A Word from the Dean
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Diane Dates Casey
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What's New at the University Library?
The University Library invites students and faculty to make use of the extensive range of services available to assist them in their homework assignments and research agendas. Librarians are available to help in refining research questions and identifying appropriate information resources. Additionally, tutors from the Writing Center can address queries about writing and citation styles. Computer workstations provide a full suite of productivity software, including Microsoft Office 2007. Throughout the public areas of the library wireless access to the internet is available. Stay cool during these hot summer days in the library!
Student Art in the Library
Artwork by GSU students is now on display in the open computer area of the library, as well as other strategic places. Please take a few moments to view and enjoy the artistic achievements of our students.
Pardon Our Dust
No, the library is not having a gigantic book sale. The L collection, which focuses on the discipline of education, is being moved to its alphabetical place in the circulating collection. Many years ago, the L collection was moved directly behind the Reference collection in order to give easy access to education-focused monographs for librarians providing assistance to students using the Educational Materials Center. Approximately twenty years ago, that service point was eliminated, but the L collection was never moved. This current move returns the L collection to its appropriate place in the Library of Congress classification scheme and allows library staff to provide much needed maintenance to the books in the entire circulating collection.
Scholarly Accomplishment
Congratulations to Assistant Professor Michel Nguessan who is head of the Library Technology and Digital Resources Department! His article, “Digital Library Resources and International Education: Opportunities and Challenges for Developing Countries,” was recently published in the peer-reviewed journal, The International Journal of Technology, Knowledge & Society.
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New Databases in the Library
Beth Hansen Shaw
This July, the University Library is subscribing to three new databases, ABI/INFORM GLOBAL (which includes full text access to the Wall Street Journal), Book Review Digest, and Public Administration Abstracts. All of these databases can be accessed through the Journals and Databases A-Z page on the library website.
ABI/INFORM Global is one of the most comprehensive business databases on the market, offering the latest business and financial information for researchers at all levels. Users can find out about business conditions, management techniques, business trends, management practice and theory, corporate strategy and tactics, and competitive landscape. It includes in-depth coverage for over 2,890 publications, with more than 1,920 available in full text. Also included in ABI/INFORM Global is ABI/INFORM Archive. This retrospective companion to ABI/INFORM provides cover-to-cover, full images complete with illustrations and advertisements. The database contains complete runs of key business and management journals, providing a unique historical perspective. As mentioned above, ABI/INFORM also includes full text access to the premier business newspaper, The Wall Street Journal, with backfile coverage to 1984. ABI/INFORM is available through Proquest.
Book Review Digest
This database provides review excerpts and book summaries for more than 112,000 books. Many reviews can be found in full text using the GSU link to full text journals. Book Review Digest is available through EBCSO.
Public Administration Abstracts
This database is a comprehensive source for published research in the field of public administration, including articles from peer-reviewed journals. Areas covered include public administration research and theory, the relation of public administration to the economy, law, politics and society, administrative structures and organization, public policy, public service personnel, and social services. Public Administration Abstracts is available through EBSCO.
In order to subscribe to these new databases, subscriptions were discontinued for MarketLine, ISI Emerging Markets, and Book Review Index.
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T.A.L.E.
Diane Moses & Keith Kemp
T.A.L.E., The Adult Learning Exchange, is a program collaboration between Governors State University and the Anita M. Stone Jewish Community Center and is affiliated with the Elderhostel Institute Network.
The programs offered through T.A.L.E. are designed to provide an opportunity for adults in the greater South Suburban and Northwest Indiana region to find pleasure and intellectual challenges as they explore new and familiar subject matter.
One of our programs about Greek Mythology has led to an upcoming trip to Greece. This will take place in late October.
We are delighted to now have Diane Dates Casey as our GSU liaison. After a short meeting with her, we are excited to know that we can share resources, both human and material, with GSU.
If you have a passion for a certain subject, please contact Diane and she will work with us to schedule it for one of our three yearly sessions. This will be both productive and fun!
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Farewell to Retirees
Paul Blobaum
 The University Library observed the retirement of two long term employees in June with a staff luncheon and university-wide open house.
Beth Hansen Shaw, Full Professor of Library Science, retired with over 22 years of service. According to Dean Diane Dates Casey, "Her career has been distinguished by exemplary service to the university, to the University Library, and to the profession of Librarianship."
Professor Hansen Shaw served on innumerable committees at the local, regional, and statewide levels. She served on the Faculty Senate, the Academic Program Review Committee, the University Assessment Committee, the University Research Grants Committee, the Community Awards Committee, and the Intellectual Life Subcommittee. In her service to the University Library, Professor Hansen Shaw earned three Professional Advancement Increases and was awarded two Faculty Excellence Awards. She served as the liaison librarian to the Division of Psychology and Counseling, Public Administration, Accounting, Finance & Economics, Criminal Justice, Political & Justice Studies, and the Social Sciences programs. She also served as Head of Reference and Division Chair of Public Services.
Mark Hampton retires with over 33 years of service to the University Library. Mark most recently served as Library Operations Associate for the Circulation Department, where he supervised and coordinated Circulation, Interlibrary Loan, Reserves, Stacks, and Billing personnel and services. Mark also coordinated the Audio/Visual equipment in the library for many years.
Congratulations to both Mark and Beth, and best wishes as they pursue new adventures as retirees!
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New Employee Lynn DiMaggio
Helen Benos
On April 1st of this year, the Reference Department had a breath of fresh air brought into its midst in the form of our new Senior Library Specialist, Lynn DiMaggio. Lynn brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position. In addition to her library experience with the Homewood and Flossmoor public libraries, Lynn has also worked for several newspapers as a graphic designer, associate news editor, and copy editor.
Since her first day on the job, Lynn has immersed herself in the daily operations of the Reference Department. In addition to working many hours on the reference desk, and working on numerous projects for the librarians, she found time to design a prize winning table for Welcome Days. Her rubber ducky design won the pizza party for the library and will forever be remembered in library lore.
When Lynn is not in the library, she is communicating with the ghosts in her house, creating exotic cocktails at her other job, and selling on Amazon.com.
When does she sleep?
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 Welcome Week Table Contest
Lynn DiMaggio
The library staff has never been known to duck a challenge. Thanks to the good-natured library staff and some studious rubber duckies, the library recently won first place in the Spring/Summer 2008 Welcome Week table contest. The theme was, of course, rubber ducks.
 The table included photographs of staff members assisting the cute rubber ducks, as well as the ducks winging it on their own as they used various library facilities. These photos were part of a display that featured pamphlets and other materials highlighting services the library provides to students and community members. Since the staff members didn’t quack under pressure, they enjoyed a great pizza party!
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Friends Corner
What have we done to serve you better?
Lydia Morrow Ruetten
In response to a “Why Not?” submission that suggested the library should be open before classes begin, a decision was made to open the library at 8 a.m., Monday through Friday. These new hours began on May 5.
Friends of the GSU Library
Ralph W. Ginn, D.D.S., President
It has been a very successful year. Our accomplishments have been many, but our goal has not yet been reached. We need your help! I am reaching out to our existing membership to recruit new members. Whether they are active or not, their donations are greatly appreciated and will help us tremendously. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the special members for their endless efforts to make every project a success. Those members are proudly known as the "choir." I invite any member to our meetings to help with our fundraisers, so we may continue with our mission. We need volunteers, so get out from behind that computer screen and feel good about contributing.
Big money getter!
Lydia Morrow Ruetten
One of our Friends has been raising a lot of money for the Friends of the GSU Library. Pam Taylor has taken some of the more valuable book gifts that have been donated to the library that the library has not added to the collection and sold them through her personal Amazon account and given the proceeds to the Friends. In the last few months, Pam has sold 11 books and donated $344.47. The Friends decided at their last meeting that these funds will continue to help grow the New York Times Bestseller collection. Contact Pam at ext. 7527 or P-Taylor@govst.edu to learn more about raising funds this way for the Friends.
Fundraising Auction
Lydia Morrow Ruetten
Mark your calendar for October 13-16. The Friends are planning their largest fundraiser to date. Some of the items that will be available at the auction are on display in the library, in the display case purchased by the Friends. We still need more items for the auction, please check your closets for those new items you will never use, or those antique items you do not have a use for any longer that someone else can enjoy. Perhaps your unit would like to put together a theme basket to donate to the library. Remember, all your donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Friends Quilt
Dianne Kronika
Work continues on the Friends of the GSU Library 34” x 64” bookshelf quilt, which will hang prominently in our library. Some books remain unclaimed. So, you still have time to remember a special occasion or honor someone by making a donation of $50 and having a book “placed” on the shelf. If you have a favorite piece of material to be used, we would be happy to use it (3" by 12" minimum please). Please note that if the fabric is “busy” it will be more difficult to read the title. If you would like more information, check out our website at: www.govst.edu/library/friends or contact Susan at 708-235.7500. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Friends of Mysteries
Becky Nugent
The Mystery Book Club will be on hiatus during July and August. Join us for "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels and Demons" both by Dan Brown, on September 16, at Noon, in the Cafeteria Annex. In October, "The Thirteenth Knight" by Allen Gordan will be discussed and in December, the book club will discuss "The Yiddish Policeman’s Union" by Michael Chabon. Everyone is welcome.
GSU Writers Group
Lydia Morrow Ruetten
The Novel Writer’s Knock-outs and the Children’s Authors Wannabes have merged. The proposed new name of the group is GSU Writers Ink. The group will reconvene in the fall. The hiatus will give individuals several months to work on their writing activities. At the meeting on September 16 (at noon on the balcony) a regular meeting schedule will be set up, the name of the group will be determined, and a new chair of the group will be decided (you must be a member of the Friends of the GSU Library). If you would like to read any of your materials to the group for feedback, please bring this with you.
Monthly Movie Reviewer’s Review
John DeYoung
Check out the latest movie reviews, trailers, and synopsis of past and previous films at The Monthly Movie Reviewer’s Roundtable Blog.
Inkjet Cartridge Recycling
Susan Bell
The library continues to collect inkjet cartridges for recycling. Cartridges can be dropped off in the container at the circulation desk. Thank you to those that have contributed so far.
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