Library News and Events

We are pleased to announce several new EBSCOhost databases provided to Radford and other state colleges and universities by the VIVA consortium:

For a description of each database, please see the alphabetical or subject database lists under Find Articles & More, or go directly to the EBSCOhost database menu.

These databases will replace the following Gale InfoTrac databases previously provided by VIVA. The InfoTrac databases will no longer be available as of July 1.

After careful consideration, VIVA decided to award a new contract for multidisplinary and subject databases to EBSCOhost. The new EBSCO databases will provide more peer-reviewed full-text journals, plus significantly more coverage in the areas of business and education.

VIVA, the Virtual Library of Virginia, is the consortium of the nonprofit academic libraries within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Members include all of Virginia’s state-assisted colleges and universities, as well as 33 private, nonprofit institutions and the Library of Virginia.

Need to check out a DVD?  A Reserve book? How about a digital camera?  Now you can check out all of these materials at the same place - the Front Desk at McConnell Library.

The Front Desk is located on Level 3 (the main floor) and was formerly known as the Circulation Desk.  In addition to checking out books, audiovisual items, and equipment, the Front Desk also provides directional information and Course Reserves services.  (No changes have been made to the library’s Reference Desk, which provides research and instructional services for library users.) 

“We’re excited to provide this new service for our library users.  Combining our former Media and Circulation Desks will make it easier for our users to check out all of their library materials, without having to visit multiple service desks,” said Dave Hayes, University Librarian. 

Library users who wish to book equipment, ask questions about their accounts, or need other information may contact the Front Desk at 831-5364 or at circdesk@radford.edu.

The winners of the Winesett Awards for Library Research were announced Friday, April 25:

Upper Division: Meredith C. Jones, “‘Unshored, Harborless Immensities’: Cetology, Gender, and Sexuality in ‘Moby Dick’” Sponsor: English Professor Timothy Poland

Lower Division: Kelly Drake, “The Nature of Friedrich’s Ataxia.” Sponsor: Biology Professor Orion RogersWinners receive a $500 prize.

Finalists:

Upper Division

• Adam M. Farmer, “The Effects of Financial Incentives on Embryo Donor Demographics” Library Essay. Sponsor: Biology Professor Joel B. Hagen
• Rebecca Huvar, “‘The Soul That Dares and Defies’: The Influence of Walt Whitman on Kate Chopin’s ‘The Awakening’” Sponsor: English Professor Timothy Poland
• Lindsey Putt, “Franz Marc’s ‘Fate of the Animals’” Sponsor: Art Professor Roann Barris
• Tosha Rachelle Taylor, “Parables of Suffering: Violence and the Prodigal Son of Flannery O’Connor’s Novels” Sponsor: English Professor Donald Secreast

Lower Division

Kevin Hatton, “Pseudorca Crassidens- False Killer Whale.” Sponsor: Biology Professor Karen Francl. Winners and finalists will have their papers and projects published in the Archives of the Winesett Scholars.

McConnell Library recently conducted a student survey of library services.  Several students won incentives for their assistance in the survey - scroll down for names and photos!

                                                                                                                                                            Eric Ackermann, Reference/Instruction and Assessment Librarian, presented Laura Kinzie (above, right) with a 16 GB iPod Touch.  Laura is an Art major from Vinton, VA.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Melissa Londry (above, right) won a Chargepod, which was presented by Eric Ackermann.  Melissa, from Radford, is a Graduate Teaching Fellow in the Psychology Department. 

 Another Chargepod was won by Mark Middleton (not pictured), a graduate student from Floyd, VA, who is studying Educational Leadership. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Hiromi Hori (above, left) received a Chartwell’s card good for free coffee for the rest of the semester from William Brenner, Director of Radford University Dining Services.  Hiromi is an Elementary Education major from Japan.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Dave Hayes, University Librarian, presented a Chartwell’s card good for free coffee for the rest of the semester to Caitlin McWilliams (above, right).  Caitlin is an Art major from Narrows, VA.

Five students (not pictured) were the recipients of 75 cents’ worth of printing credit: Kimberly Mast, Bridgette Greer, Andrew Seidemann, Erin Harper, and Kathryn Jones.

Congratulations to all winners, and thanks to everyone who responded to the survey.

Sometimes students need it as quiet as possible to study. Sometimes students need to work in groups and talk to each other. McConnell Library is doing its best to accommodate both types of studying!

Looking for quiet? Classroom A on Level 3 and the entirety of Levels 1 and 5 are designated for Quiet Study. Library staff make regular rounds of these areas, but if you are being disturbed by noise, please let an employee know. (You can go to one of the desks on Level 3, or IM RuLibSpot.)

Looking for a group space? Classroom B on Level 3 is specifically designated for group study, and groups are welcome to use any of the computers and tables in the main reference area of Level 3, and all of Level 2 and Level 4. Groups in Classroom A and on Levels 1 and 5 will be asked to move.

With your cooperation, the library can serve as a space for everyone.

If you’re staying in the area during Spring Break, why not stop by the library?  Our books, videos, computers, comfy couches, and friendly staff will be here!  Click here for a listing of our special Spring Break hours. 

Calling all drinkers of hot chocolate, lattes, and mochas! We are happy to report that the cappuccino machine in Stacks cafe has been fixed and you can once again get the hot beverage of your choice.  Enjoy!

At McConnell Library we value student opinion. We value it so much we want to give you stuff!

If you’re an RU student, you should have received an email inviting you to fill out the LibQUAL Service Quality Survey. Once you complete the survey, you will be given the opportunity to throw your name into the hat (virtually speaking) for a random drawing.

The prizes are a 16GB iPod Touch, two chargepods (charge six gadgets with a single power cord), two coffee cards for March, April, and May, and five 75¢ printing credits (in honor of McConnell Library’s 75th anniversary).

If you have any difficulty in accessing or taking the survey, or you mistakenly deleted that email, please contact Eric Ackermann, Reference/Instruction and Assessment Librarian, at egackerma@radford.edu.

Because of excessive shipping delays, increased risk of losing items in the mail, and staffing shortages due to vacation schedules for staff and students, most lending libraries will NOT fill interlibrary loan requests from mid-December through the first week or two of January. Also, out of consideration for the RU community, the ILL staff in McConnell Library schedule their vacations for this time of year.  Therefore, we will suspend  interlibrary borrowing during the holiday season from Dec 15-Jan 10.

Please continue to submit your requests to ILLiad during the Christmas break, but know that we will not begin processing them until January 10, 2008.  During this “closed” period, there may be someone present in the office to give assistance, but generally no items will be ordered in that time period.

Questions or concerns may be submitted to our email address:  ill@radford.edu

Next week, Stacks, the coffee shop in the Library, will be open until midnight! Get your late-night, pre-exam caffeine fix in a safe place. And remember, the Library is open until 2 AM starting Dec. 8.