Reference point

              REFERENCE POINT U N I V E R S I T Y L I B R A R I E S N E W S L E T T E R • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 4
Continued on page 11
Central Michigan University’s Library 197 course is more than a simple demon-stration
of the practical skills needed to conduct library research. The course also
helps CMU students develop information literacy.
The one-credit hour class, which meets twice a week and is taught exclusively by
CMU librarians, provides students with the skills and background to discover and
use the books, newspapers, government documents, and electronic resources in
university and college libraries.
“The Library 197 course is an opportunity for students to learn and think about
information,” said Michael Lorenzen, head of reference services. “We are using
this class to teach students how to evaluate the research they find.”
The eight-week course begins with students touring the 306,000 square-foot
library. Instructors describe how call numbers, databases, and periodicals are
organized. Then students undertake projects and assignments designed to help
them understand plagiarism and copyright laws. They learn how to tap the
library’s many resources, from government documents to historical resources. A
tour of Clarke Historical Library concludes the class before a final project is due.
Information literacy leads to success
In addition to giving students useful experiences in locating electronic and print
sources, the information literacy skills gained through the course are beneficial to
the students’ overall college success, said Lorenzen.
CMU’s Library 197 course offers
information, literacy skills for students
CMU students learn how to find and apply information resources during an eight-week
introductory course in Park Library.
by KRISTY BRUMM
2
Dean’s Column
Exceptional new facility
houses evolving
collection of resources
Since the start of the New Year, some of us have
been pausing from time to time to remember that
the fabulous new Park Library is now two years old.
The time has gone by quickly. With undiminished
pleasure I continue every day to look around this
attractive building, as I did in the first days after
opening, and observe happily the stream of CMU
students and faculty entering and the multitudes at
work, and sometimes at leisure, using the comput-ers
and study tables. There are more people in the
library than ever before, and our librarians and staff
daily earn their reputation for helpful service,
especially in the busy evenings.
Digital resources are heavily used, particularly online
databases and journals. While we have a large and
continuing investment in our collections of printed
books and journals – which are vital – in recent
years we’ve also made increasing purchases of
digital materials that are accessible on the Web all
the time, even when the physical library isn’t open,
and from just about everywhere. Students and
faculty have benefited greatly, with large treasuries
of academic information available to them.
Amidst these happy circumstances, behind the
scenes our librarians are alert to a disquieting
combination of cultural and economic forces – local,
national, and international – that affect the library’s
on-going ability to provide reliably the print and
electronic information resources required to support
CMU’s academic programs. The same or similar
forces are affecting all university libraries.
Knowledge is growing
rapidly, and new journals
sprout daily or weekly
throughout the diverse
curricular and faculty
research areas, which also
are dynamic. Publishers
merge or cease to exist,
with sometimes venerable
journal titles passing from
“owner” to “owner” at brief
intervals. Copyright,
technology, and licensing
issues abound. These and
other factors, including
foreign currency exchange rates and the obvious,
and sometimes seemingly excessive, drive for
profits, stimulate price increases for library
materials, especially journals, that on occasion
surpass 300 percent and currently average about 8
percent per year across all categories of books and
journals in print and electronic formats.
Even in favorable economic times, we’d be challenged
to keep pace with these escalating academic needs
and costs. Unfortunately, however, due to combined
price increases and requisite university budget
reductions, our library acquisitions purchasing
power has declined significantly since 2001.
While the splendid physical Park Library is impres-sively
constructed and proving itself well in service,
building the intellectual “library,” consisting of a rich
and relevant collection of print and digital knowledge
resources, is a work in progress and always will be.
Though our present challenges are difficult, choosing
what to have “in the library” – both tangibly and now
virtually – is a task truly as old as libraries.
Our librarians will continue to work with faculty in
balancing the complex interplay of needs and
opportunities, aspirations and realities, to ensure the
availability of library resources for learning and
research at Central Michigan University. In addition
to maintaining funding, the fundamental success of
the library depends on this essential work. In this
sense “constructing” the Park Library continues, and
it is our most important commitment and priority, for
now and the future.
Tom Moore
Dean of Libraries
Reference Point is published twice
annually by University Libraries.
Address questions and suggestions to:
Office of the Dean
Park Library 407D
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
Editorial Board
Thomas J. Moore
Dean of Libraries
Gerry Edgar
Manager, Library Business Services
Reference Point Coordinator
Anne Marie Casey
Associate Dean of Libraries
Jill Almasi-Dole
Director of Development and
Community Outreach
Production
CMU Public Relations and Marketing
Writers
Kristy Brumm, New Baltimore senior
Shavonne Singleton, Lansing junior
Lisa Sommer, Saginaw senior
Josh Tilley, Minnesota senior
Editor
Mark Lagerwey
Designer
Sydnee MacKay
Photographers
Peggy Brisbane and Robert Barclay
Printing
CMU Printing Services
Regular Library Hours
Mon - Thurs: 7:50 a.m. - Midnight
Fri: 7:50 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sat: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sun: Noon - Midnight
Reference Desk
(989) 774-3470
libref@cmich.edu
CMU, an AA/EO institution, strongly and
actively strives to increase diversity within
its community (see www.cmich.edu/aaeo).
PRM 6472-3,700 (1/04)
Tom Moore
REFERENCE POINT
3
Libraries statewide share resources through InMich
by LISA SOMMER
In addition to the traditional Interlibrary Loan
service, University Libraries patrons have extra
access to books outside of the CMU Park Library
collection, thanks to InMich, an online catalog of
holdings from selected libraries throughout the
state.
“It’s always a surprise for the Interlibrary Loan
staff to open the InMich delivery,” said Pamela
Grudzien, head of collection development,
“They haven’t handled these requests through
our traditional procedures, and they’re often
delighted to see what has come in.”
InMich was created two years ago as a grant
project involving six Michigan libraries. A
shared database among participating libraries
allows library users to initiate their own
interlibrary loan requests.
Michigan State University, Albion College,
Southfield Public Library, and the Ovid-Elsie
Schools were among the anchor libraries.
CMU Libraries was asked to join InMich in its
second year. InMich now includes 27 libraries
of all kinds – public, university, specialized,
and K-12 schools throughout Michigan.
InMich provides patrons with an
immediate connection from the CMU
Libraries’ catalog to the combined catalog.
In total, the InMich database includes more
than four million titles. The CMU Libraries
contribute more than 500,000 titles to the
database.
“It’s amazing how the entire system works; the
patron uses the system to decide what books
will be sent and the system determines from
where,” Grudzien said.
Easy patron access
The online database is simple to use. After a
patron completes a search through his or her
home library and discovers the book is not
available, a simple click of the mouse allows the
patron to see which InMich libraries hold the
book. With another click or two, the patron
initiates the request for the item. When
requesting a book, a patron must provide his or
her name and university ID number and identify
his or her home library.
When a request is made from a patron at CMU, it
arrives in CMU’s Interlibrary Loan in the Park Library
via UPS in one to four days. Depending on the time
of day books are requested and the delivery service
pickup time, books even have arrived as quickly as
the same day they were requested.
“I found the system to be
quite convenient and
easy to use,” said
Christina Bouchey,
Clare senior. “The
possibility of sources for papers
and projects now seems unlimited.”
InMich has achieved its initial mission to develop a
system that allows for easy patron access to a
shared, multidisciplinary database of library
resources. Grudzien says CMU Libraries patrons
have been excited to learn that they can access
libraries with larger collections of fiction and genre-based
books.
Because InMich libraries have been able to work
cooperatively and agree on a process and procedure
that truly benefits all, Grudzien said the program’s
success probably won’t be unnoticed by state
officials. The legislature soon may consider a
recommendation to implement the program
statewide, thus allowing even greater access to
library resources for the people of Michigan.
Interlibrary Loan Supervisor Margaret Dodd processes a regular flow of
in-coming and out-going books that travel between the various libraries
participating in the InMich program.
4
Creating an exhibit in the Clarke Historical Library is
a time-consuming, but highly rewarding task for
Frank Boles.
The Clarke Historical Library, located along the main
corridor of the Charles V. Park Library, regularly
displays items from its extensive list of historical
holdings, including items related to CMU, published
works that shape the minds of young children, and
Michigan and the Old Northwest Territory.
The exhibits are identified after lengthy consider-ation
and careful planning. Boles, director of the
Clarke Historical Library, generally keeps four criteria
in mind:
• Exhibits should highlight some aspect of the
Clarke’s collection to make the public more
aware of the library’s holdings.
Clarke exhibits feature CMU’s extensive
by JOSH TILLEY
• Exhibits should highlight topics the public will
find interesting and enjoy seeing.
• Exhibits should honor a donor or other benefactor
who played an important role in making the
exhibit possible.
• Exhibits should encourage future donations from
potential contributors by creating interest in the
library’s holdings.
“The perfect show would meet all four of these
criteria,” said Boles. “But no show will ever be
perfect.”
Once a decision is made on an exhibit topic, the
planning phase begins.
Clarke Historical Library Director Frank Boles reviews Native American portraits by James Otto Lewis.
Boles is preparing the works to appear in a spring exhibit that is scheduled to open Monday, Feb. 23.
5
historical collections
Exhibits evolve around a script
The exhibit design is inspired by the topic, but due
to existing walls, exhibit cases, and bookcases,
there are some obvious restrictions for the design.
Working within these limitations, a “script” is
developed. The script determines which pieces of
the library’s collection will be included in the exhibit,
how the pieces will be displayed to best serve and
enhance the exhibit, and what kinds of signage,
design style, and text will be needed.
The script will usually go through two or three
iterations before the final layout is completed. As
the script is revised, additions and enhancements
to the display often are conceived. During this
stage, items not in the library’s collection often are
sought out from other collections for possible loans.
Once the script is finalized and the borrowed
material is received, the library has the task of
putting everything together.
The different tasks of the practical application of
the script can vary. The final stages of completing
the exhibit may include receiving copyright
clearances, designing large wall panels, working to
select frames and formats, proofreading signage,
and other tasks ranging from very basic to precise
details.
“It’s largely my responsibility to shepherd the exhibit
through the planning and assembling stages, but I
also draw generously on various staff members who
are often deeply involved in getting specific tasks
done,” Boles said.
It takes approximately six months to create
an exhibit, from the brainstorming stage to
the grand opening, said Boles.
Two exhibits planned for
first half of 2004
The spring 2004 semester will feature
the artwork of James Otto Lewis, who
painted and sketched what eventually
became the first published collection of
Native American portraits during the
1820’s. The exhibit will open in mid- to
late-February.
The summer of 2004 marks the Clarke
Historical Library’s 50th anniversary.
An exhibit featuring the best of the
library’s collection will help celebrate
the milestone.
Last year’s Clarke exhibits included:
• Seasons of Light: Michigan Light-houses
in Three Centuries. This
exhibit featured a variety of
artifacts, books, and
photographs of lighthouses and
lighthouse keepers throughout Michigan.
• Hemingway in Michigan: Michigan in Hemingway.
This exhibit focused on Ernest Hemingway’s
experiences in northern Michigan during his
youth and how they influenced his writing
career. Highlights of the exhibit included rare
photographs from Hemingway’s youth,
family mementos, and first editions of his
Michigan-related books.
The Clarke Historical Library is open to the public from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and many
Saturdays during the academic year.
6
Professor backs accounting scholarships,
library resources
by SHAVONNE SINGLETON
“My donations are a way
of giving back.”
�� Philip Kintzele
School of Accounting professor
At a time when budget cuts are all-too-common on
campuses across America, the University Libraries
will be able to continue building a collection of
materials and resources in the field of accounting.
Philip Kintzele has made sure to help with that.
Kintzele, who serves as chair of CMU’s School of
Accounting, has contributed not only to the library’s
academic research
materials, but also
toward the tuition of
students majoring in
accounting.
A member of the CMU
faculty for more than 20
years, Kintzele enjoys
supporting a university
that has given so much
to him.
“I like helping both the university and the students
here at CMU; my donations are a way of giving back,”
Kintzele said. “I appreciate everything the university
has done to help my career, and I support it.”
Donations fund scholarships,
library resources
Since arriving at CMU in 1981, Kintzele has donated
more than $100,000 to the university.
Kintzele’s contributions are responsible for estab-lishing
two annual endowed scholarships for
students studying accounting – the Philip L. Kintzele
School of Accounting Scholarship, which funds the
majority of a senior’s tuition, and the Philip L.
Kintzele Transfer Student Scholarship, which helps
fund two juniors’ tuition expenses.
In addition to the academic scholarships, Kintzele
has established a $10,000 libraries endowment
fund to support the purchase of School of Account-ing
materials.
“In addition to the financial support he provides to
students of his own department, he takes the extra
step by giving to the library because it helps fund
the acquisition of accounting resources,” said Gail
Moore, senior development director, planned and
major gifts.
“In times of financial difficulties, this fund helps
maintain periodicals in accounting that are needed
for research,” said Kintzele. “It is just one way the
library can maintain more of the periodicals and
other resources that
faculty and students may
want to use.”
Under the accounting
research heading, students
and faculty can find
information in the areas of
associations and organiza-tions,
securities reports,
corporate annual reports,
regulation and standards, and taxation.
“One of the nicest things about the library is that it
has a terrific atmosphere and positive environment,”
said Kintzele. “The physical facilities and staff
service make it a good experience to be there.”
School of Accounting Professor Philip Kintzele has established a University Libraries
endowment to bolster accounting resources.
7
CMU-sponsored conference
sets standard for off-campus services
by LISA SOMMER
Librarians from around the world will converge in
Arizona this spring for a conference sponsored by
Central Michigan University.
The 11th biennial Off-Campus Library Services
(OCLS) conference will be held May 5 to 7 at the
Carefree Conference Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz.
First held in 1982, the conference addresses the
unique concerns of librarians who work with
extended learning students. OCLS sponsors the
conference in partnership with CMU’s College of
Extended Learning, which is widely recognized as
an international leader in the field of distance
education.
“The 2004 conference will provide an opportunity
for librarians and library administrators to network,
exchange information, find solutions to problems,
and grow profes-sionally
in a friendly
atmosphere,” said
Connie Hildebrand,
conference
coordinator for the
last eight years. This
year’s conference
will focus on needs
assessments,
student services,
support services,
administration of
programs, and
collaboration.
Conference features keynote,
academic papers
Approximately 300 librarians attend each confer-ence
to learn and educate others about library
services to off-campus students.
More than 10 OCLS staff members work together
on planning and directing the conference. Leader-ship
of the Libraries and the College of Extended
Learning, as well as Thomas Storch, executive vice
president/provost, have been invited to welcome the
attendees and introduce the speaker. Libraries’ staff
members Anne Marie Casey and Ryan Laus, together
with CEL staff member Lana Ivanitskaya, will present
a paper.
In his speech entitled Copyright as an Instrument of
Censorship, keynote speaker Siva Vaidhyanathan will
address fair use and copyright laws and how libraries
are affected.
Vaidhyanathan, an assistant professor of culture and
communication at New York University, is a cultural
historian and media scholar. His most recent books
are Copyrights and Copywrongs: The Rise of
Intellectual Property and How it Threatens Creativity
(2001) and The Anarchist of the Library: How Peer-to-
Peer Networks
are Transforming
Politics, Culture
and Information
(2003).
There will be 38
academic papers
presented at this
year’s confer-ence.
Presenters
are selected
through a
program advisory
board that
evaluates the presentation proposals. The committee
consists of individuals who are knowledgeable in the
field and have attended the conference at least once.
The conference is held in different regions of the
United States to reach a wider audience. Librarians
come from as far away as Canada, England, South
Africa, Indonesia, India, New Zealand, and Australia.
Central Michigan University’s
Off Campus Library Services
and the College of Extended
Learning are working well in
advance to plan and direct this
year’s national conference in
Arizona.
Federal depository program provides
access to government documents
8
As a designated Federal Depository Library (FDL),
the University Libraries offers a huge collection of
federal and state documents and resources.
The Federal Depository Library Program provides
free local access to government publications of
public interest and educational value from all three
branches of the federal and local governments.
The University Libraries have been designated by
the U.S. Congress as a selective depository since
1958. This designation allows Park Library to review
and update its collection annually with the kinds of
material that best serve the needs of the district.
Based on these findings, the library today contains
especially significant collections in the areas of
farming, oil, natural gas, and the Bureau of Indian
Affairs.
Half a million documents
The library receives approximately 50 percent of all
federal publications. The CMU collection consists of
more than 500,000 documents, or roughly one-third
of the library’s total collection.
CMU’s Federal Depository Program includes:
• Monthly catalogs of U.S. government publications
– print, microfiche, and electronic versions from
1774 to the present
• The Congressional Universe database
• The Statistical Universe database
• The U.S. government periodicals index database
“When you read the verbatim account of congres-sional
hearings, you understand what they were
thinking when they wrote documents like the
Declaration of Independence and the Constitution,”
said David Shirley, documents librarian.
The collection also includes major sets of federal
legal documents, such as the code of federal
regulations, federal register, U.S. code and anno-tated
code, U.S. reports, and U.S. statutes-at-large.
“The congressional hearings on the Pearl Harbor
attack, Vietnam, the Enron and Watergate scandals,
the McCarthy hearings, and the JFK assassination
all are available in verbatim,” said Shirley.
by JOSH TILLEY
Maps of all kinds
The library also holds an extensive map collection
containing nearly 60,000 items provided by the U.S.
Geological Survey, Central Intelligence Agency, U.S.
Forest Service, National Park Service, and various
commercial map publishers. The collection includes
topographic quadrangle maps for all states, major
city maps, state road maps, and a variety of subject
maps except Alaska.
“These maps are a good resource for hikers,
regional planners, and zoning commissions,” said
Shirley. “The city planners use them, too.”
Many resources on the Web
Park Library’s Web site provides direct links to the
resource Web sites of federal and state governments,
and state, legislative, and international agencies
such as FedWorld, Federal Bulletin Board, GPO
Access, StatUSA, American FactFinder, O*Net, and
PubMed.
Some designated sites provide information for
specific groups of people. Senior citizen sites offer
important information about Medicare and Social
Security, Web sites for children offer resources for
government education, and other sites offer high
school and college students information on career
development and financial aid.
“All of the links accessed through CMU’s Web site
that may normally charge an access fee are free,”
said Shirley.
Free and accessible
With the exception of reference materials,
microformat materials, indexes and periodicals, any
resident of the 4th Congressional District of
Michigan may check out government documents.
Government documents not in the CMU collection
are available on line or through the Interlibrary Loan
Office by calling (989) 774-3022.
The government documents collection can be
accessed during all hours the library is open. Free
access to the collection is guaranteed by Title 44 of
the United States Code and by Michigan Public Act
No. 367 of 1976.
9
Art by former CMU students, creative artifacts, and
South African prints are a few of the items that will
highlight the Charles V. Park Library’s lineup of Baber
Room exhibits during the 2004 spring semester.
New Year opens
with Beaver Island exhibit
Beaver Island: A Retrospective, which is on exhibit
from Jan. 12 to Feb. 27, features artwork created
by former students as part of the annual summer
art program at the CMU Biological Station on
Beaver Island.
The exhibit showcases artwork from a variety of
media, including handmade paper, watercolor,
ceramics, photography, and fibers.
Next spring show
to feature South Africa prints
Opening in March, the Images of Human Rights:
South African Prints exhibit will consist of 29 fine
art prints created in 1996 by artists commemorat-ing
the post-apartheid nation’s Bill of Rights.
Images of Human Rights was designed by artists
representing the nine provinces of South Africa. The
works were hand printed by master printmaker Jan
Jordaan. Funds generated from the sale of
portfolios benefit human rights education programs
for the youth of South Africa.
“Images of Human Rights is an artistic celebration of
the testament to the human spirit that endured years
of struggle for democracy and human rights in our
beloved country,” said Desmond M. Tutu, archbishop
emeritus of South Africa. “The work of the artists
represented in this portfolio reflects the complexity,
passion, and richness of our rainbow nation.”
The prints are a part of a North American tour in
association with Michigan State University and an
association of agencies in South Africa.
Art professor
to exhibit medallic artwork
Scheduled for April is an exhibition featuring
medallic artwork by former CMU art professor
James MaloneBeach. He creates new and
innovative medals for everyday heroism.
“I think we do heroic things everyday,” said
MaloneBeach. “Sometimes even going to work on a
Monday morning is heroic.“
Baber Room houses library exhibits
by JOSH TILLEY
MaloneBeach currently teaches art at Big Rapids
High School, where he is recognized as an exemplary
instructor who can challenge and motivate students
to create work that is accepted into national shows.
Examples of MaloneBeach’s work can be found in
exhibits in Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota,
New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, London, the
Netherlands, Finland, and Hungary. He was the first
American to receive the Federation International de
la Medialle exposition award, a Hungarian citation for
creative approach to medallic art with new material.
The library’s Baber Room provides students, faculty,
staff, and community members a place to experience
thought-provoking artworks by professionals as well
as a place to read and study.
Permanent collection continues to grow
Art from the permanent collection of CMU’s Park
Library was on display from Nov. 12 through Jan. 8
in the library’s Baber Room. The permanent collection
includes paintings, prints, drawings, watercolors, and
photographs from a variety of artists.
Some of the pieces on display were new acquisitions
from distinguished art shows, such as the Alma
College Annual Statewide Print Show and the Greater
Michigan Art Exhibition from Arts Midland.
Baber Room hours are 7:50 a.m. to midnight Mondays
through Thursdays, 7:50 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m.
to 6 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to midnight Sundays.
Margie Erlandson, a CMU graduate art student, hangs one of the university’s permanent collection
works in the Baber Room. Erlandson and University Art Gallery curators work together to build the
university’s permanent collection, which was on display in the Baber Room through early January.
Also on display recently (below) were works from Myth-Maker: The Artist as Storyteller, a Michigan
Story Festival collection of art works exploring the different voices of Michigan artists.
by LISA SOMMER
10
CMU’s Park Library received an unexpected phone
call in November 2002. The library was thrilled to
learn it would be receiving a gift of music CDs from
the Phillip Snett family.
Snett, now deceased, was a professor in the CMU
psychology department from 1973 until his
retirement in 1999.
Included in his estate was a large collection of more
than 2,000 classical, opera, and era-focused CDs,
including many works by Mozart and Beethoven.
Greg and David Snett, sons of Phillip Snett, decided
to bestow the CD collection to the Central Michigan
University Libraries to enrich the lives of many
students that have the same passion for classical
music.
Park Library receives gift of music CDs
“They felt it would please their father to know CMU
students will appreciate and enjoy his collection for
years to come,” said Pamela Grudzien, head of
collection development.
Library staff cataloging collection
The CDs are now in the Music Resource Center of
the School of Music. Dedicated workers at the
library have been cataloging the CDs since the
summer of 2003.
“The process is time consuming, but exciting for us
to do,” said Vicki Swarthout, specialist clerk of
monographs. “It has been an educational process
when trying to find the exact source of a CD.”
Phillip Snett
CMU student Megan Sullivan researched the bibliographic records of CDs donated to University
Libraries before they were catalogued for library records.
11
Continued from page 1
This is the largest musical collection gift the library
has ever received. The gift is particularly unique
because the library typically does not see such a
variety in a donation, said Swarthout.
The cataloguing process is simple. Megan Sullivan,
a student employee, researches the exact biblio-graphic
record of each CD through World Cap, an
online database. After the bibliographic record is
found, Swarthout finds the bibliographic record
through the Library of Congress and downloads it to
the CMU Libraries’ catalog for student use.
The CD then goes back to Sullivan to be
processed to include a barcode and disk
number before it is sent to the Music
Resource Center.
Sullivan and Swarthout have been
dedicated to this process for more
than six months. Although they must
still attend to the ordered CDs that
must be catalogued, their process
of cataloguing the CD gift is
almost complete.
“When the CDs first arrived, we
were faced with four or five
carts piled with CDs,” said
Swarthout. “Now we have one
cart left that is slowly
diminishing.”
“This course offers students the
chance to understand how the library
functions, in turn making it a lot easier
to conduct accurate research,” he said.
CMU’s libraries describe an informa-tion
literate person as someone who
possesses the abilities to create a
focused research topic, recognize a
need for research assistance, create a
search strategy, and revise, locate,
and evaluate the information.
Students also learn how to cite
correctly sources of information and to
understand the ethical and cultural
considerations of information use.
“This research and understanding of
how the library functions can help
students write papers and avoid
plagiarism in all of their classes,” said
Lorenzen.
Tapping technology
resources
The latest technology available to
students includes the most recent
databases and other reference
software, high-end computers, and
projectors. Conducting research on
the World Wide Web also is a top
priority during the interactive course.
“Our students are taught how to go
out and evaluate different Web sites
along with how to find accurate
information with credible sources,”
said Lorenzen. “The class is very
interactive, with each student working
at his or her own computer station.”
The course was first offered more
than 30 years ago and has been a
success since its beginnings. It is
offered to all undergraduate students.
“More than anything, this course is
designed to teach students how to
think,” said Lorenzen.
Library 197
University Libraries
Park Library 407
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
Non-profit Organizaton
U.S. Postage
PAID
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
Permit No. 93
The University Libraries’ subject bibliographers
juggle a multitude of responsibilities. They serve as
liaisons to specific academic departments, order
materials for the library on specialized subjects,
participate in occasional special projects, and more.
“Generally speaking, these bibliographers have
expertise in the subjects assigned to them,” said
Pamela Grudzien, head of collection development at
the library. “In addition to a master’s degree in
library science, most of the bibliographers have a
subject master’s degree as well. The bibliographers
keep up-to-date on the literature of their subject
areas and attend conferences and programs so they
are informed on the related issues and trends.”
Working with their assigned academic department,
bibliographers are responsible for requesting
materials such as books, DVDs, videos, music
scores, and electronic resources for the library’s
collection. Bibliographers select the material
keeping in mind the programs and degrees offered
by the related departments on campus, the level of
use by undergraduate students for those areas of
the collection, and the amount of research
completed by graduate students and faculty.
Prioritizing subscriptions
The subject bibliographers, in conjunction with the
department faculty, assisted the university in
implementing budget cuts last year. This was very
difficult. Their review of subscriptions had at least
one positive outcome, even though it resulted in
reducing the number of subscriptions from 4,300 to
around 3,600.
Subject bibliographers keep library resources current
by SHAVONNE SINGLETON
“For twelve years our collection budget grew, which
made choices about purchases easier. This project
strengthened the communication between many
bibliographers and their departments because it
required a careful evaluation of the current and
future needs of the curricula and programs,”
Grudzien said. “The result was that the serials
collection reflects the highest priorities for the faculty
to support their curricula, even though we have
fewer subscriptions.”
Department liaisons
As liaisons of their specific departments, the
bibliographers work to establish good communication
channels with the department chairs and faculty
members and attend department meetings to
discuss library issues or news.
“The most important thing is the relationship that
develops between the bibliographers and the faculty
and departments,” said Grudzien. “The more
communication that goes on between them the
better the bibliographers are able to select appropriate
material for the subject areas.”
The University Libraries has 13 subject bibliographers
who are members of three library departments.