Mardigian Library News

The Mardigian Library surveyed UM-Dearborn students during the Fall 2007 term to learn about their awareness and use of library services. Over seven hundred students responded to the online survey.

Key findings from the survey include:

• Most students learned about the library and its services from campus orientation (49.6%), followed by the library’s website (48.8%), or from a friend or classmate (38.6%).
  
• A faculty member had the most influence on how effectively students used the library’s services for academic work (30%), followed by the library’s website (29%), or a friend or classmate (25.4%).
  
• When asked how frequently they used library services in the building or online, 21.7% report using library services every couple of weeks, 20.9% several times a week, 16.3% once a week, and 14.4% once a semester.
  
• 33.4% of students found it easy to use the library’s online resources, 26.3% found it somewhat easy, and 14.4% found it very easy.
  
• 90.5% of students preferred that the library communicate with them via email.
  
• 94.8% of students would recommend the library and its services to other students.
  

Library staff members met in early 2008 to interpret these data and to recommend actions we can take to improve service to students. Recommendations include:

• Review orientation handouts to ensure clarity and remove jargon. Consider creating discipline or school specific handouts.
  
• Increase number of electrical outlets for laptop users.
  
• Review hours of service; consider longer weekend hours.
  
• Create more multimedia tutorials.
  
• Partner/collaborate with faculty members who teach online courses to find ways to better support their students.
  

A similar survey was conducted in 2005. We are pleased to see that some of the concerns reported by students in the 2005 survey did not appear in the 2007 survey. The library plans to periodically survey students and collect data that can be used to make informed decisions regarding services provided by the library.

A change will soon take place in the way the Mardigian Library offers UM-Dearborn alumni access to electronic databases. Since early 2006, the library has conducted a pilot project to provide UM-Dearborn alumni free, off-campus access to four online research databases: ABI/INFORM, Ethnic NewsWatch, GenderWatch and ProQuest Research Library. Under the new program, the UM Alumni Association will provide its members access to a suite of seven electronic databases. This is a significant enhancement of the package the Mardigian Library has been offering.

All members of the UM Alumni Association will be eligible for this service under the new program.

UM-Dearborn alumni who are currently registered for database access through the Mardigian Library's program, but are not paying members of the UM Alumni Association, will receive a complimentary one-year UM Alumni Association membership, which will provide access to a subset of the suite of seven electronic databases available to paying members of the UM Alumni Association.

If mysteries, clues, roadsters, and strawberry blonde amateur sleuths appeal to your sense of adventure, you won’t want to miss an upcoming event at the Berkowitz Gallery in the Mardigian Library. On Sept. 12, 2008, noted Nancy Drew® expert, Jenn Fisher, will speak at the opening reception for the exhibition “Timeless Treasures: Children's Series from the Juvenile Historic and Quigley Collection”.

Ms. Fisher has been writing about and researching Nancy Drew® for more than 10 years and has consulted on many projects, including the 2007 film Nancy Drew released by Warner Brothers. Ms. Fisher’s collection of Nancy Drew® books and memorabilia was featured on NBC’s Today Show in 2004 and was also used for filming an opening sequence for the movie. In her presentation this fall, Ms. Fisher will share her expertise about the series and the artwork that has been used over the years. The exhibition will include a special Nancy Drew® section with books, memorabilia and collectibles on loan from Patricia Bravender, a Nancy Drew® buff from Grand Rapids.

The exhibition will highlight many historic children’s series as well as one or two currently written series. The library’s Juvenile Historic Collection contains titles from series such as Dotty Dimple, Elsie Dinsmore, Little Women, The Wizard of Oz, The Bobbsey Twins, Peter Parley, The Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, and Rollo. For many visitors, this exhibit will be a trip down memory lane as they see many of the old friends they loved as children.

Illustrations frequently play a huge role in the appeal of children’s titles, and not just in picture books. In addition to highlighting books from our collection, artwork from currently published children’s series will be displayed. The exhibition will run from Sept. 12, 2008 through Oct. 13, 2008. The opening reception is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 12 from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. Exhibit hours are: Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5: 00 p.m.

Next R.E.A.D. (Read, Eat, Discuss) Meeting

Book: The Uncommon Reader: A novella by Alan Bennett

Date: Wed., April 9, 2008

Time: Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Location: 1210 ML

While we don't follow specific questions, you can find questions for thought online at: http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides_U/uncommon_reader1.asp. If you come across something interesting about the book or author please share with the group via the group list, ML_Bookclub(at)umich.edu.


Future books and dates:
Sept. 30, 2008 (Tu): Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths by Bruce Feiler
Nov. 19, 2008 (W): Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Feb. 3, 2009 (Tu): Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger