May

Archival Outlook: Online Archives Internship

May 31, 2011
Megan Atkinson, a Drexel University iSchool student, shares the story of her online archives internship with the Drexel University Archives earlier this year. She shares her experience in the May/June 2011 issue of Archival Outlook.
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Hagerty Library 24/7

May 23, 2011
During Drexel's Final Exam Period (June 2-June 11), Hagerty Library* will be open 24/7 for all current students, faculty, and staff. During this time the library will be closed to the general public, alumni, and reciprocal university affiliates (University of the Sciences of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, and Temple University). The library will reopen to everyone on Monday June 13. Anyone needing special access during this time should contact the Circulation Desk (215) 895-2767 or circulat@drexel.edu. Reciprocal university affiliates and alumni with Drexel University Library cards may request and retrieve books from the Circulation Desk with prior arrangements. * Except for the Bookmark Cafe, which will be open to the public Monday - Friday 11AM - 5PM for access to the Taco Bell Express.
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Natural Sciences in the Archives

May 20, 2011

We're just bursting with pride over Drexel's new partnership with the Academy of Natural Sciences. To show our school spirit, we're putting on a show--or rather an exhibit--of rare natural history books from Drexel Archive's special collections. The exhibit was put together by Archives volunteer and iSchool grad student Phoebe Kowalewski. Works on display include an astronomy text from 1566 by Alessandro Piccolomini, Jonathan Carver's 1781 Travels through the Interior Parts of North America, and several volumes of Audubon's Quadrupeds of North America and Birds Of America. Fly by soon and get an eyeful.

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Ceremony held for 2011 Library Celebration Awards Recipients

May 20, 2011
[gallery order='DESC' columns='6'] On Thursday, May 12, 2011 the Drexel University Libraries hosted the second annual Library Celebration Awards, celebrating six recipients of the 2011 awards. The Library Celebration Awards were established in 2010 to recognize individuals or teams who have advanced the values of the Libraries through exceptional accomplishments. In addition to Library staff, a student worker is also recognized for his/her dedication to the Libraries. Over 30 people attended the May 12th ceremony, held in W. W. Hagerty's Bookmark Cafe, which recognized library staff Gina Cacace, Sarah Daub, Meg Finney, Ellie Goldberg and Emily Misser. Andrew Mineo received the Jane Bryan Student Worker Award, named after former Libraries administrator Jane Bryan who was a great supporter of student workers. Over 25 people were nominated for the 2011 Awards and six were chosen for their exceptional service: Recipient Gina Cacace, Library Reserve Coordinator at W. W. Hagerty Library was nominated for enhanced services or outreach activities. Gina demonstrates an exceptional level of service in her position as Library Reserve Coordinator. Her coordination of the library reserves positively impacts all users of the Libraries, from students utilizing reserves to faculty and staff requests for reserve materials. Shortly after her assuming her position, she enhanced the communication to and between the faculty and the subject librarians. She established a procedure to keep the faculty and the subject librarians informed on the status of requests, which has streamlined the process resulting in a more reliable and responsive library service for us all. She also established the reserve email account to better and more efficiently handle reserve requests and questions. Sarah Daub, Circulation/Reserves Clerk at Hahnemann Library, received a nomination for enhanced services or outreach activities. Sarah embraces opportunities to make the Health Sciences Libraries a better place for our students, staff, and faculty. She initiated and executed a project creating exhibits for the hallway area at the entrance to the Hahnemann Library. She proposed a detailed plan with items from the College of Medicine's Legacy Center (a nice collaboration) and she carried this out with artful presentation. She followed this with a thoughtful and sensitive exhibit with materials gleaned from the Hahnemann collection portraying the personal experiences of health sciences professionals with illness or their medical careers. She researched and composed the descriptive narratives that accompanied the display. Currently researching a new exhibit, she has taken on the responsibility of presenting a welcoming, professional, educational, and creative entrance to the Hahnemann Library. Recipient Meg Finney, a Systems Technician at both Hahnemann and W. W. Hagerty Libraries, was nominated for promoting exceptional collaboration and cooperation among library staff. Meg consistently promotes attentive, responsive and approachable service to all locations of Drexel University Libraries. She was an instrumental figure for the Libraries in dealings with IRT concerning Wi-Fi reception issues and has drafted a form to help library patrons describe IT issues. Meg's efforts contribute to increased responsiveness to user needs across all Libraries. Ellie Goldberg, Library Assistant in Information Services at W. W. Hagerty Library received nominations for efficient or innovative infrastructure or operations because of her role as the moving force in implementing and organizing the Personal Librarian program that launched last fall. In addition to writing the communications that were sent to each freshman, she spent time and effort in making the process as easy as possible for all of the Personal Librarians that participated in the project. This Personal Librarian Program, which gained national coverage, was a significant highlight of the last year, and it was clearly made possible by Ellie's efforts. Her resourcefulness, willingness to organize and simplify the process for the rest of us was the key to its success. Emily Misser, the Librarian for Business, Economics and Hospitality Management was nominated for efficient and innovative enhancements to infrastructure or operations. Emily is innovative and creative in her approach to information literacy. She worked to organize the scheduling of presenters, for a library program developed to strengthen research skills of clinical faculty members in the LeBow College of Business, and also served as a presenter herself. She enfolds techniques familiar to the business community in her instructional style, offering a balanced approach. This innovative approach to instruction, known to the wider library community, has resulted in an invitation to be a keynote speaker at the California Conference on Library Instruction being held this month. The Jane Bryan Student Worker Awards was given to Andrew Mineo, a work-study student at W. W. Hagerty Library. Andrew has worked at the library since his freshman year in Fall 2009. He worked additional hours during finals' periods to cover the shifts other students who called out. When Information Services department was in need of assistance, we heartily recommended Andrew and now he splits his duties between Access Services and Information Services exhibiting skills across a variety of projects and public service commendable in this young adult. ### To see images from the 2011 ceremony, please visit our Flickr Page. For more information about the Library Celebration Awards or the recipients, please contact Jenny James Lee at jaj92@drexel.edu
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Bring a book for fine forgiveness

May 19, 2011
Got library fines? Got unwanted text books? We can help with that. Between May 30th and June 11th, 8am through 8pm, Hagerty Library will offer fine forgiveness for up to if you bring us a current textbook in fair condition (determined by the library). And, if you bring us a book but you don't have fines, you can transfer the forgiveness to your friend who does. Not sure what to donate? Need more information? Take a look at the library's most wanted. Questions? Email reserve@drexel.edu.
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Calling all faculty!

May 13, 2011
If there's one thing we know about students, it's that they want more course readings on reserve. Help them out by getting your summer course reserves squared away as soon as possible. Your students will thank you for it, and so will we. All the details are listed on our 'Course Reserves' page, where you can also find links to the library's online or printable form. Got a question? Contact the library's reserves desk. We'll get back to you soon.
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The Library is Hiring

May 11, 2011
Drexel University Libraries, Hagerty Library, is seeking two highly self-motivated individuals interested in gaining work experience in libraries to fill the position of Late Night Supervisor. These individuals will be responsible for the late night supervision and operation of the Circulation Desk and overall functioning of the Library in the absence of professional staff. Duties include:
- Handling a variety of situations related to access, facilities, and library services; often as the only staff on duty.
- Assisting library users in locating materials, troubleshooting problems, and interpreting policies.
- Assisting Public Safety with access issues.
- Supervising student employees at the Circulation Desk.
- Performing general maintenance and troubleshooting on equipment.
- Closing the library.
Qualifications: Candidate must have strong customer service skills, be self-directed, and have acute attention to detail. Preferred skills: academic library experience, experience with library automated systems, and supervision experience. Hours: 10PM-2AM Sunday-Thursday, [shared between two positions] To Apply: Send resume to Dee Childs, dap27@drexel.edu.
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Vintage Computers: Demo @ Hagerty

May 10, 2011

Want to see some old computers in action? Stop by Hagerty Library, Wednesday, May 11th, 4 - 6pm. While you're there, grab a snack, socialize with fellow enthusiasts, and learn about the history of computing. It's all happening at Drexel Archives' opening reception for its latest exhibit: 'Access for Everyone: Computing at Drexel, 1946 - 1984.'' Drexel University made history with its Microcomputer Project in 1984, which required all incoming freshman to purchase a personal computer. However, the history of computing at Drexel dates back to the very beginning of computer history. The reception includes refreshments and a live demo of vintage computers, co-sponsored by TechServ.

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The Chronicle: Tomorrow's Academic Libraries: Maybe Even Some Books

May 9, 2011
Imagine a library that is not only bookless but is not necessarily tied to a building, one that takes its personnel and services to patrons rather than expecting them to come to it. Two projects--one now under way at the undergraduate level and one well established at a medical library--suggest where the untethered library is headed. One approach focuses on space; the other on librarians. Visit The Chronicle.com to read more. Howard, Jennifer. 'Tomorrow's Academic Libraries: Maybe Even Some Books.' The Chronicle. Washington, D.C. 8 May 2011. Web. 9 May 2011.
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Insomnia Causes Insomnia

May 6, 2011
Hear that rumbling? It's not an earthquake, it's not SEPTA, it's Insomnia Cookies. Not that I'm trying to sleep next to their truck, but isn't that an ironic name, given their constantly running generator? So, Drexel: is insomnia cookies worth a 70db engine monotone all day long? If they get this privilege, then I want free reign to set up my grunge band in the middle of Chestnut and rock out. Why, now that you mention it, I do hear that rumbling, as do many of our library users and staff members. You've probably guessed that this is an ongoing issue. Several students have complained, and the problem has come to the attention of the Dean of Libraries, Danuta Nitecki. She has asked senior staff to resolve it. So I can't tell you that the noise will cease immediately, but I can tell you that we consider this a problem, and we are working to fix it. As for your grunge band on Chestnut Street, I'm very sorry, but there is nothing I can do, other than start the mosh pit.
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5/7/11 - Access for Everyone: Computing at Drexel, 1946 - 1984 Archives Exhibit

May 3, 2011
Drexel University made history with its Microcomputer Project in 1984, which required all incoming freshman to purchase a personal computer. However, the history of computing at Drexel dates back to the very beginning of computer history. This exciting exhibit traces the growing role of computers at Drexel and the University's initiatives to provide access to the Drexel academic community. This exhibit will run from May 7th - June 29th, 2011. For more information, email archives@drexel.edu or call 215-895-6706. Two events will take place in conjunction with this exhibit at W. W. Hagerty Library: May 11 - Exhibit Opening from 4 - 6 PM May 12 - Computer History Playdate from 12 - 2 PM
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