Sarah Lawrence Library News

We're moving!

2008-06-04T14:17:00.000-04:00

The Sarah Lawrence Library News blog is moving to a new address! You can now find us at http://slclibrarynews.wordpress.com/. Please update your links!

We think this change will result in a cleaner design and better functionality on the back end for library staff. If you'd like to talk to us further about reasons for the switch, feel free to contact the reference staff at reference@slc.edu. We look forward to continuing to bring you news about goings-on in the library!

Happy end of the semester! (And the library's summer schedule.)

2008-05-16T13:05:00.001-04:00

The library wishes all of the Sarah Lawrence College community a wonderful summer. We hope that you had an enjoyable and profitable semester and we will see returning students in the fall.

The library will be closed on Friday, May 23rd from 11-12:30 to allow the staff to honor our graduate students by observing commencement ceremonies. Graduating students, please remember that you will need to clear your library account in order to graduate. Stop by the library or call x2474 if you have any questions about your library account. You can also check your account online by clicking here.

The library will be closed from Saturday, May 24th to Monday, May 26th for Memorial Day. Summer hours will begin on Tuesday, May 27th.

The summer schedule is:
Monday to Friday 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Closed Weekends and on the 4th of July

Due dates are upon us!

2008-05-12T09:33:00.000-04:00

All books checked out for the fall semester are due by 5pm this Friday, May 16th. Please remember to return all materials by then! Fines for overdue books accrue at the rate of twenty cents a day, so don't be late!

Citation Station!

2008-04-29T14:01:00.001-04:00

Choo choo! It's that time of year again--the conference paper train is pulling into Citation Station! Reference staff are ready to help you resolve RefWorks vexers, citation conundrums, and styling head-scratchers! We'll be staffing a desk on the main floor of the library next Monday, May 5, from 10am to noon, style guides in tow. And we'll be there every day at that time until the end of the term. Now, that's the ticket!

If you need citation assistance and you can't find us, there are plenty of other ways to reach us: send us an email at reference@slc.edu, fill out our online consultation request form (located here), call us at x2225, or check out a list of web guides on del.icio.us.

Back up your work!

2008-04-24T10:20:00.000-04:00

Conference papers are almost due, which means now is the best time to back up your work. How?

You have a number of options:

* 100 MB of storage space on your H: Drive.
Find out more here: http://pages.slc.edu/~support/tag/h-drive
* Email it to yourself.
Your Gryphon Mail account has over 6 GB of space available. You could email your conference paper to yourself everyday and still have plenty of space for everything else.
* Use Gryphon Mail Documents.
Upload or email all your documents into your Gryphon Mail account. In Gryphon Mail, click Documents, then click Upload. Look for an email address in 'Email-In Your Documents and Files' and follow the instructions.
* A USB stick, thumb drive, flash drive.
It has many names but they all do the same thing. This will cost you some money, (around $30 for an 8 GB drive) but it will allow you access your work if you're not online.

A friendly reminder from the folks in Academic Computing/Help Desk.

The library celebrates Earth Day!

2008-04-22T09:23:00.000-04:00

Earth Day is April 22nd. It is a day to celebrate our successes and progress in reducing our environmental impact and to reflect upon ways to improve in the future.

In honor of Earth Day, here are some of the ways in which libraries are environmentally friendly:

1. The library promotes resource sharing. This means that fewer books and journals have to be produced, which in turn means less stuff being thrown away.
2. Changing our light bulbs to energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, where possible.
3. Libraries encourage free access to information. Everyone can use the information in the library to make informed decisions about their environmental impact.

This doesn't mean that we can rest on our laurels, however! We recognize that there is room for improvement. Some of the library's current initiatives are:

1. Reducing our building's energy usage. Compared to last year, the library reduced its energy consumption by nearly 10% - a significant achievement, but one that we are actively seeking to improve.
2. Reducing the amount of garbage that we produce.
3. Updating our printers so that they are both faster and more efficient. (Next academic year.)

We are always open to suggestions, so if you have some bright ideas about how to improve, please click here to send us an email.

For more information about Earth Day, please visit:
http://www.earthday.gov/
http://www.epa.gov/earthday/
http://www.earthsite.org/

Esther Goes 24/7

2008-04-21T13:51:00.000-04:00

As of Sunday, April 27, the Library will be open for student use until the end of the semester. The circulation desk will close at 2 a.m. each evening, re-opening at 8:30 a.m. Please remember to limit food to snacks in bags and drinks in covered containers.

During the 24 hour period, it is especially important to remember that the Library is a shared community space, and we hope we'll all respect the needs of others for a clean and quiet space to complete conference and coursework. Please let library staff know of any problems you encounter during this busy time of year.

Last days for book recalls and ILL

2008-04-15T15:23:00.000-04:00

The end of the semester is approaching rapidly. April 19th will be the last day for book recalls, and April 26th will be the last day for interlibrary loan requests. If you need help with your research before the end of the semester, please click here to set up a research consultation with a librarian.

Welcome GreenFILE!

2008-04-10T13:10:00.000-04:00

EBSCOhost has just unveiled a new free bibliographic database of environmental studies literature. The database includes citations from more than 200 scholarly and non-scholarly sources including backfiles of Bioscience, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, and the Journal of Ecology, and key popular sources like Natural Life and Mother Earth News. Access this resource at http://www.greeninfoonline.com or through our EBSCO databases link on the Library's Databases A-Z page. You can find additional online resources for environmental studies under the 'environment' tag on our del.icio.us page, located here.

Most of what you'll find in GreenFILE are citations. If you need help finding the full text in our catalog, please consult a reference librarian!

Human Universals: Facts and/or Fiction?

2008-04-09T13:20:00.000-04:00

The Third Sarah Lawrence symposium will be held on Tuesday, April 22, from 1:30 to 3:30 in the Library's Pillow Room. The topic of the symposium is "Human Universals: Facts and/or Fiction?" What do all humans share? How do we talk intelligently about human commonalities and differences? What does the term "human" imply? These and other questions will be discussed by Nancy Baker (Philosophy), Leah Olson (Biology), Elizabeth Johnston (Psychology), and Robert Desjarlais (Anthropology) who will speak about these very important issues from the different perspectives of their disciplines. Michael Siff (Computer Science) will be the moderator.

Tax forms available online

2008-04-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again--tax time! The Library no longer receives printed forms from the Federal or State tax agencies. You can find links to appropriate forms and instructions here. If you need help locating any other forms, please contact the reference staff at x2225 or stop by our office on the main floor of the library.

JSTOR has a new look!

2008-04-08T09:18:00.000-04:00

We know you love JSTOR, and we hope the new JSTOR platform makes you feel requited! Just rolled out this week, the JSTOR changes include a new MyJSTOR feature that allows you to save searches and citations to a personal JSTOR account, simplified printing, improved proximity search options in Advanced Search, and just what we've always wanted--the functionality to search within results, a real boon for the overwhelmed!

We know that change can be challenging, so please contact the reference desk with any questions or problems, or for a refresher on how to make this rich repository of scholarship work best for you. Call us at x2225, stop by our office on the main floor of the library, or make a research consultation request using our online form.

April is National Poetry Month ....

2008-04-03T12:13:00.001-04:00

In honor of National Poetry Month, the library's new fiction shelf will feature a rotating selection of poets and new poetry publications. Selections will change frequently so come and see what the library has to offer!

Or, register at http://www.poets.org/ to receive a poem each day for the month of April.

Pardon our dust: Reading Room renovations

2008-04-01T11:03:00.000-04:00

You may have noticed a large open space on the main floor of the Library since Spring Break. No, we're not unveiling practice space for your gymnastics floor routine--we're continuing renovations for our new Reading Room! Over the break, campus staff removed most of the furniture left from the former computer lab to make way for new carpet, tables, and chairs for the Friends of the Library-funded renovation. This renovation will add a substantial amount of new seating to our library, complete with wireless Internet and places for you to plug in your laptops. We're excited about the changes, and hope you are too. We're on track to complete the new space for the start of school next fall.

Welcome back!

2008-03-31T13:53:00.000-04:00

With Spring Break behind us, conference work will be quickly upon us. Sign up for a research consultation with a member of the reference staff here. We can help you get kick-started for the end of the semester, or help solve that last little research problem that plagued you all break!

Library closed on Saturday, March 29th.

2008-03-28T15:49:00.001-04:00

Please note that due to the end of the college's Spring Break, the library will be closed on Saturday, March 29th. Regular hours will resume on Sunday, March 30th.

Enjoy your weekend!

WDI access issues resolved!

2008-03-27T10:47:00.000-04:00

For anyone experiencing difficulties yesterday with the World Development Indicators Online database (WDI), please note that full service has been restored. The interface may look slightly different, as the provider has updated content and site navigability, so it may take a little getting used to.

If you have any questions about how to use the WDI database, please contact a reference librarian for assistance at x2225 or by clicking here.

World Development Indicators Online access issues.

2008-03-26T12:57:00.001-04:00

For any of our researchers using the WDI (World Development Indicators Online), please be aware that access through our list of databases page has encountered a temporary problem.

In the meantime, please access this database through the library's catalog. You can look up the record by going into a basic search, and then searching for "WDI." The correct link is in the catalog record.

Spring Break hours

2008-03-13T13:19:00.002-04:00

Reference staff will be available and the library will be open during spring break. Our hours will be:

Friday, March 14: 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday March 15: closed
Sunday, March 16: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday-Thursday, March 17-20: 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Friday, March 21: 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, March 22, 23: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday-Thursday March 24-27: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Friday, March 28: 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 29: closed
Sunday, March 30: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Monday, March 31: regular hours resume

Interlibrary Loan forms are working!

2008-03-13T12:16:00.000-04:00

After a brief pause, the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) forms are once again functional. Please resume using these forms to submit ILL requests. We apologize for the disruption.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) online forms not working.

2008-03-11T12:23:00.001-04:00

Some of you may have noticed that the Interlibrary Loan forms on the library's homepage are not working at the moment. This is due to a server migration and we are working to fix the problem.

In the meantime, if you have an ILL request, please send Geoff Danisher an email at gdanishe@slc.edu. He will need to know the following information:

*Journal Title
*Volume and issue numbers, and the publication date
*Article Title
*Article author name
*Page on which the article starts.

The more information you have, the better!

You still have time!

2008-03-06T15:47:00.000-05:00

Spring break is fast upon us, and the reference staff knows you'll want to be larded down with full-text articles and interlibrary loan books wherever your travels may take you. Schedule a one-on-one consultation with Carrie, Carl, or Emily to jump start your research. Request a consultation using the handy link located here.

Search Britannica Online

2008-03-03T11:57:00.000-05:00

Looking for an online encyclopedia to check a quick fact or get a quick overview of a topic? Check out Britannica Online, a new addition to the library's databases. This full-text database has all the features you're used to from the well-worn print version--authoritative edited entries with clear source notes--as well as a slate of features that enhance the Web-based version. Check out searchable video clips, timelines, quotations, and an online world atlas.

As always, if you'd like help navigating this or any other resource, please stop by the Reference office, or schedule a research consultation with a Carl, Carrie, or Emily.

More new fiction! And an invitation to browse the fiction swap shelf.

2008-02-29T13:08:00.000-05:00

The library's new fiction shelf has been refreshed with all new selections from our newly acquired fiction titles. If you are looking for something to read, come to the library and see what new literature we have for your browsing pleasure.

Did you know about the library's book swap shelf in the periodicals room? Bring in old books that you've finished reading and let someone else discover them, while you pick up some new material. It's book recycling at its best!

The swap shelf is by the reshelving bin in the periodicals reading room.

And a heartfelt thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out the library survey. We appreciate your time and effort!

Only Two Days Left to take the Love Your Library Survey!

2008-02-26T10:02:00.000-05:00

There are only two days left to take the annual Love Your Library Survey! We value your feedback and use your comments to improve our services. The link below (the blue "2008 Library Survey") will take you directly to the library. The survey will end on February 28th and it is open to all members of the Sarah Lawrence College community.

Accessing SLC databases from off campus

2008-02-21T10:16:00.000-05:00

Ever find yourself out in the city and off the Sarah Lawrence network with a desperate urge to search Project MUSE? (You're not alone; this often happens to your Librarians.) It's easy to use our databases from anywhere. Simply head to our Databases A-Z page. Click on the name of the database you'd like to search. You'll be prompted to log in using your email username (that's the part of your email address before the '@') and your network password (that's the password you use to log into the library computers). Click enter and ta-da! You'll be what we call 'proxied in' and able to use the database just like you would from a computer on campus.

If you can't log in or experience any other technical difficulties, please let us know! Contact the Help Desk at x2460 with log in problems, or let your reference staff know at x2225. Remember: we don't know there's a problem unless you tell us.

Search our catalog directly from your browser!

2008-02-19T15:47:00.001-05:00

A group of library search elves has been hard at work thinking up ways to connect you with the greatest of ease to the resources of the library. Check out our two new catalog search plugins here. Simply click on the name of the plugin you'd like to use and ta da! In moments the plugin will download and you'll be able to search the catalog directly from your browser. No more opening yet another window or tab to find out if we have a book! You can search the catalog by keyword or by title wherever you are on the web.

Confuddled? We were too, until we started using this great little tool. Give it a try, and if you need help, stop on by the reference office or give us a ring at x2225.

Want to keep up with new widgets and plugins and new-fangled search tools as the elves come to work every day? Check us out on del.icio.us!

Please re-submit your consultation requests

2008-02-19T09:23:00.001-05:00

We've got our consultation form back up and running, but sadly lost access to any requests made between last Friday and this morning. If you submitted a request and have not been contacted by a reference librarian, please re-submit your request via our online form.

We apologize for this glitch in our systems, and look forward to hearing from you again!

Don't be a doodlebug video!

2008-02-18T08:51:00.000-05:00

Nothing is more disappointing than opening a library book only to discover the pages marked with someone else's comments or highlighting. This short (and cute) public service video shows how "doodlebugs" ruin shared public resources for all of us.

Show your library a little love!

2008-02-14T11:26:00.000-05:00

In honor of Valentine's Day, the annual "Love Your Library" survey is now available!
Please help us assess the quality of the library services we provide by taking 10-15 minutes to fill out the annual library services satisfaction survey. The survey is open to all members of the Sarah Lawrence College community, and we appreciate your feedback!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Take the "Love Your Library" survey now!

RefShare shares references!

2008-02-14T09:25:00.000-05:00

We know a lot of you are using RefWorks to manage and create your bibliographies. But have you tried RefShare? We think you'll want to. RefShare is a tool within RefWorks that allows you to share references with anyone--even people who don't use RefWorks. With a few simple clicks you can generate a list of your references that you can email to other users or post in your MySLC course space. You can allow other users to post comments on your references, making RefShare a great way to collaborate with your fellow students on course work or group projects.

You can find the sharing function under the Tools tab in your RefWorks account. If you'd like help using this cool feature, stop by the reference office or sign up for a research consultation using our online form.

Writing Contest for the New York Times

2008-02-12T11:14:00.000-05:00

The New York Times is sponsoring a writing contest for college students with a $1,000 prize! Sarah Lawrence College students seem ideally suited to answer the question: "What is love now, in this age of 24/7 communication, blurred gender roles and new attitudes about sex and dating?"

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, this is the perfect opportunity to gather your thoughts and tell the world (or at least the New York Times) what you think love means. Good luck all entrants!

http://www.nytimes.com/ads/marketing/modernlove/

Schedule a research consultation!

2008-02-11T13:44:00.000-05:00

Remember last semester? How that annotated bibliography ended up being due a whole lot sooner than you thought? Get a jump on things this spring by scheduling a research consultation with Emily, Carl, or Carrie. Let us know what you're working on, when you're available to meet, and we'll meet with you one-on-one to go over research strategies and sourcing. It's a great way to get a jump start!

Request a consultation by filling out our consultation request form, located here. You should receive a response within a day, except during weekends.

Do you del.icio.us?

2008-02-08T11:15:00.000-05:00

The Sarah Lawrence reference staff does! We've plunged into the Web 2.0 waters of social bookmarking to bring you high-quality librarian-selected websites to help with your scholarly research. Find everything from historical statistics and census data to easy-to-search public domain images to open access science journals. Check out our tag cloud on this blog, and join our network! We're slc_reference. Who are you?

Confused about social bookmarking? Check out this post from Carrie for a fun primer. Or stop by the reference office--let us show you what we're excited about!

Sex, Death, Abstraction

2008-02-07T09:10:00.000-05:00

Join Bella Brodzki and Judith Rodenbeck this Saturday, February 9th at 2pm in the Library Exhibit Space for the opening of "Sex, Death, Abstraction," a show of prints and paintings by poet Anne-Marie Levine. Anne-Marie Levine's most recent work, a series of abstract digital prints, depicts the effects of touch, volume, and mass in pixelated pattern, producing visual illusions of and allusions to precisely the tactility we increasingly find missing in this hyper-digitized age. A poet and pianist, Anne-Marie Levine is also more recently a visual artist who by preference works on an intimate scale. The work shown in "Sex, Death, Abstraction" cites a range of abstractions from Rothko's Abstract Expressionist stacks, on the one hand, to Man Ray's curious Surrealist landscape paintings, on the other, but she does so using a poetics of touch-already-gone-missing: the computer.

The show will run from February 2 through March 3.

Please Please Locate!

2008-02-06T10:46:00.000-05:00

With over 200,000 volumes and a campus of voracious researchers, it's bound to happen occasionally. You step away from the library catalog, elated that the library not only has the perfect book on your topic, it's even on the shelves! But when you go to the stacks, despair: The book isn't where the catalog says it should be. Please come to the information desk and ask for help! You'll be asked to fill out a Please Locate card. This triggers the process for tracking down lost or misplaced books. Geoffrey, one of our intrepid and sharp-eyed librarians, will first try to track down the book inside the library. If he can't find it, he can borrow another copy for you via interlibrary loan. You'll be notified via email when the book is located for you.

Remember: We can't start the Please Locate process without you! So don't leave the library angry--come to the information desk and ask for help!

Maximizing Gryphon Mail

2008-02-05T10:10:00.000-05:00

Today from 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm! Maximizing Gryphon Mail Workshop, in the Library Electronic Classroom
If you are an SLC student, you automatically have an account which you can use for much more than sending email. Learn tips and tricks to organizing your email and about the other Google Apps (Docs, Reader, Calendar, and more) that you have with your Gmail account. RSVP to Brenda Grell at bgrell@slc.edu

New Fiction Acquisitions

2008-02-04T16:34:00.000-05:00

Just in time for the new semester, there is a brand-new selection of the new fiction acquisitions on the library's New Fiction display shelf. Even better, there is a selection of new poetry too!

The New Fiction and New Poetry shelves are a place for the library to display books it has recently purchased for the library's literature collection. If you have a suggestion for a book for the collection, tell us by clicking here.

Focus the Nation resources

2008-01-30T15:34:00.000-05:00

Does Focus the Nation at SLC have you looking for more information about climate change? The library has resources for you!

Stop by and browse our shelves in the GE section. That's where you'll find books on environmental science, including climate change. We're always adding titles to our environmental studies collection, so check back often!

Search our scholarly databases! ScienceDirect contains full-text journals articles about climate change, while Social Sciences Full Text is a great place to start researching the social aspects of environmental change.

Check out the web resources selected by folks involved with Focus the Nation.

And there's more where that came from! Contact the reference staff for a guided tour of our resources by requesting a research consultation here.

Social Bookmarking in Plain English (video)

2008-01-29T09:57:00.000-05:00

Are you curious about social bookmarking, such as del.icio.us?

This fun video is a quick tutorial in what it's all about.

Project MUSE directly to your desktop

2008-01-23T09:55:00.000-05:00

Waiting on pins and needles for the current contents of Diacritics? Get them--and the contents of all the journals in Project MUSE--delivered right to your desktop with Project MUSE's new RSS feeds for contents! Click here for step-by-step instructions and add all your favorite MUSE journals to your feedreader.

If you're not sure what an RSS feed is or how to set up a reader, stop by the reference office or Academic Computing for help--it's a great way to keep up with lots of information all in one place!

Welcome back to your new computer lab!

2008-01-18T15:01:00.000-05:00

Announcing the new Esther Raushenbush Library Computer Lab!

During the break, the computer lab was moved to the lower level of the Esther Raushenbush Library. All the computers and printers previously available were moved to the new space. Three (3) workspaces have been designated specifically for laptop users.

The lab is located directly outside the E-classrooms (E1 & E2).

We are very excited to make this announcement and look forward to any feedback you have about the new lab space.

Lexis-Nexis and Safari

2008-01-11T14:00:00.000-05:00

Problems have been reported when using Safari 3 to search the Lexis-Nexis database. The browser suddenly shuts down while a search is being performed. Lexis-Nexis is working to resolve this problem, but in the meantime, Firefox should be used to search this database.

Please do let us know if you experience any other database access problems. You can let us know by commenting here on the blog, or by contacting the reference staff at reference@slc.edu

Winter Break Library Hours

2008-01-02T09:18:00.000-05:00

The Library will be open the following hours during the winter break:

Wednesday, January 2 to Sunday, January 20: 9am - 5pm (closed weekends)

Monday, January 21: 8:30am to 8:30pm

Tuesday, January 22: Regular hours resume

Reminder: Please use the garbage cans

2007-12-17T09:10:00.000-05:00

Library staff are glad to see students using our resources and facilities during the final stretch of the semester. We want to take a moment to remind you to throw your garbage in the receptacles located all over the library. There should never be a reason to leave your garbage on the tables, chairs, or floor. Please respect everyone who has to work in the library by helping us keep the library clean.

Citation Station!

2007-12-13T10:46:00.000-05:00

Have your whole conference paper done, except the bibliography? You're not alone! Reference staff will be manning Citation Station every day from 11am to 1pm in the Reference office just behind the information desk. Armed with our MLA handbooks, APA style guides, and Chicago manuals, we're here to help solve citation conundrums. Bring us your confounding web sources, your indeterminate issue and volume numbers, and your questions about what counts as plagiarism. We are here to help!

RefWorks for Worksheets!

2007-12-04T13:27:00.000-05:00

Overwhelmed by the prospect of submitting worksheets for your classes? RefWorks to the rescue! Remember that RefWorks can store and organize all your citations, including references for things you might not normally include in a bibliography but would want to include in a worksheet (e.g., lectures attended, museums visited, etc.).

You can access RefWorks by clicking the link located on the left side of the library homepage. If you'd like to use RefWorks off campus, contact the reference staff at x2225 for the Group Code. For help using RefWorks, stop by the reference office, call us, or email us with what's troubling you at reference@slc.edu.

Clothing, Food, and Toy Drive

2007-12-04T11:36:00.000-05:00

Please donate to the Administrative Staff Committee and Theater Outreach Clothing, Food, and Toy Drive from now until December 19! Collected items will be distributed by the Gethsemane Baptist Church in the Bronx, located near CS 211, a NYC public school Theater Outreach has been associated with for many years.

Donate laundered clothing of all sorts, especially coats, sweaters, gloves and scarves; non-perishable food items such as beans, pasta, canned goods, tuna, and chicken; and books and unwrapped children's toys. Items for any age are appropriate and whatever is donated will be put to good use.

Library drop-off boxes are located on the main floor of the library. Additional collection boxes are in Bates, the Campbell Sports Center, Slonim, and 45 Wrexham.

Reminder: ILL ends Sunday

2007-11-29T11:55:00.000-05:00

Sunday, December 2nd is the last day to submit interlibrary loan requests for the fall semester. Direct any ILL questions or problems to Geoffrey in interlibrary loan at x2479. If you need help locating materials, please contact a reference librarian using our consultation request form, located here.

Reference librarians stave off panic!

2007-11-28T09:10:00.000-05:00

Panicking about incomplete conference research? You're not alone. Ask a reference librarian for help! Carl, Carrie, and Emily are still available to help you find high-quality scholarly materials through our research databases. So if you're stumped (or still have trouble getting started), set up a consultation using the online form located here, or stop by our office on the main floor of the library, just behind the circulation desk. We're here to help!

Library now open 24 hours

2007-11-26T09:30:00.000-05:00

As of Sunday, November 25th, the Library will be open for student use until closing at 5 p.m. on December 21st. The circulation desk will close at 2 a.m. each evening, re-opening at 8:30 a.m. Please remember to limit food to snacks in bags and drinks in covered containers.

During the 24 hour period, it is especially important to remember that the Library is a shared community space, and we hope we'll all respect the needs of others for a clean and quiet space to complete conference and coursework. Please let library staff know of any problems you encounter during this busy time of year.

Workshop: Using LexisNexis Academic, 12:30 Monday in E2

2007-11-19T09:15:00.000-05:00

Join Carrie at 12:30 in the library's electronic classroom E2 to learn how to search using LexisNexis Academic. LexisNexis is a premier resource for news, business, and legal research. It offers international news and foreign language content. LexisNexis is a fantastic source for writers, humanities students, and particularly foreign language studies.

Monday, November 19, 2007, in Classroom E2.

For a full calendar of workshops, click here or check the Academic Computing website under workshops.

Recall and ILL Deadlines

2007-11-14T16:03:00.000-05:00

As the semester draws to a close, the Library will be ending recall and interlibrary loan services. The last day for recalls is November 25th. The last day for interlibrary loans is December 2nd.

If these deadlines scare you, come ask a reference librarian for assistance! Request a research consultation using our online consultation request form.

End-of-term library hours

2007-11-14T14:18:00.000-05:00

Library hours for the end of the semester are as follows:

Tuesday, Nov. 20: Library closed at 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 21: 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Thursday and Friday, Nov. 22, 23: Library closed.
Saturday, Nov. 24: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 25 to Friday, Dec. 21: 1:00 p.m. - (Open 24 hours; closes on Friday, Dec. 21 at 5:00 p.m.)

Having trouble opening ILL documents?

2007-11-13T14:23:00.000-05:00

We've heard reports that some students are having difficulty opening documents delivered from interlibrary loan. If this is happening to you, don't stay quiet! Contact Geoffrey Danisher, our head of interlibrary loan. He is happy to troubleshoot interlibrary loan problems via email at gdanishe@slc.edu, by phone at x2479, or stop by his office on the main floor of the library.

Library staff is here to help you!

Information Resources for Political Activists

2007-11-09T09:14:00.001-05:00

Join Emily in the library's E2 classroom on November 13th from 1:30 to 2:30 for a lively discussion of information resources for activists. We'll talk about the politics of information organization, strategies for finding alternative information sources, and tackle the specific research challenges facing those of us who show up. See you there!

Workshop: Using RefWorks to Create Bibliographies, Monday, NOvember 12th, 10:00 am

2007-11-08T13:28:00.000-05:00

If you haven't used RefWorks, or if you have but you want to learn more about the program, join Carrie in the library's electronic classroom E2 at 10:00 AM on Monday, November 12th. I will demonstrate importing references from various databases, creating a bibliography, and using RefWorks to keep track of your research notes.

RefWorks is a great bibliographic utility that you can use and manage on your own, from any location. It will help you store and track your book, journal and video citations, organize your research, and even format papers. RefWorks can also help you avoid plagiarism by making it easy to keep track of what ideas you read about where.

This workshop will also repeat on Monday, December 10th at 2:00 pm, and on Thursday, December 13th at 2:00 pm. Please RSVP by emailing Carrie Netzer Wajda by clicking here. A full calendar of workshops can be found on the Academic Computing website.

Pardon our dust!

2007-11-07T09:02:00.000-05:00

As you may have noticed, the library is undergoing some construction on the lower level. The area housing the photocopy and vending machines is getting new flooring. We're excited about the change and think you will be too. The area will be closed for a few hours this morning to facilitate the construction. Thank you for your patience!

New Fiction and Poetry acquisitons

2007-11-06T11:40:00.000-05:00

Need a break from research? Come and check out the new fiction and poetry titles on the New Fiction shelf in the library. The current selection features works by Chinese and Japanese authors, as well as American and British writers. There are many topics to choose from, so come and browse the library's new books. We hope you will be inspired to check one out and take it home with you.

The New Fiction shelf is immediately to your right when you come in the front door of the library. It is updated frequently by Carrie, the literature and languages librarian. If you have a suggestion for the New Fiction shelf, please let the library know by using our "Suggest and Item for Purchase" form on the library's home page, or by using the link here.

Export to RefWorks via Google Scholar

2007-10-31T16:54:00.000-04:00

With a simple switch of a setting, Google Scholar searchers can export citations to a RefWorks account. From the front page of this search engine, click on 'Scholar Preferences.' Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and you'll see a section marked Bibliography Manager. Select RefWorks from the drop down menu, click 'Save Preferences,' and start searching. You will see a link to 'Import into RefWorks' attached to each citation. Click the link, and your citation will download into your RefWorks account. Pretty nifty, eh?

If you have trouble making this work, let the reference staff know at reference@slc.edu.

Research Methods for Writers Workshop - Today, 3 PM

2007-10-30T08:58:00.000-04:00

Join Carrie for a workshop on research methods and resources for writers today at 3:00 pm in the library's classroom E2. We will discuss formulating a research question, print and online resources so that you can get back to writing!

E2 is on the lower level of the library. Go down the stairs, turn left, and go through the glass door into the blue-carpeted room. Room E2 is the classroom on the right.

Thinking About Politicians

2007-10-25T09:31:00.001-04:00

The second SLC symposium, called "Thinking about Politicians: Max Weber's Politics as a Vocation'" will be on Tuesday, October 30th, 1:30-3 pm in the Pillow Room.

As we are entering an election year, the symposium is addressing the question of what it means to be a politician in a mass democracy and which qualities a politician should have. Max Weber's classical essay will serve as our springboard for our conversation.

The panelists are: Elke Zuern (Political Science), Fred Smoler (Literature), Philip Swoboda (History), and Patrisia Macias (Sociology).

Weber's essay is available through MySLC.

Exporting records from WorldCat to RefWorks

2007-10-23T14:38:00.000-04:00

Having trouble exporting records from WorldCat to RefWorks? You're not alone. We think we have the answer--you need to be logged in to RefWorks before you send records from WorldCat. Unlike Sociological Abstracts or Ebsco, you will not be prompted to log in when you export. So try logging in to RefWorks before you start your WorldCat searching, and then export away!

Still having trouble? Please let us know at reference@slc.edu.

Join Carrie for a workshop on Research Methods for Writers, 10/30 at 3:00 pm

2007-10-19T12:06:00.000-04:00

Are you a writer? If you think you don't need research, or don't know how to begin, join Carrie in the library, room E2, on Tuesday, October 30th at 3:00.

This workshop will cover research strategies and sources to help you find information on people, objects, historical details, and places - all critical details that will help you breathe life into your writing. We will focus on the library's reference materials and databases. We will also cover the crucial step of formulating a research question.

Film viewing rooms temporarily out of order

2007-10-17T09:06:00.000-04:00

Library film viewing rooms 1 and 2 are currently out of commission due to broken equipment. We have ordered replacement DVD and VHS players--including a region-free DVD player for viewing foreign discs--and will let you know as soon as they are up and running.

Thank you for your patience!

Need research help? Reference consultations are available!

2007-10-09T12:58:00.000-04:00

If you are running into trouble with a research project, or simply having a hard time getting started, the reference staff at the library can help. From the homepage, click on "request consultation" under Quick Links, or simply click here, to set up an individualized research session with Carl, Emily, or Carrie. We will use the information you give us to do some preliminary research and suggest research strategies, sources, and questions to help you get started.

We look forward to discussing your projects with you!

Inauguration Day hours

2007-10-04T13:07:00.000-04:00

The Library will be closed from 10:30am to 1:00pm this Friday, October 5, to celebrate the inauguration of Karen Lawrence.

Gender Studies Database has a new interface

2007-10-02T09:09:00.000-04:00

Over the summer, the library opted to get the content of the Gender Studies Database delivered through the EbscoHost platform. In non-library-speak, that means that when you go to search this resource, you'll see the same interface you use to search Academic Search Premiere. We hope this will make using GSD more intuitive and less frustrating. Another great aspect? We now have more than one 'seat' for the database. Last year, only one member of the community could use this database at the time, and we had an eight-minute wait after someone logged out. With EbscoHost, many of us can use the database at once.

So dive in! GSD is a great source for scholarly research in women's, gender, and sexuality studies. If you'd like help navigating this or any of our other databases, or in choosing the best databases for your conference work, please request a consultation here.

Library Links in Google Scholar

2007-10-01T11:29:00.000-04:00

Users of Google's search tool for scholarly information on the Web will see something new in results lists. If the full-text of a citation can be found in our collections, you'll see this:

Full-Text @ SLC

Click on the link, and you'll be re-directed to the full-text within the library's electronic holdings. Pretty nifty, eh?

You will often find citations using Google Scholar where the full-text is neither freely available on the open Web or in the library's collections. Remember to use our interlibrary loan forms, available here, and we can get the full-text for you from another library.

College Symposium to be held in the Pillow Room

2007-09-28T16:47:00.000-04:00

This year, the College is inaugurating a new symposium designed to bring together faculty and students for informal discussion of a subject of common interest.

The first symposium will be held on Tuesday, October 16th from 1:30 to 3:00 in the Library's Pillow Room. The theme of the first symposium will be "John Dewey and the Educational Philosophy of Sarah Lawrence College." A chapter from Dewey's Democracy and Education will the starting point of the discussons. Four panelists--Barbara Schecter from Psychology, Ilja Wachs from Literature, Ray Clarke from Biology and Rose Ann Thom from Dance--will speak briefly about Dewey's text and their teaching experience to get the discussion started.

You may access the chapter in MySLC here.

Check out our multilingual library records!

2007-09-27T16:29:00.000-04:00

Technical services is at it again, enhancing Voyager, our online catalog, with foreign language titles, authors, and subject headings. For example, try searching for a video titled 'Battle Royale,' a Japanese action thriller. You will see the English titles, romanization of the Japanese, and the Japanese and Chinese characters. You can even search using characters. Foreign language students and native speakers, give it a try and let us know how it works!

JSTOR now links to ARTStor!

2007-09-26T12:39:00.000-04:00

Now, when you are searching for articles in JSTOR, you can link directly to images in ARTStor. This great new feature will promote cross-disciplinary study and enhance your article searches with cross-indexed visual material.

Happy searching!

Lecture tonight! Critical Reflections: Activist Notes from the SLC Archives

2007-09-25T08:56:00.000-04:00

Critical Reflections: Activist Notes from the SLC Archives

Tuesday, September 25, 2007 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm

Join the College Archivist, Abby Lester, for a multimedia presentation on SLC activism. Learn how previous students brought about change on campus and in the surrounding communities. The presentation will include photos and video of protests from the College Archives. Hear about the Westlands sit-ins, campus employee wage protests, and SLC’s participation in the National Student Strike of 1970. Sponsored by The College Archives, Office of Community Partnerships, and the Office of Racial/Ethnic Diversity and Campus Engagement.

See what Gale's Contemporary Authors Database can do for you!

2007-09-21T09:37:00.000-04:00

Are you interested in researching a specific author, or just want to find out who wrote that great book you read over summer? Try the Contemporary Authors database.

Contemporary Authors offers authoritative biographies on over 124,00 current authors in a wide variety of fields, from fiction to broadcast journalism. It is even better than a Google search because of its clarity and transparency. Certain authors (intentionally or not) tend to fudge on certain details of their lives - for example, try researching the facts of J.T. Leroy's life and work or Kathryn Harrison's memoir, The Kiss. Biographies that cannot be confirmed with the authors are indicated as such, as is the date of the entry.

Contemporary Authors offers a summary of criticism, both positive and negative, about specific works and authors, and makes an ideal jumping-off point for many research projects. And if you get stuck doing research, make an appointment for a consultation with a Reference Librarian using the form located here - we are here to help!

Email us from EBSCOhost!

2007-09-19T13:50:00.000-04:00

Research questions come up when we're in the middle of doing research, and EBSCOhost has devised a quick way for you to ask us for help mid-search session. Just look at the upper right hand corner of any EBSCOhost database search screen (these include biggies like Academic Search Premiere and more tightly focused collections like the Gender Studies Database and ATLA), and you'll see a link to "Ask a Librarian!" Click that, give us your name, contact information, and a summary of what tripped you up, and hit send. The database will automatically email the reference staff your question along with a copy of your search string, and one of us will get back to you with strategies for extricating yourself from a research jam.

Searching other databases, or just want general help? Give us a call with questions at x2225, email us at reference@slc.edu, or just stop by our office behind the circulation desk on the main floor of the library.

New Fiction Highlights

2007-09-18T09:26:00.000-04:00

In addition to our featured New Poetry section, the library now has a New Fiction display near the entrance.

If you have some free time and are looking for fiction, stop by and see if some of our new acquisitions appeals to you. If nothing does, you can also suggest a book for purchase using the form under Quick Links.

What would you recommend for our new fiction shelf?

Problem with emailed search results

2007-09-14T10:59:00.000-04:00

We have discovered that the online catalog is not emailing your search results when requested, even though you get a message that states that they were emailed successfully. Our system vendor is aware of the problem and we will post a message to this blog when this function is restored.

Meanwhile, you can get a list of your results by using the 'print' function and pasting the resulting text into a word processing document or email. Of course, you can also take down call numbers the old fashioned way--with paper and pencil.

Getting used to 360 Link

2007-09-13T10:10:00.000-04:00

You'll notice something new in your database results page this semester, and it looks like this:

This summer, we installed a new software that connects our abstract and citation databases (like Sociological Abstracts and America: History and Life) to our full-text content (in JSTOR, Project MUSE, and elsewhere). When you find a citation or abstract that looks interesting, simply click the image. 360 Link will then search across our databases and give you links to the full-text, wherever it resides. Pretty spiffy, no?

Like any piece of software, 360 Link isn't perfect. When you click that link, you're only searching our electronic collections, and if you're not careful, you can miss out on our ample print resources. Always make sure to check our print holdings via the library catalog. If you run into trouble or the results don't make sense, we hope you'll let us know. And if 360 Link tells you we don't have access to the full-text you need, submit an interlibrary loan request via our online form. If you need help navigating the ever more complex information universe, come ask the reference staff for help!

The wonders of WorldCat

2007-09-12T11:03:00.000-04:00

As classes get underway and the excitement of research begins, you may find yourself wanting more books than we have in our library. We'd like to encourage you to give WorldCat a try. This database allows you to search holdings of libraries around the world and request an interlibrary loan with a single click. Here's how:

1. Access WorldCat from our Databases A-Z page.

2. Search for a book by title, author, keyword, any way you like!

3. When you see something that looks interesting or relevant, click on the title. The record will give you more information, often including tables of contents and scans of cover images.

4. Click on the link that reads "Borrow this item from another library."

5. Fill in the form, and voila! You'll receive an email when your book arrives.

So give it a whirl! If you'd like help making the most of WorldCat, stop by the reference office, request a consultation, or give us a call at x2225.

Check out Library and Academic Computing workshops

2007-09-05T14:31:00.000-04:00

The Library and Academic Computing are offering an expanded lineup of workshops and info sessions for this fall semester. We have added more workshop series so you can focus on one or several software programs. Whether it is art- and design- related software, classroom and lab technology, administrative software, or new technology, these workshops and info sessions are open to current SLC students, faculty, and staff. Unless otherwise noted in the workshop description, there are no prerequisites. Take a look at the calendar of workshops here.

Welcome from the Library!

2007-08-31T09:38:00.000-04:00

Whether you are a returning student and old friend or a new face on campus this fall, the Library staff are happy to welcome you to the Esther Raushenbush Library. We hope you'll take lots of advantage of our resources and services this year. Hours for the library during opening weeks will be as follows:

Saturday, Sunday, September 1,2 : 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday-Thursday, September 3-6: 9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Friday, September 7: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday, September 8, 9: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday-Thursday September 10-13: 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Friday September 14: 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday September 15: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday September 16: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.

Regular hours begin September 17 and can be found on the Library website here.

DVDs in LC Order

2007-08-30T10:21:00.000-04:00

Check out the shelves of DVDs, and you'll see an entirely new arrangement--by call number. We used to put the DVDs in the order in which they'd been received, which meant you had to chase all over the shelves to find our documentaries on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Now you can find them all shelved together, at DS 119.76. Find a relevant call number in the book stacks, take it to the shelves to find relevant films! Our tireless Technical Services department will be attacking the VHS collection over Winter break.

We think this new arrangement will make navigating our growing film collection easier. What do you think?

2007-08-29T09:19:00.000-04:00

You will see a new face around the library this fall. My name is Carrie Netzer Wajda (pronounced "why-duh" - but Carrie works fine too) and I am the new reference librarian for literature and languages. So please stop by the library and say hello. I am looking forward to an exciting fall semester at Sarah Lawrence!

Goodbye, Dewey!

2007-08-28T15:34:00.000-04:00

After ten years and countless hours of labor by the Access and Technical Services departments, the library bid goodbye to the last of our books classified in the Dewey Decimal system. The entire book collection is now classified in the Library of Congress system--that's the one with call numbers that start with letters. We celebrated with a cake and commemorative t-shirts in August, and we think you'll celebrate next time you're looking for a book. You can find all the books on a topic in one place on the shelves!

If you need help reading Library of Congress call numbers, or you can't find a book you need on the shelves, be sure to ask the Reference staff for help. Email us at reference@slc.edu, call us at x2225, or just stop by our office on the main floor of the library.

Have a great summer!

2007-05-11T15:16:00.000-04:00

Here are library hours for the closing weeks:

Friday, May 11: Library closes at 5pm

Sat, Sun May 12, 13: 1pm - 5pm

Mon-Thurs, May 14-17: 9am - 6pm

Friday, May 18: 9am - 2pm (Library closes during Commencement)

Sat, Sun May 19, 20: CLOSED

Take a book, leave a book!

2007-05-08T15:30:00.000-04:00

It's the end of the year and you can finally read what you want. Stop by the library's take-a-book-leave-a-book shelf in the periodicals room. We've got lots of sci-fi and mystery genre fiction to help you come down from your Hegel. And feel free to leave something good of your own for someone else!

Citation Station, May 4

2007-05-01T15:19:00.000-04:00

Need a hand wrangling your bibliography into consistent, correct citation style? Drop by Citation Station on May 4 from 2-3pm in the Heimbold lab, room 209A. Maria will be on hand to answer citation stumpers, solve RefWorks dilemmas, and help you avoid plagiarism traps. Questions? Email us at reference@slc.edu or call us at x2225.

Remember RefWorks?

2007-04-27T13:19:00.000-04:00

Now is the time of year when RefWorks can work some serious magic. RefWorks is our web-based bibliographic manager that can generate bibliographies and worksheets at the click of a mouse. Need a refresher? Stop by the reference office Monday through Friday, 9 to 5, and Carl, Emily, or Maria can show you the ropes. You can also take walk yourself through the satisfyingly thorough and wonderfully brief RefWorks tutorial here.

Reminder: ILL ends this Sunday

2007-04-26T09:20:00.000-04:00

The last day to submit interlibrary loan requests will be this Saturday, April 28th. Please make sure to get your requests in by then. You can request items using the online forms located here.

Bring your I.D.

2007-04-19T09:16:00.000-04:00

You may have noticed the new turnstile recently installed in the library. Beginning with 24 hour service, you will need to swipe your I.D. to be admitted to the library between the hours of 2am and 8:30am Monday through Friday, and 2am to 11am on Saturday at Sunday. So bring your I.D. cards!

And remember: Drinks in covered containers and snacks in bags only!

New Book in the Library: Revolting Bodies

2007-04-17T09:51:00.000-04:00

For those of you who attended Kathleen LeBesco's lecture recently, you might be interested to know that we just ordered a copy of her book, Revolting Bodies?: The Struggle to Redefine Fat Identity, for the library. It's checked in and on the shelf at RC628 .L36 2004.

If there is a book we don't have, and you think we should own it here in the library, please feel free to suggest that item for purchase via this form here.

24 hours starts April 22

2007-04-16T09:02:00.000-04:00

This Sunday, April 22, marks the start of 24 hour service at the library. The library will open at 11am on the 22nd and remain open until the end of the last day of classes, May 11. Watch this space for additional information regarding library hours and services for the end of the term.

Reference staff out due to rain

2007-04-16T08:58:00.000-04:00

The Reference staff will be out today due to the inclement weather, which has us all trapped in different parts of the region. We expect to be in tomorrow. Please continue to email us with questions, concerns, and consultation requests, and we will get back to you as quickly as possible: reference@slc.edu. If you requested a consultation over the weekend, you may experience a delayed response until tomorrow. We beg your patience!

Get your interlibrary loan requests in today!

2007-04-10T16:24:00.000-04:00

According to Geoffrey, our interlibrary loan librarian, "The last day to submit an interlibrary loan request for the semester is Saturday, April 28th." So get them in now! If you need something past that date, Geoffrey will discuss the feasibility of exceptions on a case by case library. Just stop by the library and ask for him.

And remember to take advantage of our research consultation services if you're having trouble finding sources! You can email us at reference@slc.edu, call us at x2225, fill out our online form here, or just stop by.

Black Thought and Culture

2007-04-02T15:28:00.000-04:00

We are currently hosting a trial for Alexander Street Press's Black Thought and Culture database. From the press materials:

"Black Thought and Culture contains 1297 sources with 1100 authors, covering the non-fiction published works of leading African Americans. Particular care has been taken to index this material so that it can be searched more thoroughly than ever before. Where possible the complete published non-fiction works are included, as well as interviews, journal articles, speeches, essays, pamplets, letters and other fugitive material."

This looks like an excellent addition to our primary source collections in Africana Studies, with relevance across the curriculum. We hope you'll take a look and let us know what you think here on our news blog, or by email at reference@slc.edu. You can access the trial via our Databases A-Z page. Log in using the username and password information listed there.

2007 Library Survey Results

2007-04-02T10:20:00.000-04:00

The Sarah Lawrence College Annual Library Survey was conducted from February 16 through March 2, 2007. A total of 321 respondents completed the survey.

Our response to the survey addresses the issues and concerns that survey responders expressed. Some of these issues include:

Reference consultations and library instruction
Library databases
Access and quality of e-reserve materials
Availability of Music Library resources
Computer lab availability and relocation
Copy machines in the library

You can download the survey report in PDF format at this link here: http://www.slc.edu/library/survey/LibrarySurveyReport2007.pdf

You can also view the summary of the survey results at this link: http://www.slc.edu/library/survey/surveysummary.html

Wherever possible, we have tried to address these concerns and offer concrete solutions to these problems. We thank you for taking the time to let us know your thoughts about the library. We appreciate your participation. Your feedback helps us serve you better.

Black World now on microfilm!

2007-03-28T10:12:00.000-04:00

It came to my attention recently that our holdings for the magazine Black World (known formerly as Negro Digest) was in really bad shape. While helping students track down a book review from the 1970s, the pages of the magazine crumbled in my hands.

This magazine is no longer in print, but it has real historical value, so we decided to replace our print holdings with microfilm. Now if you need to consult Black World for an article, you longer have to handle dusty, falling-apart, yellowed pages.

If you have any questions or concerns about using periodicals in print, electronically, or on microfilm, the reference staff is here at your service. You can call us at x2225, email us at reference@slc.edu, or stop by our office, which is located behind the circulation desk.

It's getting hot in here (so hot)

2007-03-27T12:51:00.001-04:00

We just want to let you know that we are aware of the temperature conditions in the library, and are in touch with campus facilities in an effort to resolve the situation. We apologize for the heat, and hope to begin cooling off shortly

Sign up for a research consultation!

2007-03-27T12:17:00.000-04:00

As Marky Mark might say, "It's about that time." If you're feeling overwhelmed by upcoming deadlines and looming conference work, make an appointment for research assistance with Carl, Maria, or Emily. We will meet with you individually to go over sources in your area and show you the ropes of the library's research collections. It's even more fun than it sounds!

Make an appointment by filling out our consultation request form located here, email us at reference@slc.edu, call us at x2225, or stop by our offices just behind the circulation desk on the main floor of the library. We look forward to meeting you!

Project MUSE

2007-03-27T11:59:00.001-04:00

We have resolved our Project MUSE snafu, so you should now be able to retrieve full text articles from the database. If you have continuing trouble, please contact a reference librarian at ext. 2225, reference@slc.edu, or in our office just behind the circulation desk.