July

Interlibrary loan: help us help you.

July 28, 2011
Did you know that you can get books and articles from libraries outside of Drexel? We want to teach you more about it! In order to help us help you learn more about interlibrary loan, please take 2 seconds to fill out our quick ILL communication survey!
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Libraries in Transition

July 28, 2011
[caption id='attachment_245' align='alignleft' width='269' caption='The innovate new Library Learning Terrace'][/caption] The following is in excerpt provided to attendees of the 2011 Future Search Conference. The increasing role of technology and electronically accessible materials has caused many to question the role of the traditional library. With stacks of books, desks and chairs, held within a single physical space, the traditional library offers a place for individuals to quietly read and process information. Libraries, however, are no longer simply places to house books and offer quiet spaces to read, they are vibrant centers for learning where individuals can exercise their minds to build new knowledge from the information they discover. Libraries exist within the walls of buildings and online. They organize efficient and convenient access to information through managing shared use of books and journals as well as through licensing electronic resources. Libraries capture and preserve human memory and foster creation of new knowledge. In the academy, they are discipline neutral and supportive of all fields of inquiry, ether as learning coaches for the novice student or as a partner to scholars and teachers to strengthen research, instruction and scholarly communications. As more and more users choose immediately accessible digitized content over traditional printed materials, the future of brick-and-mortar libraries will continue to change to become less about what products a patron obtains at a library and more about the experiences the patron has while visiting. The focus of these libraries will be to provide social spaces where students can work together to derive meaning from their online and classroom experiences¹. At Drexel, the academy has been undergoing a fundamental transformation from a historically purposeful institute of technology education and is emerging as a comprehensive research institution, grounded in a tradition of experiential learning and an ambition for leading civic engagement in a global environment. Its neglected libraries are being reconceived as a learning enterprise with embedded environments around campus and through the Internet, and as an active educational program for assisting learners to develop information literacy skills and researchers in their pursuit of knowledge. Those interested in a broader perspective might wish to read a recent publication from the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Information Technology Policy. Checking Out the Future: Perspectives from the Library Community on Information Technology and 21st-Century Libraries explores how many library professionals are recognizing the need to evolve during the digital revolution and are driving adaptations designed to ensure that libraries remain an integral part of our society's commitment to education, equity, and access to information. Authored by Jennifer C. Hendrix, OITP Consultant, Checking Out the Future, is based on a literature review conducted in 2008-2009 on the future of libraries, primarily of publications from within the library community. (Online at: http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oitp/publications/policybriefs/ala_checking_out_the.pdf) Article by: Jenny James Lee and Danuta A. Nitecki. Photo by Jenny James Lee. 1. Hendrix, Jennifer C. Checking out the Future: Perspectives from the Library Community on Information Technology and 21st-Century Libraries. American Libraries Association. Washington, D.C. 2 February 2010. Print.
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Conference Builds Shared Vision of Libraries' Future

July 27, 2011
[caption id='attachment_204' align='alignleft' width='300' caption='Dean of Libraries, Danuta A. Nitecki, addresses attendees at the close of the conference.'][/caption] Philadelphia, PA (July 25, 2011) - Drexel University Libraries concluded a milestone event towards shaping the future of the organization on Thursday, July 21, 2011. The event, a Future Search conference, brought together nearly 60 people, representing the diverse stakeholders of the Libraries, at the Queen Lane campus of the Drexel University College of Medicine. Highly interactive, the process took a holistic look at the theme, The Future of Drexel's Libraries: Advancing the University's Strategic Transformation. Attendees reviewed shared past and present experiences to reach a common ground in identifying an exciting future for the Libraries. This new future emphasizes collaboration, leadership, integration of technologies and curation of information resources, as well as the development of innovative spaces to advance teaching, learning and scholarship at Drexel and in the broader communities. This was accomplished through working exercises, small group discussions and creative reporting of insights. The three-day conference concluded with dozens of strategies towards achieving the desired future for the Libraries and a high level of energy and enthusiasm among the participants. The room where the conference was held was papered with sheets documenting the process and ideas generated. These ideas will be transcribed and the results will lead to a major planning activity for the Libraries with direct implications towards the University strategic plan. Participants, before leaving the conference on Thursday afternoon, were asked to sign up for strategies they felt most committed to support. These dedicated individuals, through their support of these initiatives, will have an opportunity to become key contributors and ambassadors for the future of the Libraries. Trained future search consultants Gerry Gorelick and Suzanne Noll, Manager of Training and Development with Drexel University's Human Resources department, facilitated the conference. About Future Search Future search is a unique planning meeting, used worldwide, by hundreds of communities and organizations. It meets two goals at the same time: helping large diverse groups discover values, purpose, and projects they hold in common, and enables people to create a desired future together and to start working toward it right away. The meeting design comes from theories and principles tested in many cultures for the past 50 years. It relies on mutual learning among stakeholders as a catalyst for voluntary action and follow-up. The conference is designed with principles that enable people to work together without having to defend or sell a particular agenda and this opens new opportunities for creating a shared future. Images from the conference are available online at the Libraries' flickr page. Article by: Jenny James Lee with contributions from Danuta A. Nitecki and Gerry Gorelick. News Contacts: Jenny James Lee, Library Marketing & Events Associate at 215-571-4095 or jennyjames@drexel.edu
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Archives Event: Dragon's Salute to Service

July 25, 2011
'Dragon's Salute to Service' July 7 - August 1, 2011 Visit the James E. Marks Intercultural Center Exhibition Gallery this July for a special exhibit: 'Art & Artifacts.' This exhibit features 'Freedom's On Me,' the work of renowned multimedia illustrator and U.S. Army Corporal Poto Leifi, and 'A Snap Shot of Drexel's Veterans,' an archival history of veterans on campus. The exhibit will be on display throughout the month of July. Sponsored by: The Office of Veteran Student Services and The Veteran's Task Force at Drexel, ARMY ROTC at Drexel, the Drexel University Archives and the Office of Equality and Diversity.
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Libraries Welcome New Staff Member: Brendan Johnson

July 22, 2011
[caption id='attachment_358' align='alignright' width='100' caption='Brendan Johnson'][/caption] The Libraries welcomed Brendan Johnson, Information Assistant for Careers in July 2011. Brendan is currently working towards his MSLIS degree from the iSchool. For the past year he worked as the library assistant at Bucks County Community College while serving as a substitute social studies teacher and librarian at Council Rock High Schools. He was a history and secondary education double-major at Villanova University. Brendan works in W. W. Hagerty Library in room 136.
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Pick the Library's New DVDs

July 21, 2011
It's time to order new DVDs for Hagerty's leisure collection. We want to be sure that what we order is what you want to see, so we're asking for your help deciding what to get. Here's a list of some of the latest DVD releases. For each title, you can vote on whether we should get it or skip it. Titles with the most votes will be ordered for Hagerty's Leisure DVD collection. Vote now--the last day to vote is Monday, July 27th. Need a movie today? Check out our catalog for DVDs already on Hagerty's shelves.
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Libraries welcome New Students

July 18, 2011
[caption id='attachment_226' align='alignleft' width='314' caption='Libraries' staff member Eleanor Goldberg addresses new students at Orientation'][/caption] The Drexel campus is flooded with new faces this summer, as new students and their parents attend orientation sessions. Weekly, on Monday and Thursday, these eager young students attend the Libraries orientation sessions, where they participate in an interactive and informative presentation, with prizes, about the Libraries. To date, 17 Libraries staff members have hosted seven orientation sessions, welcoming hundreds of new students to the Library Learning Terrace. Article and photo by: Jenny James Lee
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Library Learning Terrace Closed

July 18, 2011
Plumbing repairs are ongoing at the Library Learning Terrace, and so the space continues to be closed. We hope that repairs will be finished soon and that the Library Learning Terrace will be open later this week. Thanks for your patience.
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Off campus ProQuest problems? Here's a solution

July 15, 2011
ProQuest is experiencing some technical difficulties that can make finding full text from off campus problematic. When conducting off-campus research in a Palgrave or Sage database, then linking to a full-text article in ProQuest through GetIt, you may be denied access to the article in ProQuest. This is a glitch that ProQuest is working to repair, but meanwhile there is one known workaround. If this happens to you, please note the citation to the article you're looking for, close your browser, and start a new ProQuest session. Confused? Please contact the reference desk for help.
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Conference to help shape future of Libraries

July 14, 2011
Philadelphia, PA (July 14, 2011) -- Drexel University's Libraries will host a Future Search conference at the Queen Lane campus July 19 - 21, 2011. The conference will bring together around 60 individuals from the Libraries' multiple stakeholder groups. Results from the conference will help to build a vision and directions for the future of the Libraries. Drexel University students, faculty, staff, administrators and leaders, as well as librarians and community members were invited to attend the conference by Dean of Libraries, Danuta A. Nitecki. 'The Libraries have never undertaken anything like this before and the conference results will become an instrumental part of our planning for the future,' Dean Nitecki said. Two trained facilitators will host the three-day conference, Gerry Gorelick and Suzanne Noll a Manager of Training and Development with Drexel University's Human Resources department. Future Search is a large group planning meeting that has been used worldwide for over 30 years. The task-focused meeting engages people to take a holistic view on the conference theme, 'The Future of Drexel's Libraries: Advancing the University's Strategic Transformation.' These individuals are from different backgrounds, who share stories about their past, present and desired future to discover a common ground. This format will allow the Libraries to develop an inclusive vision and will provide Drexel University with key steps for advancing the future its Libraries. The University is also currently developing its Drexel University Strategic Plan: 2012 - 2017. The Plan will define initiatives, programs and specific goals that will help to propel the University already known for daring innovation and entrepreneurial spirit even further.
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For more information about the Drexel University Libraries please contact Jenny James Lee, Marketing & Events Associate at 215-571-4095. For more information about the Drexel University Strategic Plan: 2012 - 2017, please visit www.drexel.edu/strategicplan.
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Is a bookless library still a library?

July 11, 2011
Drexel's Library Learning Terrace was the focus of a recent TIME article by Tim Newcomb about a new trend in libraries. You can read his article at time.com. We invite you post and share your comments below. What do you think - is a bookless library still a library?
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TIME: Is a Bookless Library still a Library?

July 11, 2011
Reporter Tim Newcomb featured the Libraries' Library Learning Terrace in his TIME piece titled Is a Bookless Library still a Library? Read the entire article at time.com.
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Welcome Freshmen!

July 7, 2011
We're so excited to see Drexel's newest class around campus today. We'll be meeting up with you over at the Library Learning Terrace this afternoon. Meanwhile, stop in at Hagerty Library for some quiet time and cooled air. And learn your way around while it's quiet. Tell your family members to come by too.
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July 4th-Closed for the Holiday

July 1, 2011
We're celebrating American independence just like the rest of you: by closing up shop and heading to the fireworks. That means the library's closing at 8pm on Sunday, and it'll be closed all day on Monday, July 4th. Happy Independence Day!
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Need a Weekend Movie?

July 1, 2011
It's a long weekend. Hallelujah! Want to choose your DVD before coming to the library to pick it up? Try this:
- From the library homepage, click the link that says 'Advanced Keyword Search.'
- In the top search bar, enter a search term, like 'action,' 'animation,' or 'Hindi.'
- To get a list of all Hagerty's DVDs, enter an asterisk (*) into the search bar.
- Choose 'Hagerty Leisure DVD' as the location.
- Hit search.
You'll get a list of all the DVDs in our collection. When you find a title you like, click on it to make sure that the location says 'Hagerty Leisure DVDs' and the status says 'Available.' That way, when you get to the library, you'll know just what to grab. You can swing by and pick it up anytime. We're here all day Saturday and Sunday--but we're closed on Monday to celebrate our independence! Have a great long weekend!
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