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 take advantage of the wide range of services prepared for their use in course assignments and research pursuits.
Librarians are available to help in focusing research questions and identifying appropriate information resources. Also, tutors from the Writing Center can answer questions about writing and citation styles. Information science tutoring is newly available at scheduled times in the library.
Public workstations offer a full suite of productivity software, including Microsoft Office 2007. For those with their own laptops, wireless access to the Internet is available throughout the public areas of the library.
No Food in the Library
As you enter the library, you will notice large signs reminding students and faculty that food can only be brought into the library and its classrooms with the written permission of the dean.
A small area on the counter next to the security gate is now designated for parking any food containers before entering the library proper. Please help us to preserve library resources and equipment by not bringing food into the library or its classrooms.
Library Faculty Scholarship
Professor Lydia Morrow Ruetten co-authored an article, “A Longitudinal Study of Implementing Change in a Unionized University Environment,” with Professor Marsha Katz. The paper was accepted for presentation at the American Society of Business and Behavioral Sciences (ASBBS) in Las Vegas on February 20, 2010.
Associate Professor Paul Blobaum’s scholarly productivity is truly impressive. His article, “Resources for Supporting the APA Publication Style,” appeared in the April/June issue of The Journal of Hospital Librarianship. He authored two chapters entitled “The Dreadful First Draft” and “Nurturing the Writer Within Using Mentors and Guides” in Writing and Publishing: The Librarian’s Handbook, published by ALA Press.
Blobaum co-authored the article, “The Health Sciences Librarian in Medical Education: A Vital Pathways Task Force,” published in the October issue of Journal of the Medical Library Association. Moreover, he begins co-editing with Dixie Jones the “Specialty of the House” column in the Journal of Hospital Librarianship. Additionally, Professor Blobaum co-authored two contributed papers, “Towards Requiring a Medical Librarian in Hospitals: What We Learned from the Vital Pathways Medical Education Task Force” and “Evidenced Based Nursing Practice: Hospital and Academic Librarian Roles” which were presented to the Midwest Chapter, Medical Library Association in Columbus, Ohio on October 4. He also presented “eBooks at GSU: Challenges and Opportunities” at the CARLI eBook Symposium on March 4, 2009 in Champaign.
Assistant Professor Michel Nguessan presented “Academic Libraries' Strategic Planning in the 21st Century: The Role of Information Technology” at the LITA Forum in Salt Lake City on October 3, 2009. LITA, the Library and Information Technology Association, is a division of the American Library Association.
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Types of Library Use
Linda Geller
GSU’s library is open for two types of use that occur at different times of the day.
1. Self-Directed Use
During “Self-Directed Use” times, library users are welcome to work on their own with library materials and computers; but reference service is limited.
2. Information/Research Assistance
During periods when “Information/Research Assistance” is provided, users can receive more thorough help for class assignments and research needs.
For individualized, in-depth assistance, it is best to make an appointment with a “Liaison Librarian.” Contact information for librarians can be found on the library website under: Library/Faculty Staff, Subject Area Guides, and Ask a Librarian.
The table below shows time periods for the two types of library use during regular trimesters.
| |
Self-Directed Use
Time Periods |
Information/Research
Assistance Time Periods |
| Mon–Thu |
8–10 a.m. and 9–10:30 p.m. |
10 a.m.–9 p.m. |
| Fri |
8–10 a.m. |
10 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Sat |
|
8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Sun |
|
1–5 p.m. |
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Books of Honor
Lydia Morrow Ruetten
The Governors State University Library invites you to buy a book through our Books of Honor Fund, and, in doing so, pay tribute to a special person in your life. With your $100 contribution to the GSU Librarys' Books of Honor program, our librarians will select a book in one of the following subject areas: Business, Fine Arts, Humanities, Science, or Social Sciences. A bookplate will be affixed to the book honoring your person(s) of choice.
Consider a gift expressing your appreciation for the people who have enriched our lives: professors, graduates, parents, or colleagues. Or, remember a special milestone in our lives, such as: birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, promotions, or retirements.
When you make your gift to the GSU Library's Books of Honor Fund, a letter of acknowledgment and a copy of the bookplate will be sent to you and the honoree, or his or her family.
If you would like to participate in our Books of Honor program, please contact Lydia Morrow Ruetten at 708.534.4116 or l-morrow@govst.edu to select the subject area of your choice.
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Digital Collections at GSU
Nancy Shlaes
One of the best-kept secrets may be the digital projects the University Library supports. Several collections are found on the University Archives home page.
You will see a number of digitized images under Digital Collections, including the GSUVAULT, which holds images of the original student newspaper The Innovator, the first faculty/staff newsletters, pre-1981 historical GSU documents, and much more.
Here is a sample of what you will view.
First Issue of The Innovator A History of GSU 1969-1979 GSU’s first college catalog
Below are some original images of GSU found in the University Archives.
First GSU sign, 1969 |
Caricature of first GSU president, William E. Engbretson |
Construction of GSU, 1972 |
Cleaning Paul |
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Library Webpage
Greg Johnson
The Governors State University library has recently gone through a massive remodeling of the main library webpage. This new page includes two search boxes, one for searching the library catalog for various types of books and media, and the other for searching through our journals list by name.
In addition to the two new search boxes, we have also moved all of the links from the former main page into drop down menus. These menus have decreased the clutter on the main page, and make it easier for our patrons to get the information they need. And, if you are not feeling up to using the new page quite yet, we have also left a link at the bottom of the page to our old library website, which will remain active until the end of the Winter 2010 term.
Please feel free to take a look at the new site at www.govst.edu/library. We have added a survey on the new main page, so please send us your comments and suggestions.
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Life in Libraryland
Lynn DiMaggio
We’re all looking for a sign
“I saw the sign, and it opened up my eyes.” -- from the song, The Sign, by the 1990s group, Ace of Base.
Did you know that the GSU library restrooms are tornado-safe? Where are the restrooms? What is the library Computer Policy? What are the rules for children in the library? What about laptop use near the computer towers? Can I bring food into the library? Where are the Writing Center and MIS tutors?
All this information is available to you quickly. All you need is a sign.
Signs make life easier. They provide access to information. You don’t even have to look for them: They’re all right there! They guide, direct and provide much-needed details. They offer ways to make the using library a more pleasant experience for all, despite the amount of angst homework causes.
However, an overabundance of signs in our lives can have its downside. Some people are so used to seeing signs that they don’t pay attention anymore. It is a sign of the busy modern times (sorry). Linda Geller, Head of the Reference Department, has coined the term “Visual White Noise.” It’s sort of like the hum of your running refrigerator at home. You don’t notice it until the power is out, and you don’t hear it anymore.
It can be humorous. People will sit right next to the “No cell phone” sign using their cell phone, or walk around the huge “No food in the Library” sign with a sandwich. No one does this on purpose (“I’m going to sit right next to this “No cell phone” sign and call my best friend.”) It’s not an act of defiance (“I’m going to be radical by EATING IN THE LIBRARY! Just try to stop me.”)
It’s just sort of one of those things that happens. All of us have done it at one time or another, unintentionally. We just didn’t see the signs, regardless of how close we were to them or how often we walked past them.
So, next time you’re in the GSU library, take the time to notice and read the helpful information all around you. And, then, go home and listen to your refrigerator.
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Docline and "Tugger"
Paul Blobaum
 The University Library has acquired a new furry friend. “Tugger," the terrier mascot for the National Library of Medicine’s Docline service, was awarded to the library for its successful application for funds to implement Docline’s Electronic Funds Transfer System (EFTS).
Docline is the National Library of Medicine’s interlibrary requesting service for members of its National Network.
The University Library recently implemented Docline, which will strengthen its relationship with biomedical and hospital libraries on the local, regional, and national levels, and facilitate resource sharing. Look for “Tugger” in the GSU Library during Winter trimester!
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Academic Computing Workshops
Helen Benos
The University Library is offering free computer workshops to students, staff, faculty, and members of the community.
Among the topics covered in the one to two hour workshops are PowerPoint, Scholarly Publishing Process, Publisher, PhotoShop Express, Blogging, APA Style Citations, Formatting Papers in APA Style, and the ever popular Genealogy.
For detailed information about dates, times, and room locations, please visit the library website at www.govst.edu/library. Select the tab labeled Library Resources, and from the drop down menu select Library Workshops.
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Faculty Authors Reception
Helen Benos
Over the last seven years, 126 faculty authors have contributed 260 published items displayed at this special annual event. It has been attended by the president, provost, deans, faculty members, and students.
The contributing authors were on hand to discuss their published works.
The university library is pleased to continue the tradition by hosting this year’s reception on March 10, 2010 on the balcony from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Hope to see you there!
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Friends Corner
What Are Friends For?
Eric Nicholson
“The mission of the Friends of the Governors State University Library is to bring together those who share a love of knowledge and a desire to promote the role of the library in the university and the surrounding community. Friends provide support for resources and services to benefit learners in the university and the community."
So if you love knowledge and desire to promote the role of the library, come together with us in the library conference room on the the second Wednesday of the month between noon and 1 p.m.
- February 9
- March 9
- April 13
- May 11
- June 8
- July 13
- August 10
- September 14
- October 12
- November 9
- December 14
In the last six months of 2009, Friends accomplishments included the following:
- Elected new officers.
- Eric Nicholson: President
- Dianne Kronika: Vice-President
- Pam Taylor: Secretary
- Jean Malloy: Treasurer
- Had a big book sale at the end of October.
- Sold donated books on Amazon.
- Purchased New York Times bestsellers and Arcadia Publishers' Images of American history and genealogy books for our users' less academic reading pleasure.
- Purchased a fine, new globe with a floor stand.
As of our last meeting of 2009 our accounts showed a balance of $10,697.
The Friends also sponsor a number of library-related activities including the Friends of Mystery, who this last year celebrated the University's 40th Anniversary by reading and meeting to talk about a number of mysteries published in 1969.
The GSU's Writers Ink meet together to encourage each other and serve as a sounding board for one another's interest in writing, and the Friends of the GSU Library Historical Society who meet monthly to discuss history of all kinds, especially local and genealogical.
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