Welcome to Fall 2011!

We’re back to a full campus, with lots of students, events, and possibilities. Here are few notable updates for the fall.

• We have a full lineup of research and emerging technologies workshops scheduled. View the schedule and register here. All workshops take place from 4:15-5:30 in Crown 111. Can’t make a workshop? Get in touch with us and we can set up a one on one training session.
• We ask that when you have class on the third floor of Crown that you exit through Lewis Hall when possible. Also, if you want to arrange to meet a friend, Lewis Link or the social hall are good options. Review this page for best places for group or quiet study.
• The library website has changed. We hope you like it. Things will continue to evolve, so let us know if there are changes you would like to see. This blog will move later this semester, so keep an eye out for that.

Naming contest for new Dominican undergraduate research journal

Do you want the new Dominican undergraduate research journal to be called the DURJ?  Didn’t think so.

The first issue of this new journal will be published in spring, 2012.  But first it needs a name.   All undergraduate students, faculty, and staff  are invited to participate in a contest to choose an evocative, dignified, and catchy name for the journal.

DEADLINE: Friday, September 16, 2011, at 5 p.m.

The winning name will be announced at the Caritas Veritas Symposium on September 27, and the winner will receive a prize of $100.

TO ENTER: Email your entry to journalnamecontest@dom.edu or drop it off in the RCAS office.  For more information, contact Ellen McManus at 708 524-6457 or emcmanus@dom.edu.

Thank you, from the librarians involved in URSCI (Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Investigations.)

Faculty update and reminders

The start of the new school year is right around the corner. As you finish up your syllabi and plans for the semester, here are a few reminders about how the library can help you out and some things to consider.

General Information

The library website has been redesigned since last year. If you need a tour of the new website, please stop by the reference desk. The Faculty Help Guide will give you further details on all services provided for faculty. The Services for faculty page is your one stop shop for quick access to the most essential library services you may need to request.

Library instruction

Librarians are available to guide your class in conducting research on all subjects and assignment types. You can now fill out an online form to request an instruction session. This form and more information is available on this page. The most successful instruction sessions will be based on a specific assignment and requested well in advance of the date requested (please be prepared with several alternate dates).

Reserves and copyright

Requests for materials to be placed on reserve should be placed well in advance of the date required. Please review the basic guide to reserves and fair use if you have any questions about what constitutes appropriate academic use of material. As you may have noticed, fair use and open access has been in the higher education news a lot over the summer, and we are happy to discuss issues of fair use and open access with you. “What’s at Stake in the Georgia State Copyright Case” (Chronicle of Higher Education, May 30, 2011) is a good discussion of a major case in process right now.

Accessing materials

New faculty need to register for a library account at the circulation desk. If you are returning faculty but your address or phone number has changed, please stop by the circulation desk to make changes.

As always, please ask a librarian if you have questions.