Fall 2007 Newsletter Published

The Fall 2007 issue of Library News has been added to the Library's web site. Check it out and find out about how we're making interlibrary loan easier for you, NU faculty publications, our laptop lending program and more!

ILLiad: Making Interlibrary Loan Easier For You!

The interlibrary loan process is now easier for you thanks to ILLiad, our new interlibrary loan management software program! Here are some of the benefits of using ILLiad:

• You will have access to your ILLiad account 24/7 from any web browser.
• You will only need to enter your personal information ONCE when you create your ILLiad account, not every time you submit a request. After you create your account, you will access it using the username and password you selected.
• You will receive automatic emails letting you know when your items have arrived.
• Articles and book chapters will be waiting for you in your ILLiad account in PDF format (unless you requested a print copy).
• You will be able to view a list of the items you have borrowed, see when they are due and request renewals.
• You will be able to see the status of your outstanding requests.
• You will be able to connect to ILLiad directly from an EBSCOhost or WorldCat record.

ILLiad will also make our behind-the-scenes work easier and less dependent on paper, which will result in a more efficient and earth-friendly interlibrary loan process.

To get started with ILLiad, please visit http://www.niagara.edu/library/docdel.html.

Rare Book Room Open For Studying Until the End of the Semester!

You can study in the Rare Book Room during the final three weeks of the semester. There may, however, be a few occasions when it is not available due to previously scheduled meetings. If the room is locked, please ask a staff member at the Circulation Desk to open the door for you.

November Monthly Book Spotlight

The November installment of the Monthly Book Spotlight has been added to the Library's web site. Reference Librarian Samantha Gust highlights the faculty members currently featured in the Library's Faculty Publications Display near the front entrance.

Christmas Fine Amnesty 2007

Do you owe fines to the Library? Would you like to contribute canned or boxed food items to the needy of our area?

From Monday, November 19 until Friday, December 21 the Library will waive $2.00 of your fines for every canned or boxed item you contribute (sorry, no Ramen noodles).

*Please note that the Fine Amnesty does not apply to lost book charges.*

The Library will accept donations even if you do not owe Library fines. Your contributions will go to local soup kitchens.

DVD Update

A library patron recently wrote the following in our comment book:
You should have a new release section.

NU Library Director David Schoen responds:
We thought the same thing - it is in the works. We are building a new shelf to hold the educational DVDs, which will allow us to space things out for a new release section.

Thanks for taking the time to comment!

Library Staff Member Named NU's Employee of the Month

Congratulations to Cataloging Technician Kris Schrader for being named Niagara University's Employee of the Month for November!



NU President Father Levesque presented the award to Kris yesterday.

Recent Faculty Publication

Here is a recent publication by a Niagara University faculty member:

Ronny Priefer (Chemistry Department), Eric Martineau and David N. Harpp

Derivatization of dicubyl disulfide. Journal of Sulfur Chemistry, Vol. 28 Issue 6 (December 2007), p529-535.

Halloween 2007

Happy Halloween from Prince Valiant (Cataloging Technician Eleanor Jacoby) and Flo/Lisa the Waitress (Library Secretary Lisa Jackson)!

Library Bake Sale: November 5 & 6

Bring your sweet tooth to the Library on Monday, November 5 and Tuesday, November 6 for yummy brownies, cakes, cookies, muffins and more!

The Library Bake Sale will take place from 8:30AM until 4:30PM both days. Look for our table of goodies when you enter the Library. Proceeds will benefit the "Lord's Day Dinner" in Niagara Falls on Thanksgiving Day.

FYI: the Lord's Day Dinner was started 17 years ago by Yvonne Davis. It is held at the VFW on Seneca Avenue in Niagara Falls from 9:00AM to 6:00PM Thanksgiving Day. Yvonne and her many volunteers serve hundreds of dinners to the needy and also deliver meals to elderly shut-ins in the area. If you are interested in spending some of your holiday time working at the site, or if you would like to make your own donation to help a great cause, you can reach Yvonne at 716-284-6973.

New Group Study Room!

One of the things students have told us in surveys is that they would like more group study space in the Library.

In response to this, we just created a new group study room on the northeast side of the first floor (the side close to the Gallagher Center). It has a TV and a DVD player (but no television channels), and a VCR will be added soon.

The Final Harry Potter Book

In the October Monthly Book Spotlight, Reference Librarian Diane Maroon writes about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling.

New Reference Librarian

We're pleased to announce that Michelle Skiba has been hired as a part-time reference librarian.

Blast From the Past

Here's a photo Acquisitions Librarian Charles Dabkowski took of the Library's reference area, circa 1995-96.



Before web-based online databases, we had CD-ROMs! We also had a lot of computer equipment at each workstation!

Looking For Something Different to Watch on DVD?

Take a look at some of the films distributed by Docurama! The library owns 46 Docurama titles, including:

Air Guitar Nation
An inspiring, exhilarating, and hilarious journey to find "the greatest air guitarist in the world." Shelved in the Recreational DVD Collection under "Air."

Heavy Petting
An entertaining and and funny exploration of the sexual mores of the 1950s. Shelved in the Recreational DVD Collection under "Heavy."

Following Sean
What happens to a 4-year-old kid who grew up smoking pot and running barefoot on the wild streets of 1960s San Francisco? Filmmaker Ralph Arlyck tracks down Sean--the boy who had been the subject of his controversy-sparking 1969 documentary--to find out what he's like 30 years later. Shelved in the Educational DVD Collection at call number BF710 .F65 2007.

Education of Shelby Knox
An interesting tale of one girl's mission to bring sex education to schools in her ultra-conservative hometown of Lubbock, Texas. Shelved in the Educational DVD Collection at call number HQ57.5.A3 E38 2006.

The Staircase
The riveting story of North Carolina author Michael Peterson, who stood trial in 2003 for the murder of his wife. Shelved in the Educational DVD Collection at call number KF224.P4 S73 2005.

To find other titles, just do a general keyword search of "Docurama" in the Library Catalog.

Celebrate Your Freedom to Read!

September 29 - October 6 is Banned Books Week 2007!

You can find background information on this important week as well as lists of books that have been challenged over the years here.

You can also watch a brief video on the 10 most challenged books of 2006.

Niagara Reads: 2002-2007

The September Monthly Book Spotlight is dedicated to the books used in Niagara Reads, the University's freshman summer reading program.

Meet Your Librarians!

There is a reference librarian on duty whenever the Library is open, and we're here to help you! If you'd like to learn more about us, check out our individual web pages:

• Andy Bailey, Part-time Reference Librarian
  
• Jonathan Coe, Coordinator of Public Services
  
• Charles Dabkowski, Head of Acquisitions and Serials
  
• Samantha Gust, Reference/Interlibrary Loan Librarian & Webmaster
  
• Michael Lavin, Part-time Reference Librarian
  
• David Schoen, Library Director
  
• Joe Umhauer, Assistant Library Director for Technical Services
  

Library Reports

The Library's 2006-07 Annual Report and Statistical Overview are now available on the Annual and Other Administrative Reports page.

Welcome!

The Library would like to welcome all new and returning students, faculty and staff! We hope to see you soon!