Where is the Information Desk and where do I get help?

The short answer is: The information desk is gone, but our librarians are available to help you at the Library Services desk (formerly Circulation/Reserves desk) in the lobby of the library. The new Library Services desk provides one location where students, faculty members, and others may get help with finding information, checking out or returning books, borrowing reserve materials, and other needs. The location of the desk, immediately inside the entrance in the lobby, enhances the visibility of our librarians, which makes it easier for students and faculty to find them. Merging circulation/reserves and information services in one location also eliminates the inconvenience of referring people from the circulation desk to the information desk and vice-versa. It also enables librarians at the desk in the lobby to take advantage of opportunities for assistance and instructional interactions that may never have happened at the former information desk. While checking out or returning books and reserve materials students may talk about their information needs and/or express frustrations with their research. In addition, some students are reluctant to approach a librarian for help, but they may feel more comfortable talking with a library student employee at the desk. These situations create easy “hand-off” opportunities for these students to get help from a librarian.

Of course, not all needs can be satisfied at the Library Services desk. Some people will still be referred to the Archives & Special Collections on the library’s upper level; or to the Government Documents Department on the lower level; or to the Acquisitions Department, Serials/Bindery Department, or the Dean of Libraries’ office on the main level. However we believe inquiring at the new Library Services desk is the most efficient way to begin any trip to the Briggs Library. BTW: The old Information Desk was dismantled in June, but not totally discarded. Parts of it live on after being repurposed to provide work stations elsewhere in the library.

Clark Hallman, Head of Public Services

Rachel Manzer Takes Charge of Interlibrary Loan & Document Delivery Services

Staff member Rachel Manzer has moved to a new position within Briggs Library. On August 3rd Rachel took charge of the library’s document delivery and interlibrary loan services. Rachel began working at the library in October of 2007 as our Interlibrary Loan Lending Technician.

The Document Delivery Unit offers a vital service to SDSU students, staff, and faculty by providing access to resources not owned by Briggs Library. When researchers discover that they need a resource that is not available through the library, they may request the item using the ILLiad (InterLibrary Loan internet accessible database) system.

Once patrons place requests, Rachel is in charge of all the behind-the-scenes work. With the help of student assistants, Rachel maintains patron accounts; verifies citations; ensures copyright compliance; and places requests with other libraries, commercial vendors, or the library’s acquisitions department. She also manages fees, coordinates delivery, coordinates returns, and handles problems.

The Document Delivery unit also lends Briggs Library materials to other libraries through a worldwide interlibrary loan (ILL) network. The network allows Briggs Library to participate in reciprocal lending activity with thousands of other libraries which helps the service operate economically. This means users usually do not pay a fee for the resources provided through Document Delivery or Interlibrary Loan. In her former position, Rachel worked with ILL lending, and, in fact, she will supervise that operation when the ILL staff vacancy is filled.

Congratulations to Rachel Manzer. Questions about specific Document Delivery (ILLiad) requests can be directed to Rachel in her new office (106C) on the main level of the library. For help with finding potential sources for your research or placing ILLiad requests please contact a staff member at the Library Services Desk, by phone (605-688-5107), by e-mail, or via instant messaging.

Linda Kott
Information Services Librarian

American History Video Collection added

Briggs Library was the lucky winner of a free subscription to the American History in Video collection from Alexander Street Press. The free subscription is for one year so we will have this collection through June 2010. We encourage everyone who has an interest in history or in watching videos to take a look. All you need is a computer and internet access (the faster the access, the better). According to Alexander Street Press there are more than 1470 titles in the collection. Content comes from commercial and governmental newsreels, archival footage, public affairs footage, and important documentaries.

Examples of videos available in this collection include a United News Release video from 1942 about American bombers taking off and landing from a secret Australian air base (as an Australian American, I found this particularly interesting); a documentary on Amelia Earhart including footage of her from the History Channel; and PBS’ Summer of Love documentary. There is something for everyone so take advantage of the collection now!

This database is linked in our Articles and Databases List under American History Video or click here.

~Elizabeth Fox, Digital Information Services Librarian

Wolfram│Alpha

Stephen Wolfram, developer of Mathematica, has designed a new Web tool called Wolfram│Alpha.  Although its interface looks like a search engine, Wolfram│Alpha is actually a computational knowledge engine.  Search engines, like Google, search the Web and list links as results.   Wolfram│Alpha produces results by making computations from its own knowledge base. 

Clicking on the sample topics links will give you ideas of how to use this tool in areas like mathematics, engineering, dates & times, money & finance, and unit & measures.  You can enter math problems, ask for conversions, compare stocks, produce a world map with life expectancies, assess the per capita income of Brooking County, etc.  Wolfram│Alpha has a blog, a community site, and a quick video overview to help users get started.

The producers of Wolfram│Alpha plan to expand its capacities in the future.  Their ambitious “long-term goal is to make all systematic knowledge immediately computable and accessible to anyone.”  They also see opportunities to develop other forms of their product—to provide professional and corporate applications, to work with an organization’s internal data, and to work with mobile platforms. 

If you have any questions about research please contact a SDSU librarian.  You can contact us in-person at the Information Desk, send an e-mail, a text message, or set up an appointment. 

 Linda Kott
Information Services Librarian

2009 High School Topic: Poverty

                   

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Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase social services for persons living in poverty in the United States

 

The 2009 South Dakota High School Debate Camp will soon be underway on the SDSU Campus. The library welcomes all coaches and students in the arts of rhetoric and persuasion! Well, of course the library welcomes all who would seek knowledge (and evidence) within these scholared halls.

 

The Government Documents Department offers assistance in finding federal and state government information sources on this years high school debate topic: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase social services for persons living in poverty in the United States. An online topic guide has been created to identify selected federal and Internet resources available online and through library databases on the topic of poverty in the United States.

 

The Briggs Library Guide to Government Information provides links to a number of federal, state, local, and international sites for research, including a research guide for Debate Topics. Additional library resources can be accessed from the library homepage including the library catalog and library databases all of which are accessible on the SDSU Campus.

 

Assistance in using library resources and for Government information sources is available at the Information Desk (main level) and on the lower level of the library in the Documents Office. The library offers free wireless Internet service as well as free Internet access on the public computers. And of course, the library offers free information finding expertise. Just AskUs!

 

Vickie Mix, Documents Librarian

 

 

 

News and Resources on the Supreme Court Justice nomination

In the news…

Supreme Court Justice David Souter has announced his coming retirement.  On May 26, President Obama announced his selection of Sonia Sotomayor to become the newest justice.  Sotomayor now faces hearings in the Senate, which has the authority to either approve or reject Pres. Obama’s nominee.

Here is a selection of resources for further information on this topic:

- For information on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor: http://www.loc.gov/law/find/sotomayor.php
- For information on the Supreme Court including history, the docket, and opinions: http://www.supremecourtus.gov/
- For online access to the text of Supreme Court Nomination Hearings since 1971: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/senate/judiciary/scourt.html
- For a list of Supreme Court nominees since 1789: http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/reference/nominations/Nominations.htm
- For information regarding presidential nominations, nominees, and appointments: http://www.senate.gov/reference/Nominations/Index.htm
- For a biographical directory of federal judges since 1789: http://www.fjc.gov/public/home.nsf/hisj

For further information, please ask at the Information Desk or the Government Documents Department. While you are at the library, feel free to check out the displays on the lower level and learn more about our Supreme Court Justices as well as our Justice Department publications.

Laura Plowman, Public Services Library Associate

Mountains Beyond Mountains

 If you like to read and then discuss what you’ve read, consider the book Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder.

 This fall students in twenty-five sections of freshman opportunities and orientation courses, such as General Studies 100, will be reading the book, a biography of Dr. Paul Farmer.  Farmer, a world leader in public health and medical anthropology, founded Partners in Health, an organization which has provided health care to disadvantaged populations throughout the world, conducted ground-breaking research, and influenced policy in world health organizations.

 The book focuses on Farmer, a fascinating individual, who Kidder describes as “a man who would cure the world,” but it also invites discussions of broad and varied topics like public health, poverty and wealth, land use, and the responsibilities of the individual.  

 This fall you’ll find plenty of students who have read the book, but if you can’t wait contact Tim Nichols, Dean of the Honors College, at 605-688-5268, about a summer reading group. 

 To further advance study and discussion, Dr. Farmer will speak on campus on November 19, 2009, as the Griffith Honors Forum lecturer. 

 Ready to get started?  The library has two copies of Mountains Beyond Mountains (BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL R154.F36 K53 2003) and the University Bookstore has copies for sale.

 If you are interested in further investigation of the topics addressed in the book, the library has many resources available.  Search the library’s catalog to find records for books and government documents; search databases, such as EBSCOhost Megafile and ProQuest, for articles in newspapers, magazines and journals.   Also consult the library’s Topic Guides for research guidance in a particular subject area.  Librarians are available to help you research—consult with us in-person at the Information Desk, send an e-mail, a text message, or set up an appointment. 

 Happy reading!

 Linda Kott
Information Services Librarian

Memorial Day: Government Information Resources

 

Library of Congress:

• American Folklife http://www.loc.gov/folklife/
• American Memory Today in History May 30, 1868 http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/may30.html
• Veterans History Project http://www.loc.gov/vets/
• Wise Guide to Memorial Day http://www.loc.gov/wiseguide/may03/memorial.html

National Moment of Remembrance Act http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS11674 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Public and Intergovernmental Affairs http://www1.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/index.asp 

USA.gov guide to Memorial Day http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Memorial_Day.shtml

Whitehouse Commission on Remembrance http://www.remember.gov/ 

Vickie Mix, Documents Librarian

Congressional Hearing: Role of Museums and Libraries in Strengthening Communities

“Examining the Role of Museums and Libraries in Strengthening Communities” – Hearing before the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities – Committee on Education and Labor – U.S. House of Representatives – 110th Congress, 2nd Session – September 11, 2008 – Serial No. 110-109.  Y 4.ED 8/1:110-109

 http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS109681

Vickie Mix, Documents Librarian

Lobby Commotion

Installation of Food Booths in Library Lobby Photo by Susan Schleicher

What’s happening in the lobby of the library?  SDSU Dining Services personnel are placing booths and working on electrical connections so that food and beverages—including coffee!—can be offered in the library.  Unfortunately for those of us on campus this summer, the consumables will not be available until this fall.

 

Linda Kott

Information Services Librarian