Archives Window Display

Thanks to the efforts of Lacie Micek, an archives student worker, there is a wonderful new display on the windows of the College and Lutheran Church Archives. Using the 2011 homecoming theme of "black and gold never gets old," she created a visually appealing display of images depicting life at Gustavus since the institution moved to St. Peter in the mid 1870s. Micek utilized the facility's segmented windows to break the exhibit into 20 year time blocks. Most images were pulled from the online database of college photographs.

Nobel Conference 2011

The library has compiled two very nice displays for the Nobel Conference Oct. 4-5, 2011. One is for books and the other for DVDs pertaining to the subject of "The Brain and Being Human." These displays are not behind glass so you can easily "check them out!" Make sure to feed your mind by attending some of the Nobel lectures. If you didn't get a ticket to attend, AV 1 classroom on the lower level of the library has been reserved all day (both days) for your viewing pleasure!

Where Did the Databases Go?

As you may have noticed, we've made some dramatic changes to our website. One question that we have heard through backchannels is "what happened to the databases?"

After doing a wide-ranging study of student use of the library, we learned that many students who want to search for articles were baffled by our previous site. We also had long experienced confusion on the part of students who associate the word "catalog" with list of courses and major requirements.



To solve those category problems, we simplified our entry point to get people quickly to the most-often used resources and gave them common names. Unfortunately, libraries are more complex than that. The tab we labeled "books" is also the gateway to films, sound recordings, and music scores. The tab we labeled "articles" is also where you'll find databases that include book content, statistics, and primary sources. We'll be continuing to study use of the library's main page, and no doubt will make more tweaks as a result.

But the short answer, meanwhile, is "click on the Articles tab."

photo courtesy of f1usster (Jeannie)

Have you seen our New Acquisitions Webpage?

View this site to find out what new titles were added to the library or use the option of subscribing to the RSS feeds to alert you to new arrivals in your field of interest. Please note that as a way to be most efficient, we will now be using this RSS feed option in lieu of sending out the acquisition order information slips.

To find click on "New Arrivals" on our front page. Categories are arranged by Library of Congress classification and reflect books, videos and other materials added to the library collection in the most recent two weeks. Click on the category to see the new titles; clicking on an individual title will take you into the library's catalog for more details on the item.

You're invited...

...to the Gustavus Library Associates Fall Membership Tea.

Join President Jack and Kris Ohle at the President's house on Monday, September 19 from 10:00-11:30am. Enjoy refreshments and learn more about GLA. Bring a friend - we hope to see you there!

Where were you?

.................... is possibly the most asked question this year. We have come to the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on our country. All of us remember where we were at the time the news and radios transmitted live the events as they were unfolding. The library has a display of books, movies, journals and more that have been written about our nation's terrible tragedy. There is an interactive piece to the display where you can answer the question most asked. We have left the display open so that if something strikes your curiosity and you would like to read it, view it, or peruse it, all items are available to be borrowed.

Please take time on Sunday to remember all the lives lost and still being lost in war. We shall never forget where we were.

Michael Chorost Visit

Treat yourself this coming Friday to a fascinating talk by science writer Michael Chorost, author of Rebuilt and The World Wide Mind. His experience with a cochlear implant - a device to enable hearing in the deaf - made him reflect on the human/computer connection, which is reflected in Rebuilt and is expanded to explore how computers and creativity intersect and can enhance communities in The World Wide Mind. Get a taste of the interesting things in store at this year's Nobel Conference and enjoy a fascinating talk at 2:30, Friday Sept. 9th in Alumni Hall. For an even smaller appetizer, see this video of a talk given at the National Academy of Sciences about art, science, and computers.

Welcome - Through the Front Door

With Beck Hall now open, it may be tempting to use the library's staff-only rear exit as a short cut. Because libraries need security, we hope you won't find it too inconvenient to use the front door instead. We know we can trust you, but not everyone is as trustworthy. So you will find that back entrance locked.

If you want to visit library staff, please do - but we encourage you to use the entrance to the administrative areas near the front door and the library conference room. We want to be sure the books and videos you need don't turn out to be among the missing. 


photo collage courtesy of Robyn Jay