I have to admit I'm a fan of four-day weeks. Who isn't?
Still, the short week plus the quietude that advances with the summer means there aren't many new developments to report on at the moment.
Instead, I'll regale you with some of the most common questions I get asked as your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man -- er, librarian -- and my answers for them, so you're getting a chance to see things from behind the Service Desk. The following questions are divided into two categories, so pay attention; sometimes the context is important!
On the Service Desk
"Where are the DVDs/videos/deaf school yearbooks?"
They're on the row of shelves behind you with the large sign on it that reads "DVDs"/"Videos"/"Deaf School Yearbooks."
"What about the copy machines?"
They're off to your left, just behind the little counter with the large "Photocopy" sign above it.
"Where's the eLearning Lab?"
It's downstairs; there's a large sign on the stairs right behind you that will help point the way. It's okay; we know the building's confusing, so don't feel too badly about missing all these signs. That's what we're here for!
"Do you work here?"
Frequently, yes.
"Does this building have a bathroom?"
I am very happy to say yes!
"I'm just visiting a friend in the dorms, but I lost my pager and I was wondering if I could use one of your computers to check my e-mail?"
Our computers are frequently in high demand, so our policy limits Library computer use to Gallaudet students and faculty first, followed by people performing deaf-related research. We do not allow casual visitors to use the computers. We're generally sticklers about this, so it is probably best to plan your trip well enough to avoid needing to try your luck with us.
"I left my ID at home, but I know my ID number. Can I still check out this book/DVD?"
Nope.
"Okay, how about to pay my fines/fees? Surely I don't need my ID to give you money!"
Nope. Only when you cross my palm with plastic will the way be opened.
"Well, why not?"
In a word: confidentiality. It's the law. We never, ever allow anyone to do anything affecting anyone's Library record without photographic proof of 1) their identity and 2) their current status as a registered student or employee of Gallaudet University. Some people don't take this too seriously, but it's kind of like the teller at the local bank letting just anyone walk up to her off the street and give your name so they can take money out of your account. Sounds like an exaggeration, but there have been people who let their friends borrow stuff from the Library on their IDs, only to find out the day before graduation they won't be allowed to graduate until they pay close to a hundred dollars for a lost movie that they don't remember ever checking out. That's money out of their bank account. We don't want this to happen, so we do our part to make sure the IDs we see actually belong to the people who give them to us. It's a short-term pain in the butt that'll save you a bigger one later.
"Why do lost books and movies cost so much? Harry Potter doesn't cost $97!"
We don't always collect the full $97; we usually waive some of it depending on what you decide to do. The fines break down like this:
$57 lost book fine: This number isn't arbitrary; it's the average cost of a single book across all eight schools in the WRLC. This number ensures that we're capable of replacing an item when it's lost.
$30 lost book replacement processing fee: This fee is applied because the process of removing a lost item from the collection and adding its replacement does cost money in supplies and time.
$10 overdue fine: The maximum overdue fine you can incur before the book is automatically marked as 'Lost.'
What you can do about it: One of three things: 1) pay the whole thing, in which case we'll waive the $10 and $30 fines; 2) talk to the librarian who's responsible for that book and find out what you need to do to replace it yourself, in which case we'll waive all but $10; or 3) bring the durned thing back! and you'll only pay the $10.
When you put these three options in order from cheapest to most expensive, you'll be able to see what we really want: our own stuff back. That's why that choice is the cheapest -- we don't think anyone would want to pay $57 for Hellboy 2. If the item really is lost, then we do what we can to make the loss as painless as possible for everyone.
In My Civvies (i.e., off the job)
"So, do you actually get to tell people to be quiet?"
At a university for the deaf? Things are kind of quiet for most people by default. When they aren't, we have been known to ask people to settle down, but it isn't usually an issue.
"Do you spend a lot of time putting books on the shelf?"
Nope. That's what we have student assistants for. They're also good for things like cleaning up stray books, reshelving movies, and building pyramids.
"Have you memorized the Dewey Decimal System?"
Have you memorized the periodic table? Good. Now multiply that by 10. Add maybe 300 or so.
"Aren't you supposed to know it by heart, though?"
No one person could. It's hugely complex and to commit it to memory would mean that I have no life, which we all know isn't true ... right? Right? Hello?
"How does it feel to be forced into obsolescence by the pitiless advance of modern technology?"
It feels a lot like a bunch of people asking me questions all at once. Oh, wait ...
"So you just spend all day working on the desk, answering questions?"
No, actually. Working on the desk represents a pretty slim percentage of my work schedule. The rest of the time is spent working on various projects, including talking with faculty, giving presentations, deciding what needs to be taken out of my part of the collection and what needs to be put in, meeting with students, going to lectures and workshops on campus and off with the WRLC, and a million other little things every day.
"Do you get to read books for a living?"
Not really. Sometimes I'll skim a book here and there if it's been donated and I think it could be a good addition to the collection, but actual reading material is more a byproduct of the job. A perk, if you will.
That squares away this week; no Question of the Week -- I've answered plenty as it is.
June starts on Monday, and that's when you know it's really going to be summer. If it ever stops raining, get out there and enjoy the sunlight! See you next Friday.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
new and improved web site!
Jeez. Who knew that summer could be so busy? Fortunately, there's a three-day weekend coming up!
Here's something you can do over the weekend if you discover that 72 hours of unabated freedom is too much for your sanity: check out the new, improved library.gallaudet.edu!
Let me take you on a tour. Although you can certainly refer to the diagram below, I strongly suggest that you open a new window with the website in it as you read along; the diagram is just to save me the trouble of saying things like, "Now, the top box in the middle -- not the one with the pictures, the one below that, below the line where it says 'Gallaudet University Library,' I think it's called 'Research Help' or something like that, yeah ... "
Okay. Let's go.
1 - Shortcuts to ALADIN
Our most exciting new feature. You can now search ALADIN directly from our home page without having to click through to the catalog twice. Excellent for quick searches or just getting started on a long, winding research journey. We also offer a list of subject areas for our databases, so you can go straight to the Psychology databases only seconds after you hit our site. Below that are some links to our e-Journals, the e-Journals available at other Consortium schools and, of course, myALADIN.
2 - About the Library
Links to information about, of course, the Library. Hours, directions, floor maps, and staff pages are all here, as well as ... huh. There's a link to this blog in that box. Did I just feel the universe folding in on itself or have I just had too much coffee?
Probably too much coffee. I just got a new coffeemaker and I've been sucking down six cups a day. In my defense, it is of the Dunkin' Donuts brand.
Anyway, as you can see (if you're also looking at the actual web page), this section is not quite complete -- and it's not the only one that isn't. We're working on it, and you will see us tweaking the website here and there over the course of the summer as we all (including students and faculty) get used to this new setup.
Moving on:
3 - Research Help
Links to various guides and pathfinders to our collection, designed to -- hopefully -- make research easier. Our Deaf Research Help area has been reorganized a bit, but it is still the area you want to visit if you're looking for information about famous Deaf people or the statistics of deafness or, really, almost anything else you can think of. There are also links to subject-specific guides (including, eventually, LibGuides) and pages designed to help you understand and use the more commonly-used style guides when you're writing a paper, including RefWorks.
Ahh, RefWorks. That's a whole nother post, possibly sometime in the near future. Suffice it to say that if you're just not sure how to put together a citation, RefWorks is a lifesaver.
4 - Library Services
More information about our services outside of lending books and movies to Gallaudet students and faculty, as well as answers to some of the more commonly-asked questions we get about navigating our system. You can find out how to renew materials online, search for specific types of materials, or get a job at the Library. If you're a visitor, outside researcher, or in any other way not affiliated with Gallaudet University, this should be the first place you look in order to figure out where you fit in and how you can best take advantage of our services.
5 - Search Library Web
Another terrific new feature: you can now search the Library's website itself! This way, you can check to see if our website has the answer you're looking for before going to all the trouble of finding a way to contact us, especially if it's 2 in the morning and Meebo isn't rolling over when you poke it. The search box is powered by Google and also searches this blog and the Archives' website, just to cover every possible base.
6 - Chat with us!
This is the familiar Meebo chat widget you may recognize from the old website.
7 - Library News
Watch this space for new things happening around the Library and other announcements. This might be my ego talking, but it is essentially a scaled-down, formal version of this blog. If anything interesting pops up there when you visit the main Library website, head over here to see if there's any further information, which there usually will be; I'm a big fan of integration, after all.
So that's the new website. There's a lot more information available at first glance, and it might seem a little overwhelming at first -- especially considering that you're used to just a Meebo widget and a sidebar with links -- but play with it, explore a little, jab it in the ribs and see if it snaps at your fingers. You'll like it a lot more! Especially when you're in a hurry.
Question of the Week
I walked into the Library from HMB the other day and noticed the plaque about Merrill outside the door to the Library, and realized that I see lots of "Merrill Learning Center" and "MLC" and "Library," and I always thought they meant the same thing. Then I remembered that there are other things in the building, like the eLearning Lab. Is everything in the building part of the Library?
In a nutshell, not precisely. It's the other way around -- the Library is part of the building, which is occupied by Academic Technology, Library and Archives, and ASL Services (ATLAS Learning Services). The name's a bit of a mouthful (hence the very nice acronym!), because ATLAS has sort of grown together organically over the years as a group of units working together. The units are:
Academic Technology (AT): Supports classroom learning, provides technical support through the Helpdesk, offers workshops and training for students, faculty, and staff, runs Blackboard, makes videos ... a lot of stuff. Basically, if there's a piece of technology involved anywhere on campus, they're the ones to call. They're also the largest department in ATLAS, comprising four smaller subunits.
Library: Us. Obviously. Although both units work together very closely, we are distinct from the Archives because our missions are somewhat divergent. Ours is just to provide access to information, whether digital or in print. Our primary goal is to make sure the Library is capable of supporting the curriculum and meeting the needs of students, faculty, staff, and outside researchers. Few people, I think, realize that the Gallaudet University Library is a world-class research library, but it is -- and we work hard to keep it that way.
Archives: The Archives' mission is to preserve the memories of both Gallaudet itself and the deaf community in general. This includes institutional papers (like presidential memos or deaf club meeting minutes), photographs, blueprints, films, books, legal documents, machines, personal belongings, original manuscripts of deaf-related books, anything and everything. It all falls under the Archives' purview if it's deaf-related. The Archives plays a huge role in meeting researchers' needs, whether those researchers are students working on a Deaf Lit paper, faculty writing a book on Alice Cogswell, or outside researchers investigating the history of the Deaf Fraternal Order of the Upper Bronx from 1914-1934 (not real; don't look it up).
ASL Services: Short for ASL Diagnostic and Evaluation Services, this is the unit responsible for evaluating ASL proficiency in students, faculty, and staff and providing diagnostic analysis and feedback. ASL Services may be one of the most behind-the-scenes units of ATLAS; they make sure everyone can communicate with each other.
All of the above units make their home in the Merrill Learning Center; the Library is just the most visible of the four. ASL Services lives on the second floor; the Library occupies nearly all of the open space in the basement and on the first floor, plus a half-dozen classrooms and at least one auditorium; the Archives have three very large rooms to use as vaults and several smaller rooms for photography storage, genealogy research, and office space, all in the basement; and AT is all over the place, with a video archive on the second floor, offices on the first, and almost everything else in the basement -- except the Helpdesk, which is in HMB -- including the eLearning Lab and a full-on TV studio.
You'll notice that the basement houses at least some parts of three out of four ATLAS units, and those parts tend to be pretty big, like a TV studio, an auditorium, or vaults containing nearly every recoverable piece of paperwork ever generated by deaf people. It's a big place, and a big building.
It can be confusing and maze-like and nearly impossible to figure out without a decent Sherpa. Fortunately, there's a whole staff of Sherpas in the Merrill Learning Center, although here at Gallaudet, we call them "librarians." Just come to the Service Desk and ask!
Here's something you can do over the weekend if you discover that 72 hours of unabated freedom is too much for your sanity: check out the new, improved library.gallaudet.edu!
Let me take you on a tour. Although you can certainly refer to the diagram below, I strongly suggest that you open a new window with the website in it as you read along; the diagram is just to save me the trouble of saying things like, "Now, the top box in the middle -- not the one with the pictures, the one below that, below the line where it says 'Gallaudet University Library,' I think it's called 'Research Help' or something like that, yeah ... "
Okay. Let's go.
1 - Shortcuts to ALADINOur most exciting new feature. You can now search ALADIN directly from our home page without having to click through to the catalog twice. Excellent for quick searches or just getting started on a long, winding research journey. We also offer a list of subject areas for our databases, so you can go straight to the Psychology databases only seconds after you hit our site. Below that are some links to our e-Journals, the e-Journals available at other Consortium schools and, of course, myALADIN.
2 - About the Library
Links to information about, of course, the Library. Hours, directions, floor maps, and staff pages are all here, as well as ... huh. There's a link to this blog in that box. Did I just feel the universe folding in on itself or have I just had too much coffee?
Probably too much coffee. I just got a new coffeemaker and I've been sucking down six cups a day. In my defense, it is of the Dunkin' Donuts brand.
Anyway, as you can see (if you're also looking at the actual web page), this section is not quite complete -- and it's not the only one that isn't. We're working on it, and you will see us tweaking the website here and there over the course of the summer as we all (including students and faculty) get used to this new setup.
Moving on:
3 - Research Help
Links to various guides and pathfinders to our collection, designed to -- hopefully -- make research easier. Our Deaf Research Help area has been reorganized a bit, but it is still the area you want to visit if you're looking for information about famous Deaf people or the statistics of deafness or, really, almost anything else you can think of. There are also links to subject-specific guides (including, eventually, LibGuides) and pages designed to help you understand and use the more commonly-used style guides when you're writing a paper, including RefWorks.
Ahh, RefWorks. That's a whole nother post, possibly sometime in the near future. Suffice it to say that if you're just not sure how to put together a citation, RefWorks is a lifesaver.
4 - Library Services
More information about our services outside of lending books and movies to Gallaudet students and faculty, as well as answers to some of the more commonly-asked questions we get about navigating our system. You can find out how to renew materials online, search for specific types of materials, or get a job at the Library. If you're a visitor, outside researcher, or in any other way not affiliated with Gallaudet University, this should be the first place you look in order to figure out where you fit in and how you can best take advantage of our services.
5 - Search Library Web
Another terrific new feature: you can now search the Library's website itself! This way, you can check to see if our website has the answer you're looking for before going to all the trouble of finding a way to contact us, especially if it's 2 in the morning and Meebo isn't rolling over when you poke it. The search box is powered by Google and also searches this blog and the Archives' website, just to cover every possible base.
6 - Chat with us!
This is the familiar Meebo chat widget you may recognize from the old website.
7 - Library News
Watch this space for new things happening around the Library and other announcements. This might be my ego talking, but it is essentially a scaled-down, formal version of this blog. If anything interesting pops up there when you visit the main Library website, head over here to see if there's any further information, which there usually will be; I'm a big fan of integration, after all.
So that's the new website. There's a lot more information available at first glance, and it might seem a little overwhelming at first -- especially considering that you're used to just a Meebo widget and a sidebar with links -- but play with it, explore a little, jab it in the ribs and see if it snaps at your fingers. You'll like it a lot more! Especially when you're in a hurry.
Question of the Week
I walked into the Library from HMB the other day and noticed the plaque about Merrill outside the door to the Library, and realized that I see lots of "Merrill Learning Center" and "MLC" and "Library," and I always thought they meant the same thing. Then I remembered that there are other things in the building, like the eLearning Lab. Is everything in the building part of the Library?
In a nutshell, not precisely. It's the other way around -- the Library is part of the building, which is occupied by Academic Technology, Library and Archives, and ASL Services (ATLAS Learning Services). The name's a bit of a mouthful (hence the very nice acronym!), because ATLAS has sort of grown together organically over the years as a group of units working together. The units are:
Academic Technology (AT): Supports classroom learning, provides technical support through the Helpdesk, offers workshops and training for students, faculty, and staff, runs Blackboard, makes videos ... a lot of stuff. Basically, if there's a piece of technology involved anywhere on campus, they're the ones to call. They're also the largest department in ATLAS, comprising four smaller subunits.
Library: Us. Obviously. Although both units work together very closely, we are distinct from the Archives because our missions are somewhat divergent. Ours is just to provide access to information, whether digital or in print. Our primary goal is to make sure the Library is capable of supporting the curriculum and meeting the needs of students, faculty, staff, and outside researchers. Few people, I think, realize that the Gallaudet University Library is a world-class research library, but it is -- and we work hard to keep it that way.
Archives: The Archives' mission is to preserve the memories of both Gallaudet itself and the deaf community in general. This includes institutional papers (like presidential memos or deaf club meeting minutes), photographs, blueprints, films, books, legal documents, machines, personal belongings, original manuscripts of deaf-related books, anything and everything. It all falls under the Archives' purview if it's deaf-related. The Archives plays a huge role in meeting researchers' needs, whether those researchers are students working on a Deaf Lit paper, faculty writing a book on Alice Cogswell, or outside researchers investigating the history of the Deaf Fraternal Order of the Upper Bronx from 1914-1934 (not real; don't look it up).
ASL Services: Short for ASL Diagnostic and Evaluation Services, this is the unit responsible for evaluating ASL proficiency in students, faculty, and staff and providing diagnostic analysis and feedback. ASL Services may be one of the most behind-the-scenes units of ATLAS; they make sure everyone can communicate with each other.
All of the above units make their home in the Merrill Learning Center; the Library is just the most visible of the four. ASL Services lives on the second floor; the Library occupies nearly all of the open space in the basement and on the first floor, plus a half-dozen classrooms and at least one auditorium; the Archives have three very large rooms to use as vaults and several smaller rooms for photography storage, genealogy research, and office space, all in the basement; and AT is all over the place, with a video archive on the second floor, offices on the first, and almost everything else in the basement -- except the Helpdesk, which is in HMB -- including the eLearning Lab and a full-on TV studio.
You'll notice that the basement houses at least some parts of three out of four ATLAS units, and those parts tend to be pretty big, like a TV studio, an auditorium, or vaults containing nearly every recoverable piece of paperwork ever generated by deaf people. It's a big place, and a big building.
It can be confusing and maze-like and nearly impossible to figure out without a decent Sherpa. Fortunately, there's a whole staff of Sherpas in the Merrill Learning Center, although here at Gallaudet, we call them "librarians." Just come to the Service Desk and ask!
Friday, May 15, 2009
What's to come
Now that the summer is beginning in earnest -- graduation is occurring right now -- let's take a look at some of the projects we've got planned for the summer and what you may see in the Library upon your arrival this coming fall.
First, new computers. We'll be getting around 5-10 newer computers to add to our current collection, and are currently in the process of deciding where to put all the new stuff; the biggest consideration is convenience for the students. The first-floor public computers by the Service Desk are very heavily used and often fill up during key parts of the semester. This is mostly because of their central location, which is also closest to the printers, main stairs, the Deaf Stacks, and the Service Desk. They also make it easy for time-crunched students to walk in, quickly find what they need, and walk out. Still, there isn't much room left in the open space on the first floor so the new computers may go downstairs. As I said, we're working on it.
The important part is that we are getting more computers! At some point over the summer, you'll be updated on what's happening with them and what you can definitely expect when you arrive in the fall.
Second, new website. We are in the process of revamping our website -- at least, we were. It's almost done! This is just the latest major change in the evolution of our online services, which has taken a fascinating path over the past few years (check it out in the Wayback Machine -- just click on the first link in each year). This newest iteration of our website is focused even more on ease of use for both students and faculty. You'll see increased emphasis on quick searches in the ALADIN Catalog and our electronic resources, on contacting us, and on helpful resources that will guide you to where you need to go. It's also very nice-looking. Do yourself a favor and explore it a little bit once it rolls out -- I'll let you know about that, too.
Third, new hours. We're currently figuring out ways to expand our operating hours for the Fall semester. Nothing concrete has yet been determined, but as soon as I find out, so will you.
Fourth, new LibGuides. Not that we had old LibGuides; this is a wholly new thing we're working on. LibGuides is a pretty cool online content management system that'll help us churn out focused guides for specific parts of our collection and specific departments here at Gallaudet University. We'll cover not only our own resources (including more direct pipelines into ALADIN for specific topics), but also provide information about citation styles, resources outside of Gallaudet, quick glossaries to help students brush up on specialized vocabulary, and many other things; most of the guides may be one-stop shops for you. Personally, I think it's a lot of fun to put together, mostly because I'm a total geek, but hopefully you'll find it useful!
These are just the four most visible changes happening in the Library over the summer. A lot of other stuff will be going on, but they're generally much more subtle than anything that will immediately impact your routine Library use.
Oh -- also, in response to swine-flu concerns and general hygiene, Gallaudet has installed free antibacterial hand-foam dispensers on both sides of the building near the Service Desk. They're lots of fun (seriously: foam), and we do encourage that everyone use them.
That just about wraps it up for this week. Good luck to the class of 2009!
Question of the Week
What's the deal with the Library hours?? Sometimes you close at 11 p.m., sometimes 8, sometimes 6, sometimes 5. Which is it?
You're not the only one who's asked about that this week. Our hours do vary on a regular basis. For instance, this summer, we close at 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and at 5 p.m. Friday-Sunday. You can sleep in all weekend, too: we don't open until 1 on Saturday and Sunday. This is a change from this past Spring semester, when we were open until 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday.
We do change our hours based on how we see people using the Library, though; for instance, during Fall and Spring semesters, we're friendlier to night-owls and procrastinators: we are generally open later at night and for more of the day on the weekends, which will be true again this coming fall. Still, as I mentioned in New Thing Three above, we're still working on figuring out exact hours, so hang in there!
Between semesters, when classes aren't in session at all (like this week or around Christmas), we're only open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Period.
Also, if Gallaudet University is celebrating a holiday, we usually are, too, and will be closed.
Hopefully that clears up the confusion. Our hours are always posted at the building entrances, and we also have loads of copies of our hours available in the rack by the photocopy center -- just ask at the Service Desk if you're not sure where they are -- or check at our website.
First, new computers. We'll be getting around 5-10 newer computers to add to our current collection, and are currently in the process of deciding where to put all the new stuff; the biggest consideration is convenience for the students. The first-floor public computers by the Service Desk are very heavily used and often fill up during key parts of the semester. This is mostly because of their central location, which is also closest to the printers, main stairs, the Deaf Stacks, and the Service Desk. They also make it easy for time-crunched students to walk in, quickly find what they need, and walk out. Still, there isn't much room left in the open space on the first floor so the new computers may go downstairs. As I said, we're working on it.
The important part is that we are getting more computers! At some point over the summer, you'll be updated on what's happening with them and what you can definitely expect when you arrive in the fall.
Second, new website. We are in the process of revamping our website -- at least, we were. It's almost done! This is just the latest major change in the evolution of our online services, which has taken a fascinating path over the past few years (check it out in the Wayback Machine -- just click on the first link in each year). This newest iteration of our website is focused even more on ease of use for both students and faculty. You'll see increased emphasis on quick searches in the ALADIN Catalog and our electronic resources, on contacting us, and on helpful resources that will guide you to where you need to go. It's also very nice-looking. Do yourself a favor and explore it a little bit once it rolls out -- I'll let you know about that, too.
Third, new hours. We're currently figuring out ways to expand our operating hours for the Fall semester. Nothing concrete has yet been determined, but as soon as I find out, so will you.
Fourth, new LibGuides. Not that we had old LibGuides; this is a wholly new thing we're working on. LibGuides is a pretty cool online content management system that'll help us churn out focused guides for specific parts of our collection and specific departments here at Gallaudet University. We'll cover not only our own resources (including more direct pipelines into ALADIN for specific topics), but also provide information about citation styles, resources outside of Gallaudet, quick glossaries to help students brush up on specialized vocabulary, and many other things; most of the guides may be one-stop shops for you. Personally, I think it's a lot of fun to put together, mostly because I'm a total geek, but hopefully you'll find it useful!
These are just the four most visible changes happening in the Library over the summer. A lot of other stuff will be going on, but they're generally much more subtle than anything that will immediately impact your routine Library use.
Oh -- also, in response to swine-flu concerns and general hygiene, Gallaudet has installed free antibacterial hand-foam dispensers on both sides of the building near the Service Desk. They're lots of fun (seriously: foam), and we do encourage that everyone use them.
That just about wraps it up for this week. Good luck to the class of 2009!
Question of the Week
What's the deal with the Library hours?? Sometimes you close at 11 p.m., sometimes 8, sometimes 6, sometimes 5. Which is it?
You're not the only one who's asked about that this week. Our hours do vary on a regular basis. For instance, this summer, we close at 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and at 5 p.m. Friday-Sunday. You can sleep in all weekend, too: we don't open until 1 on Saturday and Sunday. This is a change from this past Spring semester, when we were open until 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday.
We do change our hours based on how we see people using the Library, though; for instance, during Fall and Spring semesters, we're friendlier to night-owls and procrastinators: we are generally open later at night and for more of the day on the weekends, which will be true again this coming fall. Still, as I mentioned in New Thing Three above, we're still working on figuring out exact hours, so hang in there!
Between semesters, when classes aren't in session at all (like this week or around Christmas), we're only open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Period.
Also, if Gallaudet University is celebrating a holiday, we usually are, too, and will be closed.
Hopefully that clears up the confusion. Our hours are always posted at the building entrances, and we also have loads of copies of our hours available in the rack by the photocopy center -- just ask at the Service Desk if you're not sure where they are -- or check at our website.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Summer reading happiness
Since it's the last week of the semester and finals are essentially over, I'll be loosening up a little bit today. I'm guessing most of you are pretty sick of the Library by now, judging from the sheer number of people we saw this week, so no Question of the Week.
Instead, I've gone around the first floor and asked everyone for their favorite books for summer reading. Some consist of pretty light fare, while others are bona fide reading projects. Still, all are good reads; we spend all our professional time around books, so you know we've got at least some taste!
Diana Gates
Talk Talk - After being falsely arrested for several crimes, a deaf woman and her boyfriend set out to find the real perpetrator.
Mischief - One of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct books, this story sees the return of The Deaf Man, a mysterious criminal, with cryptic clues sent to the police department that hint at his upcoming nefarious plans. This book also covers several subplots including pro-life and pro-choice activism, graffiti, a series of Alzheimer's patients found on the streets, and a hostage crisis.
Congo - One of Michael Crichton's earliest books, this novel has a research team (accompanied by Amy, a gorilla who signs) investigating horrific attacks perpetrated by gorillas deep in the African jungle. Although the technology is dated (this book was written in 1980), the story is tense and superbly-written.
Jephte's Daughter - A young Jewish woman is married to an orthodox Talmudic scholar, but when their marriage becomes abusive, she escapes to London with their son and falls in love with a priest. (Available at George Washington University through CLS)
Laura Jacobi
The Great Man - With the death of a famous artist comes a whole passel of revelations about the man himself, his wife, his mistress, and his sister.
The Corrections - The story of an emotionally complicated family -- a sick father, a mother obsessed with Christmas, a successful chef daughter with romantic issues, and two sons, one of whom is a depressed banker and the other an insecure gadfly -- written with a comic voice and with an eye to cultural commentary.
Seven Pillars of Wisdom - Learn about the real Lawrence of Arabia from the man himself, and how he helped unify the Arabs against Turkish oppression in the Middle East after World War I.
Lonesome Dove - A group of cowboys go on a cattle drive, but this novel is so much more than that. Read this if you're into fascinating characterization and exploring relationships between people set in the beauty of the American West.
James McCarthy
Duma Key - Stephen King offers up a story much closer to the quality of his earlier work, about a one-armed man who develops a profoundly disturbing talent while in seclusion on an island just off of Sarasota, Florida.
The Known World - A black-owned slave plantation before the Civil War spins out of control following the death of its owner.
Wicked - A very unusual take on the Land of Oz, this book takes you through the life of Elphaba, the green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West, and creates a very solid universe full of strange superstitions, political activism, and the problems of totalitarian government.
The Death and Life of Great American Cities - Although this book was written a few decades ago, its insights about cities and the nature of the urban environment are fascinating, especially in light of recent trends toward office "superblocks" in urban downtowns.
Patrick Oberholtzer
Great Plains - Learn about the Big Sky and how its colorful past blends into its present through an engaging commentary by Ian Frazier.
Manhunt - A young man with prospects for fame and fortune threw it all away because he was on the losing side of a war. This is the story of John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated Abraham Lincoln, and his capture.
Native Tongue - One of the best comic authors to come out of South Florida, Carl Hiaasen spins a tale of murder and nutty environmentalists, investigated by a PR writer for a quintessentially cheesy theme park.
A Walk in the Woods - The Appalachian Trail is an epic path across the eastern United States through some of the most beautiful wilderness on this continent. Bill Bryson somehow combines hilarity and a sense of the majesty of these woods in his story of hiking the Trail.
Jane Rutherford
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Are YOU ready for the movie? Because we sure are!
My Sister's Keeper - The gripping tale of a young woman who was born as a transplant donor for her leukemia-stricken older sister, this novel explores questions about identity, selfhood, family, and love.
The Time Traveler's Wife - A young librarian and his wife must come to terms with his unusual condition -- involuntary time-travel -- and its effect on their past and their future.
Angels and Demons - In an earlier novel from the author of The Da Vinci Code, Robert Langdon must hunt down a secret society bent on destroying the Catholic Church -- and possibly a good chunk of the world besides.
Good grief. After looking through some of my colleagues' recommendations, my summer reading list just got a lot longer. I hope yours did, too!
Next week, we'll talk a little bit about some of the changes you may see in the Library when you return for the Fall semester -- unless you're graduating, in which case, you'll have to come visit us sometime!
Instead, I've gone around the first floor and asked everyone for their favorite books for summer reading. Some consist of pretty light fare, while others are bona fide reading projects. Still, all are good reads; we spend all our professional time around books, so you know we've got at least some taste!
Diana Gates
Talk Talk - After being falsely arrested for several crimes, a deaf woman and her boyfriend set out to find the real perpetrator.
Mischief - One of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct books, this story sees the return of The Deaf Man, a mysterious criminal, with cryptic clues sent to the police department that hint at his upcoming nefarious plans. This book also covers several subplots including pro-life and pro-choice activism, graffiti, a series of Alzheimer's patients found on the streets, and a hostage crisis.
Congo - One of Michael Crichton's earliest books, this novel has a research team (accompanied by Amy, a gorilla who signs) investigating horrific attacks perpetrated by gorillas deep in the African jungle. Although the technology is dated (this book was written in 1980), the story is tense and superbly-written.
Jephte's Daughter - A young Jewish woman is married to an orthodox Talmudic scholar, but when their marriage becomes abusive, she escapes to London with their son and falls in love with a priest. (Available at George Washington University through CLS)
Laura Jacobi
The Great Man - With the death of a famous artist comes a whole passel of revelations about the man himself, his wife, his mistress, and his sister.
The Corrections - The story of an emotionally complicated family -- a sick father, a mother obsessed with Christmas, a successful chef daughter with romantic issues, and two sons, one of whom is a depressed banker and the other an insecure gadfly -- written with a comic voice and with an eye to cultural commentary.
Seven Pillars of Wisdom - Learn about the real Lawrence of Arabia from the man himself, and how he helped unify the Arabs against Turkish oppression in the Middle East after World War I.
Lonesome Dove - A group of cowboys go on a cattle drive, but this novel is so much more than that. Read this if you're into fascinating characterization and exploring relationships between people set in the beauty of the American West.
James McCarthy
Duma Key - Stephen King offers up a story much closer to the quality of his earlier work, about a one-armed man who develops a profoundly disturbing talent while in seclusion on an island just off of Sarasota, Florida.
The Known World - A black-owned slave plantation before the Civil War spins out of control following the death of its owner.
Wicked - A very unusual take on the Land of Oz, this book takes you through the life of Elphaba, the green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West, and creates a very solid universe full of strange superstitions, political activism, and the problems of totalitarian government.
The Death and Life of Great American Cities - Although this book was written a few decades ago, its insights about cities and the nature of the urban environment are fascinating, especially in light of recent trends toward office "superblocks" in urban downtowns.
Patrick Oberholtzer
Great Plains - Learn about the Big Sky and how its colorful past blends into its present through an engaging commentary by Ian Frazier.
Manhunt - A young man with prospects for fame and fortune threw it all away because he was on the losing side of a war. This is the story of John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated Abraham Lincoln, and his capture.
Native Tongue - One of the best comic authors to come out of South Florida, Carl Hiaasen spins a tale of murder and nutty environmentalists, investigated by a PR writer for a quintessentially cheesy theme park.
A Walk in the Woods - The Appalachian Trail is an epic path across the eastern United States through some of the most beautiful wilderness on this continent. Bill Bryson somehow combines hilarity and a sense of the majesty of these woods in his story of hiking the Trail.
Jane Rutherford
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Are YOU ready for the movie? Because we sure are!
My Sister's Keeper - The gripping tale of a young woman who was born as a transplant donor for her leukemia-stricken older sister, this novel explores questions about identity, selfhood, family, and love.
The Time Traveler's Wife - A young librarian and his wife must come to terms with his unusual condition -- involuntary time-travel -- and its effect on their past and their future.
Angels and Demons - In an earlier novel from the author of The Da Vinci Code, Robert Langdon must hunt down a secret society bent on destroying the Catholic Church -- and possibly a good chunk of the world besides.
Good grief. After looking through some of my colleagues' recommendations, my summer reading list just got a lot longer. I hope yours did, too!
Next week, we'll talk a little bit about some of the changes you may see in the Library when you return for the Fall semester -- unless you're graduating, in which case, you'll have to come visit us sometime!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Panels and balloons: Graphic novels
BAM! BIFF! POW! ZAP!
The little sound effects above are what sometimes come to mind when people think of comic books: funny little drawings full of silly things.
The truth is, they are so much more than that. Before I start to explain what more there is to comics than the unadulterated joy of onomatopoeia, though, there's an important distinction to be made.
There are comic books, and then there are graphic novels. Superficially, there isn't much of a difference between the two. They both tell stories using images and text in linear sequences to portray events. In both, people's words are framed in speech balloons and, yes, sound effects may appear in funny-looking fonts.
Practically speaking, though, there's a big difference. While comic books are sort of like magazines, published on a regular schedule, they're usually fairly short (no more than a couple dozen pages), episodic in nature (they tell short stories that might fit into a bigger story, told over multiple issues), and bound cheaply with staples.
On the other hand, graphic novels are hybrids of comic books and regular books. They use the comic-book format to tell book-length stories. Sometimes they accomplish this as collections of comic books that have been issued over a period of months, then collected and bound into a single graphic novel. More often, they stand on their own as unique narratives that are executed in very creative fashions. These stories run the same gamut of fiction and non-fiction you see on our usual shelves; they aren't limited to superheroes.
Graphic novels have become pretty popular for libraries for this reason. The visual format can be incredibly appealing if done by a talented artist -- often, you will find a graphic novel that has almost no dialogue in it because the drawings tell the entire story on their own. They've also been mildly controversial at one point or another as people discover more and more that there are comic books in the library, and think the library should be spending that money on "real" books instead.
If you feel that way, bear in mind that Gallaudet is by no means the only library in the Consortium acquiring materials like this. Schools like Georgetown University, Catholic University, and American University are all acquiring graphic novels at a furious clip. Other schools like Duke University are not only acquiring graphic novels, but also using the format in new and fascinating ways.
All matters of opinion aside, though, the Library has a few graphic novels, although that number is slowly growing. Our offerings range from visual adaptations of text-based novels to totally original works (i.e., stories that exist only in graphic-novel form), passing through what are known as "spandex comics" -- collections of superhero comics (we have X-Men, for example). Here's a list of the highlights of our collection, with short summaries and links to their permanent records in ALADIN. The titles with a star (*) are also on display in the Library, in front of the West entrance (toward Peet Hall).
That will just about do away with this week. Next week, we'll offer up some recommendations for good summer reading!
Question of the Week
I'm trying to find a videotape or DVD that has something to do with ASL and treasures. How do I search for treasures without bringing up a bunch of books about pirates?
That's a very good question, and it's one that also applies to this week's post about graphic novels. What you're really asking is: How do I search for something in a specific format?
First, a word about Librarianese. Sometimes librarians use words that don't necessarily mean exactly what you've always understood them to mean or actually mean them in more specific ways than you're used to (like "record") -- I call that "Librarianese." The word format is an example of Librarianese; we use the word to refer to what the the thing actually is and how it conveys the information it contains. "Book" is a format; so is "VHS" and even, in some special libraries, "sculpture" or "painting."
The Library collection encompasses several different formats: books, periodicals, videorecordings (both VHS and DVD), microforms (both microfilm and microfiche), electronic (available through the Internet, like our impressive list of e-book offerings), and media (CD-ROMs, games, and other stuff that can't be classified as any of the other formats). If the item you want isn't a book, you can usually see the format in brackets in the link to the item, like this:
So what do you do when you don't want a book? There's a way to search in ALADIN that will help. It's called "Keyword (AND, OR, NOT)." You'll find it in the "By:" field when you're searching in ALADIN. When you select that, you can search for more than one thing at the same time, using AND, OR, or NOT between the keywords you use. Here's how each works:
Terms that may work include the list I gave you above, as well as things like "dictionary," "picture book," annnnnd ... "graphic novel"! Bet you were wondering what all this had to do with Watchmen.
The little sound effects above are what sometimes come to mind when people think of comic books: funny little drawings full of silly things.
The truth is, they are so much more than that. Before I start to explain what more there is to comics than the unadulterated joy of onomatopoeia, though, there's an important distinction to be made.
There are comic books, and then there are graphic novels. Superficially, there isn't much of a difference between the two. They both tell stories using images and text in linear sequences to portray events. In both, people's words are framed in speech balloons and, yes, sound effects may appear in funny-looking fonts.
Practically speaking, though, there's a big difference. While comic books are sort of like magazines, published on a regular schedule, they're usually fairly short (no more than a couple dozen pages), episodic in nature (they tell short stories that might fit into a bigger story, told over multiple issues), and bound cheaply with staples.
On the other hand, graphic novels are hybrids of comic books and regular books. They use the comic-book format to tell book-length stories. Sometimes they accomplish this as collections of comic books that have been issued over a period of months, then collected and bound into a single graphic novel. More often, they stand on their own as unique narratives that are executed in very creative fashions. These stories run the same gamut of fiction and non-fiction you see on our usual shelves; they aren't limited to superheroes.
Graphic novels have become pretty popular for libraries for this reason. The visual format can be incredibly appealing if done by a talented artist -- often, you will find a graphic novel that has almost no dialogue in it because the drawings tell the entire story on their own. They've also been mildly controversial at one point or another as people discover more and more that there are comic books in the library, and think the library should be spending that money on "real" books instead.
If you feel that way, bear in mind that Gallaudet is by no means the only library in the Consortium acquiring materials like this. Schools like Georgetown University, Catholic University, and American University are all acquiring graphic novels at a furious clip. Other schools like Duke University are not only acquiring graphic novels, but also using the format in new and fascinating ways.
All matters of opinion aside, though, the Library has a few graphic novels, although that number is slowly growing. Our offerings range from visual adaptations of text-based novels to totally original works (i.e., stories that exist only in graphic-novel form), passing through what are known as "spandex comics" -- collections of superhero comics (we have X-Men, for example). Here's a list of the highlights of our collection, with short summaries and links to their permanent records in ALADIN. The titles with a star (*) are also on display in the Library, in front of the West entrance (toward Peet Hall).
- Discworld Graphic Novels*
- The two very first Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett are adapted into graphic-novel form. Terrific if you're into humorous fantasy with a dash of scathing social satire.
- Stuff of Life*
- This is a great example of how the graphic-novel format isn't used only for fiction -- Stuff of Life is a visual guide to the workings of DNA and genetics.
- Watchmen
- Considered the precursor of our current boom in the graphic-novel format, Watchmen explores an alternate timeline where Nixon never stops being President and, instead of superheroes, ordinary people dress up in funny costumes. Sounds simple, but the book uses the basic premise to examine issues like vigilantism, government control, and the sanctity of human life. Dark, violent, and twisted, this isn't your 12-year-old brother's rag.
- Maus I & II
- Maus has been mentioned on this blog before; it is widely considered one of the best visual portrayals of the horrors of World War II and the life of a Jewish family during the Holocaust.
- Persepolis; Persepolis 2*
- Marjane Satrapi, an Iranian woman who left Iran as a young girl after the fall of the Shah, tells her life story in a style that is both winsome and stark.
- Prince of Persia*
- Based on the video game, this book tells the story of a young prince, his siblings, and a prophecy in the desert that would change everything.
- Sandman* (currently Vols. 1-4)
- Possibly one of the most popular graphic-novel series of all time, the Sandman books by Neil Gaiman (this year's Newbery Award winner for The Graveyard Book) are tough to describe without sounding pretty silly. They chronicle the life of Morpheus, the god of dreams, and incorporate a vast cast of characters that are, at the same time, mythical, imaginary, and based in reality.
- The Cartoon History of the Modern World: Part I: From Columbus to the U.S. Constitution
- This is basically a history-book-length graphic novel that tells the history of what is generally considered the "modern world," starting from the 15th-century discovery of the New World, in a narrative format. It's one of several graphic novels in the same vein, covering the histories of the Universe and American foreign policy, among other things.
- The Hobbit*
- This is an adaptation of JRR Tolkien's classic novel, a sort of prequel to the Lord of the Rings epic.
- Manga Shakespeare*
- Some of Shakespeare's plays are adapted to manga form (a visual style found in Japanese comics) and to modern Tokyo. We have several, including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
- Graphic Forensic Science*
- This series of graphic novels covers important aspects of forensic investigation, including autopsies and corpses.
- Emma*
- A manga adaptation of the classic Austen novel, Emma.
- Mom's Cancer*
- The story of an artist son and his cancer-suffering mother -- at times humorous, at times touching, at all times very well-done -- this book provides an honest perspective on the effect of serious illness on a family.
- Road to Perdition*
- This is the classic Depression-era gangster mystery graphic novel on which the Tom Hanks movie was based.
- Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
- This is one of the foremost discussions of the format currently in existence. Scott McCloud, author of Zot!, uses his recognizable, appealing style to portray all the different elements that go into a comic book, including panel shape and placement, text, and how to progress action in order to play with the reader's sense of time. This book is absolutely essential to understanding how graphic novels work!
That will just about do away with this week. Next week, we'll offer up some recommendations for good summer reading!
Question of the Week
I'm trying to find a videotape or DVD that has something to do with ASL and treasures. How do I search for treasures without bringing up a bunch of books about pirates?
That's a very good question, and it's one that also applies to this week's post about graphic novels. What you're really asking is: How do I search for something in a specific format?
First, a word about Librarianese. Sometimes librarians use words that don't necessarily mean exactly what you've always understood them to mean or actually mean them in more specific ways than you're used to (like "record") -- I call that "Librarianese." The word format is an example of Librarianese; we use the word to refer to what the the thing actually is and how it conveys the information it contains. "Book" is a format; so is "VHS" and even, in some special libraries, "sculpture" or "painting."
The Library collection encompasses several different formats: books, periodicals, videorecordings (both VHS and DVD), microforms (both microfilm and microfiche), electronic (available through the Internet, like our impressive list of e-book offerings), and media (CD-ROMs, games, and other stuff that can't be classified as any of the other formats). If the item you want isn't a book, you can usually see the format in brackets in the link to the item, like this:
- AND: Requires that all the results use the words on both sides of "AND" (like "tropic thunder" AND videorecording if you want to find the movie)
- OR: At least ONE of the words on either side of "OR" is acceptable (like "tropic thunder" AND (videorecording OR media) if you know you want something called Tropic Thunder, but you're not sure if it's listed as a videorecording)
- NOT: Requires that the next word after "NOT" isn't included in the search (like "tropic thunder" NOT microform if you're curious about whether or not there are any other relevant items in the collection that doesn't require fiddling with a microform reader)
Terms that may work include the list I gave you above, as well as things like "dictionary," "picture book," annnnnd ... "graphic novel"! Bet you were wondering what all this had to do with Watchmen.
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