Spring Course Offered

Once again, the library will offer a .5 credit course, NDL 301: Information Fluency, in the spring semester. This course is focused on how information is produced, how it is handled by libraries, and how different disciplines use it. It is intended for students planning on graduate school, or who are simply interested in honing their research skills. Last year's syllabus information can be found in the links on the right-hand side of this class blog:
http://infofluency.wordpress.com/

It meets Mondays from 2:30 to 4:30, but can also be taken by arrangement if that time doesn't work. For more information, contact Barbara Fister (x7552 or fister@gac.edu).

Google Settles

Today Google settled with publishers and authors who sued them over their library digitization project. Google will pay a $125 million settlement and will develop a registry that will enable publishers and authors to receive payments for use of their work - payment based on, among other things, libraries paying for access.

What it does not do is resolve the underlying copyright issues, according to The New York Times.

Jeffrey Toobin predicted this outcome some time ago in The New Yorker. And in his analysis, it's not good news for the rest of us.

“If Google says to the publishers, ‘We’ll pay,’ that means that everyone else who wants to get into this business will have to say, ‘We’ll pay,’ ” [Lawrence] Lessig said. “The publishers will get more than the law entitles them to, because Google needs to get this case behind it. And the settlement will create a huge barrier for any new entrants in this field.”

In other words, a settlement could insulate Google from competitors, which would be especially troubling, because the company has already proved that when it comes to searches it is not infallible. “Google didn’t get video search right—YouTube did,” Tim Wu, a professor at Columbia Law School, said. (Google solved that problem by buying YouTube last year for $1.6 billion.) “Google didn’t get blog search right—technorati.com did,” Wu went on. “So maybe Google won’t get book search right. But if they settle the case with the publishers and create huge barriers to newcomers in the market there won’t be any competition. That’s the greatest danger here.”

The full settlement agreement - which is pending judicial approval - is available here.

Folke Bernadotte Library's Ghostly Connections

Are you a Halloween fanatic? Is it your favorite holiday? For some this is an obsession. The anticipation of truly scaring someone else, or themselves, is cause for exorbitant enthusiasm.

Our library has a past with a few ghost stories. http://weekly.blog.gustavus.edu/2008/05/09/ghostly-gustavus-a-look-at-the-ghastly-ghoulish-and-grisly-history-of-ghosts-at-gustavus-adolphus-college/

Although the article above claims that there hasn’t been a sighting since the tornado in 1998, a library student employee (class 2008) claims to have seen the ghost in the south stairwell of the library.

Think about this in the wee hours of the morning as you move from 3^rd floor to second through the dimly lit stairwells.

UPDATE: Database Access Work

We've completed our transition to a new system for providing off-campus access to our electronic resources. You should now be able to access resources through our web site from off campus. If you encounter any problems with remote access or need assistance in changing any outdated links to our resources that you may have on your web browser or on your web pages, please contact e-resources@gac.edu.

Database Access Work

On Monday, October 20, during Reading Days, the library will be switching to a new system for providing off-campus access to our electronic resources. We anticipate some intermittent disruptions to off-campus access while we make the transition. We'll post a message to let you know when the transition is complete. Thanks for your patience!

Laptop Search & Seizure

File under "Information in the News..."

Today the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) issued an alert about internal policies in the Department of Homeland Security regarding border crossing. Under previous policies, Customs and Border Patrol agents were authorized to seize any electronic and print materials if they had probable cause of illegal activity. Under current internal policies, agents have the authority to retain print and electronic materials indefinitely at the borders regardless of probable cause.

AAUP notes special concern for professors conducting research and traveling across borders, citing possible threats to those conducting research (or collaborating with colleagues) around the world. The policies are also alarming for libraries, information professionals, and anyone concerned with protecting privacy rights and defending civil liberties.

Read more:

“Expanded Powers to Search Travelers at Border Detailed” Washington Post, 9/23/08

“Search and Replace” [editorial], Washington Post, 8/13/08

“US Border Agency Says It Can Seize Laptops” PC World, 8/3/08

“Travelers' Laptops May Be Detained At Border: No Suspicion Required Under DHS Policies” Washington Post, 8/1/08

Scandinavian Crime Wave

In the last decade, a number of talented crime fiction writers have appeared on the Scandinavian scene, following on the heels of the mega-popular Kurt Wallander series by Henning Mankell (which is currently being made into a BBC television series with Kenneth Branagh in the lead role). Fortunately for readers in the U.S., this coincides with a trend to publish more works here in translation, so many of them are being translated into English.

We've compiled a Website that lists authors and their works by country, with a bit of biographical information and links to reviews. We plan to add to it as more books become available - and in between, we have a companion blog to keep up with new reviews, interviews, and events.

Though why mysteries are so popular in countries with such low crime rates remains something of a mystery.

Why Should Oprah Get all the Fun?

The library is trying an experiment this year. We've created two "book bags" - canvas bags with five copies of a book and some discussion materials that can be checked out for a group read. For this pilot project, we chose two books on China to add another dimension to the Global Insight Year of China project.

One of the books is John Pomfret's Chinese Lessons. Are you an upperclass student who didn't get in on the common reading this summer? Did you attend Pomfret's talk and think you'd like to read his book? Check it out - and invite your friends to join in.

The other book is a fascinating family memoir of China, Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Wang. It chronicles the lives of three women from the era of concubines and foot binding through the Communist revolution and into the Cultural Revolution and beyond. It's a totally absorbing history of China in the 20th century seen through the eyes of the author, her mother, and her grandmother. We thought it would be a great book for discussion, and a good complement to our common reading this year.

We know that for many students, faculty and staff at Gustuvus it's hard to find time to read just for fun. But it's worth it - and we think you'd enjoy getting together with friends to talk about these books.

And we're back!

The move of the Interlibrary Loan office went so smoothly that we are already up and running! Your interlibrary loan requests are being processed again after only a day long delay. Thanks for your patience - stop by and visit our new location (next to the Circulation desk) soon!

We're Moving!

Well, Interlibrary Loan is, at least! The big move starts Thursday, September 25 and continues into the beginning of next week. The Interlibrary Loan office will relocate to a separate space behind the circulation counter (formerly the print reserves area). The move will provide one-stop shopping for patrons picking up and returning items.

The move will provide a brief disruption in Interlibrary Loan services. Requests sent by patrons to borrow materials from other libraries will be delayed for a few days. Please continue to request items but know that we won't have a chance to process your requests until early next week. (The delay is due to wiring work that needs to be done in the new space.)

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Stop by and see the new space!

Get Your Own Library Carrel

A lucky first year student will win a chance to have his or her very own office in the library this spring. With a desk and shelves and a key and everything.

First year students - don't miss out! To enter the drawing, take the online library research survey that was sent to you via e-mail. It only takes a few minutes to get a crack at your very own library carrel.

The results of the survey will give us valuable insights into student research skills and attitudes. It's part of a national study being undertaken by two higher education organizations, NITLE and HEDS. We'll use what we learn in our information literacy program.

good news, bad news

The good news is that we're converting some office spaces to student areas. In particular, the well-lit space where the interlibrary loan office has been will be converted to an open reserves/reading area. Interlibrary loan services will move behind the circulation desk for a more seamless service area. Two smaller offices will also be converted from librarian offices into public spaces. (We're also moving Hector and Helen, our two group computing facilities, to the main floor where they'll be more visible.)

The bad news is that all of this will take some construction. The library will be a slightly noisier, dustier place for a time, through August and probably into September. But we think that will be a small price to pay to open up some prime space to students who, after all, live in the library much of the academic year.

Interlibrary Loan unavailable 5/27 - 6/2

Got a bunch of articles to request via ILL? Now's the time! Due to software upgrades, ILL requests submitted from Tuesday, May 27 - Monday, June 2 will not be processed until Monday, June 2. You'll be able to place requests via the usual methods May 27 - May 29, although requests will not be processed until the following Monday. On May 30, all systems will be offline to complete the upgrades - you can make requests in person at the ILL counter. Visit our Interlibrary Loan page for more information.

Our MnPALS consortium decided on these dates for the upgrade in order to avoid halting services during the semester. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this disruption may cause you. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us!

Biff! Pow! On Sale!!

The library has a sale going on of donated comics and Science Fiction magazines, many of them classics. Stop by until May 23rd to get your own superhero.

Quite the Saga

Jan Jensen, manager of the Lund Music/Speech Library, held a Viking Feast for a set of special guests - those who had bid on the dinner at last fall's Royal Affair, a fund-raiser held by the Gustavus Library Associates. They were met on campus and taken to a secret location, where they were instructed to leave their weapons and horses outside. Everyone enjoyed a delicious meal that was historically accurate (well, mostly accurate).

Thanks to Jan for her imaginative and well-planned feast, to Ginny Bakke and her husband who helped out, and to Mike Haeuser who lent a hand and got into the spirit of things in costume.

Lindell Prize Competition

The Patricia Lindell Prize for Research Papers is open for submissions. Awarded every other year, the prize of $400 is funded by our stellar friends group, the Gustavus Library Associates Papers written during the 2006/07 and 2007/08 academic years will be accepted for the current competition. By “research paper,” we mean a paper written on any topic for any Gustavus course that clearly demonstrates the use of primary or secondary print and/or electronic resources. A panel of faculty will select the winning paper in the Fall of 2008, with announcement of the winner to be made at the annual St. Lucia luncheon next December.

The competition is open to Gustavus students from all disciplines who have written for a Gustavus course. Members of the faculty are asked to encourage their students to enter their work. Application forms are available at the Library Circulation Desk.

Previous prize winners include Adrienne Donath for "Silence in the Cloister: A Study of the Future of the Sisterhood in the American Church" and Daniel Pioske for American Protestantism and its Impact Upon the Desire of its Members to Seek Congressional Office."

Fefu in the Library

In conjunction with the final theatre production of the year, Fefu and her Friends, the library has a small exhibit near the reference desk related to the play. We hope to do this regularly in the coming year to help remind us all of the rich performance offerings available on campus.

Fefu and her Friends runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 pm this weekend, and also on Sunday at 2 pm. If you think you don't have time to take it in - hey, that's why you're at a place like Gustavus! to have a rich and varied cultural experience. You'll be glad you went.

Celebrate Student Creativity

A reminder that the first ever Celebration of Creative Inquiry is today, May 2nd, from 5-7 pm in the Jackson Student Center. Research and creative projects by 125 students (wow!) will be on display. Come browse, chat, have refreshments, and take in some of the exciting work that Gustavus students are doing all across campus.

Periodicals Unlimited

Thanks to your suggestions from the library suggestion box, the library is extending the loan period for periodicals (journals and magazines) from 24 hours to *one week* and from 3 items to *unlimited* (or as many as you can stuff in your backpack). Effective immediately! Periodicals are located on the first floor of the library and can be checked out at the Circulation desk on the second floor. Happy reading!

Native Waters MAYDAY! Exhibit

In connection with this year's MAYDAY! Peace Conference on "Troubled Waters," the library is hosting an exhibit on the library's lower level - "Native Waters: Sharing the Source." Created by Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), the interactive exhibit is designed to help both children and adults explore the importance of water in their lives. Bring your kids or your little brothers / sisters! Thanks to Edi Thorstensson, Ginny Bakke and MAYDAY! committee members for bringing the traveling exhibit to campus and getting it set up.

Join us at the reception for the exhibit on Monday, April 28, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the library's lower level.