WVU Libraries

Summer is a good time to tackle that to-do list and make some positive changes. Lose some weight. Get into shape. Renovate your library.

The latter has been the focus of the West Virginia University Libraries this summer. When students and faculty return to campus for the fall semester, they will find multiple enhancements to the Downtown Campus Library.

The makeover will provide users with a flexible environment in which to work and a convenient link to academic assistance while writing a paper or technical support while working on a computer.

“Our main goal is to respond to student needs,” said Myra Lowe, WVU Libraries Associate Dean. “We want to provide them with a place that is conducive for studying, working on assignments with others, creating multi-media projects, and obtaining needed assistance along the way.”

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Watch any show on HGTV and you will probably hear someone espouse the virtues of proper storage and the need for adequate closet space. The same conversation has been happening for a while at the West Virginia University Libraries.

The Libraries now have 12,000 more square feet of space to house lesser-used books, journals, and other materials thanks to the newly opened addition to the Libraries’ Depository in the WVU Research Park.

“This off-site storage is designed to preserve our collections but still make them available to WVU students and faculty through the MountainLynx catalog,” Libraries Dean Frances O’Brien said. “I think it’s a good solution to the increasing demand for more study and learning space in the campus libraries.”

Randy Jenkins, Depository Manager, oversees the migration of materials from the Downtown Campus, Evansdale, and Health Sciences libraries to the new Depository addition.
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Materials from the Math Library are now located in the Downtown Campus Library or the Libraries Depository. Ask for help at the Reference Desk.

WVU Today, June 18, 2008

Call West Virginia University’s John Cuthbert “old school,” and the library curator will laugh and thank you for the compliment.

That’s because in today’s whiz-bang, jump-cut, computer graphic-enhanced, “just roll tape” age, he still thinks there’s a lot to be said for the compelling drama of the humble photograph – preferably one that is sepia toned, from a time gone by.

“I always think about what went on right before and right after the picture was snapped,” Cuthbert said. “I’m always drawn to the faces and surroundings. You can see the baby who grew up to be a great-grandmother or the miner who unfortunately died the day after the photograph was made. A good photograph is a little slice of someone’s soul, and I mean that in a good way.”
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Stop by the Downtown Campus Library on June 20 to celebrate the state’s founding. The WVU Libraries will mark the day by paying tribute to artist, author, outdoor enthusiast, and West Virginian George Bird Evans.

“We are focusing on George Bird Evans in honor of the donation of the Evans’ papers and manuscripts to the WVU Libraries earlier this year,” said John Cuthbert, curator of the West Virginia and Regional History Collection. “Evans was a giant in the field of upland game bird hunting literature. His writing about the subject, which included well over one hundred books and articles, reflected a connoisseurship that harked back to the European tradition of the gentleman sportsman.”

Evans began his professional life during the late 1920s working as an illustrator for leading magazines and other clients in New York City. After serving during World War II, he turned his talents to writing a series of acclaimed mystery novels. It was not until the 1950s that he began writing about his passion for birds, dogs, and the West Virginia mountains. He passed away in 1998.

Festivities begin at 9:30 a.m. with a reception in the Milano Reading Room. A dedication ceremony for the George Bird Evans Collection follows at 10 a.m., with Evans’ biographer Catherine Harper delivering the keynote address.

An exhibit of Evans’ work opens at noon in the Davis Galleries on the sixth floor of the Wise Library. The 2008 West Virginia Day posters will be distributed at that time to those present.

The day concludes with a reception at “Old Hemlock,” the rustic Preston County home of Evans. The reception will include a barbeque, tours of the home and grounds, and demonstrations of Pointers, the dog breed Evans immortalized in drawing and word.

A native of nearby Uniontown, Pa., Evans settled permanently in Preston County in 1939. His home near Bruceton Mills became well known to sporting literature enthusiasts throughout the country during the late twentieth century. His writings were largely based upon his experiences at “Old Hemlock” and in the nearby hills and mountains.

Evans’ extensive collection, now housed in the WVRHC, includes personal papers, manuscripts, books and other materials by and about Evans and his wife, co-author and editor, Kay Harris Evans.

All events are open to the public.

Harper’s Weekly, the illustrated newspaper of record for the 19th century, is now available to WVU researchers through HarpWeek, a web site that provides electronic access to Harper’s Weekly for a 56-year period: 1857-1912.

The HarpWeek electronic database makes it possible for you to discover the lively news stories, illustrations, cartoons, editorials, biographies, literature and even advertisements that shaped and reflected public opinion in this era. Using HarpWeek’s powerful features, you can browse through 56 years of Harper’s Weekly page by page, locate specific articles based on search terms or phrases you specify, or use sophisticated indexing and synopsis tools to comb through thousands of Harper’s Weekly articles.

Access HarpWeek through the Library’s website at:
www.libraries.wvu.edu/databases

Open access journals are peer-reviewed journals that provide free, online access to their articles. They do not charge subscription fees to readers or libraries. Instead, they cover their costs through publication fees to authors.

The WVU Libraries have purchased institutional memberships in BioMed Central and Public Library of Science which will reduce the required author publication fees for WVU faculty researchers. For more information visit:
www.libraries.wvu.edu/open-access

WVU Libraries also recently sponsored presentations by two proponents of open online access to scientific and scholarly materials to campus for free public presentations. Members of the WVU community were invited to attend to learn more about this crucial issue. Barbara Epstein, director of the Health Sciences Library System at the University of Pittsburgh, spoke at 11 a.m. Friday, April 25, in the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center auditorium. She lectured on changes in scholarly communication, with an emphasis on open access and a new National Institute of Health mandate. Heather Joseph, executive director of the Association of Research Libraries Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition, spoke at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 1, at the National Research Center for Coal and Energy.

In the age of iPods and YouTube, the WVU Libraries and the Wheeling Symphony are collaborating to celebrate a treasure from the golden era of radio.

Broadcast from Capitol Music Hall in Wheeling, “It’s Wheeling Steel” entered homes nationwide from 1936-1944. Millions gathered around their radios on Sunday afternoons to hear amateur musicians debut their talents in front of a live audience.

The sensation returns to Wheeling at 8 p.m. April 18 with “Remembering ‘It’s Wheeling Steel,’ Part II.” The performance at the WesBanco Arena will transport the audience back to the show’s heyday.
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The West Virginia University Libraries celebrated 125 years as a Federal Depository Library during an event on Feb. 14.

More than 50 people filled Room 104 of the Downtown Campus Library to hear Bill Sleeman, Chair of the American Library Association’s Government Documents Round Table, speak about the importance of Federal Depository Libraries. Following, Ted Priebe, Director of Library Planning and Development for the U.S. Government Printing Office, presented a commemorative plaque to Libraries Dean Frances O’Brien, Associate Dean Myra Lowe, and Christine Chang, government documents librarian.

Ted Priebe, Director of Library Planning and Development, US Government Printing Office, presented a commemorative plaque to Christine Chang, government documents librarian. Picture here are Bill Sleeman, chair of ALA’s Government Documents Roundtable; Libraries Dean Frances O’Brien; Chang; and Priebe.

Bill Sleeman talks to about the future of government documents in libraries.

Ted Priebe talks about government document libraries.

The celebration included an assortment of cookies, chocolate covered strawberries, and punch.

Hilary and Jo.

Cassie and Natelle

Alyssa and Penny

Joe, Dante, and Ginger

Bill Sleeman and Linda

Ted Priebe; Christine; and Dr. Majed Khader, government documents librarian for Marshall University Libraries

Eleanor McDonald and Natelle

Joe and Jo.

Myra presents a gift to Christine to mark her time as government documents librarian

Myra and Christine admire Christine’s new mantel clock

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.

The Downtown Campus Library and the Evansdale Library will both stay open 24 hours around the clock for Dead Week and Finals Week. These Libraries will be open continuously from 1:00 p.m. Sunday, December 2 until 8:00 p.m. Friday, December 14.

The Libraries are testing a new electronic resource this fall. The Vanderbilt Television Archives – available on a trial basis through December 25th – provides a searchable index of television news broadcasts back to 1968. Researchers can use this resource identify television news programs and segments that document important world events.

Video from CNN is available online through the Archives web site. All other broadcasts (ABC, CBS, etc.) can be borrowed – either in customized compilation of video clips or entire broadcasts. Lending is direct to individuals, who must pay the associated fees for the service.

To use the Vanderbilt Television Archives, visit the Libraries’ database page at: http://www.libraries.wvu.edu/databases/

Faculty and student comments are welcomed. You’ll find the feedback form link on the left of the Databases page.

RefWorks, available from the WVU Libraries web site, will help you format bibliographies, store and organize research, and share references with colleagues or classmates. RefWorks is free to all WVU faculty, students, and staff. Begin by clicking on the RefWorks button at: www.libraries.wvu.edu/.

RefWorks is the leading citation management software on the Internet. It is used by hundreds of thousands of researchers to organize their references and to prepare bibliographies and in-text citations when submitting articles to academic publications. It is accessible – 24/7 – from any computer with Internet access.

When you use RefWorks, you will find preparing the bibliography for the next paper or article you write to be fast and easy. And, if you are collaborating with colleagues at other institutions or with classmates, RefWorks makes it simple to share your references.

Easy-to-follow tutorials and a quick start guide are available on the RefWorks home page. If you need more help, you can always Ask A Librarian— by phone, email, or IM chat.