Entries by Kathy Irwin

Check out the Mardigian Library Spring 2009 Newsletter (pdf)

Contents:

• Supporting the Metropolitan Vision on MLK Day
• In Memory of Janet Elkins
• 50th Anniversary Party
• Lavada Smith, Alumna, Librarian,
• Creature Comforts
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The campus will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary during the 2009-2010 academic year. We plan to join the party by hosting a “Library Alumni Open House” October 16th from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The library has employed hundreds of students over the years. Student Assistants perform many essential functions: processing materials to be “shelf ready,” shelving books, staffing the Circulation Desk so that their fellow students borrow materials, and providing reference assistance under the guidance of reference librarians. In short, Student Assistants are crucial to the library’s ability to serve the campus. We literally could not function without them. In fact, when our staff members are at meetings and someone asks, “Who is running the library?” we always answer, “The students, of course!!”

We are trying to locate ALL former library Student Assistants so that we can invite everyone who has ever worked at the library. If you are a former library Student Assistant, please be sure that we have your contact information so that we can invite you to the party. If you know others who worked in the library during their student days, please share their contact information with us so that we can invite them to the party and encourage them to come. It will be wonderful to see “old friends” and to catch up! Please send contact information to: sasbury@umd.umich.edu or call 313-593-5236.

The Berkowitz Gallery, located on the third floor of the Mardigian Library, will host the annual Holocaust and Armenian Genocide Commemoration on Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. The event will feature presentations by Samuel Totten, of the University of Arkansas, and Roger Smith, of The College of William & Mary, as well as a discussion period and refreshments. The event is free and open to the public.

For more details please, including how to R.S.V.P., visit the Voice/Vision website.

Laptops are a necessary tool for many of today’s students, but with most battery charges lasting only several hours, the need to plug in becomes crucial in order for them to study. In response to this need, the library recently renovated an area on the 4th floor to add outlets for ten study carrels.

The library opened in 1980, at a time when personal computers were just starting to gain in popularity and were not very portable. Access to electricity for student use was not an issue, and the majority of the outlets in the library’s public area were intended to be used for vacuum cleaners! No one dreamed that within 25 years, many students would be walking around with devices that needed to be plugged in.

For the last several years, the need for more outlets has been at the top of our students’ “wish list.” Library staff members have worked with the university’s Facilities Planning Department to study the problem and recommend solutions. A recent electrical survey revealed that the building is coming close to maxing out the building’s power source and that we have limited options for adding more outlets. In response, we are trying to maximize the outlets and available power that we do have: signage has been added to help students identify outlets not easily seen; tables and study carrels have been shifted closer to floor outlets; and power strips have been added to take full advantage of outlets we do have.

Our latest effort to provide more electrical access involved moving display cases and art glass from the 4th to 3rd floor and bringing single-sided carrels from the 3rd to 4th floor. Electricians were able to add a few additional outlets on the 4th floor for a gain of ten additional study spaces with power. We frequently see these carrels in use; in fact, the electrician was still packing up to leave when three students sat at the carrels and plugged in!

The move also resulted in a nicer display area on the 3rd floor for the Alfred Berkowitz Gallery and its wonderful collection of art glass. The move was a great win-win solution for both students and art lovers!

April 2009 R.E.A.D. (Read, Eat, and Discuss) Meeting

Book: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Date: Wed., April 8, 2009

Time: Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Location: 1210 ML


Books selected for 2009/2010:
Tues., 9/29 - Dreams From My Father: A story of race and inheritance by Barack Obama
Wed., 11/18 - The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
Feb. 2010 - The Book Thief by Marcus Suzan
April 2010 - Three Cups of Tea: One man's mission to promote peace...one school at a time by Greg Mortenson

The deadline for Reserve course lists for the Summer 2009 term is Monday, April 27, 2009. Lists and materials submitted by this date will be available for student use on the first day of classes. Requests for Reserve items that are received after the deadline will be processed on a first come, first served basis. We cannot guarantee that items requested after the deadline will be available at the start of classes.

Submit the online form to create your course list. Or, use the MS Word version of the form (found at the same URL) to type your list and email to the Reserves Department. Handwritten forms are not accepted.

Reserve items may be dropped off at the Circulation desk; photocopied articles may be mailed to the Library Reserves Department, 1270 ML. Reserves policies and procedures are available online. For more information please contact the Reserves Coordinator at 313-593-5457 or library-reserves@umd.umich.edu.

The Mardigian Library sent targeted e-newsletters to students and faculty in specific degree programs and academic departments. Did you miss or delete your e-newsletter, or are you interested in the content of other e-newsletters? Click below to view the Winter 2009 e-newsletters:

African and African American Studies
Art
Behavioral Sciences
Business & Management
Communications
Computer Science & Electrical Engineering
Education
Engineering
Foreign Languages
History
Mathematics
Philosophy
Political Science
Science

What's new at the Mardigian Library?

My Lists:
The My Lists feature allows you to create and save custom lists of items owned by the library.

My Reading History:
Have you ever forgotten to write your bibliography before you returned the books to the library? Can't remember the name of that great book you read last month? My Reading History is an opt-in service that will allow you to maintain a list of items you have previously checked out.

Library PINs:
The library implemented library PINs last fall in order to turn on the new features described above. To set up your PIN, follow the online directions.

Noise @ your library:
The library building is a shared space devoted to the pursuit of knowledge. We need your help to create an appropriate academic environment.


Stay informed!
Read Library News to keep up with new library services and features, and/or subscribe to the RSS feed in order to read it through your favorite feed reader, like Bloglines.


Talk to a librarian:
•In person
•By phone at 313-593-5563
•By e-mail or instant message

In August 2008, the Mardigian Library proudly announced the appointment of Lavada Smith as our newest librarian. Smith is not a newcomer to the library; in fact, she worked as a Library Student Assistant from June 1995 through 1998 while earning her Bachelor of General Studies in Education degree. After graduation, Smith worked as a Library Assistant at Marygrove College until 2000 when she came back “home” to work at the Mardigian Library.

Because we were highly impressed with her work in both the Circulation and Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Departments, we encouraged Smith to pursue a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS). In 2005, she decided to take the plunge and began her studies at Wayne State University (WSU), one class at a time, with tuition assistance from UM-Dearborn and the library. It wasn’t long before WSU professors saw the same outstanding qualities that we see every day and awarded Smith scholarship money, enabling her to take two classes a semester. In June 2008, Smith finished her MLIS degree and officially graduated from WSU. In August, her position and responsibilities were expanded and restructured, resulting in a promotion to Assistant Librarian.

Smith manages ILL, a fast-growing service as faculty and students search the Internet and request research materials owned by libraries in Michigan and around the world. In 2007-08, over 20,000 items were either borrowed for UM-Dearborn patrons or sent to other libraries for their patrons. This was an increase of 9.2% over the previous year. Hundreds of items arrive or are shipped each week, requiring an efficient and swift workflow performed under Smith’s watchful eye. She has also become an expert at locating hard-to-find materials for our users who frequently come to her for help and advice.

Smith didn’t intend to become a librarian when she started her academic career at UM-Dearborn fifteen years ago. “I wasn’t planning to work for the UM-Dearborn library but a friend of mine, who was a Library Student Assistant, begged me to come work with her at the library. But I didn’t want to work at the Circulation Desk so I started in Shelving. I also worked one semester in Technical Services but then Margaret Kruszewski, Head of Circulation, asked me if I wanted to help out with ILL and that’s when I found my niche!”

It has been rewarding to follow Smith’s progress from undergraduate student assistant to professional librarian. She is an inspiration to all who have watched her these last fifteen years and we’re proud to have her on our staff, as both a UM-Dearborn alumna and a professional librarian! Way to go Lavada!!

Betrayal! Revenge! Murder! Redemption!

Join the Mardigian Library and the Arab American National Museum for one of two book discussions held on the UM-Dearborn campus. Both events are open to the public.


Book title: The Thief and the Dogs
Author: Naguib Mahfouz

Tues., March 10, Noon-1:00 p.m.
Mon., March 23, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Room 1210 in the Mardigian Library.

See The Big Read website for information about the novel and the author and for a full list of events hosted by the Arab American National Museum.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest. Grant support for this project was provided by the Detroit Area Library Network (DALNET).


For more information about the book discussions scheduled at the Mardigian Library, contact Kathy Irwin at 313-593-5598.

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

Book: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Date: Tues., Feb. 3, 2009

Time: Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Location: 1210 ML

Discussion Questions:
http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides3/time_travelers_wife1.asp
http://bestsellers.about.com/od/bookclubquestions/a/time_trvl_q.htm

Future books and dates:
March 10th (noon) and 23rd (7:00 p.m.): The Thief and the Dogs by Naguib Mahfouz,
Collaborative event with the Arab American Museum

April 8, 2009 (W): The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Have you ever forgotten to write your bibliography before you returned the books to the library? Can’t remember the name of that great book you read last month? My Reading History is an opt-in service that will allow you to maintain a list of items you have previously checked out. Once you agree to use this service, it will keep track of everything you check out after signing up, with the exception of items ordered through MeLCat or Interlibrary Loan.

Please be aware that “opting-in” to your Reading History may make your records available to law enforcement due to the USA PATRIOT Act.

You may delete individual items from your list or you may unsubscribe to the Reading History at any time. To turn off your reading history, first delete all items from your list.

Library staff members cannot view items you previously checked out. They can only view items you currently have checked out.

To turn on the feature:
1. Log in to your library account, https://wizard.umd.umich.edu/patroninfo/
2. Click on the "My Reading History" link
3. Click the "Opt In" button
4. Items will appear on the list the next time you check something out (except ILL or MeLCat items)

To turn off the feature:
1. Log in to your library account, https://wizard.umd.umich.edu/patroninfo/
2. Click on the "My Reading History" link
3. Click the "Delete All" button
4. Click the "Opt Out" button

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

Book: Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Date: Wed., Nov. 19, 2008

Time: Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Location: 1210 ML


Future books and dates:
Feb. 3, 2009 (Tu): Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
April 8, 2009 (W): The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

During the summer of 2008, the Mardigian Library began creating digital bookplates to highlight items in our collection that have been acquired through the generosity of our donors. Three of these donations contain children’s books: the May G. Quigley Collection, the Balbach Collection, and the Patricia Bravender Gift. The library plans to continue adding digital bookplates to recognize significant donations of books and items that are purchased using endowment funds. Most recently, we completed work on the digital bookplate for items purchased through the Mardigian Endowment.

Each digital bookplate describes the gift or donation as well as the donors or honorees and includes links to the items in the library catalog. In some cases, photos of the donors are included, making their stories come to life, and providing them with something they can show to friends and family.

Creating these bookplates was a collaborative process. Librarian Beth Taylor is responsible for creating and maintaining the digital bookplates. She organized a team of librarians to work on various aspects of the project over the summer. Taylor said, “We utilized the skills and strengths of librarians from various departments to make this project a success. The result is an easy-to-use and attractive addition to the catalog, and it can grow over time.”

Librarian Barbara Kriigel brought back the idea for creating digital bookplates from a conference she attended last spring. She was intrigued by a presentation given by Brown University librarians, who had created over 600 electronic bookplates for their endowments and gifts, and she wondered if the concept could be adapted for the Mardigian Library. Kriigel said, “What caught my attention was how enthusiastic their donors were about the bookplates. Also, the idea that donors could quickly and easily pull together a list of everything they had given made so much sense in today’s world where we look everything up on the internet and then share it with our friends and family!”

These gifts and endowments support the library’s mission by enriching students’ learning experiences. We welcome your gift! If you or someone you know is interested in donating books, please contact Fu Schuttringer at 313-583-6324 or fysch@umd.umich.edu . If you are interested in making a cash donation, you may do so online or through the mail. Your contribution will help us reach the highest level of excellence in the collections and services we deliver to UM-Dearborn students, faculty, and alumni.

The Mardigian Library could not function without our student assistants! As part of the university's 50th anniversary activities, we are planning to host a party in October 2009 for all alumni who worked as our student assistants at UM-Dearborn. If you are a former library student assistant, please send your name and address to sasbury@umd.umich.edu so we can send you an invitation. If you know someone who was a library student assistant, please let us know their name and contact information so that we can recognize as many alumni as possible. We look forward to seeing you next fall!