Studying on the steps

And why not study on the Library steps. Its April and 85 degrees!

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NEW LIBRARY WEBSITE!!

The Library website is being updated! At this point, only critical services are enabled. There is still considerable work to be done. We are interested in your feedback as we finish our website design. Please visit

http://web1.fandm.edu/library/

Using this Library Blog, you can anonymously provide feedback about what you like OR don't like (see Comments below). Or you can email...

libwebteam@fandm.edu

Our main goals are to provide a site that's intuitive to use, with quick & easy ways to ask for help, that looks & feels like the College website, but with a touch of Library pizazz!

From now through May, we'd like to know

- can you readily find books, journals and other resources?
- can you easily find services such as E-Z Borrow or Order Materials?
- can you readily find help and ask questions?
- do you find that the language and link choices are obvious and intuitive?

Thanks for you kind consideration & valuable feedback!

A Sincere Apology

I have been meaning to say this for awhile; and now that it's spring break and I've had some time to catch up on sleep (and episodes of Greek) after a rigorous week of (typical) F&M midterms, I must post a most sincere apology.

If you've known me at all the last 3.75 years, you know that I love working the closing shift at the Shad-Fack on Saturday evenings. I really do enjoy doing the closing rounds: walking through the library, turning off lights, and pushing in chairs from approximately 9:20PM - 9:45PM. I used to get scared walking through the stacks (c'mon, it is dark, quiet, and spooky), but then I loaded a "Closing the Library" playlist onto my iPod. It's full of lively, happy music that makes me want to sing along and dance.

Last Saturday, while pushing in the vacant chairs on the Mezzanine, I must have forgotten where I was, and did start humming along. I probably danced a little too. And disturbed the serious studying of serious students (because you must be very serious and doing something very serious to be in the library at quarter-to-ten on a Saturday nigh, seriously!).

So, here it is. I am sorry.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Hope everyone enjoys the rest of Spring Break! See you in a few days!

-Colleen

Spring has Sprung!

Even if the calendar doesn't agree, and even if we get a freak snowstorm before Easter, everyone knows that familiar smell in the air.

On days like this, frisbees are flying and bulbs are blooming. Overheard on the Quad, "Are you kidding me, I've got 2 midterms tomorrow, but I want to play wiffleball!"

In another day, nearly every student will flee campus for Spring Break. Between sun & fun, there's a good chance research might happen.

If you have trouble connecting to Library databases, remember to use VPN (directions). And if you need a bit of assistance finding resources, you can always Ask Andy.

Departures

Its always sad to see staff leave, and at the Library it doesn't happen very often. In February we had two departures.

Sabine (Buckius) Caldwell served for over 5 years as our Evening Supervisor at Martin Library of the Sciences.



Bill Coventry served nearly 10 years as our Evening Circulation Supervisor at Shadek-Fackenthal Library.



Sabine now serves as Circulation Supervisor at Penn State's Hershey Medical Center, and Bill is off to explore new challenges.

We wish both Sabine and Bill best of luck and tremendous success!

Even more snow

After some 18 inches of snow only a few days back, we got a fresh batch of wintery wonderfulness, mostly likely another foot and half. That's 3 feet of snow in less than a week!

Usually the Library never closes, but we didn't open on Wednesday. Plans are to open for some hours on Thursday, then back to full strength on Friday.

Feel free to email if you have any research questions. Even with the blustery drifts, the Library is still not much further than ask.andy@fandm.edu.

Snowed In!

Hello all! 

This is my first attempt at serious blogging, so please be kind. 

The tremendous amount of snow that has blanketed Lancaster over the last 24 hours has definitely made for an exciting weekend. Some people's travel plans were disrupted, dining options limited, and even classes cancelled on Friday afternoon (though the impending storm didn't get me out of Bio Lab... thanks Dr. Blair). It has also provided some novel forms of entertainment (I hear that when snowballs hit the screens in open dorm windows, they make a very satisfying explosion of sorts.)

It is nice to know that when everything else is up in the air, the library, like the postal service (the actual mail deliverers, not the band), can be counted on. Both libraries operated normal hours despite the tundra outside. (Dedicated Shad-Fack regular Weston Fillman was thankful for this as he trekked here in his Uggs all the way from the Lofts to print out journal articles and read his preceptees' papers.)  And even those who weren't brave enough to face the wintry mix could request EZBorrows and Interlibrary Loans from the comfort of their rooms via the library website. (One of my housemates actually did spend a good chunk of her afternoon requesting ILL Articles. I spent that time watching the Real Housewives of Orange County marathon on BRAVO. She was definitely more productive.) 

I've got about two hours left in my shift at the Circulation Desk at the Shad-Fack, but then I'll be off to enjoy the rest of my weekend! Hope everyone stays warm and dry and enjoys the Superbowl tomorrow.   

-Colleen 

Introducing Colleen!

Colleen Bechtel '10 has kindly (and enthusiastically) volunteered to write for the Library Blog.

Stay tuned for fun features posted by our newest Blog author!

Galveston relief effort

Andy Gulati, Systems Librarian and CRA (Catastrophic Relief Alliance) advisor, returned to Galveston, to assist with Hurricane Ike relief, with an eager and hardworking group of students, staff, alumni and friends.

CRA worked on 2 homes on a variety of projects, ranging from framing and drywalling, to flooring and painting. Work was coordinated by the Episcopal Relief and Development. More worksite pictures can be found here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ask-andy/sets/72157623177873262/

Snow scenes

Pictures taken from the snowy Shad-Fack steps, on the last day of finals. Nearly 12 inches of snow, but brave librarian Scott Vine was on the scene, helping students and taking pictures.

Perfectly perky

(adapted from email report)

Finding the candle is in the top spot for unexpected things during 24/7, but today's find probably comes in second. A young lady was perking her own personal pot of coffee on the second floor lobby space, just past the 'silent' easel. She was asked to take it into the periodicals room which has been set aside for food and drink. She was SO happy to hear that - it was the FIRST time she knew that there was a special place for food and drink.

Ambiance

(adapted from email report)

Last night, a Library staff member found a lighted candle in the Reference room. The students with it said they wanted ambiance. Obviously, they put it out when asked. Please be on the alert for a repeat of this. No need to burn the building down while studying or writing!

Wintery Mix

What to do when the temps get chilly? Why, c'mon over to the Library of course!

We have LOTS of different study spaces, and you can reserve for group study at Circulation.

We have LOTS of print and online resources. At the Library website you can search Books and Articles.

And at the Ask Me desk we can offer LOTS of advice on how best to develop a research topic and find materials.

Its never too late to snag a comfy spot, get good resources, or elicit expert help!

Moving files

Just when it seemed like the need for email was dead, an outage occurs, leaving many searching for alternatives.

In library-land, without email to assist with research needs, at the Ask Me desk we use iChat or texting.

To move files, we might use a flash-drive or eDisk. In general, when moving files, its best to use a local drive or file server, instead of email attachments, since email has a way of messing up file formats.

While the ups-and-downs of email can make people crazy, its good to know that there are effective alternatives to get help and move files.

Staring out windows

Going upstairs, ground level to first, Shad-Fack. Glorious glowing leaves.

Fall fell

Leaves are turning, leaves are falling. And the squirrels are getting fat on acorns.

In the Library, even as the outdoor temps cool, students are feeling the heat. Fall Break will soon be upon us, proceeded by lots of tests and papers.

If you're feeling the heat, and would like a little relief, checkout some of the Library offerings, listed By Subject. Or better yet, stop by the Ask Me desk for research assistance.

ps. Can you name that famous foot above?

Family Weekend

The weather could not have been nicer for all the parents and family, visiting F&M and students for Family Weekend. Amongst all the sports, revelry and visiting profs and advisors, the Library held an open house. Parents got to checkout the facilities and study space, and discover quick & easy ways to tackle research assignments.

So the next time you're faced with a pesky paper, give mom & dad a break, and checkout what the Library has to offer, or at the very least Ask Andy.

Please

Thanks!

100,000 printed pages

While it's still too early to tell, our printing pace is only slightly off from this time last year. As you know, the College had to make some changes to printing policies, to offset tremendous costs & waste. There are still ways that you can save time & money.

- use simple filenames with proper extensions, example PsycPaper1.docx
- consider reading PowerPoints (PPTs)and PDFs onscreen when practical
- print double-sided and multiple pages per page side whenever possible
- avoid dark backgrounds in Powerpoint, saves toner and speeds printing

More detailed information about GoPrint and printing policy can be found at http://library.fandm.edu/printing.html.

Lonely Labor Day?

With a skeleton staff in the Library, and most of the working world enjoying the LAST weekend of the summer, one would think Shad-Fack would be a ghost town. But its actually been a bit busy. Students are looking for books. Others are requesting items we don't own, or that are currently checked-out through E-Z Borrow, and there's LOTS of printing.

The Library is buzzing with activity!