WVU Libraries

Using the WVU Libraries’ Web site resulted in more than just finding a book or an electronic journal for two students.

Nalisa Robinson, an exercise physiology sophomore, and Emily Corio, a journalism graduate student, each netted a Red iPod Nano for their efforts. They were among 230 students, staff, and faculty who participated in an information scavenger hunt the Libraries hosted in conjunction with the launch of their revamped Web site.

Pictured are Associate Dean Myra Lowe, students Nalisa Robinson and Emily Corio, and Web Service Librarian Beth Toren.
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The WVU Libraries present an online exhibit of Vintage Valentines from the West Virginia and Regional History Collection. There are over 40 valentines on display to browse through. You can use our online form to send one to your valentine with a personal message. Valentines include standard cards, postcards, and 3-D cards. Visit the exhibit at http://www.libraries.wvu.edu/exhibits/valentine/.

Four WVU students gained some real-world experience while helping the WVU Libraries better understand how users perceive the Libraries.

The team studied three years of survey results for the WVU Libraries and presented their analysis during a session at the American Libraries Association’s mid-winter conference in Philadelphia in January. Their efforts won applause from about 50 academic library administrators from around the country.

“The students did an incredible job from start to finish,” WVU Libraries Dean Frances O’Brien said. “They did a thorough job analyzing the data, and they impressed a roomful of deans and directors with their presentation at the conference. Both are difficult tasks, even for professionals in the field.”

A team of WVU marketing seniors shined during their presentation at the American Library Association mid-winter conference in Philadelphia. Pictured are Frances O’Brien, Dean of the WVU Libraries; Angela Julien, marketing senior; David Hughes, marketing senior; Martha Kyrillidou, Director, American Research Libraries Service Quality Programs; Amanda Benson, marketing senior; Ryan D’Souza, marketing senior; and Dr. Paula Bone, marketing professor.
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The Daily Athenaeum, January 24, 2008

By Kathryn Gregory
Managing Editor

Harold M. Forbes slowly puts on a pair of pristine white gloves and reaches onto a dusty shelf to grab a treasure from a collection that dates back hundreds of years. He turns the treasure over in his hand and slowly opens the binding to reveal the intricate details of the pages within.

The book, which is part of Dennis Diderot’s Dictionary, is just one of the many rare finds that have a safe and well-maintained home at West Virginia University’s Downtown Library Complex.

The gloves are worn to protect the books from oils that might transfer from hands to pages, which can speed along the process of a book’s deterioration.

Forbes is the curator of rare books at WVU libraries and has been working on collecting and preserving the books since 1989.

Books are donated to the Rare Books Room, and the curator’s job is to preserve the books and hunt for any books that might be missing from a particular collection.

Stewart Plein, assistant West Virginia rare books curator, holds open “Hortus Indicus Malabaricus.” This botanical
book dates back to 1700 and is translated in four languages.
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On Sunday January 27, the WVU Physical Plant will conduct mandatory fire suppression testing at the WVU Primary Data Center from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The following applications and services will not be available during the test period: Access-A-File, AdvisorTrac, Axium, Birth Score Database, Citrix, CUFS, CyberSports, Endeavor/Voyager, eTD, Fitinfotech, Fix & Release, GroupWise, HSC Alumni Database, IDEAS, Intranet Web Servers, Kronos, Magic, MAP Test, Meeting Room Manager, MIX, Novell Administrative Network, Paciolan, Pyramed, QuickTime, ROADS Test, STAR Production, STAR Test, TicketReturn, TSM, Vista Development, Voice Mail for VOIP, WWW Web Servers, and Wimba. For more information, contact the WVU OIT Helpdesk at OITHelp@mail.wvu.edu or call 293-4444 ext. 1.

The WVU Libraries Web Team is pleased to announce the official launch of their new Libraries web site design on January 14, 2007. The Libraries are holding a contest to promote use of the new site. Two winners of the contest will be presented with an iPod. To participate, go to the WVU Libraries web site at www.libraries.wvu.edu and select “iPod Contest.” Download and fill in the form, then send it as an email attachment to beth.toren@mail.wvu.edu. There are five questions you must use the Libraries web site to answer correctly in order to be entered into the drawing for the prize. All correct responses will be entered into a drawing for the iPods. WVU Libraries employees and student workers are not eligible.

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If someone is keeping track of West Virginia’s best-kept secrets, somewhere near the top of that list is probably a line about the mountain state’s rich artistic heritage. West Virginia has been home to several acclaimed artists; its people and its rolling hills have been the subjects of thousands of paintings.

Some of those painters and their works will be the focus of a presentation at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, in the Norman L. Fagan West Virginia State Theatre at the Cultural Center, State Capitol Complex.

“It’s a topic that has often been overlooked,” said John Cuthbert, Curator of the West Virginia and Regional History Collection at the WVU Libraries. “Any time I talk before a group about West Virginia’s fine arts heritage, people are always shocked to learn how much significant fine art heritage this state has.”
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The latest issue of Ex Libris, the WVU Libraries’ newsletter, is now available online. It can be accessed by visiting www.libraries.wvu.edu/exlibris or clicking on this link.