latest exceptions made by the Librarian of Congress to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Read more...

New Services for Distance Education Students

Distance Education Students who need a book owned by Andruss Library (or another library) may now request these items via ILLiad, our Document Delivery/Interlibrary Loan service.

See the Distance Education page on the Library's website and our Distance Education FAQ for information about setting up your account and your responsibilities.

Questions? Contact Andrea Schwartz at 570-389-4218 or ill@bloomu.edu.

New interface for Lexis-Nexis Academic

Lexis-Nexis Academic is changing to a new interface this Saturday, August 7th. The new interface, in beta for the last 7 months, has gotten positive feedback from users that it's much more 'user-friendly' than the last. Service may be temporarily interrupted from noon to 3 pm, EST, during the transition.

The links will automatically redirect (no need to do anything), but if you're curious and want to give it a test drive now, check it out here. There is also a useful collection of help pages you can peruse, available here.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact the Reference Desk, ph. 389-4204, or email us at reference (at) bloomu (dot) com.

Films on Demand

The Library now provides online access to over 6,000 videos and 60,000 video segments in streaming video. The Films on Demand database is listed on the Library's Find Articles & More page > Databases A-Z page and may be freely used by BU students, staff and faculty for educational purposes. For more information, consult this FAQ. For help in using the films, consult these online tutorials.

Films on Demand includes films from producers like Films for the Humanities & Sciences, BBC, ABC News, Bill Moyers, Cambridge Educational, Clio Awards, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Information Television Network, Macneil Lehrer Productions, and Open University. Some of the following titles will give you an idea of the breadth of subjects included, covering virtually all disciplines taught at BU:

• The Age of Walmart
• Alternative Power Sources and Renewable Energy
• American Writers on Writing
• Apollo 11: The First Moon Landing
• Aspects of MS
• Business Communication: Listening
• The Civil War: A Film by Ken Burns
• Classical Greek Philosophers
• Critical Guide to Shakespeare
• Discovering Tchaikovsky's Romeo & Juliet
• Dying to Leave: The Dark Business of Human Trafficking
• Einstein Made Relatively Easy
• Essen und Fahren: German Food and Fun
• The Genocide Factor
• Globalization at a Crossroads
• Miss Julie by Strindberg
• Psychology Media Suite (120 video clips)
• Stories of Women in Kabul
• Technology and Deaf Culture

To view a short promotional film explaining the services and benefits of Films On Demand, click here.

As always if you have any questions, please contact the Reference Desk at 570.389.4204 or your librarian liaison for assistance.

Important new reserves policy

Effective immediately, the Library is discontinuing the service of article reserves in electronic format. We have been advised that in order to comply with copyright laws, the Library should discontinue this service and refer faculty instead to use BU's course management system, BOLT.

Thus, we will be returning to faculty all articles currently on reserve, in E-Reserve and paper format. If needed, we will be happy to assist you with scanning your articles to be placed into BOLT. In order for the Library to add articles to your BOLT account, you will need to add Miranda Bailey (Access Services Night Supervisor) as a user so she can add your articles. If you are not currently using BOLT and would like to do so, please contact Regina Bobak (X5319) or Julie Wolfe (X5375) to create an account. They can also assist you in adding Miranda as a user.

Also effective immediately, please note that after the end of the academic year, the Library will return all books on reserve. If you wish to place a book on reserve for the fall or spring semester you will need to fill out a new reserve sheet (available online at: http://guides.library.bloomu.edu/content.php?pid=119832&sid=1032335) and bring the book to the Library.

We hope to make this transition as smooth as possible and Access Services will assist you in any way we can. Please let Access Services know if we can be of any assistance. Thank you, and we apologize for any inconvenience.

To contact Miranda Bailey, please email her at mbailey@bloomu.edu.

What do you think?

The library's home page has undergone a reorganization. We hope this will make the page easier to navigate, so you can find the information you need more quickly. If you like it, please let us know using the got a suggestion link. If you don't like it, you can let us know that, too.

Homepage new look

The library's homepage will be undergoing a slight reorganization at the start of the second summer session. No links or information will be removed; they will just find a new home. We hope this new organization will help patrons navigate the site more easily.

So, keep an eye out for a new look!

New library database: AAPG Datapages

The library now has access to full-text journals through the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Datapages. This database, provided through an endowment established by BU alumnus Daniel J. Tearpock, B.A., Earth & Planetary Sciences, 1970, provides full-text access to many publications, including:

• AAPG Bulletin, 1917-present
• 230 AAPG Books
• Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, 1953-present
• Journal of Petroleum Geology, 1978-2004
• Journal of Sedimentary Research, 1931-present
• state and regional geological society bulletins
• many others

Links to this database can be found off of the library website, including the Databases A-Z page.

Text Messages and ILLiad

Want to get notifications from ILLiad sent right to your phone? Now you can! Instructions for setting up this service are at: http://illiad.bloomu.edu/Textmsg.html

ILLiad is Andruss Library's Interlibrary Loan service (log on or register at: http://illiad.bloomu.edu). If you choose to set up text messaging, you'll receive notices when your books or articles arrive right to your phone (as well as your bloomu.edu email). Standard text messaging rates apply.

Try it today! Questions? Contact Andrea Schwartz at 570-389-4218 or ill@bloomu.edu.

FAQ for Off-campus/distant education

We've compiled a list of FAQs from off-campus and distant education students. You can find it directly here: http://guides.library.bloomu.edu/distanted.

There is a link to this page on our Tutorials page (under the Help! tab) and in the "For Students" box on the library homepage.

Of course, if you are off-campus, feel free to contact us with additional questions via phone, email, or chat.

Loan Period for Government Documents

The loan period for our government documents has been extended from two weeks to one month. This change applies to print and CD-ROM items in both our federal and Pennsylvania documents collections.

BOLT & Library electronic resources

Please note that you must log into the library electronic resources (databases & journals) even if you have already logged into BOLT.

Your library username is the part of your email address before the @ symbol.

So, if your email address is abc1234@huskies.bloomu.edu, your library username is abc1234.

Additional help for logging in can be found here.

Oil spill response information

As the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico continues to evolve, there are lots of places to get information about it. This website from the University of South Alabama does a good job of bringing lots of information together in one place:

http://www.southalabama.edu/univlib/govdocs/gd/oilspill2010.html

You Spoke: Graduate/Faculty Study

This is the sixth in a series of posts to respond to findings from the LibQual 2009 survey.

There were several requests to place a lock on the Graduate/Faculty study room on the fourth floor. This would ensure that only those supposed to be in the room had access to it.

As a result of this request, an electronic lock has been installed on the Graduate/Faculty study room. To gain access to the room, hold your university ID up to the lock. All graduate students, current faculty, emeritus faculty, and library personnel have access.

How to print from your laptop

It is now possible to print from your laptop computer using the wireless network. You can send your documents to the printers on the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th floor of the Library or to the printer in the Kehr Union Games Room.

To view the simple step-by-step instructions, view this page, also available here:
http://ot.bloomu.edu/documents/Print_from_laptop_Spring2010.pdf

If you have any questions or problems with printing, please call the HELP desk, ph. 389-4357 (HELP).

Off-campus database logins

As many of you know, off-campus users were able to log into the library databases using their Blackboard username and password. Since the university is transitioning from Blackboard to BOLT, users will no longer be able to use their Blackboard username and password to access the library databases.

Instead, effective immediately, off-campus users should log into the databases using their BUAD username and password. So, off-campus faculty, staff, and students should log into the databases the same way they log into their computers.

Duplex printing

As many of you have discovered, the new printers on the 2nd floor are set to duplex printing, meaning that by default they print on both sides of the paper. This is good for the environment and generally a good thing.

However, if you need to print only on one side, you have two options.

First, print to printer 22.

Second, continue to print to printer 21 but follow these directions:
1. Hit Print.
2. Go to Properties.
3. Change Duplex Setting (from Open to Left) to Off.
4. Hit OK.

If you have questions, feel free to ask a lab consultant.

Library Tip: Protect Your Valuables

The end of the semester – more than any other time – is when you should take extra care to protect your valuables.

Don’t leave backpacks, purses, MP3 players, computers, textbooks, or other valuables unattended. They could disappear before you know it.

Introducing the Book

This video is a favorite of ours. It was originally taken from the show "Øystein og jeg" on Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK)in 2001. With Øystein Backe (helper)and Rune Gokstad (desperate monk). Written by Knut Nærum.

Extended Hours for Finals

Andruss Library will be open the following extended hours in preparation for and during finals:

Saturday, 4/24: 9am-7pm
Sunday, 4/25: 10am-12midnight
Friday, 4/30: 7:30am-9pm
Saturday, 5/1: 9am-9pm
Sunday, 5/2: 10am-12midnight
Friday, 5/7: 7:30am-6pm

Also, an after-hours study room will be open from 12midnight-2am during finals week, from Sunday 5/2 through Thursday 5/6.

A complete listing of our hours can be found here: http://guides.library.bloomu.edu/hours.

You Spoke: Facebook & MySpace

This is the fifth in a series of posts to respond to findings from the LibQual 2009 survey.

Several students wrote comments in the LibQual survey asking for the library to restrict the use of Facebook & MySpace on library computers. These students were frustrated that they couldn't find a computer to do classwork, because others were using them to update their Facebook or MySpace accounts.

While we sympathize with these frustrations, the library has not attempted to censor Internet access in the past, and we don't wish to do so in the future. It is difficult to implement a policy restricting certain websites, because it can be hard to know when to stop. Should we also restrict sites like YouTube? Also, many organizations at the university use Facebook and similar sites as a means to communicate; restricting access would cause difficulties to their members.

We remind all of our patrons that the library's primary mission is to support the educational goals of the university. All of our resources, including the computers, are intended to do that.

You Spoke: Textbooks

This is the fourth in a series of posts to respond to findings from the LibQual 2009 survey.

Several students wrote comments in the LibQual survey asking for the library to have copies of the textbooks that they use in their classes.

The library has not gotten copies of textbooks because the role of the library is to buy additional resources that students, faculty, and staff need to support their research. So, rather than using all of our money to buy copies of textbooks, we use that money to buy online journals, databases, print books, and ebooks that can be used when writing papers, giving presentations, and conducting other projects. Not buying textbooks is common practice among academic libraries.

Of course, many professors do put copies of their textbooks on reserve in the library, and we are happy to assist them in doing that. Our homepage lets students check to see if their textbook is on reserve and lets faculty put items on reserve.

Take 10 for the Census

Yesterday, April 1, was National Census Day.

Have you filled out your Census form yet?

Here's an interactive map that will let you know how well any community is participating in the Census: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/.

The map is updated daily. As of today, April 2, Columbia County's participation rate is 60%. That's above the national average of 54%.

If you have questions about filling out your form or you have not received a form by April 12, call 1-866-872-6868 (English)/1-866-783-2010 (TDD) or find help on the Census 2010 website: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/.

Need tax forms?

It's that time of year again. Here are two links to get you started:

http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html
Download federal tax forms, instructions, and other federal tax information from the IRS.

http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/revenue_home/10648
Click on the "Forms & Publications" tab to download Pennsylvania state tax forms, instructions, and other state tax information from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

May and August 2010 Graduating Seniors

Nominate an Outstanding Professor at BU who has had a significant impact on your learning. The award acknowledges teaching effectiveness.

Begin the nomination by going to the website: http://iit.bloomu.edu/award

Submit your nominations no later than April 9, 2010, 4 PM

Sponsored by the Teaching and Learning Enhancement Center (TALE)

We Now Have More Group Study Rooms

Have you noticed the changes in the library?

• The word processing rooms on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors have been converted into group study rooms.
• Computers from those rooms were moved to the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors. We did not lose any computers.
• The scanners from these rooms have been moved to the 2nd floor. They are now in the row of computers along the windows by the Government Documents. Please note that priority for these computers will go to individuals needing to use the scanners.

These changes came about because of responses we got to the 2009 LibQual survey.

Also, TALE has moved into the library on the 4th floor. TALE is now located in rooms 419 & 420.

Research Project? We Can Help!

Welcome back, we hope that you had a restful and enjoyable break!

With less than seven weeks of classes remaining, you may be beginning to feel the pressure. Now is the time to get moving with your research projects and term papers. The Libraries can help in a variety of ways.

We offer access to millions of authoritative articles, books, datasets, and other resources that may be just what your professors would like to see.

Intimidated? Don’t know where to begin? Our friendly reference librarians are available to help you get started. Stop by the libraries, visit our Website, or call:
Andruss Library Reference Librarians: 570-389-4204
Email: http://referencerequest.bloomu.edu/
Library Hours: http://guides.library.bloomu.edu/hours

You Spoke: Group Study Rooms

This is the third in a series of posts to respond to findings from the LibQual 2009 survey.

Be on the look out for new signs posted on the group study rooms. These signs reinforce that the rooms are for groups (2 or more people). Single individuals will be asked to leave when a group needs the room. Unattended personal belongings left in the room will be removed to the lost and found. Loud or disrespectful groups will be asked to leave.

Your cooperation will make the use of the group study rooms easier for everyone.

Hours over Spring Break

Here is the schedule for the library over Spring Break:

Fri., March 5: Open regular hours, 7:30am-4:30pm
Sat. & Sun., March 6-7: Closed
Mon.-Fri., March 8-12: Open 7:30am-4:30pm
Sat., March 13: Closed
Sun., March 14: Open regular hours, 12:00pm-12:00am

For additional information, visit the library hours page.

You Spoke: 3rd and 4th Floors

This is the second in a series of posts to respond to findings from the LibQual 2009 survey.

One comment that was received frequently was a desire for more of a librarian and staff presence
on the 3rd and 4th floors. While we don’t have enough personnel to reassign anyone to those
floors (we are currently down three librarian positions and one staff position), Reference
Librarians are making a point to have more of a presence on these floors.

So, don’t be surprised if you see one of the Reference Librarians up on the 3rd or 4th floors. Feel
free to ask a question or just to say Hi. That’s what they’re there for.

Library Faculty Retirement

The library would like to announce that faculty member Maria Kuhn, Coordinator of Acquisitions and Collection Development, has retired after nearly 11 years at Bloomsburg University. She came here from Tulane University and helped to institute new procedures to facilitate the acquisition of books and worked to greatly increase the library’s digital resources. We wish her well in her retirement in Florida.

Sign up for "The Age of Innocence"

The Andruss library of Bloomsburg University will conduct a series of reading and discussion sessions on Edith Wharton’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Age of Innocence, on April 1, 8, 22 and 29, 2010 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Library’s Schweiker Room. The sessions will be led by Dr. Ferdâ Asya, Associate Professor of English.

The reading and discussion sessions are free and open to Bloomsburg University students, faculty, and staff and the members of the surrounding communities.

The registration to attend the reading and discussion series will be open from March 15 to March 22, 2010 at the Circulation Desk, First Floor, Andruss Library. Registering participants will receive a copy of the novel and a Reader’s Guide.

Sponsored by The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the reading and discussion series is a part of the project, The Big Read. The Big Read is an initiative of the NEA, designated to restore reading to the center of American culture. The Big Read will bring together partners across Columbia and Montour counties to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment.

For more information, please contact Katie Yelinek, Government Documents Coordinator, Andruss Library, Bloomsburg University.

Phone: (570) 389-4228

E-mail: kyelinek@bloomu.edu

Essay Contest Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the 2010 Sunshine Week essay contest!

Luke Whittaker, senior Journalism major from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, won first prize. His essay will be published in "The Press Enterprise" during Sunshine Week (March 14-20). For a complete list of the winners, visit http://guides.library.bloomu.edu/sunshineweek.

You Spoke: Study Rooms & Scanners

This is the first in a series of posts to respond to findings from the LibQual 2009 survey.

The #1 comment we received from the LibQual survey was about the need for additional group study rooms in the library. We're taking a step in that direction. By the end of the Spring 2010 semester, the Word Processing Room on each floor will be converted into a group study room. This will give us 4 additional group study rooms.

The computers from the rooms will be distributed around the library, so we won't be losing any computers (requests for additional computers was another frequently received comment).

Also, in response to comments about the need for additional access to scanners, we will be taking all of the scanners in the library and putting them in one place, probably on the 2nd floor. This space will be a designated scanning area, so first priority for the computers with attached scanners will be given to those needing to use the scanners.

Look for all of these changes by the end of the Spring 2010 semester, and keep an eye on this blog for additional responses to LibQual findings.

Library Personnel Updates

On January 28, 2010, Alice Fink retired from her position as Library Assistant in the Access Services department of Andruss Library. We would like to thank Alice for her many years of valuable service to the library and university. We wish you a happy retirement Alice!

We would like to welcome Gail Berbick to the library’s staff. She will be assuming Alice Fink’s position as Library Assistant I on night shift. Please take an opportunity to stop by Access Services and welcome Gail to the library.

UBorrow Discontinued

Due to budgetary constraints, the State System of Higher Education libraries are discontinuing UBorrow, the Interlibrary Loan system that allowed you to automatically request books from other state system libraries. In the future, please continue to request books through PALCI and books and articles through ILLIAD. For additional information about Interlibrary Loan, please visit this page: http://guides.library.bloomu.edu/content.php?pid=42181&sid=621634.

LibQual Results

Results of the LibQual survey conducted last semester are here. We in the library are busily reviewing them, so watch this blog for news about changes coming to the library, based on these results.

You can see the results yourself:

Bloomsburg LibQual 2009 Results (this opens a PDF file)
Written Comments from the LibQual Survey (this opens an Excel file)

Essay Contest

Enter the 2010 Sunshine Week essay contest. Write 600-700 words on the topic of transparency in government, and win $250!

Deadline is February 8.

For more information and complete contest rules, go to http://guides.library.bloomu.edu/sunshineweek.

The contest is sponsored by the Andruss Library Government Documents Unit.

Work Study Information

Information for students interested in work study positions in the library is now available online:

http://guides.library.bloomu.edu/studentemployment

A link is also available under the "For Students" heading on the library homepage. This page lists the steps you should take to apply for a position, as well as an application to download.

Welcome Back

The staff and faculty at Harvey A. Andruss library welcome you back for the 2010 Spring Semester. Whether you are on campus, taking classes at a remote location, or enrolled in an online course, we are here for you. Please don’t hesitate to stop by or call us for your information service needs.

Reference Desk: 570-389-4204
Circulation Desk: 570-389-4205