Alumni

The Mardigian Library is planning a special exhibition in fall 2010 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. We are collaborating with the Detroit Public Library, The Henry Ford, HarperCollins, and the Alfred Berkowitz Gallery to create displays honoring Mrs. Wilder and her books.

Little House on the Prairie was first published in 1935. It is the third title in the “Little House” series, coming after Little House in the Big Woods (1932) and Farmer Boy (1933). The series has remained constantly in print since its publication and the books are considered to be classics of American children’s literature.

The tentative date for the opening reception is Oct. 29, 2010. Mark your calendars!

The Mardigian Library has a new, special digital bookplate to acknowledge and thank the individuals who give a donation of $50 or more to the library during the 2009-10 academic year, the university’s 50th anniversary. Your donation will go to the library’s Collection of Excellence fund which is used to purchase books, videos, e-books, and much more.

The university was founded in 1959 with a gift from the Ford Motor Company, and in the last 50 years, over 140,000 students have attended classes and more than 41,000 individuals obtained degrees. Hopefully ALL of them used the library!

The current library was the first structure completed in a building phase that began in the late 1970’s, opening in 1980 with seating for 1,200. Over the years, many changes have taken place, including the addition of a coffee bar, a computer lab, and a faculty lounge. Today’s library staff members actively engage with faculty to provide the best possible instruction, resources and services for our students.

You may make a gift online or by mail.

Thank you for your support!

To meet the needs of our tech-savvy millennial students, the Mardigian Library recently installed new searching software. Using a simple search box, students can simultaneously search multiple databases. Results include books, articles, ebooks, and other materials from the Mardigian Library, the University of Michigan Libraries in Ann Arbor, MeLCat (Michigan libraries), and WorldCat (libraries worldwide). Using the new software saves students time and hassle!

In a list of results, titles are arranged by relevance, with items owned by the Mardigian Library appearing first. Cover images are shown, similar to Amazon’s displays. Additional information such as reviews, summaries, and abstracts is also available.

The new software features “faceted searching”, which allows users to narrow the results by author, format, year, topic, etc. Or, the user can choose to set off on a path of discovery by clicking on various links of interest.

Behind the scenes is a “mega index”. Rather than waiting for all databases to respond individually over the Internet, the new software requires only one reply from the mega index. Having a pre-built index is a giant leap forward in the ability to provide fast results.

The library’s more traditional online public catalog (OPAC), as well as individual journal databases, will continue to be available. Many users are accustomed to these interfaces which have their own particular strengths.

To try the new software, go to the library web page and enter your search in the “Quick Search” box.

The Mardigian Library will soon be changing our federated search product interface Central Search to WorldCat Local.

Users will able to search online for books, articles and other materials from the Mardigian Library, the University of Michigan Libraries in Ann Arbor, MeLCat (Michigan libraries), and WorldCat (libraries worldwide) using a single search interface. The items in the results list are arranged by relevance, with items from the Mardigian Library appearing first.

WorldCat Local also provides “faceted searching”, which allows users to narrow the results by author, format, year, topic, etc. To try this new interface, go to the library web page and click on the icon on the upper right-hand side of the page that says, “Try Beta WorldCat Catalog.”

The option to search just the library’s online public catalog (OPAC) will still be available.

Julia Daniel joined the Mardigian Library staff as Systems Librarian in early July 2009. She brings a wealth of experience in the areas of user interface needs and requirements, usability testing, digital asset management, emerging technologies, supervision and training, and leading interdepartmental collaborative teams.


Julia is actively involved in the American Society of Information Science and Technology and the Society of American Archivists. She has served on the board of the Wayne State University Alumni Association and is Past President of the Wayne State University Library and Information Science Alumni Association. She teaches courses in archival studies, web site design, and technology at Wayne State University’s School of Library and Information Science, and enjoys working with librarians-in-training.

Julia formerly worked at the General Motors Media Archive, The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, and the Ford Motor Company Global Product Marketing Knowledge Center. She is a graduate of Wayne State University, earning the Bachelor’s degree in both German Literature and the Humanities, and the Master’s degree in Library and Information Science.

In her free time, she enjoys cycling, collecting mid-modern furniture, and wine tasting.

We extend our heartiest welcome to Julia!

All former Mardigian Library staff and student assistants are invited to a "Library Alumni Open House" on Friday, October 16, 2009, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. The event is part of the celebration of UM-Dearborn's 50th Anniversary during the 2009-2010 academic year.

Please RSVP by Friday, October 9, 2009, to sasbury@umd.umich.edu or call 313-593-5236. Be sure to let us know if you are bringing a guest.

The party will be held on the second floor. Chancellor Daniel Little will welcome attendees at 4:30 p.m. Remarks will follow from Timothy F. Richards, Director of the Mardigian Library. Photographs depicting the history of the campus and library will be on display, and refreshments will be served.

We would love to hear your stories of working at the library. It will be wonderful to see “old friends” and to catch up!

During the academic year 2008-2009, UM-Dearborn students, faculty, and staff borrowed 5,136 items using the MeLCat service and downloaded countless articles from Michigan eLibrary databases. MeLCat services cost one tenth of traditional Interlibrary Loan services and provide access to the collections of over 300 Michigan libraries. If we had to replace all the free Michigan eLibrary databases, it would cost our library approximately $250,000 per year.

MeL statewide library services save taxpayers $72 million through group purchasing and resource sharing. Under the leadership of the Library of Michigan, every library in the state - including academic, public, k-12, and special libraries - has access to these resources. These and other services are in jeopardy.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm's Executive Order 2009-36 threatens to break up the Library of Michigan and to diminish its role as the leader of statewide library efforts. Our elected officials are currently crafting the Fiscal Year 2010 budget, and are making tough decisions that affect each and every one of us. The Michigan Senate recently passed a budget that would cut library funding from $10 million to $7.5 million, a mere drop in the bucket when looking at the overall budget deficit. This cut places in jeopardy the MeLCat Interlibrary Loan system and the Michigan eLibrary databases.

Read more online at Michigan Libraries for the Future.

The Mardigian Library now offers a public facsimile (fax) service for $1.00 per page. To use the service, go to the Circulation Desk, and a library employee will send the fax for you. Payments may be made in cash only, and there are no refunds.

The library’s fax line does not accept incoming calls, so we cannot receive faxes. We can send faxes to local or long distances numbers, but not to international numbers. UM-Dearborn students who need to send an international fax may do so at the International Office in the University Center. They charge the same rate as the library and are open regular business hours.

When Copy Express closed earlier this year, they asked the library to consider offering a fax service since many students utilized it. The library is open longer than any other customer service point on campus, making it an excellent choice as the new service center.

The Mardigian Library has increased the book loan periods or renewal periods for most borrowers.

UM-Dearborn Undergraduate students and UM-Dearborn Alumni:
• 3 week loan period
• 3 renewals of 3 weeks each
• Potential total time with item: 12 weeks

UM-Dearborn Graduate students, CASL Honors students, and UM-Dearborn Staff now receive the same book loan and renewal periods as UM-Dearborn Faculty:
• 1 term loan period
• 2 renewals of 1 term each
• Potential total time with item: 3 terms

Guests, Reciprocal Borrowers, and Infopasses:
• 3 week loan period
• 1 renewal of 3 weeks
• Potential total time with item: 6 weeks

All items are subject to recall if they are needed by another individual or for reserves.

The replacement fee for a lost item has been increased to $90.

Library customers may now pay their library fines and bills online from the library website. The same online payment system is used by the Cashiers office and several other entities on campus, providing a familiar experience for students who pay various university fees online.

"Students lead very busy lives. The online payment system gives them a convenient and easy alternative to making an extra trip to campus or to the library," said Kathy Irwin, Head of Circulation Services.

To pay online, log in to your library account, view your fines and bills, type in the prompted information, and submit. A receipt may be printed from the web page, and a copy of the receipt will be e-mailed to you.

If a student has a Banner hold, the hold will be released within one business day. If a student needs the hold lifted sooner than that, they may call the Circulation Desk, 313-593-5559, during regular library hours and ask to speak to a supervisor.

This service will also help students who move out of state after graduation or who travel overseas. In the past the only choice they had was to mail in a check, delaying their ability to register or obtain transcripts.

Students may also pay fines in person at the Circulation Desk with cash, a personal check, or a credit card. The library accepts Discover, MasterCard, and Visa.

Are you on Facebook? Become a fan of the Mardigian Library! Are you on LinkedIn? Join the Mardigian Library Group!

The Mardigian Library offers a number of services to alumni of the University of Michigan-Dearborn, such as a free alumni library card, and access to MeLCat which allows users to request materials from over 300 libraries in the state of Michigan. And now you can learn about events and new services by connecting to the library in the social networking tools you already use.

Become a fan of our Facebook page


Join our LinkedIn group

Tim Richards, Director of the Mardigian Library, recently met with University of Michigan-Dearborn alumni to share information about alumni library services and to listen to their needs. The alumni expressed interest in accessing databases that are not available at their place of work and that they could access off campus. They also wondered if there was a way to receive alerts on subjects of interest. The good news is that UM-Dearborn alumni can do both!


UM-Dearborn alumni who join the University of Michigan Alumni Association can access the ProQuest and Project Muse databases from their home or office computer. Note that this association is different from the UM-Dearborn Alumni Society in which all UM-Dearborn alumni are automatically enrolled for free.

After you pay for the UM Alumni Association membership, you can access the databases from the alumni association website by clicking on “Get Informed” and selecting “University Library Access.” You will be required to log in using your uniqname and password. More information is available online, including help with your uniqname or password.

The ProQuest databases (including ABI Inform, Alt Press News, Ethnic News Watch and Gender Watch) cover all fields and topics, while the Project Muse database focuses on humanities, arts, and social sciences.


You can set up table of contents alerts and subject alerts in all the ProQuest databases.

Setting up a table of contents alert:
• Once you have logged into ProQuest, click on the Publications tab.
• In the Publication Search box, type in the title of a magazine or journal. For example, type in Crain’s Detroit Business and click Search.
• On the next screen, click on the title of the magazine or journal.
• The next screen will show you a list of the years and issues to which the library provides access.
• Near the top of this screen you will see “Set up Alert” and “Create RSS Feed.”
• A box will pop up prompting you to type in your email address and to select the length of time you would like to receive the alerts.
• Fill in the requested information and click Save. You will receive a confirmation screen and an email providing information about the alert you created.
• If you would rather read the alerts using an RSS reader, click on “Create RSS Feed.”
• A box will pop up providing the address of the RSS feed. If you click on the RSS icon, you can indicate which RSS reader you use, including Bloglines, Yahoo, or Google.

Setting up subject alerts:
• Once you have logged into ProQuest, type in search terms. For example, type in "stress and job satisfaction" then click Search.
• The resulting articles show what has already been published on the subject. If you would like to receive notice of articles published in the future on the same subject, click “Set up Alert.”
• A box will pop up prompting you to type in your email address and to indicate how frequently you would like to receive the alert.
• Fill in the requested information and click Save. You will receive a confirmation screen and an email providing information about the alert you created.
• If you would rather read the alerts using an RSS reader, click on “Create RSS Feed.”
• A box will pop up providing the address of the RSS feed. If you click on the RSS icon, you can indicate which RSS reader you use, including Bloglines, Yahoo, or Google.

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.

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!