The Feinberg Insider

Check Out the New Computer Lab!

2012-01-29T11:16:00.000-05:00

The first floor renovation and expansion of the main computer lab is complete. This so much more than just a room with rows of computers. We have group workspaces, comfy easy chairs next to outlets for laptop users, and whiteboards as dividers. This is sure to be the place to be this semester to get your work done. We hope you enjoy this new space in Feinberg Library.

Over the Winter Break...

2011-12-16T11:30:00.002-05:00

Construction has already started, but with the end of the Fall semester a lot of things will be moved and re-arranged for our ongoing renovations over the Winter break.

The services offered at the 1st floor service desk (color printing, poster printing and laminating) will be moving up to the 2nd floor desk.
The Interlibrary Loan offices will be moving from the 3rd floor to the 2nd floor.
The Instructional Technology Resource Center (ITRC) is closed and will re-locate sometime in the spring semester to another room on the 3rd floor.
The Current ITRC location will be transformed into the new reading room.

If you have questions just stop by one of the Library's service desk and we will help you find the people or services you need.

Feinberg Library 24 - 7

2011-12-09T11:08:00.000-05:00

Feinberg Library is going beyond expanded hours for finals and for the first time ever will be open 'round the clock. From today (Friday Dec. 9) through Wednesday Dec. Dec 14 we will be open continuously 24 hours a day.
Giving you more access to study space, computers and printers during finals!

Have you ever found "The Book"?

2011-11-28T15:20:00.000-05:00

Hidden in the depths of the Feinberg Library collection is "The Book". It was not purchased by the library. It is not cataloged. It doesn't have a call number. But it travels freely through the building. We do not know from whence it came. But its rules are simple. If you happen across the book, you must write in it and then put it back somewhere in the library for the next person to find it.

News from the Occupy Wall Street Library

2011-11-17T11:34:00.000-05:00

Did you know that the Occupy Wall Street protest had its own library? Here is the link to their blog. Along with updates in general about the protest, they are also trying to archive signs and other original work from protesters, loan out reference and reading material and provide internet access (just like any library that has its own building).

Have you made an important discovery in Feinberg Library's Special Collections?

2011-11-03T13:45:00.002-04:00

I Found It In The Archives is a national essay and video contest that encourages researchers to share how archival materials touch people's lives.
SUNY Plattsburgh Special Collections is hosting local participation in the contest. We are seeking entrants who have found something truly special in our Special Collections, and who wish to share their discovery in the form of a written essay or video. Records, documents, photos, recordings - whatever you consider to be a meaningful item or treasure is the ideal basis for your entry.
Learn more at: http://www.plattsburgh.edu/library/specialcollections/archivescontest.php.
Or, contact Debra Kimok, Special Collections Librarian
(kimokdm@plattsburgh.edu) at tel. (518) 564-5206.

Here is the Entry Form.

Practice Babies at Plattsburgh: A Special Collections exhibit in the Feinberg Library Lobby

2011-10-20T12:03:00.000-04:00

From 1940-1959, the Home Economics major became the first four-year program with its own degree at Plattsburgh State Teachers College.

As part of their degree training, seniors in the program were required to live in the “Home Management House” for six weeks, where they were expected not only to manage the home, but also to care for a baby. Depending on how many seniors were in the Home Management house at the time, each woman would be “mother” to the baby for a period of time.

Every year, a new baby, sometimes as young as five days old, was provided to the Home Management House either by the New York State Welfare System or the Clinton County Foundling Hospital. These babies had usually been abandoned, given up for adoption, or removed from their parents’ care. Most of them were placed into loving adoptive families after their time at the Home Management House.

For more information visit the exhibit on display in the library's second floor lobby.
The exhibit was created by Victoria Boccassini, Michael Burgess, and Debra Kimok.

For more information on Practice Babies:

See the Virtual Practice Babies exhibit at Cornell University:
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/homeEc/cases/apartments.html

Listen to an interview with a former “Practice Mom” from a Pennsylvania college:
http://www.npr.org/2011/01/12/132869061/Letters-Practice-Babies

And Now, A Word From Our President....

2011-10-12T10:29:00.000-04:00

President Obama has issued a proclamation that October is National Information Literacy Awareness month. View the official proclamation here.

What does Information Literacy mean here at SUNY Plattsburgh?
(Taken from: http://www.plattsburgh.edu/library/instruction/informationliteracydefinition.php)

Plattsburgh State is committed to graduating students who are information-literate. The definitions below clarify the meaning of this critical skill and indicate why it is important for individuals as students, scholars, and citizens.

Campus Definitions
1. Information literacy is the ability to recognize the extent and nature of an information need, then to locate, evaluate, and effectively use the needed information. (Plattsburgh State Information and Computer Literacy Task Force, 2001)

2. An information literate Plattsburgh State graduate will be able to recognize when information is needed, and to locate, evaluate, effectively use, and understand ethical issues related to information in its various formats. This definition of information literacy conforms to the Information Literacy Initiative Committee of the SUNY Council of Library Directors, and the ALA definition, as well as that found in the Middle States Standards for Accreditation. (Plattsburgh State Library Faculty)

As always, Feinberg Library is here to help with all your information and information literacy needs.

The Crowd Outside the Library Today

2011-09-28T13:12:00.000-04:00

Photo from Virgin.com

When I got to the reference desk this afternoon I thought there must be a fire drill going on in the college center, as there was such a large crowd hanging about. But if the tweeting is to be believed the singing group "One Direction" from the UK version of the television show The X Factor is on campus and filming a video.

Help When You Need It

2011-09-13T14:58:00.000-04:00

Need help citing a YouTube video in MLA style?
Need to find 5 scholarly articles and not sure where to start?
Looking for primary sources on the civil rights movement?

For these and all of your other research questions - We are here for you!

You can reach us in person at the new Reference desk location on the 2nd floor. Here are our hours.

You can call the reference desk at 564-5290.

You can e-mail us at: reference@plattsburgh.edu.

You can schedule a one-on-one appointment with us using the Feinberg Library Individual Extended Reference (FLIER) service. Just fill out the appointment form.

And just in case that is not enough you can use the 24/7 chat service. Use the chat box on the library home page. We participate with librarians around the country to answer your research questions day or night.

Leave No Trace

2011-09-05T18:07:00.000-04:00

Here at Feinberg Library we know how busy college schedules can be and that eating while studying is one of the old-school tried and true ways to multi-task. We are happy to accommodate your joint studying and consuming habits but ask that you abide by our ‘Leave No Trace’ policy of cleaning up after yourself. Also remember no food near the computers! No one wants to use a computer covered in grease or cheese doodle dust. Here is the full Food and Drink Policy.

New Hours!

2011-08-29T19:21:00.001-04:00

Starting Fall semester Feinberg Library will have new expanded hours.
Mondays - Thursdays 7:30am to 12:00am
Fridays 7:30 to 8:00pm
Saturdays 11:00am to 8:00pm
Sundays 12:00pm to 12:00am

And look for our even further expanded hours during mid-terms and finals weeks. Click here for the full calendar of library and lab hours.

Opening Weekend

2011-08-26T16:04:00.000-04:00

Feinberg Library will be open on Sunday Aug. 28th from 12pm - 6pm.

The LIB Proficiency Exam is being offered on Sunday the 28th at 3:30 in the main computer lab. Click here for more details.

While the Computer Lab is under Construction...

2011-08-23T09:30:00.003-04:00

With the construction getting started on the 1st floor of the library the Main Computer Lab has had to shift some computers. You can now find several computers, scanners and 2 networked printers up on the 3rd floor along both sides of the glass wall.

They're Back!

2011-07-22T14:34:00.000-04:00

The books are back! Well most of them. As of this past Monday the moving crew started putting the books on the shelves. The books with call numbers between A-F were removed last summer when the first floor was flooded. Things have been rearranged in the building and these books are now up on the third floor. Work is going quickly and all the books should be on the shelves before the end of next week. The books filled up over 4,000 boxes. Which we are carefully saving for re-use on campus. Our student workers will have plenty to do the rest of the summer shelf reading to be sure everything is in its right place.

Everyone loves Libraries

2011-06-30T10:59:00.000-04:00

When you work in a library you expect that you will be working with information (books, journals, databases, search engines, etc…). And you expect you will be helping patrons (students, faculty, community members, etc…). What you don’t generally expect, nor do you usually get training for, is helping critters visiting the library. Library clerk Diane Trombly (who is usually one of the first ones in the library most mornings) with the help of cleaning and maintenance staff successfully rescued this raccoon from the library dumpster this week. The poor thing was dumpster diving (those apple cores are so tempting) but as we had a larger than usual dumpster for summer cleaning projects it couldn’t get out. Diane placed a board in the dumpster and with some well placed boxes and with plenty of soothing encouragement the critter was coaxed out. It hid under the dumpster for a few minutes before heading across the lawn in the direction of the humanities building. Obviously it had digested enough information for now.

Summer in the Library

2011-05-17T12:14:00.003-04:00

Summer is a great time to get ahead in your studies (summer session classes) or to just catch up on fun, interesting things to read. In both cases Feinberg Library is here for you.

As usual the summer is also a time for making changes in the library. This summer we will be shifting magazines and journals on the third floor and bringing back the A-F portion of the collection. There will also be some construction on the first floor when the existing computer lab will be expanded to the previous stacks area - providing for a new, improved and bigger lab space.

Remember you can always check our summer hours online.

More E-Books than Ever Before!

2011-04-29T10:13:00.006-04:00

Another collection of Electronic Books is now available through Feinberg Library. We now have five collections, including reference works, professional and scholarly texts, and lots of recent publications.

No special readers or downloads are needed to view and read these books.

Here is the link to our E-Book collections.

Lots of Moving Going On in the Library

2011-04-14T11:56:00.005-04:00

If you have been in the library lately you may have noticed that some shelves are empty, some are being removed and some are being added. This is all the pre-shifting for the big move when the A-F range of books came back from storage this summer. The first change of note is the emptying of the New York State and Canadian government documents on the 2nd floor in the Deep Quiet room. The documents are being moved up to the 3rd floor with the US Federal documents and more student space and seating is planned for the quiet area.

Next up, also on the 2nd floor we are taking down some shelving to provide a better path back to the computer carrels. We will also be re-arranging some of the furniture and seating for better use.

Finally some of the shelving that is leaving the 2nd floor is making its way up to the 3rd floor where some shifting will allow for the A-F books that were formerly on the 1st floor to be brought back in July and will be shelved on the 3rd floor.

Feinberg Librarians in the News!

2011-03-21T09:40:00.002-04:00

Our local newspaper the Press Republican had an article this past Thursday featuring two Feinberg Library librarians – Gordon Muir and Holly Heller-Ross.

Here is the article link:
http://pressrepublican.com/0100_news/x10253572/Librarians-are-literally-in-the-classroom

The articles talks about particular efforts to have librarians integrated into college courses. In Gordon’s case it is with Biology courses and labs and with Holly it is in online Nursing courses. Of course these are not the only ways librarians work with students and faculty. We are regularly invited into courses for sessions covering a variety of research and technology topics that help students complete course research papers, presentations and projects.

Need some Peace and Quiet?

2011-03-05T13:38:00.002-05:00

Feinberg Library is many things to many people. One of our most popular requests is for quiet spaces to study. We currently have two different quiet zones in the library. The basic quiet area can be found on the 3rd floor, in the glassed-in room that holds the government documents and the Juvenile collections. For some really serious quiet try our Deep Quiet area on the second floor, the entrance is located in the back left corner of the Reference Room. Both quiet areas are equipped with study tables and chairs and a few comfortable chairs.

Celebration of Scholarship

2011-02-19T11:42:00.004-05:00

The annual Celebration of Scholarship was hosted on the second floor of Feinberg Library on Friday Feb. 18th. This event collects and displays the research done by SUNY Plattsburgh faculty over the past academic year.

The display include published books and articles as well as papers and posters presented at professional conferences.

New Interface

2011-02-04T13:24:00.003-05:00

The ProQuest family of databases got a re-designed interface just as the Spring semester started. Here is what the advanced search screen will now look like.

Along with ProQuest Research Library, one of our popular general full-text articles databases, several subject specific databases have also moved to this new look including: ABI/INFORM Global; Criminal Justice Abstracts; PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES.

If you have any questions about using the new interface stop by the Library Reference desk or use our chat reference service.

Welcome Back!

2011-01-28T13:28:00.004-05:00

On Sunday Jan 30th the Library will hold a Walk-In LIB105 Proficiency exam.
Time: 3:30pm
Location: Main Computer Lab

No pre-registration is required, but remember to bring a picture ID with you.

Are you eligible?
Anyone who has never received ANY grade for LIB102, or LIB105 is eligible to proficiency out of the LIB105 course by passing the LIB105 Proficiency Exam. To clarify, you are not eligible to take the Proficiency Exam if you already have a "W" or a grade for another library course on your transcript. A student may take the Proficiency Exam only once.

Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com

First Floor Re-Opened!

2010-11-17T10:38:00.005-05:00

Portions of the first floor have been closed since this summers' flood. It has been cleaned and sanitized. And we are happy to announce that the Extended Computer Lab space and the rest of the first floor is now open.

We realize there is a crunch for computers and study space in the last few weeks of the semester, so even though we have not had the time to renovate the space and put in new flooring yet, we wanted to make sure the space could be used by students.

No it is not very pretty to look at, but we have tables and chairs next to outlets and some general seating available.

The books are still in storage (we can't bring them back until the flooring is in) so you will still need to use the Interlibrary Loan system to order items with call numbers between A - F.

Banned Books Week Sept 25 – Oct 2, 2010

2010-09-27T12:45:00.004-04:00

Once a year we stop to remember that even in the USA there are those who are trying to limit people’s access to information and that unfortunately censorship is still alive and kicking.

Here is the list of the Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009 see how many of your favorite books are on the list.

The Banned book display in Feinberg Library on the second floor features some of the most commonly challenged books. Pick one up today and read a Banned Book!

You can buy this cool poster at the American Library Association Store.

Want To Help Re-Design Feinberg Library?

2010-09-20T13:17:00.003-04:00

What do you think would make the library better?

Recliners to sit in? More Computers? Wireless Printing? More group study space? More electrical outlets? A café? The possibilities are endless!

We are taking advantage of the crisis of this summer’s flood to explore a re-design of the library (the inside of the building that is). This is your chance to shape how the library will look and be used.

Mark your calendars. Next week, on Monday Sept 27th in the Cardinal Lounge open discussions will be held about re-designing the Feinberg Library space. There are 2 sessions – one from 1pm to 2pm and another at 3pm to 4pm.

We want your ideas!

New Catalog - New Features

2010-09-13T13:11:00.007-04:00

What was the 'Beta Catalog' last year has become the main library catalog this year. When you click on the link under the heading - Find Books - on the Library home page you will get the search screen pictured here.

A couple of cool new features you should know about:

You can select from this screen if you want results just from Feinberg library or you can expand to Quick Delivery Libraries (usually getting items in about 48 hours) or you can search Worldwide using WorldCat.
When you click to view the full record Google Books is now loaded into the record if it is in their collection. Most books are not completely full text - but it gives you quite a bit of content to judge if the book will be useful for you.
When your initial search results load - check out the side-bar on the left. It will give you a list of how many items were found if you change your library option and provides a few other limits to narrow down your search results.

If you prefer to use the previous version of the library catalog you can do so by clicking on 'Search Feinberg' under the 'Find Books and More' drop down menu.

Twice the K.I.C.

2010-09-03T13:10:00.009-04:00

Last year Feinberg Library installed its first K.I.C. (Knowledge Imaging Center) on the second floor between the lobby and the Reference room. This very cool piece of technology lets you scan documents and images - whether in black and white or in color and lets you save your scans as .pdf files, .jpeg image files or even as .mp3 files. You can e-mail these files to yourself, someone else or save it on a USB drive.

As with all really cool, useful technology it was very popular so we are thrilled to announce that a second K.I.C. has been set up on the first floor of the library. You can find it between the elevator and the main computer lab.

Use the touch screen to set up your scan settings and where you want them saved to. As Ana is demonstrating here, remember to put the material you want scanned face-up.

There is no cost for using the K.I.C. Just remember when scanning any materials that you need to abide by fair use and copyright laws.

New Library Stuff for the Fall 2010 Semester

2010-08-27T14:01:00.007-04:00

Welcome (or welcome back – as the case may be). All sorts of exciting things have been happening in the library, so here is a brief rundown of some changes you should know about:

You probably already noticed that the Library web page has had a makeover. The links and tools are still there, but you may need to use the drop down tabs at the top of the page to find a few things.

We had a flood on the first floor of the library (for details review some of the posts from July and August). Most of the books with call numbers that start with A-F will be unavailable and should be requested on Interlibrary Loan.

Many databases (including Academic Search Complete, JSTOR and Opposing Viewpoints) have made changes to their interfaces. All the old features are there, and a few new ones, but it may take a moment of looking around to find all the features you are used to using.

The Plattsburgh State Art Museum has been busy and we have had several new pieces of art installed in the library this summer. The picture is of the new work hanging in the Reference Room alcove.

Please stop by (physically or electronically) and check out some of the new stuff.

So, what is up with the Big Box behind the Library?

2010-08-23T11:54:00.004-04:00

As usual the week before the start of the Fall semester is very busy for all of us here at Feinberg Library and the Division of Library and Information Services. Classrooms and labs are being made ready, all the summer technology updates need to be finished and information for the new academic year is being finalized.

I want to take a moment and explain about our new addition. If you pass by the back of Feinberg Library (the Draper Ave. side) you will notice a large storage container. This large container and about 12 of its friends will be temporarily holding the books currently on the first floor. The first floor books are being removed as part of our post-flood clean up. Not all 13 storage containers will be behind the library - only the ones currently being filled.

We anticipate that the books will be in storage for at least the Fall semester. Remember you can make use of Feinberg's Interlibrary Loan system to get any books not available in storage.

Flood Update

2010-08-12T12:25:00.002-04:00

First the good news.
It looks like the Learning Center, the Advising office and the FL129 classroom should all be up and running for the start of the fall semester.

In the wait and see category is Special Collections. We are waiting for more test results. The water did not get all the way into the room but we want to make sure the whole room is dry and safe before beginning work to replace the flooring. Check the Special Collections web page for updates.

In the not so good news, the first floor stacks area will need a much more involved cleanup process which will include removing and storing all of the estimated 65,000 volumes off-site. These volumes are the A-F call number ranges.

Faculty will be contacted about which volumes they anticipate needing for the fall semester and these will be pulled for use. After the books are removed faculty/staff and students will be able to use our Interlibrary Loan system to receive any books not readily available.

We are working hard to provide all our usual services under these unusual circumstances.
We appreciate your patience and understanding.

The Chaos After the Flood

2010-07-29T12:01:00.005-04:00

During a downpour last Wednesday the first floor of Feinberg Library experienced some flooding. Most areas had less than an inch of water but of course carpets were soaked. The initial response with mops and fans and dehumidifiers quickly removed the moisture. The Learning Center, the Advising Office, Special Collections and the General Collection on the first floor were all affected.

Now that the emergency response is done, we have entered into cleaning and sanitizing mode. All the offices listed above are in the process of moving out furniture and equipment. Many are being re-located with the library building. The cleaning crews will be sanitizing all the surfaces and then new carpeting will need to be installed. As you can see this means some extra furniture will be sitting around. Some of the library seminar rooms have been re-purposed for storage.

At this point the estimates are that it will take a couple of weeks for everything to be cleaned and replaced. Everyone is working hard so that we can be back to our usual selves when the fall semester starts. Thank you for your cooperation, understanding and patience.

New Art

2010-07-15T13:51:00.007-04:00

The third floor of Feinberg Library is having new art installed this summer - well, new to us that is. The college's collection of pieces by James Fitzgerald is being hung along the southern wall between the offices.

For more information see the SUNY Plattsburgh Museum's web page on James Fitzgerald.

While the Myers Fine Arts Building is under construction this summer remember that the campus is a 'museum without walls' and art can be found in just about every building and around the grounds.

The Library is Cool!

2010-07-06T10:20:00.005-04:00

During the current heat wave we are happy to remind you that Feinberg Library is air-conditioned.

Stop in, grab a book and get comfortable for a while.

Looking for summer reading ideas?
Check out these lists from USAToday, Oprah and Berkeley.

Summer Library Upgrades

2010-06-30T07:38:00.006-04:00

During the Fall and Spring semesters Feinberg Library is so busy that we try not to disrupt things with major changes. But come summer all sorts of new items show up and get installed for the coming academic year.

So far this summer the library has got new chairs for the computer stations around the main staircase. These are a welcome improvement from the squeaky metal barstools.

We have also received new printers which have been installed in the reference room and for the student computer carrels on the second floor. Remember to go into the printing Preferences menu to check if you want single-sided or double-sided printing.

Got Time this Summer to Get Ahead?

2010-05-10T10:23:00.004-04:00

The Feinberg Library is offering its LIB105 course over the summer. If you have not yet met this requirement the summer is a great time to do it!

Seats are still available in our 1-week section:
LIB105-A (CRN 5125)
Monday June 7 - Friday June 11
11:00am - 1:30 pm
in FL108

We also have seats in our late summer Web section:
LIB105-WC1 (CRN 5326)
July 12 - Aug 13
in Angel

Register in Banner today!

The Stress Buster Table is Back

2010-04-28T08:55:00.003-04:00

Near the end of the semester (when stress is generally running high) Feinberg Library breaks out its Stress Buster Table. You can find it on the second floor between the Lobby and the Reference Room.

The table has a variety of games and puzzles. When you need a break stop by the table for a little diversion. The table is there for everyone’s use, so please do not take the items on the table.

Keep Your 25 Cents

2010-04-22T12:19:00.002-04:00

We are proud and happy to announce that Feinberg Library has made the decision to do away with daily late book fines. (Previously it cost 25 cents per day per item if you kept a Feinberg book beyond its due date.)

We are working to make the use of our many resources easier and more flexible for all our users.

We still encourage users to return items when they are done with them, but now they will have more flexibility without penalty.

We encourage you to renew checked out items online if you need them more than a couple of days. Simply go into the Feinberg Library Catalog (the Search Feinberg link on the library home page) and click on My Account in the upper left hand corner.

Please note that any item overdue over 25 days is listed as ‘Lost’. There is still a fee for Lost items. See our FAQ on Library Borrowing for more details: http://web.plattsburgh.edu/library/borrowing/frequentlyaskedquestions.php

The Library's (not so) Secret Meeting Rooms

2010-04-05T09:13:00.006-04:00

Feinberg Library has 3 group meetings rooms that anyone can use. They are available on a first come, first served basis. They are great for working on group projects, study groups or just studying with your friends.

The first is on the second floor, Seminar room #235. If you are looking at the computer carrels the room is on the wall to your left.

On the third floor, there is the Group Viewing and Meeting Room #303. This is the largest of the 3 meeting rooms. When you come up the main staircase it will be to your right, next to the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE).

Also on the third floor is another Seminar room #315. It is located just past the restrooms.

These rooms are for everyone to use. Please clean up after yourselves and erase anything on the chalkboards before you leave. If no one is using the room the lights may be off – the light switches are next to the doorway.

Help with the Mid-Term Crunch

2010-03-05T09:25:00.006-05:00

Lots of paper, projects, presentations and exams are going on. Feinberg Library has ways to make your life easier and less stressful. Don’t wait till you have wasted an hour trying to find what you need and are frustrated.

Check these out:

Citation Guides for MLA and APA

Quick Clip Tutorials (Covering the basics of library research in short video clips)

Have a question? Stop by the reference room or chat with a librarian (IM or text).

Being prepared, getting help when you need it and making use of all the many library's tools, resources and services will help you master the mid-term crunch.

Calypso, Creole & Cou-Cou: Celebrating Afro-Caribbean Literature

2010-02-17T10:09:00.005-05:00

The Library features a variety of displays on different literary styles, cultures, authors and seasonal themes.
For the month of February in honor of Black History Month we are featuring Afro-Caribbean literature.

Elin O'Hara-Gonya, who put together this display explains:
"Afro-Caribbean literature has its roots in the story-telling traditions brought by African slaves to the
Caribbean as a result of the slave trade. This oral tradition has evolved into a literary tradition heavily influenced by contemporary black social themes, jazz rhythms, Native American and African mythology, and colonialism. Authors frequently explore the colonial legacy and its effects on Caribbean identity, language and ethnicity in their works."

"The Focus On collection features works by renowned Afro-Caribbean authors such as Jamaica Kincaid (Antigua), Edwidge Danticat (Haiti), Austin Clarke (Barbados), C.L.R. James (Trinidad and Tobago) and Dany LaFerriere (Haiti). Featured poet and playwright Derek Walcott (St. Lucia) won the Novel Prize for Literature in 1992."

"The exhibit and Focus On collection place particular emphasis on the works of Haitian authors in order to acknowledge the devastation that the earthquake has wrought on the Haitian artistic community."

Constant Improvement

2010-02-09T12:31:00.006-05:00

We are at it again! The folks in Feinberg Library are always looking to make improvements, upgrade our space and better serve our students' needs.

If you have been down on the first floor you may have noticed all the construction work going on by the back windows. Campus crews have been busy putting in electrical outlets and wiring. Tables, chairs and computers will be set up within days. This will be another great place for group work in the library. Check it out!

It’s Your Library – Use It Your Way!

2010-02-04T13:45:00.002-05:00

It is typical to think of the library as a place with tables and chairs (with or without computers) to study and write papers. But the library is a pretty flexible space.

With the Leave No Trace policy it is also a place to study while snacking. And as most of the furniture is not nailed down students’ have some flexibility to rearrange chairs to suit their group study habits. (Just remember not to block main paths of traffic and fire exits). As you can see in the photo you can come up with all sorts of arrangements that suit your academic and creative needs.

What’s with the Beta?

2010-02-01T11:03:00.003-05:00

By now you may have noticed the “Try our new Beta Catalog” link on the library home page.

For the Spring semester Feinberg will be participating in the testing of this new catalog system.

This is your chance to help shape the design, interface and features of this new search tool for you and future students. Use the Feedback link at the bottom of the screen in the new catalog to give the designers your thoughts and suggested improvements.

This new catalog system includes the stuff in Feinberg Library as well as 50 other regional libraries (which can deliver a book to you within 3 days). It offers a different type of interface and different options once you get your results – check out the word cloud (a la Delicious).

Free-Range Librarians Roaming the Library

2010-01-27T11:49:00.007-05:00

While most of us are used to finding the reference librarian sitting at the reference desk in the reference room - be warned, we now have Free-Range Librarians! Yes, equipped with a red netbook computer and matching red name tags, Librarians can now be found just about anywhere in the building.

These new free-range librarians are friendly and helpful so don't be shy about waving them down to ask a question or get their help if you see them pass by.

The reference desk is still the 'home base' for answering your questions. If the librarian is away from the desk they will leave a note with instructions on how to call them back to the desk.

Attention Googleholics

2010-01-24T16:32:00.005-05:00

With the upgrade to new computers in the Reference Room and FL108 (mentioned in the post below) also came a slight change in one of the settings. When you use Internet Explorer (IE) the search box in the browser now defaults to searching the Bing search engine (a Microsoft product). If you are like me and have become Google dependent – fear not. If you use the Mozilla Firefox browser instead you still get the Google search box in the browser.

All the new news...

2010-01-22T13:23:00.012-05:00

A New Year, a new semester, a new decade.

Lots of new stuff is going on at Feinberg - so I will pace all these updates out in a few posts so as not to overwhelm you on your first few days back on campus.

1st on the new (& improved) list are the new computers!

The computers in the Reference Room, along the stairs on the 2nd floor and in the FL108 classroom have all been replaced with new CPUs and monitors. You may notice that they do look at bit different - the monitors are wider.

There will also be some re-arranging of computers on the 1st floor - but that is still under construction - so more on that later, but be careful in the construction area in the meantime.

As we are starting out the semester with new computers, mice and keyboards - just a friendly reminder that we appreciate your efforts to help keep the computers as clean and germ free as possible. Remember to keep food away from the keyboards, make sure your beverages have secure tops, and please turn your head and sneeze or cough into your elbow - not the keyboard.