*NEW* Recycling containers

Big, bright blue and green recycling units have been added to various locations in Shad-Fack.

The BLUE units will handle any plastic, aluminum and glass containers. Currently, this doesn't include coffee cups.

The GREEN units are for office or printer paper.

Please help us stay clean and green!

*NEW* Library food policy

Starting this term Shad-Fack is experimenting with a new space where students can enjoy snacks and other food, along with their studies. Muffin & potato chip eating students no longer need to step out to the foyer or porch.

The Periodicals Reading Room is to the left as you enter the Library lobby. We've changed the furniture a bit to provide a cafe-like feel.

While food and snacks are restricted to the Reading Room, covered beverages are still permitted throughout the Library.

This is a work-in-progress, so there may still be future changes.

Suggestions welcomed!

What's all that banging!

Shad-Fack is getting a new roof. While new shingles are not as glamorous as a new dining area in the Library, it will finally end year's of leaks.

Here are a few photos of roof work involving BIG equipment, which is always exciting!

Something for nothing

In these days of belt-tightening, its reassuring to know that your favorite Library is here to serve all of your research needs, for FREE!*

Books checkout for free. Articles can be obtained for free. Interlibrary Loan and E-Z Borrow are free services. We won't even ask for a nickel at the Ask Me desk for research help!

So before you consider paying for articles, or buying books through Amazon, stop by the Ask Me desk or Ask Andy for assistance.

* i.e. paid for by the Library

a few 24/7 moments

Just a few snaps of students, enjoying (OK, tolerating) their stressful end-of-term.

Happy Holidays from your friends at the Library!



Winter scene, looking out Shad-Fack onto Gerhart.



Shy Corinne and smiling Nicole.



The remaining 3 seem unaware that number 4 has imploded, in a pile of paper.



Cute couple, enjoying the best seat in the house, the second-level lobby corridor.



The always busy, always buzzing first-level.



Lauren finds a comfortable spot.



The Lobby Lounge.



Who knew the Library had a gang. Good thing I knew their sign.



Irv was a college dean in another life. He had had enough of ALL THOSE CIGARETTE BUTTS!

Lockup your laptop!

It's reassuring to know that students feel safe and comfortable in the Library. But unattended and unsecured laptops and valuables provide a would-be thief with opportunities. Don't create that opportunity!

Shad-Fack and Martin have security cables and locks available for checkout. There are many mounts available throughout the Library, and locks are programmable.

All Around the World

(Balading, Great Wall, China)

The Library has many sources to obtain information on countries. History, policies, economics and social issues.

JStor is excellent for historic events and primary resources.

Lexis-Nexis is good for current events, in national and international newspapers.

PAIS provides a range of materials, including politics, economics and social issues.

CIAO offers research in international affairs from NGOs, conferences and policy briefs.

World Development Indicators contains statistical data for over 200 countries.

Our Catalog contains a wealth of country info, including materials written in native languages.

and many more!

Stapling 101

Many people know that the Library prints more than 1.5 million pages each year. But what they don't know is that we go through more than 5 million staples! Here's why...

Some students conduct stapling at Olympic levels, exerting more force on one staple than a 20 foot crock might exert on the leg of an unwitting gazelle.



In a mere 15 minutes, we might accumulate a snarling pile of staples, looking something like this



A beautifully executed staple job might look like this



Whereas a poorly executed job might turn out to be a ghastly horror



But with careful practice, and a healthy dose of patience, you too can become a happy and content stapler!

T * E * X * T * I * N * G

It's all the rage. Thumbs flying, people yapping silently, in jibs and jabs of language.

And the good news, the Library is right here, ready to handle your next research question. Just text our email address

ask.andy@fandm.edu

and we'll get back to you ASAP.

Answers will be quick but brief, as most cell carriers won't allow for more than 160 characters.

The BIG SHIFT

All summer, (almost) the ENTIRE Shad-Fack book collection was shifted, to escape tight spots on many shelves. More than a 1/4 MILLION books were moved!

Call numbers still run A-to-Z, from 3rd level to the Ground floor, including compact-shelving. Please see our call number guide for details.

This GIGANTIC job would not be possible without A LOT of help. Many thanks to Library staff for their assistance.

Special thanks to summer-staff students for their tireless efforts: Chao Bian '11, Melissa Farr '08, Phil Friedrich, Jason Owens, Jeremiah Paskus '09, Sam Price '09, Sam Sprunk '09, and Abigale Zoltick '10.

Obama rally at Buchanan Park

Barack dropped by the park on Sept. 4. With only a few days notice, some 15,000 people showed up to see the Democratic candidate for president.

More photos can be found here.

F&M Votes invited McCain to appear, and now we'll get to see the Republican candidate on Sept. 9.

More information about candidates and voter registration can be found here.

Wake up at the Library

Alumni weekend & Shad-Fack.

Just a few pics from the "Wake up at the Library" event on Saturday morning, June 7th from 8:30am to 10am. Sort of an interesting contrast to the "24/7" feature below!

the 24/7 that was

24/7 was on the tame side this term. Maybe everyone planned so well in advance that papers and exam prep were done WAY before Spring Arts.

Or maybe not!

While there weren't the campers and sleepers of years past, there were still a few good pictures to be had. Enjoy the photos and have a great summer.

Congratulations seniors!



Louise Stevenson holds court.




Cut-and-paste, like the old days.




Happy Birthday!




Caught in the act with the BIG salad.




Miles is just SO embarrassed (or annoyed).




Smokers' Lounge.




Wendy finds a cool, quiet corner on the ground level.




Pat is "buried" in her work.

Axe Andy

Written and filmed by student Carlos Ridolfi. For the *REAL* Ask Andy, and answers to ALL of your research questions, visit us HERE.

Busiest April Ever!

The Library website had more hits this April than any other April over the last 8 years. That's 24,528 unique hits! Only last October exceeded last month's count, by 524 hits. What does this mean? It means, despite everything - Google, Wikipedia, Sparknotes - you still find enormous value in the Library website and Library resources. It's either that, or your profs find your Wickipedia citations less than impressive!

JStor has new L@@K

Just in time for peak research periods, JStor decided to (again) change their looks and functions.

As before, JStor starts with a Basic search. You would be best served by choosing Advanced Search.

At Advanced Search, you can narrow your query according to Disciplines. After arriving at relevant articles, choose PDF to launch and print files in Preview or Acrobat. Note: Often Firefox will deliver PDFs more effectively than Safari.

For fun and fortune, JStor can be added to Facebook.

Ask Andy if you have any questions.

Anatomy of a car crash

A car took an erratic left, squeezed between the brush and a light pole, and ended up on the library lawn. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt.

More pics

Can this be Spring?

How's your Spring break? Ours' has been soggy, although today is quite nice.

If you take a moment to pull your sun-tanned toes out of the sparkling sands to do a bit of research, refer to Frequently Asked Questions for the basics. And by all means, email Ask Andy if you get perplexed.

We know you miss us enormously. Here's what the campus looked like yesterday, just in case you were feeling homesick.

*NEW* Scanner

By popular demand, we have added a scanner at Shadek-Fackenthal. The scanner is attached to a computer behind the ASK ME desk.

Scanner files can be moved to your eDisk space or flash drive. And files can printed to the new color printer.

See a librarian at the ASK ME desk for assistance.

Best Places for Studying

I have been studying at Franklin and Marshall, our fine institution, for four years and have, over time, learned the value of location, location, location. Where do you find yourself getting the most work accomplished? Is it in the privacy of your dorm room or off-campus apartment, surrounded by the noise of the espresso machine in Jazzman's, at a nice big table in Shad-Fack, or amidst the choas of the college center? Let me divulge my secrets to acheiving academic success with you. The campus is full of unknown places to study, so get your pen out and take note...

If you're looking for a place to do work on your laptop, try:
The Academy Room (2nd floor Shad-Fack)
The Periodicals Room (1st floor Shad-Fack)
The Atrium in the Life Sciences & Philosophy Building
Joseph International Center (open until 8pm Sunday-Thursday)
The Women's Center Lobby (Lower Level of College Center)
The Writer's House (open until 10pm, Sunday-Thursday)

If you want a quiet place to read/ write:
All of the above places are great
2nd and 3rd foors of Shad-Fack
East or West Patio of College Center
The Other Room (North Pine Street)
Lawn of the Theological Seminary
English Department Common Room (3rd floor Keiper)

Places with a little more action/ people:
Ben's Underground
Commons of MBT and Ware College Houses
College Center (between 2pm and 5pm, and after 9pm are tranquil, for the most part)
College Corner Cafe (the bagel place)

Hope this helps. Once you find a good spot, it's up to you if you want to share it with the world. I was selfish and waited until my last 7 weeks of college!

Peace,
Erin