Library materials added in November

To bring you up to date on what has recently been added to the collection, a new materials list is now available that reflects additions during November. We added 46 books, DVDs, and other items during that time, thanks to your selections and suggestions. The list is sorted by call number, with items grouped roughly by subject area.  

This tag will show you all of the prior lists of new materials.  

Is something missing from this list?  Or missing from our collection?

If you have a suggestion of something to order for the 2013/14 fiscal year, please use our online request form, email Jennifer Hicks or one of our other staff members, or drop by the library with your request at any time.  We are working to spend our acquisitions budget for the year, and we need your requests to make that happen.  What do you need?  Let us know.

Thanks again for keeping our collection vibrant and your information needs met!

What, exactly, does Articles & More search?

We've been answering this question for people, even before they ask it, in a pretty vague way for a while.  We'll say that Articles & More searches "most of our databases" or"65-70 databases."  This has been particularly true in library instruction sessions, but it also comes up in some form at the InfoDesk or out among the computers.  Now it's time to get more specific.

Articles & More (which is also known as OneSearch once you run a search in it, and is actually a product called Ebsco Discovery Service, or EDS) searches 92 different databases or catalogs - all of our Ebsco databases (here's a sampling of them) and the OhioLINK Central Catalog, which includes books, ebooks, DVDs, and more owned by the 91 member institutions of OhioLINK.

We have around 200 databases available to use, and it's valuable to remember that while Articles & More picks up much of the literature on a given topic, there are other databases to check.  We would tend to recommend the Electronic Journal Center (EJC) and Web of Science for exclusively scholarly materials, and Lexis-Nexis for more full-text news sources and legal sources.

Be sure to watch our tutorial on searching Articles & More, or contact our staff for more assistance.

Library closes at 5pm on Wednesday

. . . and we will not reopen until 8am on Monday morning, December 2.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break!

iPads, Muslim Journeys, and Civil Rights programs!

Be sure to read this wonderful overview of our technology and cultural programming grants in the Miami Regionals Alumni E-News.

Library materials added in September and October

To bring you up to date on what has recently been added to the collection, a new materials list is now available that reflects additions during September and October. We added 149 books, DVDs, and other items during that time, thanks to your selections and suggestions. The list is sorted by call number, with items grouped roughly by subject area.  

This tag will show you all of the prior lists of new materials.  

Have a suggestion of something to order for the 2013/14 fiscal year? Use our online request form, email Jennifer Hicks or one of our other staff members, or drop by the library with your request at any time.  We are starting to spend our acquisitions budget for the year, and we need your requests to make that happen.  What do you need?  Let us know.

Thanks again for keeping our collection vibrant and your information needs met!

Who can help me with research?

So you thought you knew how the library worked...
Library Myth #8

The Gardner-Harvey Library Website is open 24/7.  Whether you are on-campus or off-campus, you can find immediate research help via online, interactive Subject Guides created by Miami librarians.

 Here is a shortlist of subject guides to help you get started with your research.  Library databases, resources, and services are linked under appropriate tabs.   For example, see:  Integrative Studies, Criminal Justice, Health Information Technology, Nursing, E-Learning, APA Citation Style Guide, MLA Citation Style Guide

Another way to find help on the website is to watch Tutorials that demonstrate online searching, explain research concepts, etc.

You can also:

• Call GHL@  513-727-3222 when the Library is open.
• Text GHL @ 513-273-5360 when the library is open.
•  IM askghl when the library is open.
•  email GHL anytime and receive a reply when the library is open.
•  Schedule a Research Consultation  and meet with a librarian within 24 hours.
•  Drop by the InfoDesk and ask your question in person during business hours. 

The GHL library staff is ready to assist you with your research, just talk with us.

Is there a way to simplify library research? It seems so confusing.

So you thought you knew how the library worked...

Library Myth #7

     Well, research is exploration and that takes time.  But the usual Google search delivers too  much information, sometimes off-topic and often with the hassle of having to look for the complete article but without paying for it!  That's when Miami Universities Libraries shine because the library has a cool search tool and provides access to the full-text at no charge!

Here's where you want to start your research:  Articles & More.  This is EBSCO's discovery service that leads to Miami University Libraries' articles, books, and media all in one search and one results list.  For a refresher on using this discovery service, also called OneSearch, watch this 4 minute tutorial. 

When you want to checkout the research landscape, do a little pre-searching using Articles & More.  Yes, you will find articles from journals, newspapers, magazines, books, eBooks, DVDs, and government documents in a single results list.  Apply limiters like date, subject, scholarly, etc. and use the cite and email tools.   The best news is that most of these library materials are available in Miami University Libraries’ collection!  Just click the gold Find It! button to locate the complete article if the HTML or PDF is not already linked in that database.  

Talk with a librarian if you have more questions getting started with research.

Government Shutdown Research Work-around

If you rely on federal government data and information, you may find you cannot access some agencies' websites due to the partial federal government shutdown, which began on October 1, 2013.    In some instances you will find splash pages that indicate websites are temporarily unavailable or are not being updated. Here's a short list:  American Factfinder, Data.gov, Library of Congress, United States Census Bureau, United States Department of Education, ERIC.ed.gov, National Center for Education Statistics, United States Geological Survey (USGS), The National Map, The National Park Service, etc.

Recommended Strategy:  Begin research @ The Gardner-Harvey Library Website to find online full-text articles and eBooks as well as digital media.  Begin online research at Articles & More which searches all these source types via the EBSCO discovery service called OneSearch.  Or search a specific subject database, listed in Databases A-Z.

I've got time between classes; does the library have somewhere I can work?

So you thought you knew how the library worked...
Library Myth #6

So glad you chose to visit the library!  Yes, the library offers various study spaces, depending on what you want.  If you have online research to do, a paper to write, a presentation to create, or downtime to catch up with Facebook friends, then work at a new Dell desktop computer.  If you prefer a comfortable chair for online work, check out an iPad or laptop instead at the Info Desk.

 

If this is not the time for electronic distractions, seek out quiet study space along the library walls/perimeter. 

If you are looking for a spot to do group work and need a whiteboard, you have options.  Group study space is available downstairs in the Group Area, complete with vending machines.  There are also several collaboration stations with whiteboards around the library’s main floor.  If your group needs to watch a DVD together or practice a presentation, then reserving a STAR Lounge could be your ideal space.  Each STAR Lounge is equipped with a large monitor, computer, and cable. You could work there solo to record an interview or foreign language assignment too.   

So drop by the library when you are looking for space to get your coursework done, relax, or just read.  And yes, food and drink are allowed in the library.

So when is the Gardner-Harvey Library open, anyway?

So you thought you knew how the library worked...
Library Myth #5

Come to the Gardner-Harvey Library for computers & Internet,working on group projects, study space, printing, and the like.  We are here for you: Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays 8 a.m to 5 p.m.

At all other times, visit us online!   "The virtual library" is open 24/7 via the Gardner-Harvey Library Website or the Libraries tab in Niihka.

Miami University Libraries subscribe to many research databases, eBook collections, digital media collections, and search tools to make finding information easier.  We offer you point of need help via short Tutorials on research strategies and using search tools and Subject Guides to get you started, found on our Library Website. 

 When you are off-campus, go to to the Gardner-Harvey Library Website , click on an electronic resource, and enter your Miami Unique ID and Password when prompted. Then you will have immediate access to search these electronic journals, books, and media.  When you need books and media start at Books and More.  When you need journal and newspaper articles start at Articles and More.

Can I keep OhioLINK stuff like textbooks for the whole semester?

So you thought you knew how the library worked...
Library Myth #4

Unfortunately OhioLINK loans don’t last a semester.  Loan period varies depending upon the library policy in effect.  The length of the loan depends upon (1) the borrower’s status:  undergraduate, graduate student or faculty/staff, (2) the item type such as print or media (DVDs, etc.), (3) holds by users of the library that owns the item have priority over others.  

      The loan period for OhioLINK media items is always 1 week. The loan period for OhioLINK books:

• 3 weeks for undergraduate and graduate students 
• 6 weeks for faculty/staff

The good news is that renewals are often possible, if there are no other holds.  The best time to request a renewal of an OhioLINK item is during the 7 days before the item is due.  If someone else has requested that item, the renewal request will be denied and the item must be returned. OhioLINK books may be renewed up to six times. OhioLINK media items may not be renewed.

      Please know there are overdue fines for OhioLINK items. Overdue charges on OhioLINK items is $0.50 per day to a maximum of $15.00, plus an additional late fee of $35.00 added to all items which are returned more than 30 days late.  Replacement cost for OhioLINK items is $100.00 (minimum) per item, plus a $15.00 processing fee.  To keep track of what you have checked out and when each item is due use  MyLibraryAccount    

Library screencasts - watch and learn quickly!

If you're looking for quick guidance on how to find library resources or how to understand research concepts, you might want to look at our collection of library screencasts:  http://www.mid.miamioh.edu/library/tutorials.htm.  

Beth, Jessie, and I have either built or collected these screencasts, which range from 2-9 minutes.  They are an easy way to get answers to common research questions.

Recent additions to the list include:

• Finding Books & Media
• One Search & More (just recently changed to "Articles & More" on our library sites)
• How to Access Your M: drive (AKA Your NetDisk)
• Let computers do the searching for you by creating search alerts in EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, and Google
• Evaluating Web Sites Using the CRAAP Test

Do you wish you had a screencast on a topic not represented on our page?  Let us know and we'll put one together.

Do I go to OhioLINK for everything I can't find at the Gardner-Harvey Library?

So you thought you knew how the library worked...
Library Myth #3

·         The reality is that you can request items from the Hamilton and Oxford campus Miami University Libraries by clicking "Request Item" if it is in our library system but not at the Gardner-Harvey Library.  Inter-campus requests usually take 1 business day.  You are emailed when the item is ready for pickup.   

• If Miami Libraries do not have an available copy, your next step is to click OhioLINK and search for the item you want by author or title.  Then click the green button: Request, Miami U, enter your Miami ID and Password and pickup location when prompted.  The item is then shipped from the OhioLINK academic library that owns the item to Miami, usually in 3-5 business days.  You are emailed when it has arrived and is ready for pickup.

•    Finally the Gardner-Harvey Library staff will fill Inter-library loan (ILL) requests, if the item is neither available at Miami nor through OhioLINK.  You simply complete the online ILL form and submit the request.  Once it arrives, you are emailed.

• By the way, all these services are free!  Ohio students, staff,and faculty work in a state that shares resources among library consortia members.  This simplifies the learning, teaching, and research process for you.

Does it matter when I return this to the Gardner-Harvey Library?

So you thought you knew how the library worked...
Library Myth #2

 Well, yes, it does matter to the hundreds of other students on the Miami Middletown campus, taking courses just like you and sharing the same library resources.   Some items like iPads, laptops, digital cameras, and textbooks on reserve are in high demand, thus the short loan period.  

      When library items are not returned on time, you will receive overdue emails via your Miami gmail account and are eventually fined overdue charges.  If you ignore the multiple Miami Libraries’ overdue reminders, you will be charged a replacement fee, which can be expensive depending on the item you have borrowed.  You may even lose technology borrowing privileges for multiple late returns of equipment.  

      Why is this happening to me?  Libraries look out for the interests of everybody!

  

       How can I prevent this problem?  You can always check when your library items are due by logging into My Library Account where you can renew certain library items online.  You may also call the Info Desk at 513-727-3222 or drop in to review due dates and possible renewals.

Library materials added in August

To bring you up to date on what has recently been added to the collection, a new materials list is now available that reflects additions during August. We added 79 books during that time, thanks to your selections and suggestions. The list is sorted by call number, with items grouped roughly by subject area.  

This tag will show you all of the prior lists of new materials.  

Have a suggestion of something to order for the 2013/14 fiscal year? Use our online request form, email Jennifer Hicks or one of our other staff members, or drop by the library with your request at any time.  We are ready to plunge into our acquisitions budget for the year, and we need your requests to make that happen.  What do you need?  Let us know.

Thanks again for keeping our collection vibrant and your information needs met!

What is the library up to this Fall?

Check out our Fall Newsletter

Curious about what will be happening this Fall at the Gardner-Harvey Library? Check out our newsletter here. You can learn about alternatives to the traditional textbook and read about how to take part in The Big Read for The Things They Carried. Interested in a training session for our new iPads, let us know. And, don't forget to turn to the library website for new databases and all your old favorite information sources.

Fall is in the air!  Let us know how we can be of help.

The Gardner-Harvey Library rents stuff, right?

So you thought you knew how the library worked...  Library Myth #1

1  The Gardner-Harvey Library (GHL) rents stuff, like the campus bookstore?

• No need to put cash on the counter!  Actually your tuition covers library costs so you have borrowing privileges without paying for print and physical materials like books, textbooks on reserve, journal articles, and DVDs in the library collection.
• Your Miami ID is your library card!  
• When you are off-campus, your Miami Unique ID and Password enable you to logon, search Miami's databases and eBook collections, and read or view the ones you like.

      More  Myths in Coming Weeks

Library materials added in July

To bring you up to date on what has recently been added to the collection, a new materials list is now available that reflects additions during July (a quiet month from an acquisitions perspective). We added 29 books during that time, thanks to your selections and suggestions. The list is sorted by call number, with items grouped roughly by subject area.  

This tag will show you all of the prior lists of new materials.  

Have a suggestion of something to order for the 2013/14 fiscal year? Use our online request form, email Jennifer Hicks or one of our other staff members, or drop by the library with your request at any time.  We are still developing our acquisitions budget for the year, but we can start processing your requests now. 

Thanks again for keeping our collection vibrant and your information needs met!

The Gardner-Harvey Embedded Librarians Invite You

Embedded Librarian Service, 2013-2014

A student said this about the service:  “I found the link in our class page helpful, especially the APA guides and databases of nursing journals.  I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to access this terrific resource.”

One instructor said:  “…but the students who reached out were met with a quick response, direct answers and a supportive ‘go team’ tone.  invaluable!!”

As Fall 2013 draws closer, please consider collaborating with an embedded librarian to deepen student learning.  Just let us know of your interest to begin the process.

First you and your embedded librarian will discuss your research assignment(s) and priority information literacy skills you want students to develop.  After you add the embedded librarian to your Niikha courses, he/she will place course-specific content in them.

In this way, Miami University Libraries’ resources and services become readily visible and accessible to students learning to conduct scholarly research.  Students begin to expand upon the few sources they typically rely on (course readings and Google).  Your Niihka librarian might help your students by:

·         explaining how to navigate a complex university library system, including OhioLINK

·         troubleshooting technology issues like authentication when off-campus

·         minimizing frustration by explaining research jargon like Peer Review

·         guiding undergraduate researchers to discovery tools like OneSearch

·         linking discipline-specific databases, demonstrating how to apply various limiters as well as use the cite tool.

·         providing credible collections for background research

·         suggesting getting-started Websites like http://www.wordnik.com/ and topic brainstorming charts

·         locating time management tools like project calculators and citing help

·         teaching techniques to evaluate Google results

·         describing how to prevent plagiarism

Given sufficient time, your embedded librarian is also able:

·         to create custom tutorials/screencasts to demonstrate searching

·         to build a LibGuide or interactive subject guide for your course

·         to assist in redesigning research assignments to improve information literacy learning outcomes

The Gardner-Harvey librarians hope you choose to collaborate with us in 2013-2014!  We want your students to develop information fluency which aids academic achievement and is expected by employers.  Email us today:

Beth Tumbleson, tumbleb@miamioh.edu

Jessie Long, longjh@miamioh.edu

John Burke, burkejj@miamioh.edu

How was the library used in 2012-2013?

With the fiscal year just ending, here are the full annual stats for several of the Gardner-Harvey Library's (GHL) services. I hope you will find them useful to see how people use the library. How do you compare to the average GHL user?

These stats reflect what's happened this year, between July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013. Some stats we keep locally, others we pull from university-wide or OhioLINK-wide systems, and some are provided by database vendors.

Both a Borrower and a Lender Be
- GHL patrons checked out 3,739 books, DVDs, and videos from us (1,675 from our local collection, 1,265 ordered from other MU libraries, and 799 items ordered from OhioLINK - that means that more than half of the items used by campus patrons came from libraries beyond GHL). That is a 15% decrease from 2011-2012. We also received 29 articles, books, and audiovisual items from libraries worldwide. 

- The GHL collection registered 4,506 checkouts (that's the 1,675 items checked out by Middletown patrons above, plus 1701 items sent to OhioLINK users, and 1,130 sent to other MU libraries - that means that more than 60% of the uses of our materials came from libraries beyond GHL). That is a 16% decrease from 2011-2012. We also sent 275 articles, books, and audiovisual items to libraries worldwide. 

- GHL patrons checked out 2,594 reserve items from us (this includes faculty-placed course reserves, textbooks on reserve, laptops, iPads, Wii games, and other equipment). That is an 24% decrease from 2011-2012. 

- In addition to the printed or physical materials above, Middletown patrons downloaded 3,108 e-books from the OhioLINK E-Book Center. That is a 66% decrease from 2011-2012.

- In terms of building up our collection, Middletown faculty and staff ordered 1,311 items to add to our collection this year. That is a 23% increase from 2011-2012.  That total includes 80 e-books.

- We registered a total of 7,141 checkouts of items in our collection (reserves and circulating materials). The circulating items at GHL number 24,477, so each item in the collection circulated 0.29 times this year (our total number of items is 28,894). 

- One additional item of interest on item checkouts that happen at our library is the number of items checked our to patrons of other OhioLINK libraries.  We had 226 items sent from OhioLINK libraries checked out at GHL by patrons from other OhioLINK institutions (using our Pickup Anywhere service).  We also had 41 of our items borrowed by these OhioLINK patrons in person.

The Quest for Information
- Middletown patrons downloaded 1,886 full-text articles from Ebsco databases provided to us by . This reflects a new way of measuring your search activity, mainly due to the addition of our OneSearch service in the fall of 2012.  Since that service searches multiple databases at once, our number of searches was multiplied by the number of databases.  So, we'll stick with article downloads and search sessions (2065 in 2012-2013).

- On their way to these databases, 47 people visit our web site every day. That's a total of 17,146 visits for the year, by 5,392 unique individuals. Visits and visitors are down about 7% from 2011-2012.

A Place for Work, Study, and Remove from the World
- GHL is open 65 hours per week.

- We average 191 visitors per day, for a total of 55,459 visits this year.  This reflects a 34% decrease from 2010-2011, but we lost all of our gate counters from July through the middle of September, and then one counter was out of operation for much of the end of fall and beginning of spring (we also lost our stats entirely for 2011-2012).

- We regularly schedule the library learning lab (GRD 111) for single class sessions. We also had 12 classes meet there weekly during fall semester and 9 met there during this spring. With some breaks in the early parts of the fall and spring semesters, we have been scheduling COMPASS placement testing sessions in the lab on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays for incoming Middletown students since March 2009.  COMPASS testing ended in GRD 111 in July 2013 with the creation of a new lab in Johnston Hall.

- Our two STAR Lounges have been checked out 200 times this year. 

Helping You Find What You Need
- We logged a total of 1382 questions that we answered from our InfoDesk during the year, which averages out to nearly 5 per day.  We do not log every question,we answered, nor every time we check books out, but we try to capture all lengthy interactions with you.  39% of those questions involved technology questions, 34% focused on circulation procedures or policies, 15% were directing people to locations or resources in the library or on campus, and 12% were research-related.  73% of all questions were asked in-person at the desk, while 20% were by phone, 4% by text or instant messaging, and 3% came through email.  Below is an image of the most common words that the questions involved.

- Inside and outside of the library, we gave library instruction presentations in 87 classes this year, reaching 1599 students (a decrease of 6% from 2011-2012). The courses represented were from 17 different departments.

- Our Embedded Librarian program reached students from 67 course sections in their Niihka course sites during the academic year (that is an 8% increase over 2011-2012). We helped over 1611 students with their information needs through the program.

What don't we know about how the library is used?
- One key part missing from these figures is off-campus use of library resources: all off-campus use is tallied as MU-wide use, so we do not know how many Middletown patrons are using databases from home.  We have also lost meaningful data for on-campus use from some of our OhioLINK full-text resources.

- We don't have campus-specific stats for all database searches - we're missing uses of Lexis-Nexis and other databases.

- We hope you'll continue to let us know what you think about the library, what you need from us, and what materials we should order for the collection.

On Average
Taking these numbers and guesstimating a total Middletown community of 2500 students, faculty and staff members (and including community patrons), here's what can be said about the average person on campus. She:

- checks nearly three items out from the library in a year (reserves and local/MU/OhioLINK collection items)
- downloads about one full-text article each year.
- accesses the library web site seven times per year.
- views more than one e-book each year.
- participates in a library instruction session or an embedded librarian course once per year (if she is a student).

Thanks to everyone for making the library and its resources a vital part of your academic lives!

MU Middletown and community partners receive Big Read grant

Miami University Middletown’s Gardner-Harvey Library today announced that it has received a grant of $15,600 to host The Big Read in Middletown. The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts, designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment. The Big Read is managed by Arts Midwest. Miami Middletown is one of 77 nonprofit organizations to receive a grant to host a Big Read project between September 2013 and June 2014.

The Big Read in Middletown will focus on The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien. According to the Big Read website, “Tracing the tour of one American platoon this book is not just a tale of the Vietnam War, although it's considered one of the finest books ever about combat. This award-winning book is a brutal, sometimes funny, often profound narrative about the human heart—how it fares under pressure, and what it can endure.”

While being led by Miami Middletown, the project is a joint effort among many community partners in Middletown, including Middletown High School, MidPointe Library System, the Robert “Sonny” Hill Community Center, Middletown Area Senior Center, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Middletown Campus, and the Middletown City Council. Programming will include book discussions, with free copies of the book provided to participants, as well as special events to be announced soon.

John Burke, director of the Gardner-Harvey Library emphasized the positive impact of the program: “I am excited to have our library join with such a wonderful group of partners to bring this book to the Middletown community. We hope that the book will shine a light into the experiences of military veterans (many of whom live, work, and learn alongside us) and build a greater understanding for those of us who have not served. And I hope that the practice of storytelling that the book illustrates will encourage veterans and others to tell their own stories and help us learn from one another.”

The Big Read provides communities nationwide with the opportunity to read, discuss, and celebrate one of 31 selections from U.S. and world literature. The 77 selected organizations will receive Big Read grants to promote and carry out community-based reading programs featuring activities such as read-a-thons, book discussions, lectures, movie screenings, and performing arts events. Participating communities also receive high-quality, free-of-charge educational materials to supplement each title, including Reader’s, Teacher’s, and Audio Guides, which also are available for download on neabigread.org. For more information about The Big Read please visit neabigread.org.

NEA Acting Chairman Joan Shigekawa said, “It’s wonderful to see that these 77 communities are making reading and the celebration of books a priority. I look forward to seeing the innovative ways they find to engage their communities in these great works of classic and contemporary literature."

About the Gardner-Harvey Library

The Gardner-Harvey Library (GHL; John Burke, director) of Miami University Middletown provides resources, space, and knowledgeable staff to help patrons find and use information. GHL includes a local collection of 30,000 books and DVDs; virtual collection of many thousands of full-text articles, digital reference sources, and e-books; and borrowing agreements with other Miami/OhioLINK libraries for 46 million resources. The library is available for use by Miami Middletown students and faculty, as well as by the general public. The Community Borrower Card is offered to greater Middletown community members over the age of 16. Community borrowers may borrow materials from the Gardner-Harvey Library as well as from other Miami University and OhioLINK libraries. To apply for a card, come to the Library’s front desk and be sure to bring valid photo identification.

The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. To join the discussion on how art works, visit the NEA at arts.gov.

Arts Midwest promotes creativity, nurtures cultural leadership, and engages people in meaningful arts experiences, bringing vitality to Midwest communities and enriching people’s lives. Based in Minneapolis, Arts Midwest connects the arts to audiences throughout the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. One of six non-profit regional arts organizations in the United States, Arts Midwest’s history spans more than 25 years. For more information, please visit artsmidwest.org.

Library materials added in June and 2012/13 wrap-up

To bring you up to date on what has recently been added to the collection, a new materials list is now available that reflects additions during June. We added 88 books during that time, thanks to your selections and suggestions. The list is sorted by call number, with items grouped roughly by subject area.  

This tag will show you all of the prior lists of new materials.  

We added 1311 items to the collection during the 2012/13 academic year, outpacing my expectation of around around 1200 items.  Way to go!

Have a suggestion of something to order for the 2013/14 fiscal year? Use our online request form, email Jennifer Hicks or one of our other staff members, or drop by the library with your request at any time.  We are still developing our acquisitions budget for the year, but we can start processing your requests now. 

Thanks again for keeping our collection vibrant and your information needs met!

New Book Out

Your Gardner-Harvey librarians John Burke and Beth Tumbleson have just published a new book on the information literacy work we do in the learning management system with faculty and students, available through the American Library Association store.  Embedding Librarianship in Learning Management Systems: A How-To-Do-It Manual available at   http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2013/06/how-manual-embedding-librarianship-learning-management-systems



The Gardner-Harvey librarians are privileged to work with faculty who understand the importance of developing information literacy fluency in undergraduates.  This 21st century skill strengthens academic achievement and prepares Miami University students to succeed in the workplace.  Now librarians worldwide are adopting this innovative method of delivering library resources and services to students within the LMS, whether they are registered for online, hybrid, or traditional courses.

Library materials added in May

To bring you up to date on what has recently been added to the collection, a new materials list is now available that reflects additions during May. We added 154 books, DVDs, and other items during that time, thanks to your selections and suggestions. The list is sorted by call number, with items grouped roughly by subject area.  

This tag will show you all of the prior lists of new materials.  

Have a suggestion of something to order? Use our online request form, email Jennifer Hicks or one of our other staff members, or drop by the library with your request at any time.  We are wrapping up our ordering for this fiscal year, but if funds do not remain to purchase an item we can hold your request until after July 1 when we receive our new budget. 

We've added 1171 items to the collection so far this year, and I expect we'll end up at around 1200 items once all ordered items are received.

Thanks again for keeping our collection vibrant and your information needs met!

Library Tech Gadgets on Pinterest

Here's a board we created on to display some of the technology we have and some we hope to add.
It's a way to scan the items you can check out from the library. For a more detailed list, please see our Technology & Equipment page.  We hope it gets you thinking of all that you can create and complete using the resources at GHL.

Relieve your Finals Stress with some Cool Lemonade and some Furry Companionship

Whether you need a quiet place to study, a room to meet up with friends to work
on a group project, a caffeine boost, or some relaxing downtime, the library has you covered. All this week the library will have coffee, hot tea and lemonade available to help you stay alert during your exams.  And if you need a break, stop by STAR Lounge 1 and play a few games on the Wii.

As a special bonus to help everyone relax, Tuesday, May 7th from 12 - 2, we will be having some of the dogs in from PAWS to spread some cheer.  Why not stop by and say hello to our furry friends?

Good luck on finals!

Library materials added in April

To bring you up to date on what has recently been added to the collection, a new materials list is now available that reflects additions during April. We added 263 books, e-books, DVDs, and other items during that time, thanks to your selections and suggestions. The list is sorted by call number, with items grouped roughly by subject area.  

Of note in this month's new materials list are the 8 e-books we've added in April, for a total of 81 e-books added during 2012-13.

This tag will show you all of the prior lists of new materials.  

Have a suggestion of something to order? Use our online request form, email Jennifer Hicks or one of our other staff members, or drop by the library with your request at any time.  We are wrapping up our ordering for this fiscal year, but if funds do not remain to purchase an item we can hold your request until after July 1 when we receive our new budget. 

We've added 1017 items to the collection so far this year, and I expect we'll end up at around 1200 items once all ordered items are received.

Thanks again for keeping our collection vibrant and your information needs met!

27 new databases added!

Miami University Libraries has added 27 new databases from Ebsco as part of our implementation of the OneSearch service (AKA Ebsco Discovery Service).  The databases are listed below with a direct link to each one.  The databases have also been added to the Databases A to Z list and will be added to relevant Subject and Course Guides.

Applied Science & Technology with Full Text FT
Art & Architecture Complete
Associates Programs Source FT
Biological & Agricultural Index Plus
Business Abstracts with Full Text FT
Caribbean Search FT
Central & Eastern European Academic Source FT
Energy & Power Source FT
Entrepreneurial Studies Source FT
Essay & General Literature Index
Food Science Source FT
Human Resources Abstracts
Humanities with Full Text FT
Humanities Abstracts
International Security & Counter-Terrorism Reference Center FT
Jewish Studies Source FT
Middle Eastern & Central Asian Studies
National Criminal Justice Reference Service Abstracts
Peace Research Abstracts
Play Index
Political Science Complete FT
Public Affairs Index
Race Relations Abstracts
Risk Management Reference Center FT
Shock & Vibration Digest
Short Story Index
Vocational Studies Premier FT

Digital Public Library of America

Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) launched today April 18, 2013 after two years of planning and work.  Digitized cultural content from libraries, archives, and museums are being made freely available worldwide.

A few contributing institutions include: “the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the Smithsonian Institution, the New York Public Library, and Harvard University.” A few notable digital objects include: “images of women marching for the vote in Kentucky, news film clips of the Freedom Riders during the Civil Rights movement, The Book of Hours, an illuminated manuscript from 1514…and paintings by Winslow Homer.”

Find manuscripts, records, images, data, and works of science, culture, and art.  Search 2.4 million items by format, map, timeline, and topic.  Developers anticipate apps will be built to encourage creation using the maximally open data.

 

As lifelong learners, explore these exhibitions and collections @ http://dp.la/

Beyond Textbooks: Finding Alternatives Among Library Databases, E-Books, and Open Educational Resources

Have you considered the other options you have beyond textbooks when choosing assigned readings for your classes? John Burke will identify resources available through the library and collected in open educational resources (OER) repositories, from open (free) textbooks to individually-linked articles, library-purchased e-books, streaming video sources, and learning objects of all kinds.

John will share case studies and methodologies for creating a flexible mash-up of materials to convey course content and achieve your learning objectives. Not only can this approach lead to the selection of resources that are more closely attuned to the course, but it also reduces students' costs.

Come with your course needs in mind and consider whether you'd like to seek textbook alternatives for fall and beyond. If you cannot attend in person, this event will be available on Webex. Please go to the CTL Website,www.mid.muohio.edu/ctl for more information. You may also access the handout for the session and the presentation online.

Presentation on "In An Antique Land"

Join us for a presentation about Amitav Ghosh’s In An Antique Land. The event will be held on Monday, April 29 from 12:00-1:00 in the Gardner-Harvey Library.

Our guide to the book is John Schaefer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Affiliate Faculty in Black World Studies. His research interests focus on the black communities of Arab North Africa, in particular their music. Before arriving at Middletown this fall, he spent three years teaching at the American University in Cairo.

Moving between past and present, anthropologist Amitav Ghosh presents a lyrical portrait of life in Egypt, as well as broad histories of that country, Tunisia, and India’s Malabar Coast. Ghosh weaves strands of his own life in rural Egypt into the story he is researching of a twelfth-century Jewish merchant and his slave. Exploiting an extraordinary cache of medieval documents in Cairo, Ghosh is able to piece together a fascinating story illuminating the reach of medieval Egyptian trade and cross-cultural interaction; he also tells of a form of slavery very different from the one familiar to most Americans.

The presentation is free and open to all. Light refreshments will be provided.

This presentation is made possible through the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) award of a Muslim Journeys Bookshelf to the campus’ Gardner-Harvey Library in cooperation with the Regional Campus Diversity Council.

New materials added to Library in March

To bring you up to date on what has recently been added to the collection, a new materials list is now available that reflects additions during March. We added 174 books, e-books, DVDs, and other items during that time, thanks to your selections and suggestions. The list is sorted by call number, with items grouped roughly by subject area.  

Of note in this month's new materials list are the 33 e-books we've added in March, for a total of 73 e-books added during 2012-13.

This tag will show you all of the prior lists of new materials.  

Have a suggestion of something to order? Use our online request form, email Jennifer Hicks or one of our other staff members, or drop by the library with your request at any time.  Our official ordering deadline is Friday, April 5, but if you have additional items to order, we can still get those orders in (or hold them until after July 1 for next fiscal year).  

We've added 852 items to the collection so far this year, and I expect we'll end up at around 1200 items (so long as you keep suggesting items for us to order!).

Thanks again for keeping our collection vibrant and your information needs met!

Muslim Journeys Materials and Programming at the Library

Miami University Middletown’s Gardner-Harvey Library has been selected to receive the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, a project of the National Endowment for the Humanities Bridging Cultures initiative. The award includes 25 books and three films and is intended to promote community discussion in the library and build bridges among diverse cultures and faiths. The Miami University Middletown Diversity Council is a partner on the project and will co-sponsor programming.

Browse the Bookshelf titles at http://bridgingcultures.neh.gov/muslimjourneys/bookshelf or come by the library to see a beautiful display of the works created by Jessie Long, Public Services Librarian, and Amy Platt, Student Master.

The award also includes a one-year subscription to Oxford Islamic Studies Online, which features reference content and commentary by renowned scholars in areas such as global Islamic history, concepts, people, practices, politics, and culture.  Access to the database is available both on- and off-campus by clicking on Oxford Islamic Studies Online.

In addition to featuring the Bookshelf materials in the library all through April, the Gardner-Harvey Library and the Diversity Council are co-sponsoring two presentations of Bookshelf works:

• A film screening and discussion of the documentary "Koran by Heart" moderated by Gina Petonito (Sociology and Gerontology) on Monday, April 15 from 6:00-8:00pm in 142 JHN. More details.

• A presentation on Amitav Ghosh's book In An Ancient Land by John Schaefer (Anthropology) on Monday, April 29 from 12:00-1:00pm in the Gardner-Harvey Library.  A more detailed announcement will follow shortly.

Please join us for both programs and enjoy light refreshments.

We hope you will find the resources and programming useful and interesting.  

Film screening and discussion of "Koran by Heart"

Join us for a viewing and discussion of the film “Koran by Heart” on Monday, April 15th, from 6:00-8:00pm.  The event will be held in 142 Johnston.

Every year, about one hundred of Islam’s best young students from around the world come to Cairo for the International Holy Koran Competition. Many are in their late teens, some as young as seven. “Koran by Heart” follows the progress of three scholars, a girl and two boys, all ten years old, as they compete against students who, in some instances, are nearly twice their age.

Prior to the film, three local students between 11 and 12 will talk about their experiences participating in local and regional Koran competitions. They, along with a local Hafez and Koran teacher, will explain what it takes to become a Koran competition winner. This event will be hosted by John Burke, Library Director, and moderated by Gina Petonito, Department of Sociology and Gerontology, Miami University.

The film is free and open to all. Light refreshments will be provided.

This presentation is made possible through the National Endowment for the Humanities(NEH) award of a Muslim Journeys Bookshelf to the campus’ Gardner-Harvey Library in cooperation with the Regional Campus Diversity Council. Public performance rights have been provided by HBO.

New Library Tutorials – help us, help you

Is there a library instruction feature, database, or other online tool that you would like to have covered in a quick online tutorial that you can share with your students? Gardner-Harvey library staff are working on creating new screencasts and short video tutorials and we want your input on what topics to cover. Please send any questions or suggestions for tutorials to Jessie Long, longjh@miamioh.edu.