The Inside Cover

 

Faculty and Staff Edition of Library Newsletter

 

 November 2007

Volume 1, Number 3

“You see, I don't believe that libraries should be drab places where people sit in silence, and that's been the main reason for our policy of employing such wild animals as librarians.”
— Monty Python skit

 

 

 

 

Gathering @ the library

 

The library certainly has something to be thankful for this year. Our statistics show that students have been gathering at the library in increasing numbers. Library use increased 14.5 percent in September, compared to that month last year. More students make happier librarians!

 

We are also thankful for our devoted faculty and staff. To show our appreciation, we have created yet another informative edition of The Inside Cover. Enjoy!

 

--The Library Staff

 

 

 

Online Writing Center for Students

 

If you have students looking for help with their prose, Dr. Judith Hatchett recommends Purdue University’s online writing center at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/679/01/  This site provides a wide range of advice for academic writing, including help with annotated bibliographies, grammar, proofreading, outlines, thesis statements, citing sources and much more. There’s even a section on how to combat writer’s block. Another recommended site is www.bedfordstmartins.com/smhandbook

 

 Let your students know… there’s hope.

 

 

Report from Writing and Research Across the Curriculum Committee

 

The WRAC committee met on October 4 to set an agenda and goals to improve the quality of writing and research from students. Chaired by Edie McClellan, the committee discussed the following:

 

  • Reviewing the writing rubric to see if any changes need to be made.
  • Converting the east wing of the library into a “learning commons” with couches and coffee.
  • Standardizing grading protocol for written assignments.
  • Offering brown bag lunches for faculty and staff on library resource training and writing assessment.
  • Increasing collaboration between faculty and librarians to incorporate more information literacy into the curriculum.

 

 

Faculty Survey Results

 

The library appreciates your participation in our recent survey on library resources. The intent was to offer brown bag lunches for faculty on library resources, but it appears from the survey results you’d rather have the students in workshops. We will think about ways to do this.

 

Summary of the results:

 

*      Resources/services faculty most want students to know about include: MILTON information literacy tutorial; evaluating websites; citations guides, and interlibrary loan.

*      Most faculty indicated they are not satisfied with the level of research students are doing. The inability to select useful and relevant materials is the biggest concern.

*      When asked what the library can do to better prepare students in research, generally speaking, faculty expressed visibility of librarians as a concern. Faculty suggested that the librarian(s) be available outside of offices, visit departments, and travel to off-site locations. (Respondents also indicated that they appreciate the handouts sent through email.)

*      When asked what faculty need to know to better prepare students with research, many answered that faculty need to be more aware of what is available. (Keep reading the newsletter with highlights of featured databases and services.)

*      When asked if faculty want to know ways to incorporate information literacy into classes, everyone said yes but some expressed concern about classes already being overloaded with content.

*      All but one respondent said they read the library newsletter (so I guess that one person will not get these survey results).

 

 

 

Full Text Articles in Kentucky and U.S. Newspapers

 

America’s Newspapers is the electronic editions of local, regional, and national U.S. newspapers—all in one easy-to-search database. Each paper provides unique coverage of local and regional news, including companies, politics, sports, industries, cultural activities, and people in the community. Great for researching topics related to Kentucky. There is a link from the library’s homepage http://eagles.midway.edu/library .

 

 

 

No Smoking in Front of the Library

 

 

 

 

 

 

No smoking is allowed in front of the library. Smoke travels through the windows and book drops and into the lungs of our library staff. Please go around back for smoking. Thank you.

 

 

Nursing Faculty

 

The library recently added several websites for nursing students to its webliography. Go to the library’s homepage and click on “subject guides” to view them. Some of these sites are scholarly, but they are not a substitute for library research. They are intended to supplement research and to provide practical information related to the field.

 

Thanks to Carrie Lewis for helping select sites and Cindy Frazer for her recommendations.

 

 

Online, All the Time

 

The current and back issues of The Inside Cover are now online. Click on “newsletters” on the library’s homepage http://eagles.midway.edu/library. Faculty and staff can also read the Women’s College student edition and the SCD/Online student edition.

 

 

In Case You Missed Out…

 

Handouts available from the librarian:

 

  • Overview of library resources and services
  • Avoiding plagiarism
  • 100 unique research topics
  • Criteria for evaluating web pages
  • Differentiating scholarly, popular, and trade publications
  • EBSCO databases
  • Research project checklist
  • APA, MLA, and CBE handouts
  • CINAHL overview
  • Nursing resources overview

 

Email Sarah. She can send them as an attachment or make copies for your classes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best part about coming back from Thanksgiving break is a new issue of The Inside Cover -- December 3 in your Inbox and now linked to the library’s website.

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!