New Digital Collection: Eric Gill Prints

In conjunction with the Thacher Gallery exhibition: Eric Gill: Iconographer, the Gleeson Library has digitized the wood engravings in the Eric Gill collection from the Donohue Rare Book Room and made it available online to USF community.  Nearly 400 digitized images are included in the Printing and Graphic Arts Collection and available for view on the Gleeson Library Digital Collections website.   The site offers tools to zoom in and out of the image to view minute details.   You can search across the collections for specific items.  Due to copyright restrictions,  the images are only accessible to  USF IP addresses, but the records associated with the images are all available to the general public.

We’re actively expanding our digital collections, so check back often for new content!

Read more >> Options >>

 

GAO Reports

Looking for in-depth analysis of a federal program you’ve heard about in the news? Then you’ll be really pleased to discover the reports issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. Sometimes referred to as the “congressional watchdog,” GAO investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars.

Some recent GAO Reports include:

Operation Iraqi Freedom: Preliminary Observations on DOD Planning for the Drawdown of U.S. Forces from Iraq GAO-10-179, November 2, 2009

Federal Student Aid: Highlights of a Study Group on Simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid GAO-10-29, October 29, 2009

Climate Change Adaptation: Strategic Federal Planning Could Help Officials Make More Informed Decisions GAO-10-175T, October 22, 2009

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Employment Discrimination: Overview of State Statutes and Complaint Data GAO-10-135R, October 1, 2009

Biofuels: Potential Effects and Challenges of Required Increases in Production and Use GAO-09-446, August 25, 2009

Health Insurance: Enrollment, Benefits, Funding, and Other Characteristics of State High-Risk Health Insurance Pools GAO-09-730R, July 22, 2009

Many of these reports are in Gleeson Library’s catalog, “Ignacio.” You can also find them on GAO’s website.

Find out more about Gleeson Library’s government information collection by visiting our homepage or contacting Carol Spector (the Government Information Librarian) at csspector@usfca.edu.

 

Can scary be scholarly? You decide!

Jane Austen with zombies.

Photos by Rob Guillen

Frankenstein’s monster living on in the twenty-first century.

Abraham Lincoln, vampire hunter?

And then there are the classics: Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the legendary Golem of the Prague ghetto, the heroic tale of Beowulf and Grendel.

So-called “genre literature” is often the subject of debate in the academy. Mysteries, romance, science fiction, children’s books – all are sometimes stigmatized though often studied by literary snobs and scholars. The emerging genre or sub-genre of “monster lit” is no exception. Some may sniff but there are college courses and lots of erudite criticism of books that feature monsters.

Whatever your take on the question, monster books and movies are definitely a lot of fun! So check out the Library’s collection, featured this month in the lobby.

Here’s a list of some of the books and DVDs we’ve gathered.

I can hardly wait for Little Women with werewolves!

Vlad the Impaler

 

Photo Contest for International Education Week

To kick off USF’s celebration of International Education Week 2009, USF students, staff, and faculty are invited to enter the IEW photo contest.  Last year we had two fabulous entries from Gleeson Library staff! To enter, send a photo from your experiences abroad to usf.iew@gmail.com by Friday, October 30th. Include a brief (one or two sentences) caption explaining or describing the photo circumstances.

Co-sponsored by Gleeson Library along with International Student and Scholar Services, the ESL program, Residence Life, the Center for Global Education, and Bon Appetit, the IEW theme this year is “The World At Our Doorstep.”

Photo contest entries will be posted around campus and the campus community will vote on the photo that best depicts aspects of international educational or cultural exchange . You can see last year’s photos on the IEW@USF Facebook page. And here’s a taste of Culturescape, the signature event of International Education Week to be held on Friday, November 20 this year.

 

APA Publication Manual Sixth Edition Corrections

The American Psychological Association (APA) recently published a new, sixth edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. You can find a copy of the manual at the library reference desk, on course reserve, and in the Gleeson library online catalog.

Shortly after the new edition was released, news began to circulate about errors in the manual. You can read more background on the errors here and here.

APA Style issued a set of corrections [PDF document] late last week.

Mary Lynn Skutley, Editorial Director, APA Books wrote in a recent email:

We realize that, by listing all corrections in one document, we created a sense that all were significant errors.  While any error is regrettable, that is not the case.  To clarify this, we have reposted the corrections according to category.

You will see that, of the 188 APA Style rules, two errors were made.  You will also see that, of close to 1,000 examples that illustrate various style rules in the book, 36 errors were made, and half of these have been corrected [emphasis added] in the form of new sample papers and posted on the internet where they are available for download.

While many who have purchased copies of the new Publication Manual are less than pleased with the first printing of the sixth edition, there is no indication that APA will publish a revised edition anytime soon.

Gleeson has printed copy of the corrections, and the document is available at the reference desk.

 

USF Book Club: Olive Kitteridge

Greetings! The USF Book Club will discuss Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout on Tuesday November 17, 2009. We will meet in the seminar room of Gleeson Library (room 209) from 12 noon – 1 pm. Bring your lunch and tell your friends!

Olive Kitteridge is a short story cycle where all the pieces are about Olive Kitteridge, a “redoubtable seventh-grade math teacher in Crosby, Maine,” and work to create a full tapestry that illustrates her life, but each piece can stand alone. It is very popular right now so make sure to order it soon!

How to get a copy: you can try requesting it through Gleeson Library’s free service, Link+, although the book is very popular and may not be available. Try requesting it through this link, this link, or this link. If you successfully request it, the book will be delivered to USF within about 4 business days. Also, you can put a hold on one of the Public Library’s copies. (They currently have 10 copies but are processing at least 30 more.)

“Anyone who gets in Olive’s way had better watch out, for she crashes unapologetically through life like an emotional storm trooper. She forces her husband, Henry, the town pharmacist, into tactical retreat; and she drives her beloved son, Christopher, across the country and into therapy. But appalling though Olive can be, Strout  manages to make her deeply human and even sympathetic, as are all of the characters in this “novel in stories.” Covering a period of 30-odd years, most of the stories (several of which were previously published in the New Yorker and other magazines) feature Olive as  their focus, but in some she is bit player or even a footnote while other characters take center stage to sort through their own fears and insecurities. Though loneliness and loss haunt these pages, Strout also supplies gentle humor and a nourishing dose of hope. People are sustained by the rhythms of ordinary life and the natural wonders of coastal Maine, and even Olive is sometimes caught off guard by life’s baffling beauty.” –BookList

Hope to see you there!

 

Revised Library Hours

Please note, based on the recent announcement that the University will be closed on Wednesday, December 24th, Gleeson Library/Geschke Center has revised our hours.  The Library will close at 4pm  on Wednesday, December 23rd and will be closed  Thursday, December 24th, 2009 through Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 for the Christmas Break.

University of Aalborg Library

Remember, you can check library hours online @ http://www.usfca.edu/library/hours.html or type m.usfca.edu into your mobile phone browser.

 

Program on the Seven Wonders of the World

On Thursday evening, October 8, at 5:00 p.m.  the Gleeson Library Associates will  host a program in the Donohue Rare Book Room on The Seven Wonders of the World: Ancient and Modern. Dr. Andrew Jameson, historian, world-traveler and lecturer will present an illustrated slide talk. His presentation begins with consideration of the canonical number seven and what constitutes a “world wonder” followed by a description of the ancient and modern sites.

Gleeson Library Associates are free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be served. For further information, please contact John Hawk in the Donohue Rare Book Room at (415) 422-2036.

John Hawk
Head Librarian, Donohue Rare Book Room

 

ILLiad is Here!

Need a book that Gleeson Library doesn’t own and isn’t available through Link+? The Library doesn’t have a journal you’re looking for?  This doesn’t happen often, but if it does, don’t worry.  Gleeson Library/Geschke Learning Resource Center’s Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Department can help.

And now, all current USF students, faculty, and staff * can easily make interlibrary loan requests  on-line through ILLiad, the Library’s new InterLibrary Loan internet accessible database.

A  screenshot of the new ILLiad on-line module

To register with Gleeson Library’s ILLiad system, visit our Interlibrary Loan page here.

We’ve  also scheduled ILLiad tutorials during the following time slots: 9/29 at 12pm,9/30 at 12pm, and 10/6 at 12:30 pm. The tutorials will be held in the Electronic Classroom of Gleeson Library and will be no more than 30 minutes in length. Library staff will be on hand to answer questions.

Of course,  feel free to contact the Interlibrary Loan Department at (415) 422-5385 or ill@usfca.edu if you need help!

*Law School students, staff, and faculty are not eligible to use Gleeson Library/Geschke Learning Resource Center’s hew ILLiad system. Law School student, staff, and faculty members can request ILL materials through the Law Library’s ILL department here: http://www.usfca.edu/law_library/circ.html#interlibrary.

 

Donohue Rare Book Room on Flickr

One can now follow the Donohue Rare Book Room on Flickr! The Rare Book Room’s Flickr account documents recent exhibitions, receptions and other Library activities. As the site continues to develop, it will also feature images of collection materials thus representing a visual archive of the Donohue Rare Book Room and special collections at the University of San Francisco. To access the Flickr account, please visit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42175177@N03/sets/

John Hawk
Head Librarian, Donohue Rare Book Room

Virgil, Works (Nuremberg: Anthon Koberger, 1492)

 

Google Fast Flip

In addition to their usual Google News, Google is trying a new way of presenting news with their Fast Flip. It comes closer to the sensation of standing at a newsstand, just browsing, looking at different articles, different publications. You can click on the arrow on the side of the page to flip through other news stories.

If you want to read more about it, they have an FAQ. It is currently in Google Labs, the part of their website where they have the things they are still experimenting with or developing.

It is an interesting way to present the news–check it out.

 

Introducing ILLiad

Did you know Gleeson Library/Geschke Center’s Interlibrary Loan Department can help you borrow books or journal articles that the library doesn’t have and that aren’t available through our Link+ service?

On Monday, September 28^th, the Gleeson’s ILL Department will be launching a new online Interlibrary Loan system called ILLiad (InterLibrary Loan internet accessible database), an electronic system used to request and manage Interlibrary Loan materials.

ILLiad is simple to use and provides a number of benefits to researchers.  If you are a currently enrolled USF student, faculty, or staff member*, you will be able to create an ILLiad account and submit requests in Gleeson’s ILLiad system. Having an ILLiad account at the Library allows you to obtain information about the status of ILL requests through the web and email at any time from any location.  Requests for photocopies of journal articles and book chapters will be delivered as PDFs to your personal ILLiad account. Through ILLiad, you will also be able to keep a history of your ILL requests.

Look for information from us about  how to set up your  ILLiad account soon. We look forward to your ILL requests!

*Law School students, staff, and faculty are not eligible to use ILLiad. Law School student, staff, and faculty members can request ILL materials through the Law Library’s ILL department here: http://www.usfca.edu/law_library/circ.html#interlibrary.

 

Constitution Day

In honor of Constitution Day and The September Project, the library has created a display highlighting books and government documents from our collection on the First Amendment.

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was ratified on December 15^th, 1791. It reads:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

You can check-out any of the books on display. We’re also giving out free pamphlets on the Constitution and the U.S. Government, while supplies last. For online resources, see our Constitution Day Research Guide.

 

USF Book Club: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Hello! The USF Book Club will discuss The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson on October 13, 2009 (Tuesday) from 12-1 pm.Weather permitting we will meet in the USF Community Garden, just west of the School of Education, on the side of Lone Mountain.

The book club is an informal drop-in group of USF staff and students who meet at lunch time to discuss the pick of the month. All members of the USF Community are welcome to join us. Bring your lunch and your friends!

How to get the book through the library:

Since Gleeson’s copy is checked out, you can request the book through Link+ which is a free service. The book will be delivered to Gleeson within 4 business days. Click here to request it.

From Library Journal: Wealthy young Harriet Vanger disappeared 40 years ago, and Uncle Henrik always thought she was murdered. Now he’s drafted a hotshot journalist and a tattooed hacker to investigate. An expert on right-wing extremists, Swedish author Larsson died in 2004. This international best seller arrives here with a 100,000-copy first printing.

 

Library service to USF staff in tough economic times

A version of this post is in the Fall 2009 issue of the library newsletter Global Update.

If you work at USF, one of your benefits is free access to library services and materials for personal and professional use. The library has lots of ways to help you get through these trying economic times.  It’s all provided free to USF staff. Besides books and DVDs to check out, the library gives you access to thousands of online journals, research guides, and professional assistance in getting the information you need.

Are you taking a class and have some homework to finish? Polishing up your resume for a promotion? Do you have to find some information for your job, or for a volunteer activity? Use library resources online or go to the Reference Desk on the first floor to find what you need.

Looking for some recreational reading, or a DVD for home viewing? Search Ignacio, the library catalog, or come in and browse the new book shelves on the first floor or new magazines on the second floor.

Swipe your ID card at our front door to enter the library, and then use it to check out books or DVDs for free. But if you’re too busy or rushed to spend time in the library, you can enjoy many of our offerings from your office or home computer:

• Order up a book and have it waiting for you at the library’s front desk.
• If we don’t have the book you want, find it at another library and get it delivered to Gleeson in just a few days via the popular Link+ service.
• Ask a Librarian! IM or chat 24/7, send a question via email, or make an appointment for an in-depth research assistance session.
• Look up full-text articles in thousands of electronic journals.
• Still haven’t found that elusive book, article, or dissertation? We’ll help you order it from another library.

It’s good to get away from computers once in a while. Meet colleagues and talk about books in our campus-wide, drop-in book club. The group meets monthly in the library or the beautiful campus garden on Lone Mountain. Books are chosen by the attendees and genres vary monthly from novels to memoir, from sobering history to Bay Area mystery.

Inside the library, the light and airy Monihan Atrium is a peaceful spot for reading, studying, or catching up on your email or research. Wireless Internet access is available in the Atrium as in the entire building. During the school year, the Atrium is open around the clock, even when the rest of the library’s closed.

The library website at http://www.usfca.edu/library is your gateway to library resources online, and key to more information about library hours, policies, and contacts. For more information about library services for USF staff, please see the Library Guide for USF Employees or give us a call at 422-2039.