Spring 2009 Newsletter

The Spring 2009issue of Library News has been added to the Library's web site.

New Sunday Hours

Thanks to your valuable feedback, the Library is now opening an hour earlier on Sundays.

The new Sunday hours of operation are 11am to Midnight.

December Monthly Book Spotlight

The December installment of the Monthly Book Spotlight has been added to the Library's web site and features several books recommended by library staff.

Christmas Fine Amnesty 2008

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 17 until Friday, December 19 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.

November Monthly Book Spotlight

The November installment of the Monthly Book Spotlight has been added to the Library's web site.

In this month's edition, Acquistions Librarian Charles Dabkowski writes about Studs Terkel and his oral histories.

Fall 2008 Excellence in Customer Service Award Winner

Congratulations to Lisa Jackson, Secretary to the Library Director, for receiving the Fall 2008 Niagara University Library Excellence in Customer Service Award.

Lisa was recognized for her responsiveness to the needs of Library departments.

October Monthly Book Spotlight

The October 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.

Reference Librarian Named NU's Employee of the Month

Congratulations to Reference Librarian Michael Lavin for being named the Niagara University Employee of the Month for October! Dr. Bonnie Rose, Executive Vice President and Vice President of Academic Affairs, presented the award today.

Above: Library Director David Schoen, Michael Lavin and Bonnie Rose were all smiles during the award presentation.

Paul Newman DVDs

You may have heard that Paul Newman recently passed away. If you would like to watch some of the films he performed in, the Library has the following titles in the Recreational DVD Collection:

*Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
*Cars
*Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
*The Color of Money
*The Hustler
*Message in a Bottle
*Our Town
*Road to Perdition
*The Sting
*The Verdict

September Monthly Book Spotlight

In the September Monthly Book Spotlight, Reference Librarian Samantha Gust lists some of the Library's John McCain and Barack Obama books and DVDs.

Fall 2008 Newsletter!

The Fall 2008 issue of Library News has been added to the Library's web site. Check it out and find out about our new computer lab, our revamped Recreational Reading Collection and more!

Comment About Friday Hours

One of our patrons recently wrote to us about our Friday hours:

"I recently came to the library on a friday night hoping to get some work done before the weekend. I got there at 7, and was told the library closed at 8. I am very confused why a college lbrary closes so early. If you value education, why isn't the library open like any normal day of the week. I was very upset about this."

Library Director David Schoen responds:

"Sorry we weren't able to meet your needs. The Library at Niagara University is subject to budget constraints typical of a smaller Catholic college, which means that expenditures need to be optimized and we have to make choices that will occasionally disappoint patrons. When studying what hours we should be open our statistics show low usage on Friday evenings, hence the 8 pm closing time. The libraries of the two colleges most similar to Niagara University in the region, Canisius and St. Bonaventure, also close at 8 pm on Friday nights.

Thank you for taking the time to send the suggestion. We will include your suggestion in any future analysis of library hours we perform."

If you have any comments about the library, please write them in our comment book on the first floor near the DVDs or submit them using the comment box on our home page. Thanks!

Welcome!

The Library would like to welcome new and returning students and faculty!

A reference librarian is available to help you whenever the Library is open. Please don't hesitate to ask for assistance in person or via email or phone!

August Monthly Book Spotlight

Reference Librarian Mike Lavin writes about the Library's new graphic novel collection in the August Monthly Book Spotlight.

July Monthly Book Spotlight

The July Monthly Book Spotlight focuses on A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah and was written by Sharon Green, Reading Coordinator in the Office of Academic Support.

Reference Librarian Wins Award

Reference Librarian Andrew Bailey was a recipient of the Canadian Association of Journalists Computer-Assisted Reporting Award for the his work on the series "Give and Take," published in the Toronto Star in 2007.

Andrew works part time at Niagara University and full time at the Toronto Star as a Computer-Assisted Reporting Analyst.

Reference Librarian Promoted

Congratulations to Samantha Gust, Reference/Interlibrary Loan Librarian & Webmaster, for being promoted from Assistant Librarian to Senior Assistant Librarian.

Excellence in Library Service Awards

The Library would like to congratulate the 2008 recipients of the Excellence in Library Service Award. This award is presented to senior work-study students who have demonstrated quality service to patrons and dedication to their job continuously during their entire academic experience here at Niagara University. Pictured above: The students honored at the May 15 ceremony are pictured below with Library Director David Schoen.

From left to right: Aaron Evans, David Mosher, Andrew Forrest, Katie Tees, Carly Martell, David Schoen, Nichelle Desmont

May Monthly Book Spotlight

The May 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.

Patron Comment About Library Hours

One of our patrons recently commented:

"I think it's ridiculous that the library closed at 8pm on Friday of finals week when there are finals on Saturday as well..when the rest of the week it stayed open until 1 am considering the library is necessary for studying."

Library Director David Schoen responds:

"I'm sorry that you needed the Library and we weren't open. We will look at attendance statistics to determine if we were mistaken in closing."