Common Knowledge

Visiting Writers Series: David Cho and Heather Sellers

2012-01-26T15:24:00.000-05:00

On Jan. 31, the Jack Ridl Visiting Writers Series will feature two of Hope College's English professors, David Cho and Heather Sellers.

David Cho came to Hope in 2008. He was born and raised in Chicago and earned degrees from the University of Illinois, Purdue, and the University of Washington. His creative and scholarly works have appeared in journals such as Amerasia, Many Mountains Moving, and Theology Today. In 2010, Cho's chapbook of poetry Song of our Songs was published. His most recent chapbook Night Sessions, published last summer, was nominated for the 2011 National Book Awards.

Heather Sellers has taught at Hope since 1995. Her memoir You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know, released in 2010, gained much national attention and was featured in The New York Times, Good Housekeeping, and O, the Oprah Magazine, where it was a book of the month pick in November 2010. Sellers has several other books published, including three volumes of poetry, three books on writing, a children's book, and a short story collection entitled Georgia Under Water, which was a Barnes and Noble Great New Writers selection.

You can find many of their works available in the libraries Featured Collections on the 1st floor. Cho and Sellers will present a reading at 7 p.m. on Jan. 31 in Winants Auditorium in Graves Hall. In addition, a question-and-answer session with Cho and Sellers will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the Herrick Room on the second floor of DeWitt the same day.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Image Collections @ Hope College

2012-01-19T16:13:00.001-05:00

A new resource is now available online to help you get a glimpse into Hope College's past. In addition to print collections in the Joint Archives of Holland and Van Wylen, the library now has a digitized collection of many images of life at Hope in a database called Image Collections @ Hope College. This resource currently has over 400 images in Student life, History of Science, and Nykerk Cup Competition collections.

Christine Cho, a Metadata Librarian at Van Wylen has been working with Geoffrey Reynolds from the Joint Archives of Holland to add historical images to Image Collections. Currently, Cho is using Envisioning Hope College, a collection of letters written from A.C. Van Raalte to Phillip Phelps in the early years of Hope's existence, to help prepare another collection of historical images for inclusion in the database.

Though Image Collections @ Hope College is in its early stages right now, eventually the site will have even more image collections that will be helpful to students. One collection that is planned is a group of images from the history of Holland.

"Hopefully we get a lot more content up there, so students find it useful for their research and faculty can also use it in their teaching," Cho said.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Beware of the "You Loop"

2012-01-16T16:25:00.001-05:00

When teaching students about Internet research and how to think critically about sources that can be found freely online, we librarians may at times sound like broken records, giving repeated “warnings” followed by a list of tips on how to scrutinize and evaluate web content. Who wrote this piece? Is it credible? Why? Does it cite any sources? Etc. It is not that we want to discourage students from using the Internet as a legitimate research tool, but rather we simply want to make perfectly clear the fact that not all sources drawn from this seemingly omnipotent portal to information hold the same weight. Broken record or not, I will continue to emphasize these things to students as they are profoundly important to both scholarly and personal research.

But, there is more…

It is a common misconception that, at any given time, when you “Google” something, the results will be the same for everyone, everywhere, pulled systematically from the same vast, universal pool of available information. In The Filter Bubble: What the Internet is Hiding from You, political and Internet activist, Eli Pariser explains some of the ways in which online searching has drastically changed in recent years. For example, in December 2009, Google began using “fifty-seven signals—everything from where you were logging in from to what browser you were using to what you had searched for before—to make guesses about who you were and what kinds of sites you’d like. Even if you were logged out, it would customize its results, showing you the pages it predicted you were most likely to click on.” Just as sites like Amazon and Ebay offer suggestions based on your prior purchases, Google now tries to feed content (not just advertisements) to you based on your web browsing history and personal interests as they are perceived, or “guessed,” by an algorithm. Sure, in some circumstances, being told “if you liked _____, then you most certainly will like _____” is convenient and helpful in making decisions, but what does this mean in the context of real Internet research? In the “filter bubble,” the curiosity of the genuinely inquisitive researcher may be radically curbed. Do you want information that is relevant to your query or just relevant to you?

Pariser refers to this personalized cycle of information access as the “you loop” in which we are all at risk of becoming broken records, fed the same kinds of search results, over and over again in our own comfortable and familiar “filter bubble”―a virtual information echo chamber. According to Google CEO, Eric Schmidt, “most people don't want Google to answer their questions …They want Google to tell them what they should be doing next." This sounds to me like something I would like a cool new app on my phone to do, not my Google search results when delving into a serious research question. However, with the way things are going, Schmidt predicts “it will be very hard for people to watch or consume something that has not in some sense been tailored for them." Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we stress the importance of looking beyond the first page of results produced by a Google (or whatever) search. Many times I have heard people misinterpret their ability to get results fast as proof that they are a good researcher. Efficiency ≠ good research skills.

This adds an entirely new element to the practice of critically analyzing our Internet search results. When the “filter bubble” becomes too small and the “you loop” too tight, many topics may eventually not stand a fighting chance at being thoroughly researched online. Indeed, the apparent dearth of information reporting alternate viewpoint of an issue (the stuff floating outside your bubble) and the abundance of information that mirrors the position of the researcher could alone be enough evidence to infer, "More people agree with me than disagree -- I must be right!" Ignorance is bliss, isn't it? The first step in countering this is simply knowing that now, perhaps more than ever, a single Google search will not suffice, and not just in the context of academic research. Pariser warns, “If identity loops aren’t counteracted through randomness and serendipity, you could end up stuck in the foothills of your identity, far away from the high peaks in the distance.”

So, where in the present information environment can one still find "randomness" and serendipity"? Well, the library, for one. Take a look at the American Library Association Code of Ethics. Librarians are committed to building and maintaining balanced collections and helping users navigate information in a completely neutral manner. Most libraries (ours included) don't have "liberal" or "conservative" sections, only "subject" sections in which librarians will be more than happy to help you navigate or set you free to explore. If you want information on a particular topic, we'll always do our best to help you find it, but don't be surprised if in the process we come across something you never would have thought of or even thought we would own or be able to access.

Check out Pariser’s TED Talk in the video below. He explains this all much better than I have here, first in the context of facebook and then moving on to Google searches and online news providers.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/eli_pariser_beware_online_filter_bubbles.html

Related: SEE HERE. I came across this just today (weeks after I originally wrote this post)

- Todd Wiebe, Research and Instruction Librarian

Landscapes by Madame Chiang Kai-Shek

2012-01-11T18:36:00.004-05:00

On exhibit in the first floor of Van Wylen Library is a unique gift of Chinese landscapes by Madame Chiang Kai-Shek. This edition of Chinese landscapes is a private personal edition published around 1962 and personally inscribed in 1976 to George Zuidema, who recently donated his edition to the library. It includes 24 landscape lithographs. The paintings depict the serenity of nature and Chinese culture, an interesting contrast to the tumultuous life of Madame Chiang.

Madame Chiang Kai-Shek took up painting around 1953, relatively late in life. She first exhibited her paintings at the age of 102 in January 2000 at the World Journal Art Gallery in New York and in February 2000 at San Francisco's Asian Art Museum.

Mayling Soong was raised as a Christian and graduated from Wellesley College in 1917. She later married Chinese nationalist general Chiang Kai-shek who led China during World War II but fled China in 1949 to set up his government in exile in Taiwan after losing a civil war to the communists. Madame Chiang Kai-Shek took a leading role in nationalist politics and was influential with the U.S. government. She became the first Chinese and only the second women to address a joint session of Congress, where she sought to increase support for China in the war against Japan.

In 1937 Life magazine claimed that she was “probably the most powerful woman in the world,” and she graced the cover of Time Magazine in 1931, 1938 and 1943. She died in 2003 at the age of 106.

The Van Wylen Library has many books about Madame Chiang Kai-Shek including:

Madame Chiang Kai Shek and Her China.

The Last Empress: Madame Chiang Kai-Shek and the Birth of Modern China.

Madame Chiang Kai-Shek: China’s Eternal First Lady.

The library's collection also contains writings and speeches by Madame Chiang Kai-Shek and recordings of her addresses to Congress. For more information, see the Hope College press release.

Christmas Music

2011-12-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

Looking for a way to stream ad-free Christmas music? Consider using the Naxos Music Library. This online music library allows users to stream music over the Internet from over 60,000 classical (and some popular) albums.

While Naxos allows you to listen to individual songs or entire albums, you can also create a playlist to listen to music from a variety of CDs. Click on the "Playlist" tab, and after you've created a free account you'll be able to search the entire Naxos library for Christmas music and develop your own playlist from their recordings. Just contact the library if you have any questions about how to do this.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Pizza at the Cup and Chaucer

2011-12-08T16:55:00.000-05:00

Think you'll need a study break during finals week? From Dec. 11 to Dec. 14 in the evening, the Cup and Chaucer will sell 12" thin crust one topping pizzas for $7.00. You can add additional toppings for 50 cents each. Available toppings are extra cheese, pepperoni, sausage, ham, pineapple, red pepper, green pepper, onion, mushroom, tomato, green olives and black olives.

The cashier at the Cup and Chaucer will take orders between 7:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. and pizzas will be delivered on the half hour. You must pay for your pizza when you order it. Your delivered pizza cannot be eaten in the main part of the library, but you're welcome to sit in the Cup and Chaucer and enjoy your food.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Finals Week Hours

2011-12-06T08:41:00.003-05:00

The library will have extended hours during exam week that are as follows:

Friday, Dec. 9: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.;

Saturday, Dec. 10: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.;

Sunday, Dec. 11: 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.;

Monday, Dec. 12: 8 a.m. - 2 a.m.;

Tuesday, Dec. 13: 8 a.m. - 2 a.m.;

Wednesday, Dec. 14: 8 a.m. - 2 a.m.;

Thursday, Dec. 15: 8 a.m. - 12 a.m.;

Friday, Dec. 16: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.;

Saturday, Dec. 17: Closed

Happy studying!

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Ellison Die Cuts

2011-12-02T10:53:00.001-05:00

Looking for some visual effects for your posters or just a fun study break? In addition to pop-up books and teaching materials, the curriculum library on the second floor of Van Wylen is also home to two Ellison die cut machines. Ellison die cut machines use dies to punch shapes, letters, numbers, and nearly anything else you can think of out of paper.

While the Ellison die cuts may be located in the curriculum library, anyone is welcome to use them. The cuts they make are great for posters and projects for class but can also be used for a variety of craft projects, including cards, signs, or simply a study break craft. Colored paper is available for purchase at the Media Desk.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Ambrose Video Trial

2011-11-29T20:01:00.000-05:00

Ambrose Video has over 1200 streaming educational videos in their archives, and, for the next month, Van Wylen library users have access to three complete Ambrose collections. During this trial period, you can stream all 37 of the BBC productions of Shakespeare's plays, six hour-long episodes tracing the history of Christianity from its beginnings to the modern day, and a six episode series detailing Western art history. The trial expires on December 30.

This is one of the library's first explorations of streaming video subscriptions. We would appreciate your feedback on the contents, quality and usability of this service, as we decide if this would be a worthwhile investment. Please send your comments to askalibrarian@hope.edu. You can also browse a list of Ambrose's complete offerings to see what other series are available from this vendor. Let us know if there are other titles that would be of interest to you.

Community Action House Drive

2011-11-22T20:35:00.005-05:00

Van Wylen will once again be holding a collecting drive to benefit the Community Action House from November 22nd until finals week. The Community Action House provides a variety of social services to those in need in the greater Holland area.

This year, the Community Action House hopes to collect 150,000 pounds of food, personal care products and 2,500 items of winter weather clothing in their annual holiday drive. Donations of the following will be accepted at the library:

Food

Spaghetti sauce, rice, canned fruit, sugar, flour, canned meats, canned vegetables, spaghetti, boxed dinners, cereal/oatmeal, ramen noodles, canned or dried pinto beans

Personal Care Items

Diapers (size 4, 5, or 6), baby wipes, laundry soap, dish soap, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, feminine care products, cleaning liquids, toilet paper, bar soap, paper towels.

You can drop your donations off at the display on the 1st floor of Van Wylen.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Thanksgiving Hours at the Library

2011-11-21T19:27:00.000-05:00

Van Wylen will have reduced hours over Thanksgiving weekend that are as follows:

Wednesday, Nov. 23: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 24: Closed

Friday, Nov. 25: Closed

Saturday, Nov. 26: Closed

Sunday, Nov. 27: 12 p.m. - midnight

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Monday Noon: IP Address Change

2011-11-19T18:00:00.002-05:00

From Noon to one on Monday, November 21st, HopeCAT and access to databases through the proxy server may be unavailable due to the IP address change. Access to databases through the A - Z list (on campus only) will still be available.

Historic Newspaper Collections

2011-11-14T11:52:00.003-05:00

Historic newspapers are an excellent primary research source. Van Wylen has access to several historic newspaper collections, including the New York Times (1851-3 yrs ago), the Times of London (1785-1985) and the Chicago Tribune (1849-1985). These websites provide full text and full image archives of old newspapers that can give you insight into what it was like to live through historic events.

Because the archives of these papers go back so far, it's helpful to search with narrow terms. Searching just "John F. Kennedy" in the New York Times archives, for example, gives you over 128,000 results. If you limit these results to articles published in 1963, just over 2000 articles appear. You can further limit your search by adding other context keywords or by limiting to specific types of documents, such as articles, editorials or letters to the editor, to help you find exactly what you're looking for.

It is also important to keep historic terminology in mind while searching. A search for the term "African-American" in the Chicago Tribune from 1856 to 1872 brings back one result, whereas a search for the term "negro" in the same date range brings back over 7500 results.

If you're interested in more of a popular culture primary source, consider looking through archived issues of Harper's Weekly. This database groups issues together by historic time period, such as the Civil War or the Gilded Age, which can help guide your research. Unlike newspapers, Harper's contains many fictional or literary works that can give you a different perspective on what it was like to live during those time periods.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Visiting Writers Series: Jennifer Grotz and Adam Zagajewski

2011-11-10T11:30:00.000-05:00

On Nov. 14, poets Jennifer Grotz and Adam Zagajewski will come to Hope College for the final Jack Ridl Visiting Writers Series reading of 2011.

Grotz has lived in the United States, Poland and France, and these experiences have influenced her poetry. To date, she has published two collections of poetry. Cusp, available to Hope users as an e-book, deals with a sense of middleness. Her newest collection, The Needle, reflects her Polish and American backgrounds by exploring the poetry traditions of these countries.

Zagajewski was born and raised in Poland and has since become one of the country's most famous contemporary poets. He has released several collections of poetry over the past 39 years. He has also written a memoir and two prose collections and was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2010.

Both poets will read some of their work at 7 p.m. in the Knickerbocker Theatre. A jazz performance will precede the readings.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Library Book Sale

2011-11-07T11:28:00.000-05:00

Van Wylen's annual fall book sale will begin on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 8 a.m. The sale will take place on the first floor of the library and will include a variety of items such as books, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes and LP records. You can purchase items with cash at the circulation desk during the library's normal hours.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

The History of Nykerk

2011-11-03T14:24:00.001-04:00

On November 5th, hundreds of freshmen and sophomore women will present a show unlike any other: the Nykerk Cup competition. This year will mark the 77th installment of the Nykerk, and though tradition is an important part of the event, much has changed since the first event in 1936.

Originally, a group of women on campus in the 1930s wanted to have a "match of muscles" to complement the already-established Pull. Dr. John Nykerk, founder of the college's music department, offered a competition in song, play, and oration as an alternative to the strength competition. The first competition took place on March 16, 1936 and featured two plays, two speeches, one song performed by a trio of freshmen women and two piano solos performed by a sophomore woman.

Nykerk evolved in the following years and eventually moved from February or March to November so that the competition could coincide with Family Weekend. Male students became involved in 1939, though the concept of a morale boy as we know them today did not come about until the 1970s. For about 20 years, Nykerk was held at the Women's Literary Club on Central Ave. but moved to the Civic Center in 1956.

The Joint Archives has a collection of historical items related to Nykerk. Programs, photos, and recordings from past competitions are here. Play scripts, song music and speech transcripts dating back to 1989 can be found in the file as well. There is also a Nykerk scrapbook, which includes photos and memories from the 2003 competition through last year's Nykerk. There is also a digital collection of historic Nykerk photographs available in Content DM.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Visiting Writers Series: Jaimy Gordon

2011-10-31T09:58:00.000-04:00

On Thursday, Nov. 3, writer Jaimy Gordon will come to Hope College as part of the Fall 2011 edition of the Jack Ridl Visiting Writers Series. Gordon, a professor at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, graduated from Antioch College in 1966. She completed her Master of Arts and her Doctor of Arts at Brown University. She has written poetry, masque, and translations, though her fiction has received the most attention. She has published four novels: She Drove Without Stopping, Shamp of the City-Solo, Bogeywoman and Lord of Misrule. Gordon received the Academy-Institute Award for She Drove Without Stopping, and in 2000, the Los Angles Times placed Bogeywoman on its best books list. Lord of Misrule, her most recent novel, won the 2010 National Book Award for fiction.

Gordon will read selections of her writing at 7 p.m. in the Knickerbocker Theatre downtown on Nov. 3. A live jazz performance preceding the reading beings at 6:30 p.m.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Hope History in the Library

2011-10-28T08:23:00.000-04:00

When Hope College was chartered 145 years ago, it looked a lot different than it does today. If you're interested in learning more about the history of Hope, look no further than the Reference Section of Van Wylen Library.

The reference section has a large collection of Hope College publications, all of which have call numbers beginning with LD2281. Here, you can find bound copies of the Hope College Bulletin, which we now know as the annual Hope College Catalog, from 1865 to present. Alumni directories and historic collections, such as a copy of the 125th anniversary book and the 100th Pull anniversary book, are also in this section. The library also has bound copies of News from Hope College dating back to 1947, when the magazine was simply referred to as the Alumni Magazine.

If you're looking for a more in-depth view of Hope through the years, Van Wylen has copies of old Anchor issues from 1954 through last year. The library also has every Milestone published from 1917 to 2010, including two copies of the predecessor to our current yearbook, the 1905 Hope College Annual. As a window into student life, the Milestone can give you a general idea of what it must have been like to be a student here during the Great Depression, World War II or a few years before you first enrolled. You can see how longstanding Hope traditions such as the Pull, Nykerk and Spring Fling (originally called May Day) have changed dramatically since their beginnings. Eventually, the Joint Archives hopes to digitize all of these historic Milestones, but in the mean time, feel free to stop by Van Wylen to get a peek into Hope's past.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

The Future of the Liberal Arts College Library

2011-10-25T10:37:00.000-04:00

Earlier this month I traveled to Milwaukee, WI to take part in a unique and timely symposium simply entitled "The Future of the Liberal Arts College Library." The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), in cooperation with the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) organized this participant-driven, 2-day event in order to provide liberal arts librarians a venue at which to collaborate at and discuss, well ...the future. No, we didn't talk about librarian cyborgs equipped with decibel meter implants, ready and waiting to scold loud and unruly students with a perfectly compressed, digital "shhhhhhhhh!" Although, come to think of it, that would be pretty awesome. What we did talk about, however, was a wide range of issues pertaining to the "intersection of libraries and liberal arts colleges" both presently and in the foreseeable future.

At one session, "Cultivating the Value of 'Place' in the Small Academic Library," we discussed ideas of how to best ensure that the library continues to be a unique destination and learning environment on campus. While many (myself included) were quick to evoke romantic images of the classic library reading room as the idyllic milieu for nurturing academic engagement and inquiry, it was acknowledged that modern libraries must be more versatile and innovative in regards to their utilization of space. Besides, who can really read while stooped over a long, dimly lit, wooden table? I'm sure Hope students could, but do they want to? It is critical to note that within the context of today's information environment, concepts of "destination" and "place" no longer refer only to the the library's physical building but also its web presence and the unique resources that create the virtual library experience.

Perhaps my favorite session was one called "Beyond the Research Paper: Supporting Undergraduate Research in the Library." Here, we discussed the various research opportunities and experiences available at our institutions and how the library is, or could/should be, getting involved. I was happy to report to the group that here at Hope, the library is currently developing its "Digital Commons" to promote both faculty and student scholarship. Other ways in which libraries represented at this session are supporting undergraduate research include: publishing a student journal, assisting in the organization and promotion of an annual research celebration, and presenting an award for best use of library collections and resources. I served as the official "recorder" for this session and am currently in the process of writing an executive summary to submit to CLIR.

I was not able to make it to every session, but others that piqued my interest were: "The Small Academic Library and Globalization / Internationalization Initiatives," "Librarians Leading in the Campus Community," "Marketing the Small Academic Library," and "Distance Learning for Small Colleges." I will look forward to reading the summaries of these once they become available.

One of the sessions was really more of a workshop than a discussion. It was called "Getting to Know Your Library Users," led by Andrew Asher, lead anthropologist from the groundbreaking Ethnographic Research in Illinois Academic Libraries (ERIAL) Project. He explained the various qualitative research methods his team employed over the course of two years at five different universities in attempt to obtain a "holistic portrait of students’ research practices and academic assignments." The workshop was intended to serve as a primer on this type of research and to encourage librarians to consider studying their own students' research habits and information seeking behavior using some of these same techniques.

When discussing the future of just about anything, it is only natural to feel a bit uncertain or uneasy about where things could be headed. I was, however, very pleased to see the optimism and excitement expressed by my colleagues from around the country in regards to the many changes already happening in our field and how libraries are planning for whatever is next. Oh, and in case you were wondering... After spending a few days looking into the future of the liberal arts college library, I can assure you that the card catalogue is not making a comeback anytime soon.

-- Todd Wiebe, Research and Instruction Librarian

Van Raalte Resources

2011-10-20T11:40:00.002-04:00

This weekend Holland and Hope will celebrate the 200th birthday of their founder, Albertus C. Van Raalte. If you're interested in brushing up on your Van Raalte history before attending the various events this weekend or the conference next week, a variety of resources are available on campus.

The first floor of the library currently features an exhibit about Van Raalte that includes a brief biography and several books from Van Raalte's personal collection. The Joint Archives of Holland has the papers of Van Raalte, including articles, a day book, sermons, letters, and biographical information. The library and archives also have a number of publications on Van Raalte's life and influence in the area.

If Founder's Festival sparks your interest in Holland's history, the library has many resources on the history of the city. Some of these resources are held in the Joint Archives, which has a large collection of archival and published works about Holland.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Getting the most out of HopeCat

2011-10-19T11:50:00.000-04:00

Over the summer, Van Wylen's technical services department upgraded HopeCat, the library's online catalog. Several new features are now available in HopeCat that will make using the catalog even easier. Many of these features require logging in to your HopeCat account, which can easily be done with your 1Hope username and password.

Texting Call Numbers

If you find a book you'd like in HopeCat but don't have paper handy to write down the call number, you can now have HopeCat send you that information as a text message. If you have phone service from AT&T, Nextel, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, or Virgin, simply click the "Send as a text message" icon below the book's location. Enter your phone number, select your provider, and soon all the information you need to find your book will be on your phone.

Bag and Favorites features
When searching for a topic, you may run across several books in one search that you want to come back to. By selecting the box next to the items you're interested in, you can save these materials either to your bag or to your favorites. Your bag will keep record of your selected items until the end of your session (when you can email or print the list), while your favorites list will permanently hold on to the items you choose so you can keep adding to the list in future searches.

Preferred Searches
Similar to the bag and favorites feature, Preferred Searches allows you to save an entire search for future use. Simply search a term in HopeCat and click on "Save as preferred search." The entire search record will then be saved to your account so you can access it later. (Note: you will need to be logged into your account already to see this feature)

Reading History
Can't remember the title of a book you checked out a while ago? It might be saved in your reading history. When you log into your HopeCat account, a link to your reading history will appear on the left side of the page. Simply "opt in" to this option, you will be able to go back and review previous items you've checked out from the library. These lists are private and cannot be viewed by anyone else, and you can "opt out" at any time.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Citation Resources

2011-10-13T13:38:00.001-04:00

Figuring out how to properly cite your sources can be one of the most stressful aspects of writing a paper. Thankfully, the library has several resources to help you out.

One of the most user-friendly tools for citations is EasyBib. This website allows you to easily

switch between the three most common citation styles: MLA, APA and Chicago/Turabian. Though you are first directed to tabs for sources you are most likely to cite, such as websites, books, newspapers, databases and journals, EasyBib offers a total of 58 potential formats for citation. EasyBib then guides you through entering in your citation information to create your bibliography.

EasyBib has several unique functions to help aid you in creating citations. Using the AutoCite tool, EasyBib can search the Internet to find some of the most important citation information related to your source. For example, you can enter just the title of a book into EasyBib, and it will then search WorldCat, a global library catalog, for the rest of the citation information. If the searching feature doesn't work, there is a manual entry mode where you can enter all of the information yourself.

If you're using resources found on a website, EasyBib can help you determine whether or not the website is credible. EasyBib evaluates websites in nine different categories and also guides you through helpful questions to ask yourself when considering a website as a source.

One note about EasyBib. When you use it on campus, you automatically have access to the premium version that contains all of these special features. In order to access all of these features from off-campus you will need to create a personal EasyBib account while on campus. Then, you can login from off-campus to access the complete version. Askalibrarian if you have questions about this.

The library also has print copies of A Writer's Reference and all major style manuals behind the Research Help desk. If you're in the library and need guidance on citations, feel free to ask one of the librarians at the desk if you can borrow a copy. Don't hesitate to ask a librarian at the Research Help desk or sign up for a Writing Appointment if you ever have questions about citations.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

New Database Interfaces

2011-10-05T08:29:00.001-04:00

As the school year begins and projects start back up, you may notice some changes around your go-to databases for research. Several article databases have had interface updates over the summer. Here are some major ones:

OneFile PowerSearch has a new look and now includes suggestions for searching similar to what you find on Google or other search engines. When you begin to type in your topic, OneFile will suggest relevant topics based on what you've already put in.

Several databases formerly hosted by CSA we now receive through ProQuest. Databases like Sociological Abstracts, Ethnic Newswatch, and ERIC are now part of the larger ProQuest Family. ProQuest has also undergone a facelift and includes some new features.

Wilson databases have also moved and are now hosted through Ebsco. This includes databases such as Art Abstracts, Humanities Abstracts and Biological & Agricultural Index.

Though these databases may look different, the content is all the same. If you have any questions about how to navigate the new interfaces, don't hesitate to contact a librarian.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

CIS Resources

2011-09-30T10:51:00.000-04:00

The library has a large collection of materials related to this year's CIS theme, Islam. All of the libraries printed materials can be found on the shelves behind the Research Help desk. This includes books and multimedia resources such as videos.

In addition to the information physically available in the library, Todd Wiebe has also created an online LibGuide with access to many digital resources. Here, you can find general overviews of Islam in addition to more focused areas of research, such as Muslims in America, Islam and Women, and Islam, Christianity and Judaism. If you plan on attending one of the keynote addresses, the LibGuide can direct you towards more information on both Reza Aslan and Asma Barlas.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Browsing Journals

2011-09-27T19:41:00.001-04:00

Need a study break? Van Wylen Library has over 400 periodicals in its browsing collection on nearly any topic you can think of. While you may be familiar with popular magazines in the collection such as People or Rolling Stone, consider these other magazines the next time you're looking for something other than textbooks to read:

Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports offers reviews and ratings of a variety of products. If you're considering making a major purchase and would like a wide selection of side-by-side comparisons, Consumer Reports can be a helpful resource.

Sky & Telescope

If you'd like to take your stargazing to the next level, check out Sky & Telescope. This magazine includes articles related to astronomy and How Tos, such as how to see stationary satellites or how to spot certain planets.

Michigan History

Michigan History, published by the Historical Society of Michigan, has a range of articles related to the history of our state. The magazine not only features information on historical events that happened in Michigan but also shows how larger historical milestones such as the Civil War had Michigan connections.

Psychology Today

Interested in psychology but confused by scientific language? Psychology Today presents a variety of psychological topics such as personality and mental well-being in layman's terms.

Check out these and many others in the magazines and journals browsing collection.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Richard J. Mezeske Pop Up Book Collection

2011-09-19T15:17:00.003-04:00

The former home of the puppets in the curriculum library on the second floor has new inhabitants: a collection of pop up books donated to the library by retired education professor, Dr. Richard Mezeske.

Mezeske began collecting pop up books over thirty years ago when his children were young. While he worked towards his master's degree in reading instruction at Michigan State University, he learned about Lothar Meggendorfer and Ernest Nister, two of the founders of the mechanical book genre. From there, he began to collect more and more books.

"Once I read a fairly thick history of pop-up and mechanical books, I was hooked and the collection took off," Mezeske said. "My dream is to one day make a reservation at the British Library in London to view its collection which goes back to the 17th and 18th centuries."

Mezeske purchased many of his books in England and on various family vacations. He also received books from colleagues who discovered them while traveling.

Though Mezeske's collection is large, he does have two particular books that he enjoys the most.

"My absolute favorites are The Human Body and The Facts of LIfe, both of which were published in conjunction with a PBC television series from the early 1970s," Mezeske said. "Because the mechanical illustrations are so well done , these books were actually used in medical schools."

Be sure to stop by the curriculum library sometime to view Dr. Mezeske's collection of books.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

LearningExpress Library

2011-09-14T19:55:00.001-04:00

Just because you've entered college doesn't mean you've left the world of standardized testing behind. Acronyms like MCAT, LSAT and GRE are just a few of the ones you could encounter if you plan on continuing your education to the graduate level. Fortunately, the library is able to provide you with preparation and practice resources through LearningExpress Library.

LearningExpress Library, a database Van Wylen has access to thanks to the Michigan Electronic Library Consortium, provides a large selection of learning centers with everything from elementary school level work to workplace skills improvement. Among these centers is the college student section. Here, you can access preparation materials for the GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MAT and PCAT. If you're planning on applying to medical school, there are two MCAT practice exams to help you prepare for the actual exam. Note: to best use LearningExpress Library, you will need to register and create a personal username and password (NOT your 1Hope).

LearningExpress Library is also useful even if you don't have plans to take a graduate-level entrance exam. The college student section also has downloadable ebook tutorials and online practice tests designed to help you with skills necessary for your undergraduate career and life beyond college, including science, grammar and personal finance.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Koran Display

2011-09-08T16:35:00.002-04:00

The display case near the computers on the first floor of the library currently houses a first-edition copy of George Sale's The Koran; commonly called the Alcoran of Mohammed. This text is a full-length English version of the Koran, the sacred text of Islam.

Sale published the first edition of this text in 1734. According to an article in the July/August 2011 issue of Saudi Aramco World, Sale learned Arabic while translating the New Testament of the Bible into Arabic for Syrian Christians. The experience inspired him to write an English version of the Koran. Sale's version is particularly unique because he translated the text directly from Arabic. Most previous English translations of the Koran came from French or Latin translations. The first edition of the book includes an introduction on the Koran, Christianity and Judaism along with an engraved map of Arabia, a plan of the Great Mosque of Mecca and three genealogical plates.

Thomas Jefferson once owned a second-edition copy of Sale's translation of the Koran. He, like Sale, found the text to be useful in legal study. Jefferson's copy is now in the Library of Congress.

Though the text is a translated version of the Koran from its original Arabic, it, along with other translations of the Koran, is commonly referred to as an interpretation rather than a translation. Because Muslims believe Muhammed received the Koran in Arabic, Arabic is the only language used for recitation and reading of the Koran.

Van Wylen's copy of Sale's translation came from Dr. William Elliot Griffis, who donated 700 books to Hope between 1880 and 1913.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Encyclopedia of Popular Music

2011-09-05T16:10:00.001-04:00

Exploring Madonna's rise to fame? Curious about the Coon Creek Girls? If you're looking a place to start your research on popular music from the past century, the library has a new resource that will assist you. The Encyclopedia of Popular Music is an electronic encyclopedia with 30,000 entries on a variety of musical topics. The encyclopedia covers material from 1900 to the present day relating to musical groups, albums, music festivals and more. Artist entries also include a discography, complete with a five-star rating system. This encyclopedia is also searchable as a part of Grove Music Online.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Welcome Back Students!

2011-08-30T09:48:00.000-04:00

The Van Wylen Library extends a hearty welcome to new and returning students. We have spent the summer making the library an even better place to research, read, study and create or just hang out in the coming academic year.

Look for the new Center for Writing and Research, located on the library’s first floor. Whether you are writing for English 113, Senior Seminar, or some other course, CWR tutors are excited to help you reach your goals. CWR opens for business on Sunday September 4.

As always, the Research Librarians are ready to help you get started on projects and papers. Reference books now circulate for three days. You can stop by the Research Help Desk, chat online or make individual appointments. Check out the Ask a Librarian page for more information.

We have made several changes to the first and second floors. Look for computers, printers and MFPs in new convenient locations.

The library has implemented a new HopeCAT interface. New features include an updated look on mobile devices, sending call number information to your mobile phone and more.

Whether a poster, video or a memorable presentation, help with technology-based projects is available in the TechLab on the 2^nd floor. Computers in the TechLab have been updated to include Office 2010. New laptops and iPads are available for checkout for three hours at the 2^nd floor Media Services desk.

The Cup & Chaucer café has expanded its hours and menu offerings. You can now enjoy coffee and snacks most hours that the library is open from early morning to late night. The Cup & Chaucer is excited to be offering Simpatico straight trade coffee and Palazzolo’s Artisan Gelato.

Get your semester off to a good start by making the library a part of your regular routine.

Library Acquires 70,000 E-books

2011-08-19T09:03:00.010-04:00

The library is pleased to announce that we have acquired a collection of approximately 70,000 e-books from over 500 trusted academic publishers. The Academic Complete collection from ebrary contains a broad and deep selection of e-books in all academic subject areas. Ebrary recently added over 16,000 multidisciplinary e-books from Ashgate Publishing Group, Brill Academic Publishers, Harvard University Press, JohnsHopkins University Press, Oxford University Press, University of Chicago Press, University of Michigan Press, and other leading publishers. The ebrary interface is an improvement over some of the e-book interfaces we used in the past. Key features and benefits of the ebrary platform include:

Several users can access a book at the same time (multi-user access)
Available any time through any web-enabled device including the iPad
Links to additional information in the library and on the web
Notes and highlights that are automatically stored on a personal bookshelf
Ability to copy/paste and print text with automatic citations and URL hyperlinks back to the source
Personal bookshelves with moveable folders that can be shared with others
Multiple options for searching, navigating, and browsing
ADA 508c compliant content, text-to-speech, and other accessibility features

Some features require that a user create a personal log-in so that the system can save favorites, notes and highlights. We are told that the ability to download books to portable devices will be coming soon. You may access the collection from the Hope College Academic Complete web page which is listed in the A-Z Database list under both Academic Complete and ebrary. Records for each title are also in HopeCAT. For additional information on functionality you can check out one of these guides:

Quick Start video: www.ebrary.com/corp/collateral/flash/QuickStart/

Quick User Guide: www.ebrary.com/corp/collateral/en/Quick_Guides/Quick_Guide.pdf

Please contact a librarian if you have questions.

Summer Fun

2011-07-14T10:57:00.000-04:00

Every year, the students who choose to spend their summer working at Van Wylen Library are treated to an outing as a token of appreciation for all their hard work. Summers in the library can be quite busy as everyone prepares for the coming year. Sample projects this year include:

• Rearranging the Reference area to make room for the new Center for Writing and Research
• Rearranging part of the 2nd floor to relieve congestion around the MFPs and book scanner
• Unpacking dozens of boxes of gift books. Some of the donated books date back to the 16th century.
• Working with faculty to identify grants and other sources of funding.
• Removing print journals from the collection that have been replaced by their electronic counterparts.

Of course, the students also attend to their normal duties, whether that involves processing new items, cataloging, providing reference assistance, circulation, computer help in the TechLab, gathering materials for binding, processing CopyWorks jobs, filling interlibrary loan/MeL requests, shelf reading, or many other tasks.

This year’s outing was a trip to the Saugutuck Dune Rides. As you can see in the following photos, a good time was had by all.

-- Dave O'Brien, Head of Access Services

Return of Mathilde

2011-06-20T08:31:00.000-04:00

Many of you may have noticed the absence of Mathilde, the marble bust that resides next to the interior front doors of Van Wylen. This week Mathilde returned to her home after being restored and appraised by Kari Miller-Fenwood, Peter Fenwood, and Walker Glass, of Kari Miller Restoration. They carefully cleaned away years of accumulated grime and removed and restored some older repair work on the base. Mathilde is now installed inside a plexiglass case that will protect her from the elements.

Mathilde was created by esteemed 19th-century American sculptor Hiram Powers. Powers was born a farmer's son in rural Vermont. Though he received only limited formal art training when he began working as a sculptor in his twenties, his natural talents allowed him to quickly gain a reputation as portraitist. He was launched on the Washington DC social scene by his bust of President Andrew Jackson. From there, he moved to Florence, Italy in order to further his artistic education.

A savvy businessman, he was able to maintain a successful studio through his portrait bust work and the popularity of his mythological busts and full length sculptures. The most famous of these was his Greek Slave, which caught the public sentiment at a time when abolition was hotly debated. He sculpted Princess Mathilde Bonaparte Demidoff, niece of Napoleon, in 1845. For more information on Mathilde, see this post.

Mathilde was given to Hope College by Maurice Kawashima. Mr. Kawashima also donated to Hope an exquisite collection of Japanese ceramics, many of which are on display in the library. See this earlier post for more information on Mr. Kawashima.

Matilda was acquired and owned by Richard Wunder. Wunder was an art scholar, connoisseur, and curator who worked at such established institutions as Harvard's Fogg Art Museum, the Smithsonian, the Cooper Hewitt Museum of Design and Christie's New York office. He was a specialist in the work of Hiram Powers, writing three books on the sculptor, including Hiram Powers: Vermont Sculptor, 1805-1873. Van Wylen Library received all of Wunder's materials and notes from his research on this book, as well as Wunder's collection of other Powers collectables, such as books from Power's personal library. Wunder also donated over 15,000 books from his own collection, primarily in the arts. Please contact Kelly Jacobsma (jacobsma@hope.edu) for information on using Wunder's research collection.

-- Jessica Hronchek, Reference and Instruction Librarian

Ebrary Ebook Trial

2011-06-06T10:52:00.000-04:00

Check out the library trial to ebrary Academic Complete ebooks during the month of June. Academic Complete includes instant access to more than 52,000 multidisciplinary titles from well known academic publishers and allows unlimited simultaneous access. If you have not experienced ebooks in a while, give this package a try. The advantages of ebooks include 24/7 inexpensive access to many books we do not own as well as the ability to search the full-text. If you create an ebrary account, you can highlight, take notes, and save titles to your virtual bookshelf. Printing is fairly straightforward and downloading should be coming later in the summer. You might check to see if anything on your fall reading list is included. If you are off-campus you can access Academic Complete from the library trials web page. If the library were to acquire Academic Complete, all of the records would be searchable in HopeCat. We would love your feedback on this ebook package.

-- Kelly Jacobsma, Director of Libraries

New Faculty Grant Search Service

2011-05-20T08:51:00.000-04:00

This summer, Van Wylen's reference department, in collaboration with Tracey Nally of the Sponsored Research Office, is piloting a new grant research service. Faculty members looking for grant funding for a specific project can now enlist the help of a research librarian. There is a form available on the faculty services page of the library website where you can describe your project and funding needs. The request is then sent to the reference department, where a librarian and student assistant will search for grants that meet your criteria using subscription databases like Foundation Search America and GrantSelect Plus.

"We realize that searching for appropriate grant sources is a labor intensive process." says Jessica Hronchek, reference and instruction librarian. "By utilizing librarian research skills to locate possible grants and having student assistants help narrow down the list by eliminating non-eligible matches, we hope to assist faculty in this first step so that they can move forward in the application process."

If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Hronchek (hronchek@hope.edu) or Tracey Nally (nally@hope.edu)

HopeCAT Beta

2011-05-16T08:59:00.004-04:00

Kudos and congratulations to the Technical Services Team (Derek Broyhill, Gloria Slaughter and Brian Yost) for designing and implementing a new and improved HopeCat! The Beta version is now available from the library home page.

New features include a new improved interface that will look better on mobile devices, linking to reference sources and databases from catalog hit-lists and individual records, sending location information to mobile phones, favorites lists, new materials type icons, limiting to multiple locations in advanced search, and more.

Please try out the beta version and send your comments or questions to Derek Broyhill.

-- Kelly Jacobsma, Director of Libraries

Farewell to Seniors

2011-05-09T15:24:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, Hope celebrated graduation, welcoming about 745 students to the ranks of Hope College Alumni. The library also had its share of good-byes to say, with 27 student library workers graduating. The staff and students celebrated with a graduation lunch last Wednesday. Our students are heading out to do a range of exciting things with their degrees. Graduate plans include everything from teaching to nursing to ministry to work with Alzheimer's patients. A couple of our students enjoyed their time in the library so much that they have plans to go on to grad school in Library Science!

When asked about their favorite memories from working in the library, students shared a variety of stories. Angelee Garcia recalled a patron making an interesting entrance into the Tech Lab... by stepping over the door rather than going through it. Sarah Fraser developed a new relationship with our Hiram Powers sculpture Matilda, who during a recent cleaning would often unnerve students as she stared eerily out from the director's office. Several students expressed fond memories of John Dykstra's appearance as Father Christmas at a library event (a fitting character given his excellent toy and knickknack collection).

We will remember these students gratefully for years to come. Each of them has contributed so much to our work in the library. They have also made a mark in a tangible way: each of them has selected an item to be added to the library's permanent collection. You can view a list of these Senior selections.

-- Jessica Hronchek, Reference and Instruction Librarian

Exam Week Hours

2011-04-25T13:41:00.001-04:00

The library will be open extended hours for Finals Week. This includes a new early opening time of 11am on the Sunday before finals, in response to a request by Student Congress. Van Wylen's exam week hours are as follows:

Friday, April 29th: 8am - 10pm;

Saturday, April 30th: 10am - 10pm;

Sunday, May 1st: 11am - 2am;

Monday, May 2nd: 8am - 2am;

Tuesday, May 3rd: 8am - 2am;

Wednesday, May 4th: 8am - 2am;

Thursday, May 5th: 8am - midnight;

Friday, May 6th: 8am - 5pm

Saturday, May 7th: closed (Alumni Day);

Sunday, May 8th: closed (Commencement);

For music library hours, please see here.

-- Jessica Hronchek, Reference and Instruction Librarian

The Atlas of Global Conservation

2011-04-21T09:09:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is Earth Day, and this whole week the campus has been celebrating and learning through a wide variety of events. The library has a wide variety of materials for exploring ways to be more earth conscious.

One of Van Wylen Library's reference materials is The Atlas of Global Conservation. This book, published in 2010, covers a wide variety of topics related to conservation such as habitats, species, global changes, and worldwide conservation efforts. The book uses maps of the earth to show both regional differences and to help you compare changes between areas.

If you find yourself wanting to learn more about conservation, the library has a large collection of resources on the topic. You can also find articles, pamphlets, and newsletters related to the environment with GreenFile.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

ACRL Report

2011-04-18T15:14:00.001-04:00

The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) conference is held every two years in the early springtime. This year it was in Philadelphia, PA, and several Hope librarians, myself included, were able to attend. I always enjoy this conference as it is the largest, most diverse of its kind, dedicated to all aspects of academic librarianship. This year's program included a large selection of contributed papers, three invited papers, numerous poster sessions and roundtable discussions, distinguished keynote speakers, and many more interesting sessions.

I usually find that I get the most out of the contributed papers as these report current research and innovation in the field, much of which can be be directly applied to what we do here at Van Wylen Library including: research instruction, assessment, collection management, evaluating new resources, etc. Other papers report on broader issues pertaining to the current state, trends, and future of academic libraries/librarianship in general.

Several sessions dealt with generational differences among academic librarians, examining the attitudes and opinions of "Baby-Boomers", "Gen Xers", and the up-and-coming "Millenials" or "Gen Y". As a Gen Xer (i.e. in the middle) myself, I found this topic very interesting and even amusing. There was also much talk about where and how librarians fit into the bigger picture of higher education and student learning. I really enjoyed a paper presented by librarians at Carlton College. It explained the unique perspective that librarians have of students' academic journeys via the considerable number of individual research consultations they schedule each semester. They explained that what librarians know about students and their research processes is quite different from their professors and found it beneficial to present this information to faculty during an informal "Learning and Teaching Center" lunch event. During this session they discussed and explained things such as: why students come to librarians for help, the "teaching" that really goes on during research appointments (not just giving students the answers or handing them information), and, while maintaining confidentiality, what are some of the common struggles and frustrations students wrestle with. While their session was a singular event, it served as a launching pad to further discussion and collaboration with professors who may have previously been ambivalent or unsure of what their students are getting from their interactions with librarians.

Aside from hearing presentations, attending panel discussions, and keynotes, I was able get out and explore the great city of Philadelphia.

Liberty Bell - check.

Cheese steak - check.

Flyers hockey game - check.

Run up the the "Rocky Steps" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art - umm, check.

-- Todd Wiebe, Reference and Instruction Librarian

CUR on Digital Commons

2011-04-14T10:00:00.000-04:00

This week the campus is celebrating the National Undergraduate Research and Creative Performance Week. Check out the 1st floor display at Van Wylen for examples of the hundreds of books in our collection published by Hope College alumni. The library has also collaborated with the Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Performance to make digitally available the abstracts from the 2011 posters through the new Digital Commons at Hope College institutional repository. Select posters from the celebration will also be available through Digital Commons from April 15th onwards. Digital Commons is the library's newest initiative for making faculty and student scholarship more widely available through digital open access. -- Jessica Hronchek, Reference and Instruction Librarian

Visiting Writers Series: Diana Joseph and Kevin McFadden

2011-04-11T11:06:00.000-04:00

This year's Jack Ridl Visiting Writers Series will conclude on April 14 with writers Diana Joseph and Kevin McFadden. Both will participate in a Q&A session at 3:30 in the DeWitt Center Herrick Room and give readings at the Knickerbocker Theatre at 7 p.m.

Diana Joseph is the author of a collection of short stories entitled Happy or Otherwise and a memoir, I'm Sorry You Feel That Way. She has written essays, including It's Me. It's Him. It's Them. and The Devil I Know is the Man Upstairs, and her short stories have been published in the Mid-American Review, the Indiana Review and the Colorado Review, among others. Reviews of her books are available through OneFile PowerSearch.

Kevin McFadden wrote the poems contained in Hardscrabble, which received the George Garrett Award for New Writing and the Great Lakes Colleges Association's New Writing Award. Other poems he has written have appeared in Poetry, the Denver Quarterly and The Kenyon Review. Several of his works are available on Literature Online, and reviews of his works can be found through OneFile PowerSearch.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

April is National Poetry Month

2011-04-07T10:00:00.001-04:00

April is National Poetry Month so it’s particularly fitting that we keep an eye out for poems.

Some poems are playful; some are serious; many are a mix.

Here is a link to Bob Hicok’s poem about being from Michigan: A Primer.

Here is a link to Lucille Clifton reading her short, playful poem Homage to My Hips.

A year after the quake in Haiti, artists raised their voices in love and poetry: Haiti Music and Poetry.

There are many perspectives on the topic of “What makes a poem?” (very similar to “What makes something art?”). In a series of speaking portraits several poets have a go at this question (the best are near the middle, so keep listening!):

April is National Poetry Month. Keep your eye out for poems. Watch your feet—it’s spring; there are poems swimming up from the sidewalk. You may trip over a poem and get swallowed up; watch your hips, you may become a poem and flutter up into the seesaw breeze.

-- Priscilla Atkins, Head of Reference and Instruction

Web of Science

2011-04-04T11:28:00.000-04:00

Congratulations are in order for David Myers of the Psychology Department, whose 1995 article in Psychological Science entitled “Who is Happy” (available to Hope users) (co-authored by Ed Diener of the University of Illinois) has just become the most-cited article produced at Hope College. According to the Web of Science database, Professor Myer’s article has been cited 392 times, surpassing Mike Doyle’s 1981 article “Oxidation of Nitrogen-Oxides by Bound Dioxygen in Hemoproteins”, which has been cited 391 times.

Web of Science is comprised of the Science Citation Index, Social Science Citation Index, and Arts & Humanities Citation Index. It indexes premier journals in every discipline, and allows users to search both forward and backward. You can find citations for your topic and link to the references cited in those papers, and you can also link to articles written after the one you found that have cited it. As in this case, Web of Science can show how many times an article has been cited, and link to those records. This is an excellent way to see how a topic develops over time. Web of Science also provides seamless access to EndNoteWeb, a citation manager. Use this database to store citations to records for all your projects, with all of the citations grouped together by project for easy access. EndNote Web interacts with MS Word to allow for the easy creation of bibliographies.

Please contact the Reference Desk (395-7904 or askalibrarian@hope.edu) if you would like more information or training on either Web of Science or EndNoteWeb.

-- Dave O'Brien, Head of Access Services

Great Performance Series: Rose Ensemble

2011-03-31T08:13:00.000-04:00

The Rose Ensemble is performing at Hope on March 31 for the last event of the 2010-2011 Great Performance Series. This award-winning choral group from Minnesota formed in 1996. They have performed throughout the United States and Canada and have a repertoire that includes songs composed over a course of 1,000 years in 25 different languages.

The Rose Ensemble has released seven albums, four of which are available at Van Wylen Library. You can also preview some of their music on their website.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Visiting Writers Series: Ben Percy

2011-03-28T09:37:00.000-04:00

The second author to visit Hope for the Spring 2011 Jack Ridl Visiting Writers Series is Ben Percy, who will be on campus March 28. Percy, a fiction and nonfiction writer, has released two collections of short stories, Refresh, Refresh and The Language of Elk. His first novel, The Wilding, came out in 2010 and his second novel, Red Moon, will be released in 2012. His works have also appeared in Men's Journal, the Chicago Tribune, the Wall Street Journal, and many other publications.

Literature Online has three of Percy's short stories available as well as literary criticism of his work. Reviews are also available through OneFile PowerSearch.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Van Wylen Spring Break Hours

2011-03-17T08:20:00.001-04:00

Van Wylen Library will be open for limited hours over Spring Break:

Thursday, March 17: 8am-5pm;

Friday, March 18th: 8am-5pm;

Saturday, March 19th: closed;

Sunday, March 20th: closed;

Monday, March 21st - Friday, March 25th: 9am-6pm;

Saturday, March 26th: closed;

Sunday, March 27th: 12noon - 12 midnight

For Music Library Hours, please see here.

Digitization Capabilities in the TechLab

2011-03-14T13:45:00.000-04:00

If you have 35 mm slides or negatives that you use for teaching or viewing, you can now more easily turn these treasures into digital images with new HP scanners that were recently updated in the TechLab (2nd floor of Van Wylen). These digitized images can then easily be used in a Power Point, used for printing, or shared electronically.

The scanners have all the capabilities of the previous HP scanners, with an additional adapter that allows a strip of negatives or (5) 35mm slides to be scanned at a time. There are multiple settings and profiles that allow manipulation of resolution, color, exposure and noise. You can never create a better image than the original, but you can make adjustments to enhance your digitized image.

The scanning software also has OCR (Optical Character Recognition) capability, so that paper text documents can be scanned and opened in MS WORD for editing or saving. Depending on the formatting and condition of the original, the OCR document may require further editing, but the results with the text have been very good thus far.

The TechLab is located on the Second Floor of Van Wylen next to the Media Services desk, under the skylights near the entrance to Van Zoeren. It is run by library staff and student tutors who are available to help with scanning, and other technology resources, during library hours.

-- Daphne Fairbanks, TechLab Coordinator

Eyeglasses Drive

2011-03-11T16:32:00.000-05:00

Rohan Dandavati is running an eye glasses drive for his Eagle Scout project, in collaboration with the Holland Lion's Club. If you have any old prescription glasses, reading glasses, sunglasses, or frames that you no longer use, you can drop them off in the collection box located near the Cup & Chaucer in Van Wylen Library. These glasses will be cleaned, sorted, and distributed to people who can't afford them, particularly in developing countries. Children's glasses are especially needed. For more information on the impact of this "Recycle for Sight" program, you can visit Lion's Club International.

Political Science Statistical Sources

2011-03-07T13:04:00.000-05:00

Are you researching a topic that would benefit from public opinion or national statistical data? Reference and Instruction librarian Todd Wiebe has compiled a great list of online Statistical Sources and Public Opinion Polls on the library's subject guide for Political Science. This includes links to organizations like the Gallup Poll and various newspaper polls, as well as national and global statistics tools like American Factfinder and Eurostat.

Having trouble finding the data you need? Don't forget that you can always email askalibrarian@hope.edu with your question or set up a research appointment with a librarian to talk about your research project.

-- Jessica Hronchek, Reference and Instruction Librarian

Presidential Recordings Program

2011-03-02T17:01:00.001-05:00

Ever wish you could be a fly on the wall in the Oval Office? Now you can through the work of the Presidential Recordings Program at the University Of Virginia. They are making digitally available the secret White House recordings of six US presidents: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon. The collection currently includes almost 5,000 hours of sound.

Researchers are able to download finding aids and large files of the complete audio. For the curious browser, the most interesting section is probably the Transcript+Audio pages, where you can browse through short clips of some of the more interesting sound bites of the collection. There are online exhibits where you can hear presidential audio centered around important historical events, like Martin Luther King's assassination or Watergate, and there is also a section of resources for teachers.

-- Jessica Hronchek, Reference Librarian

Great Performance Series: Circo Aereo

2011-02-24T09:09:00.000-05:00

Circo Aereo will come to Hope on Feb. 25 and 26 for a two-night engagement as part of the Great Performance Series. This Finnish circus troupe combines elements of circus, theatre, dance and music to put together a unique production. Since 1996, the group has performed in over 20 countries, making them one of the most active Finnish performing groups.

Circo Aereo has 12 performances in their repertoire. At Hope, they will perform one of their most popular: Espresso. This performance, premiered in 2006, uses parts of traditional, contemporary and sidewalk circus including juggling, dance and aerial performance to create a one-of-a-kind show.

Interested in learning more about circus history? Check out these titles in Van Wylen's collection or the journal article citations in America: History and Life or Historical Abstracts.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Recent Additions to Credo

2011-02-21T10:19:00.000-05:00

Looking to start a new research topic? Consider searching in Credo, the library's online collection of over 525 published reference books. These titles cover all subject areas and are searchable individually, by subject area or as an entire collection. Here are some of the newest editions to the collection:

The Encyclopedia of Ecotourism - Explore a growing industry through this collection of essays on the business, impacts and regional highlights of ecotourism. Each essay included a significant bibliography to get your research off and running.

The Handbook of Economic Sociology - This second edition continues its work of outlining this field of study through topical essays by major scholars in the field.

The Palgrave guide to English literature and its contexts, 1500-2000 - Intended as a historical reference for students of literature, this book combines chronological summaries of British history with timelines that link these events to major authors and their works.

The Dictionary of Alternatives : Utopianism and Organisation - Self-described as "part reference work, part source book, and part polemic" this unique alphabetical dictionary provides short entries on individuals, movements and events that challenged the status quo.

-- Jessica Hronchek, Reference Librarian

Book Arts in the Library

2011-02-17T19:11:00.002-05:00

Interested in seeing ways to take your reading materials to a whole new level? The main display case in the library is currently displaying the creations of Stephanie Milanowski's Design II class. For one of their assignments they were required to create a work of art out of a used book, which comes from a genre of art commonly called Altered Books, Book Art or Artists' Books. These are works that involve creating a work of art in a book form or modifying book material to create a work of art. In the words of Justin Korver '13 "Artists' books can be all words, all images or a combination of both, while exploring alternative forms, materials and production techniques." This first exhibition also marks the beginning of a new collection at Hope Libraries. Each class, a jury from Hope Libraries will choose one student's work to be added to the newly created Hope College Van Wylen Library Artist Book Collection.

Interested in learning more about books arts? Check out titles on Altered Books and Artists' Books in Van Wylen's collection. Another nice visual display are these videos from the Herron Art Library.

-- Jessica Hronchek, Reference Librarian

Winter Break Hours

2011-02-11T09:02:00.002-05:00

The library will be open for limited hours over Winter Break:

Van Wylen
Friday: 8am - 5pm;
Saturday: closed;
Sunday: closed;
Monday: 8am - 5pm;
Tuesday 8am - midnight;

Music Library
Friday: 8am - 5pm;
Saturday: closed;
Sunday: closed;
Monday: 2pm - 4pm;
Tuesday: 3pm - 11pm

-- Jessica Hronchek, reference librarian

Visiting Writers Series: Elizabeth Bradfield and Sean Hill

2011-02-08T14:20:00.000-05:00

This semester's first installment of the Jack Ridl Visiting Writers Series will feature poets Elizabeth Bradfield and Sean Hill. Both will give readings of their work on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Knickerbocker Theatre.

Bradfield has released two books of her poetry: Interpretive Work, which received the Audre Lorde Award, and Approaching Ice. Her poems have also appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Poetry, Orion, among other journals. Reviews of her work are available through Literature Online and OneFile PowerSearch. Hill's work has been published in Callaloo, Ploughshares, and The Oxford American in addition to other literary journals and anthologies. His book, Blood Ties & Brown Liquor, came out in 2008. Two of his poems, Hands 1921 and Elegy for an Older Brother 1922 can be found through Literature Online.

Bradfield and Hill also work on a project called Broadsided. Bradfield came up with the idea for Broadsided in 2005. Each month, Bradfield, Hill, and the other editors chose one short literary work from a field of submissions. They then ask an artist to create artwork based on the piece. The two works are then put together on a letter-sized document and posted online. Anyone interested in the project is encouraged to download the document from Broadsided's website and post it in a public place. According to the project's website, broadsides have been posted locally in Saugatuck and Grand Rapids.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Goodbye Orange Cones

2011-02-07T09:36:00.001-05:00

Many of you have likely noticed the lovely orange cones that have graced the foot of the main staircase in Van Wylen for the last few months. These were placed after library staff became aware of the long-term problem of frequent trips, stumbles and outright falls on this staircase. Part of the problem cames from the lack of appropriate railings in this area. Given that this staircase is a well trafficked path for the whole "Van" complex (used constantly by students, faculty and prospective student tours), the cones were clearly not the end solution. After working with the administration and the physical plant we are happy to have a long term solution in place; new brass railings were installed last week.

Happy climbing!
-- Jessica Hronchek, reference librarian

Musings on First-Year Students in the Library

2011-02-01T15:52:00.001-05:00

September and October are First Year Seminar season at Van Wylen. During these months the reference and instruction librarians hold sessions for all forty plus FYS sections, essentially bringing every new Hope student into the library. We design these sessions to provide students an introduction to the library's resources and services, and to introduce them to certain key skills and concepts that inform college-level research.

Though these sessions are designed to educate the students, they give librarian-teachers a chance to learn as well. At the beginning of my FYS library sessions last semester, I gave each student a piece of paper with the words "Library = ___" and "Research = ___" and said, “Write down the first thing that comes to your mind.” While I primarily intended to use this as an ice breaker and a means of challenging stereotypes, it had the added benefit of being a data collecting tool. By the end of the semester, I had 120 of these responses. Wordle, a tag-cloud producing website, created a visual representation of these First Years’ impressions to the library (the more frequent the word, the larger the font). The resulting tag clouds are linked to the images below.

What can we learn from these "pictures" of this generations’ take on what libraries are about? To the "Library=" question, it is clear that, despite technological and other developments, students' primary association with the library is Books. This emphasizes the need to highlight the broad range of resources in today’s library. Though books continue to be a significant physical presence in the library, a large portion of library resources are electronic and can be accessed almost anywhere.

What this poll does not tell us is the significance of this association of Library=Books to the students themselves. In an era when 18-24 year olds read books for leisure at a lower rate than older adults (NEA, 2009, 7), does Library=Books then mean Library=Antiquated or Library=Irrelevant to their worldview? Or perhaps it is a more neutral Library=Traditional; “Checking out books? Can't I just read it online?”

The "Research=" responses were more diverse. First, aside from the predictable "Research=Papers," the next two most frequent answers were Computers and Internet. This confirms the tendency of students of this generation to rely heavily on digital research tools, whether they are subscription databases or Google. The second-most- notable category came in various wordings—“stress,” “boring,” “headache,” “hard work”—which, overall, imply negative associations with research and libraries. Here is where all of us, librarians and classroom faculty alike, are challenged to introduce and draw students into the research process in original, compelling ways. What are the best strategies for improving students’ attitudes toward research? Are there tactics that both teaching faculty and librarians currently use that are contributing to the research anxiety rather than alleviating it?

One answer the reference and instruction team at Van Wylen seeks to provide through the FYS sessions as well as upper level library instruction is to give library research a human face as much as a skill set. While we ultimately hope to provide students a foundation in navigating the world of information, if they remember nothing else from their first hour in the library during FYS, we hope that they come away with the sense that librarians and classroom faculty work as a team and that a librarian is always eager to help them over their research hurdles, alleviate some of the research anxiety, and find the breathing space and fun in playing with ideas. Perhaps then the "time" spent in research (another top response) will become a valued and enjoyed part of their education instead of just "time consuming."

-- Jessica Hronchek, Reference Librarian

Library=

Research=

Great Performance Series: Claremont Trio

2011-01-27T10:44:00.000-05:00

The Claremont Trio will perform at Hope on Jan. 27 as part of this year's Great Performance Series. The trio, composed of twin sisters Emily (violin) and Julia (cello) Bruskin and Donna Kwong (piano), formed in 1999 at The Juilliard School. Since then, they have been featured in radio and television programs in the United States and abroad, taught master classes at places such as Duke University and the Boston Conservatory, and performed in locations such as Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall in the Lincoln Center in New York.

Interested in hearing some of the trio's music before their performance? Van Wylen has copies of the group's CDs Trios Op. 49 & 66, Shostakovich & Arensky Trios, and American Trios in addition to the CD Jonathon Cohler & Claremont Trio, which features both the Claremont Trio and three other artists.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Google News Archive Search

2011-01-21T10:47:00.002-05:00

Looking for additional tools to locate historical newspapers for your primary source research? Consider trying out Google News Archive Search. Though the engine does not provide quite the functionality of the library's archival news databases (New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and the Times of London), it provides access to a substantial number of articles from an incredible variety of national and international newspapers (strongest in US and Canada), with some titles ranging back to the 18th century. Google makes this access possible through its News Archive Partner Program and by crawling the web for other digital newspaper collections.

Here are a couple of tips for using this search tool.

Looking for a specific paper? You can consult this list to see what is included in the collection and the dates included (coverage varies widely)
Keep in mind that this search will by default include some databases that charge a fee for article access. To restrict your search to primarily free texts, select the Advanced Search link and then choose "no price" from the drop-down box under Price.
If your topic is focused on a particular event, the search results include a helpful clickable time line that will allow you to easily narrow down to a specific period of time, as specific as a month.
This search tool operates slightly differently than Google's general "news" search. To use this, follow the links in this post or "Google" "Google News Archive Search."
For more searching information, consult Google's general and advanced search tip pages.

--- Jessica Hronchek, Reference Librarian

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

2011-01-17T15:44:00.000-05:00

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. day, and throughout this week, Hope College will celebrate Civil Rights Commemorative week with a variety of events. If you are interested in brushing up on your Civil Rights history, the library has a good collection on this topic as well as on Martin Luther King Jr. specifically. The Magnum documentary photography collection in ARTstor also has an excellent group of images that capture the life and death of King (available to Hope users).

Looking for something a little different? Check out this album by The Entrance Band, available in the library's browsing collection. It contains a song called "MLK"; you can also listen to it on YouTube.

Veritas Forum

2011-01-13T12:02:00.001-05:00

The Veritas Forum begins this evening with a lecture by Hope's own Mark Husbands at 7pm in Dimnent. For the next three days, Hope will host a variety of events centered on the theme of "True Communities True Selves: Exploring True Community in a Virtual World."

The library has a featured collection highlighting materials related to the topic of the forum, with additional titles available at Western Theological Seminary's Beardslee Library. For more materials related to culture and the digital world, check out these related titles in HopeCat.

--- Jessica Hronchek, Reference Librarian

2010 Faculty Bibliography

2011-01-10T14:42:00.001-05:00

Today faculty, staff, administrators, and trustees gathered at the Haworth Center to celebrate the many achievements of the previous year, including grants, performances, awards and publications. The library maintains a complete list of faculty publications for each year, and the 2010 list is now available. Take a look to see some of the things that have kept your colleagues or professors busy. Also, if there is anything missing from the list or that needs editing, please contact Pattie Carlson or Kelly Jacobsma.

Christmas Reading

2010-12-16T11:10:00.000-05:00

Looking to get into the Christmas spirit? Consider checking out some of Van Wylen's Christmas books. The library has large variety of books ranging from children's books to popular reading. Some titles the library has include Skipping Christmas by John Grisham, The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clark Moore, The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans, and The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg.

If you'd like to check out a Christmas book to take home, avoid overdue fines by renewing your book online through your library account.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Finals Week Hours

2010-12-09T08:53:00.003-05:00

Van Wylen will have extended hours during finals week that are as follows:

Friday, December 10: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Saturday, December 11: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Sunday, December 12: 1 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Monday, December 13: 8 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Tuesday, December 14: 8 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Wednesday, December 15: 8 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Thursday, December 16: 8 a.m. - 12 a.m.

Friday, December 17: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

For the extended hours of the music library, please see here.

Happy studying!

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Library and Information Science Graduate School Information

2010-12-06T10:32:00.001-05:00

Interested in pursuing a career in library and information science? This LibGuide contains useful information to help you in your graduate school search. In it, you will find a collection of links related to becoming a librarian, including lists of American Library Association accredited programs, advice on how to pick a graduate school, and current job openings in the field. You can also find information on a variety of professional associations that can help you decide on a specialization.

Some of the most popular library career paths lead to jobs in academic, public, or school libraries, but did you know that many library and information science programs are now being customized for students with vocational interests outside these settings?

"From the onset of my program, knew I wanted to work in a college or university library, but this was not the case for everyone I went to grad school with. A master's degree in library and information science can prepare you for a broader range of careers than one would typically imagine," Todd Wiebe, a reference librarian at Van Wylen, said. "I would guess that 20 to 25 percent of the people in my program entered into it with plans to work in areas beyond what most people would consider traditional librarianship." He went on to list some of the library-related career paths in fields such as: archives, records management, information architecture, user experience design, human-computer interaction, knowledge management, and content management.

Looking for perspective from someone who has been through a library graduate program? The librarians at Van Wylen would be happy to help. The LibGuide includes contact information for all of the librarians, including which school they attended, so you can get an idea of the options for students considering this career path.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Community Action House Drive

2010-12-02T09:44:00.001-05:00

The staff at Hope College Libraries are holding a food and care product drive for the Community Action House during the month of December. The Community Action House provides food, clothing, and housing assistance, as well as educational outreach and case management services.

The CAH would like to collect 150,000 pounds of food for families, as well as personal care products. Particularly helpful are personal products, as these are not covered by food stamps. Here are the items we are collecting for the drive:

Food Items: Spaghetti Sauce, Rice, Canned Fruit, Sugar, Flour, Spaghetti, Canned Vegetables, Canned Pasta, Boxed Dinners, Cereal/Oatmeal, Ramen Noodles

Personal Care Products: Laundry Soap, Bar Soap, Baby Wipes, Deodorant, Shampoo, Toothpaste, Feminine Products, Cleaning Supplies, Toilet Paper, Razors, Garbage Bags

For a printable list, click here.

Items can be brought to Van Wylen Library and dropped off at the display case by the main doors. We will be collecting through the end of exam week. Thank you for your generosity!

-- Jessica Hronchek, reference librarian

Foreign Language Films at Van Wylen

2010-11-29T11:51:00.000-05:00

Do you need to fulfill cultural activity credits for a foreign language class? Consider checking out a foreign language film from Van Wylen. An advanced search in HopeCat can help guide you. Let's say you are interested in watching a film in German. In order to search the entire video collection, put an asterisk in the Advanced Keyword Search box. Then, move to the "Limited to" section of the screen. Select "Video/DVD" for the material type and German language you would like. Click search, and HopeCat will display all the videos Van Wylen has in that language.

It is important to keep in mind that searching for films in foreign languages may bring up English films that have been dubbed in a different language. To check to see if this is the case with the film you are interested in, click on the "More Details" tab. In the notes section, it will tell you what language the movie was filmed in and what languages it has been dubbed in.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Off-Campus Access

2010-11-22T13:41:00.000-05:00

The end of the semester is fast approaching, which means deadlines for research projects are also coming near. Thinking of getting a head start over Thanksgiving break? There are two ways to access the library's databases and journals when you're not on campus. Visiting the off-campus database list gives you "off-campus friendly" links to use. When you click on the resource you need, you will be brought to the HopeCAT log-in screen. Simply enter your 1Hope username and password and you will have access to all the databases and journals you can normally access while on campus. You can also log in to HopeCAT directly using the same information. You will then be able to access all of the library's resources until you close your browser.

If you have any trouble accessing a resource while off campus, please contact askalibrarian@hope.edu to report the problem, and we will try to resolve it.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger.

Information on Government Websites

2010-11-18T10:58:00.000-05:00

When looking for resources on the web, one group of high quality and authoritative sources are publications from the United States Government. Websites managed by the United States government have a wealth of information you may not stumble across at Van Wylen, since we are not a federal depository. Government websites have a wide variety of statistics, facts and figures related to all sorts of subjects, including:

Health and Nutrition

Thanksgiving is less than a week away, and the USDA has a fact sheet with information about seasonal cooking, including how to safely cook for large groups, how to roast a variety of meats, and what to do with food if your guests arrive late. Interested in learning the makeup of your Thanksgiving dinner? The USDA also has a search tool that breaks down the content of your food in a way that gives you even more information than you would find on a standard Nutrition Facts label.

Two years ago, Hope College became the site of one of the largest norovirus outbreaks ever in the state of Michigan. Hope was not the only college struck by the virus in 2008. The CDC has a report detailing outbreaks on two other college campuses that year, one which started on the same day as Hope's. The report includes information on what happened at each school and includes recommendations for other schools in case of a norovirus outbreak.

Earth Sciences

Believe it or not, earthquakes happen in the United States every day. Want to know where the last one hit? The U.S. Geological Survey has maps that shows the location of every earthquake that occurred within the past week. You can click on the maps to look closer at particular regions of the world, with localized maps for high-activity locations such as California and Yellowstone National Park.

If you'd like to see the world from a different perspective, consider NASA's images of the earth. These pictures show everything from total leaf area in the U.S. to changes caused by hurricanes. There is even a gallery dedicated to images of Michigan from outer space.

For those interested in flora and fauna, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System can help you learn more about how organisms are classified. You can search either by common name or scientific name to find the complete taxonomic information on anything from apples to zebras.

History and Art
The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with 145 million items. More than 9 million of these are shared digitally with the public through their American Memory website, a digital library containing images, texts, recordings, videos, maps and a variety of other primary sources.

The United States Senate is home to many works of art, but viewing them all in person while you're in Holland isn't a possibility. Luckily, the Senate's website has made it possible to view their artwork from the comfort Hope College. You can browse paintings, sculptures, decorative art, and more on the website. Historical information both about the artwork and those the artwork recognizes can be found by clicking on individual images.

Searching Government Websites

There are two good ways to search for information on government websites. The first is through USA.gov. A search on this site will bring back information on national and state government websites.

Google will also allow you to narrow your search to government websites. Under their advanced search simply put .gov in the "Search within a site or domain" box, and it will search for your keywords only on government websites.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

(image by USA.gov)

Mobile Friendly Resources

2010-11-15T09:12:00.001-05:00

Imagine this: you're meeting with a professor to talk about a research paper, and they mention a book that would be relevant to your topic. You would like to see if the library owns this title, but you aren't near a computer. What can you do?

Van Wylen Library is currently working on a mobile version of the library's website that would help you in this situation. By using the browser on your phone, you will be able to bring up a condensed version of the library's website where you can find information on hours, contacting the library, and links to databases, and catalogs. Some of these databases, such as Wilson, also have mobile versions that are designed your phone.

If you need to search for something in the library's collection but don't have access to a computer, your phone will soon be able to solve this problem. The mobile version of the library's website allows you to search HopeCat, which will eventually have its own mobile site as well. Down the road, you will be able to send yourself a text message through HopeCat that includes the call number and title of a book you're looking for.

"More and more people are using their phones as their primary communication device," said Brian Yost, head of Technical Services and Systems at Van Wylen. "We want to make library resources available to our users on whatever devices they are using."

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Great Performance Series: Turtle Island Quartet

2010-11-11T08:43:00.000-05:00

On November 12, the Turtle Island Quartet will perform in Dimnent Memorial Chapel at 7:30 p.m. as part of this year's Great Performance Series. This two-time Grammy Award winning ensemble last came to Hope in 1992 and will be performing here again as part of their 25th anniversary season.

The Turtle Island Quartet has been featured on the Today Show, NPR, and in People magazine. Recordings of their music, including their latest, the Jimi Hendrix tribute album "Have You Ever Been...?," are available at Van Wylen Library in the Great Performance Series section on the first floor. Samples of their music are also available on the Great Performance Series website and in the music database Naxos (search for Turtle Island Quartet).

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Visiting Writers Series: David Shields

2010-11-08T09:45:00.000-05:00

Writer David Shields will give the last reading of this semester's Jack Ridl Visiting Writers Series on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Knickerbocker Theatre. Shields has authored 10 books, including New York Times bestseller The Thing About Life Is That One Day You'll Be Dead and the February 2010 release Reality Hunger: A Manifesto.

Shields has also written many essays, short stories, and book reviews, which have been featured in Harper's, Village Voice, and the Boston Globe. Reviews of Shields's works, can be found in OneFile PowerSearch. Literary criticism of his works is also available from Literature Criticism Online and Literature Online.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Library Book Sale

2010-11-01T08:17:00.001-04:00

This semester's library book sale begins on November 1 and last through November 8. Various items will be for sale, including books, videos, CDs, and LP records. CDs, hardback books, and videos are $1.00, paperback books are $.50, and records are $.25

The book sale will be held on the first floor of the library behind the main staircase.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Berg Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion

2010-10-27T10:39:00.000-04:00

One of the newest items in Van Wylen Library's collection is the Berg Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion. Hope received its copy from Joanne Eicher, Regents' Professer Emerita of the University of Minnesota, and general editor of the encyclopedia. She has spent her summers in Holland since 1967 and worked on the encyclopedia at her cottage near Lake Michigan. Though she oversaw the creation of the encyclopedia, other individuals lent their expertise to particular regional volumes that make up the collection.

"The scholars as contributors wrote from their vantage point of knowing the dress and fashion from their country or area of the world, using findings and synthesizing them, but adding recent research," Eicher said. "The encyclopedia is rich because the contributors come from many disciplines--anthropology, art history, history, cultural studies, economics, folklore, dress and fashion history and studies, sociology, and theater."

Though the word "dress" may bring to mind just images of clothes, Eicher said the scope of dress is actually quite broad.

"The definition of 'dress' is wide as it covers both body modifications and supplements, meaning that whatever one does to get dressed, showering, shaving, adding scent of aftershave or perfume, combing hair and putting on clothes, or carrying umbrellas or backpacks is part of dress," Eicher said. "Students will find much up-to-date info and find the encyclopedia useful for a variety of term papers."

This ten-volume set includes information about various styles of dress throughout the globe. Nine volumes pertain to a particular region of the world, with that region broken down into smaller geographic areas such as countries. These volumes also contain other information about the dress of the area, such as how modern-day dress evolved in a particular area. Regional volumes that relate to colonized land such as the United States and Australia include information on how outside influences factored into the development of common fashion. The tenth volume of the encyclopedia, Global Perspectives, gives an overview of fashion and dress throughout the world.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Movies in the Library

2010-10-22T14:53:00.000-04:00

Need a study break this weekend? Why not check a movie out from the library? The library has over 5000 movies to choose from, and, best of all, it's a free service.

Van Wylen's movie collection contains a wide range of materials. Some recent popular titles in Van Wylen's collection include The Blind Side, Slumdog Millionaire, and Juno. If you're looking for some classic favorites, consider a Disney film or an Academy Award winner. Comedies, action movies, and historical films are also available. The library has a large collection of documentaries if you want to continue learning even while you're taking a study break.

If you're having trouble finding something you'd like to watch, consider visiting Herrick District Library, the local public library in Holland. The Herrick District Library is located on River Avenue, just a short walk from campus. You can get a library card with your Hope student ID and driver's license.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Women and Social Movements Database

2010-10-19T14:51:00.000-04:00

One of the many databases Van Wylen Library subscribes to is Women and Social Movements in the United States. This resource highlights the roles women have played in various social movements in the United States from the 1600s through 2000.

The database allows you to browse by various categories depending on what you have in mind for your research. For example, if there is a specific person you are interested in researching, the browse people function would be a good place to start. If you know what time period you would like to research but are not sure of the topic you would like to study, browse document projects is the place for you. With this function, you can select a decade and see various document projects that have been published by historians in one of the database's twice-yearly issues. These document projects pose a question, such as "What were the origins of International Women's Day, 1886-1920?" Clicking on this question will take you to the project, which begins with an introduction by a scholar specialist. This introduction will give you an overview of the research conducted by the historian and will provide you with links to the primary resources used by the historian, which can include articles, letters, pamphlets, and many other sources.

Jeanne Petit of the history department has a document project published in the most recent issue of the journal. Her project deals with Catholic women who worked in a community house in East St. Louis and the unique problems they faced.

"I had been doing research on national Catholic community houses when the editors of Women and Social Movements contacted me and asked me if I wanted to do a document project," Petit said. "They were interested in Catholic women's history especially, so that's how I got involved."

Petit's project used 33 different primary resources, all of which can be found in the project. These resources, along with other primary resources included in the various document projects on the database, can be very helpful for your own research.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Visiting Writers Series: Cristina García

2010-10-13T08:09:00.000-04:00

Author Cristina García will be on campus on Thursday, Oct. 14 for the second installment of this semester's Jack Ridl Visting Writers Series. Her visit will include a WTHS interview at 11:15 a.m., a question and answer session in the Herrick Room in DeWitt at 3 p.m., and a reading at 7 p.m. in the Knickerbocker Theatre.

García has written five fiction novels: Dreaming in Cuban, The Agüero Sisters, Monkey Hunting, A Handbook to Luck, and The Lady Matador's Hotel, which was just published on Sept. 7. In addition, she has edited two anthologies, written two children's books, and released a collection of poetry entitled The Lesser Tragedy of Death. Literary criticism of Dreaming in Cuban can be found in Literature Criticism Online. Reviews of García's other works and interviews with the author can also be found on OneFile PowerSearch.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Research Posters

2010-10-11T09:45:00.001-04:00

Working on a research poster? There are several different resources on campus that can help you. Copy Works, the heart of printing at Hope, has a tip sheet on their website full of information. There, you can find advice and templates for both regular and tri-fold board displays. When making your poster, remember to put all the information on one large slide rather than several smaller slides. This will make the next step of the process, printing, much easier.

After you've created your poster, there are two different places where your poster can be printed. The Media Services desk on the second floor of the library is able to print posters that are 24" wide and up to 100' long, though most posters are either 18" x 24" or 24" x 30". At the library, each standard size poster you print will cost $5. You can either submit printing jobs online or save your project to a flash drive and bring it to the Media Services desk.

Posters can also be printed at the Science Center. Posters printed at the Science Center are up to 42" wide and up to 150' long. Pricing is different for posters printed at the Science Center, and printing has to be coordinated with a professor.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Critical Issues Symposium Resources

2010-10-05T08:50:00.000-04:00

The Critical Issues Symposium is starts today. This year's topic, Good Food for the Common Good, has a wide range of implications including hunger, food production, politics, and religion.

Interested in learning more about food? The library has many resources related to a variety of subtopics regarding food. In addition to the books and DVDs available on the CIS Resource shelf on first floor behind the reference desk and on reserve, the library also has access to many articles on the topic of food which can be found on the CIS LibGuide. This LibGuide also provides links and citations for articles and other research created by the speakers (LINK) featured at CIS.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Curriculum Library

2010-09-29T16:15:00.000-04:00

The curriculum library, located on the second floor across from the Media Services desk, is a unique area in Van Wylen. While most of the library contains materials for college level research, the curriculum library contains a wide variety of things that may remind you of your elementary school days. Juvenile fiction ranging from picture books to the Twilight and Harry Potter series, educational games and teaching kits, an Ellison die cut machine, even puppets: all of these things are located in the curriculum library and are available to be checked out.

Though the curriculum library may seem geared towards education majors, any student may find it useful. A book binder, large paper cutter, and the Ellison die cut are all great for making projects or posters for a class. If you babysit for a local family or teach Sunday school in the area, you could use something from the curriculum library to entertain or help teach the children you're working with. The curriculum library also contains textbooks that local high schools use, so if you're tutoring a student in the area, you can access his or her textbook in Hope's library.

The curriculum library is also a good place to go to study. "A lot of people like to study here because it's a nice bright room out of the way with some activity but not too much," said Jan Zessin, Media Services Supervisor.

The next time you're looking for a new study spot or need help entertaining young children, don't forget about the curriculum library!

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

The History of the Pull

2010-09-23T18:20:00.001-04:00

The Pull is a distinctly Hope College tradition that dates back to 1898. Interested in learning what has changed and what has stayed the same about Pull in the past 113 years? The Joint Archives of Holland contains a large collection of Pull memories, articles, and memorabilia dating back to the early 1900s. Here are some little-known facts about Pull:

- Pull was held on a Friday until 1993, and was once part of Homecoming activities.
- In 1974, the rope broke and Pull had to be rescheduled to the following Monday.
- Pull has been canceled four times: in 1918, 1943, and 1944 because of World War I and II, and in 1957 because of a flu epidemic on campus.
- Though Odd Year colors are traditionally maroon and gold, the classes of 1997 and 1999 wore silver and black instead.
- The traditional Pull shirts worn by pullers, moralers, and coaches did not appear until the 1970s.
- Local media often covers the Pull, but the Pull has also received national news attention more than once. The October 17, 1966 and September 2, 1996 issues of Sports Illustrated both featured articles on the Pull, and in 1997 USA Today ran an article on the 100th anniversary of Pull. The USA Today article is available through a search on LexisNexis and both Sports Illustrated articles are in the Joint Archives file or online here and here.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Visiting Writers Series: Wayne Miller

2010-09-20T19:51:00.000-04:00

The annual Jack Ridl Visiting Writers Series will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 21 with the fifth annual Tom Andrews Memorial Reading by Wayne Miller at 7 p.m. in the Knickerbocker Theater. A Hope jazz ensemble will begin the evening with music at 6:30 p.m.

Miller has two poetry collections published. "Only the Senses Sleep" was released in 2006 and received the William Rockhill Nelson Award. His second collection, "The Book of Props" received attention from "Coldfront Magazine" as one of the best 15 poetry collections of 2009. In addition to these collections of original poetry, Miller also translated Moikom Zeqo's "I Don't Believe in Ghosts" from Albanian into English and edited "New European Poets."

Miller has received many awards for his writing, including the George Bogin Award, the Lucille Medwick Award, and the Lyric Poetry Award from the Poetry Society of America. Reviews of his work are available through OneFile PowerSearch.

Bethany Stripp -- Library Student Blogger

Paper Usage in the Library

2010-09-17T16:53:00.001-04:00

The library is a fantastic place to go if you have things to print or copy. However, it is important to remember the environmental impact of the things we print. The two main library printers alone go through about five boxes of paper a week (that's 50 reams, or 25,000 pgs!).

The next time you need to use the library's printers, keep these five tips in mind:

1. If possible, don't print

Some professors will send PDF files of articles or other reading for class. If you need to bring the article to class, the library's printers are defaulted to print double-sided to reduce waste. If you just need to read the file, however, consider saving it to your computer instead of printing.

2. Remember to pick up what you printed

If you print something, pick it up from the printer right away. That way, if you have other things to do on the computer you won't accidentally leave the library without your documents.

3. Make sure you only print what you need

Do you really need to print that last sheet of paper that only gives you the URL of a website? Considering e-mailing yourself the URL if you think you'll forget it, and be sure to check the number of pages in the print preview before actually printing your document.

4. Don't click print more than necessary

Printers, like any other technology, break down from time to time. Sending your printing job to an out-of-order printer multiple times won't make your document print faster: it will only print multiple copies. If you accidentally send your printing job to the printer before realizing it's not working, come back later and check the "Other People's Printing" tray.

5. Recycle what you're done with

The end of the semester is a while off, but when it rolls around, recycle the papers, articles, and handouts you've collected over the past 16 weeks instead of throwing them away. Recycling bins are all over campus. If you have trouble locating one, the blue bins by the printers on the first and second floor of the library are for paper recycling.

For more statistics on American paper use, check out this article from the database OneFile PowerSearch.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

The Wasteful Paper Robot, courtesy of the TechLab

New Videos in the Library

2010-09-14T11:49:00.000-04:00

Did you know the new books shelf, located on the first floor just right of the circulation desk, contains more than new books? Several new DVDs recently acquired by the library are on the shelf as well. Right now, these videos include PBS documentaries such as Faces of America, a geneology project that looks at 12 different celebrites and Into the Deep, the story of whaling in America.

There is also a large collection of classic plays on DVD on the new book shelf. Greek plays such as Medea and Antigone are available as well as some of Shakespeare's work, including Hamlet, Othello, and As You Like It.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Writing Corner

2010-09-10T08:40:00.004-04:00

Different stages of the writing process pose problems for different people. For some, trying to organize their research into a well-crafted paper is the hardest part of a writing assignment. For others, the rough draft is easy, but moving through rough drafts to a polished final draft is a challenge. Fortunately, the new Writing Corner, located on the first floor of the library just beyond the reference desk, can help at any of these stages.

The Writing Corner is a combination of the drop-in writing center the library had last year and the writing services formerly offered by the Academic Support Center. Their goal isn't to simply be a proofreading service, but rather to help students become better writers.

"We don't want to just 'take the pen out of your hand' and make corrections, but help you learn how to be a better writer," Madelyn Clark ('11), a tutor at the Writing Corner, said.

There are two ways to use the Writing Corner. If you're working on a paper and suddenly find yourself stuck, you can stop by the Writing Corner any time on Mondays to Thursdays from 2-5 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. or on Sundays from 7-10 p.m. If you know that you're going to need help, though, you can also make an appointment to meet with a tutor at the Writing Corner for half an hour. Appointments can be made by calling the English department at x7620, e-mailing the Writing Corner at writingcorner@hope.edu, or by visiting the English department's website and making an appointment through the calendar there.

Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Changes in the Library

2010-08-31T08:40:00.000-04:00

It has been a busy summer in Van Wylen Library as various areas and rooms have received facelifts. The most obvious change is the Current Periodical section, which had half of the shelves removed and the remaining ones rotated 90 degrees. The original amount of shelving was no longer necessary as the library has canceled many print subscriptions in favor of online access. The resulting open area will be filled with comfy chairs and small tables to foster a nicer environment for browsing the remaining current journals and magazines.

The Cup & Chaucer, the library’s coffee shop in the lobby, is also being rearranged and remodeled. The serving area has been moved to the west side of the café, making it much more visible to passing students. More tables have been added, including a counter where the vending machines used to be. The vending machines have been moved to the second floor, just outside the computer lab in the southwest corner of the building. Beginning this fall, the Cup & Chaucer will be open more hours every day.

This past academic year, a temporary writing center was created in the first floor project room. That has led to a larger space for the Fall semester. The new Writing Corner will be located at the south end of the first floor, and will have expanded hours (most afternoons and evenings). Students can make appointments for writing help by calling the English Department at x7620. They may also drop in without an appointment.

Finally, a new audio/video project room was opened on the second floor just as the Spring semester came to a close. The ACAT Technology Innovation Fund was used to purchase a 15” Macbook Pro laptop and Blue snowball microphone. Students can work on video projects using iMovie or Final Cut Express, and record voiceovers without the usual background noise that might get recorded in a larger setting. Students who wish to use this room need to check out the key from the Media Desk on the second floor. As always, the library welcomes suggestions from our users on how we can better serve your academic needs. Please feel free to speak to a staff member or fill out a suggestion card at the Reference Desk.

- Dave O'Brien, Head of Access Services

Welcome to Christine Cho

2010-08-12T08:56:00.000-04:00

Van Wylen Library would like to welcome Christine Cho to the library faculty.

Christine is the Library’s new Metadata Librarian in the Technical Services and Systems Department at Van Wylen. As the Metadata Librarian, Christine will connect users with both print and digital collections using emerging metadata standards and traditional cataloging.

Some of Christine’s responsibilities will include creating descriptive and subject access to print, media, and digital materials using current cataloging and metadata standards; providing guidance on cataloging and metadata procedures; and implementing new workflows in response to the Library’s needs. In addition, Christine will serve as the library representative to the Communications and IDS departments.

Christine comes to us from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she worked as a Cataloging and Metadata Projects Specialist. Christine received her BA degree from the University of California, San Diego and her Master of Science in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Welcome Christine!

Christine can be contacted at choc@hope.edu.

Accessing Journals through the Library Website

2010-08-09T11:54:00.000-04:00

Van Wylen Library currently has access to over 47,000 unique journal titles. The best way to find out whether or not the library has access to a particular journal title is to select the “journals” tab of the library’s website. The “journals” tab is located in two places for your convenience: either at the top of the website or on the left side bar.

This is the most complete list of all journals to which the library has access. While most journal titles are listed in HopeCat, several journal titles are not listed in the catalog for a variety of reasons. So we are suggesting you use the Journals tab for access.

If you know the exact name of the journal title, simply enter the title in the search box. If you know a few words in the title, you may select the “title contains all words” option from the drop-down menu and enter the words you know. If you happen to know the journal’s ISSN number, you may also find the title by entering the ISSN in the appropriate search box.

If you would like to browse journals in your subject area, you can select the “journals by subject” option. You may choose from the fourteen broad subject areas and then select from the various subtopics within each subject area.

Once you have found the journal title you would like to access, links are provided to various electronic resources where the full-text title will be found. Specific date coverage information is given for each resource. If Hope College owns the selected title in print or microform, a link will be provided to HopeCollege/WTS Journal Holdings. By selecting this link, you will be taken to HopeCat, the library’s online catalog where the record for that journal title will include information regarding current issues, bound or microform format. Van Wylen Library currently subscribes to approximately 400 journal titles in print.

If you need further assistance locating journal titles, please contact a librarian via chat, via email (askalibrarian@hope.edu), or by calling the Reference Desk at x7904.

-- Gloria Slaughter, Technical Services Librarian

The Third Place

2010-07-20T11:03:00.002-04:00

What does Van Wylen Library, an ACRL award winning library have to do with Third Place? Hopefully, everything!

Van Wylen Library is a place for students, faculty and staff to mix, mingle and be. Be studious. Be relaxed. Be alone. Be with others. Be talkative. Be quiet. We are more than a library – we’re a meeting place. The library can be a place to get away from the dorm room, the department, even the classroom. (shhhhh!) Van Wylen as your Third Place on campus provides a social, or private, working environment away from your First Place, home, and your Second Place, work. The concept of the Third Place was developed by Ray Oldenburg in his book The Great Good Place. His theory and model for the Third Place has been seized by bookstores and coffee shops and used very successfully.

At Hope, Van Wylen Library embodies this idea, providing big comfy chairs for reading and large tables for collaboration. The Cup & Chaucer coffee spot offers a variety of beverages and snacks and a place to relax with friends or work on projects. The entire building has wireless access for Hope patrons and is full of areas where you can work individually or in a group setting.

Ray Oldenburg stresses there is a need for an informal public place where the physical environment reflects and shapes the actions within. Van Wylen Library is a place of individual and collaborative learning and a center for intellectual and cultural life. In the midst of community and interaction, you can easily find peace and quiet.

Let Van Wylen Library be your Third Place.

-- Carla Kaminski, Circulation Supervisor

Shapeshifting: What’s Happening with Scholarly Journals and What Faculty Can Do

2010-07-01T08:25:00.001-04:00

When the annual Periodicals Price Survey 2010 appeared in the April issue of Library Journal, not much came as a surprise. Chemistry and Physics top the disciplines with the highest average price per journal; over 50% of publishers reported a 5-10% drop in print orders; and library directors were advised to expect a 6-8% increase in prices for 2011.

By and large we saw 5% price increases on our major journal packages with a couple of exceptions. Oxford University Press obviously thought it was not getting a big enough piece of the pie and increased our journal package price by 54%. Nature Group raised the ire of liberal arts colleges nationwide when they increased the price of a print subscription to Scientific American from $35 to $300. We have dropped our online access to Scientific American next year due to a 100% price increase for the online version. The University of California is considering a system-wide boycott of all Nature journals due to a proposed price increase of 400% in 2011.

In order to manage journal subscription prices in 2010 (in the face of a 2% budget reduction), the Hope College libraries undertook an aggressive review of journals in print. Print journal subscriptions were reduced from 614 titles to 399. Microfiche subscriptions were reduced from 127 titles to just 11. Eight-five journal subscriptions were dropped altogether and 130 were converted to electronic format. We reduced our “spend” with Elsevier by nearly $15,000, relying instead on our “purchase-on-demand” program. Some new e-journal packages were added, most notably a package of 45 nursing journals.

What’s The Big Deal?

As noted in the “Periodicals Price Survey 2010,” many libraries are re-evaluating the value of Big Deal journal packaging. Big Deal journal packages are a large bundle of titles, of varying relevance, offered for a single package price. One of the more disturbing trends amongst the Big Deal publishers is that of buy-outs and mergers of e-journal companies and bidding wars between companies to acquire significant titles. Big Deals at Hope include packages from the American Chemical Society, Blackwell, Cambridge, Duke, Wolters Kluwer, Oxford, Project Muse, Sage, Springer, and Wiley. This past year we saw Wiley acquire Blackwell, Nature acquire Scientific American, and Sage acquire important Association of Psychological Science journals from Wiley-Blackwell. The Sage Big Deal was perhaps the most upsetting as they offered new unsavory pricing models and less flexibility in their packages. As evidenced by the Nature Group’s response to the University of California’s request to negotiate, some publishers are simply going to play hardball.

Journals Are Essential

While it goes without saying that scholarly journals aren’t cheap, they are an essential component in supporting a liberal arts education, particularly at an institution like ours -- heavily focused on faculty research and publishing and student-faculty collaborative scholarship. Our stats on e-journal use show that the Hope College community accessed over 100,000 electronic journal articles in 2008-2009. Our top twenty most used journals this past year were: Journal of the American Chemical Society, Ecology, Journal of Organic Chemistry, Journal of Marriage and the Family, Journal of Philosophy, American Literature, Hispania, Plant Physiology, Ethics, Reference & Research Book News, Psychology Today, PMLA, Philosophical Studies: An International Journal for Philosophy in the Analytic Tradition, Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, JOPERD - The Journal of Physical Education Recreation & Dance, Journal of African History, Journal of the American Musicological Society, Journal of Advanced Nursing , American Historical Review, and Mind.

Preserving Our Investment

Over the past ten years, the library has spent over one million dollars on access to electronic journals. By and large these are subscriptions which allow access only as long as the library continues to pay. While extremely convenient for users, the e-journals market continues to be volatile, and prices continue to rise much faster than library budgets. As a way of protecting our investment in electronic journals, the library has joined Portico, a not-for-profit electronic archiving service. To date, over 8,200 journals and 4,600 e-books have been promised to the Portico archive. If a publisher goes out of business, there is a catastrophic event, or in many cases if the library can no longer afford to subscribe, Portico ensures we will retain access to the content we have already purchased.

What Can Faculty Do?

Our community is not powerless in coping with the scholarly communication crisis -- there are steps we can take. Our faculty are generating the scholarship that fuels the publishing of scholarly journals. According to the Hope College Faculty Bibliography, Hope faculty authored 375 articles between 2008 and 2010; 105 in STM journals. Yet by signing standard publisher agreements, faculty may have limited their ability to post their articles on their course web site or in an institutional repository. In the age of the Internet, when sharing has become easier than ever, they may be limiting their ability to share their work. Sharing not only enables new research to build on earlier findings and fuels the further advancement of knowledge, it brings scientists and scholars the recognition that advances their careers. Discussion about creating an institutional repository where faculty could make their work freely accessible was a major focus of the Library Committee this year. Stay tuned for that continuing conversation on campus in the coming year.

Here is what faculty can do:

1. Educate yourself about your rights as an author. View this short YouTube video on Author Rights, or read this brochure on Author Rights. If you are interested in retaining your rights an an author, a librarian can help you determine how to proceed. One way to get started is to use the Scholar's Copyright Addendum Engine which will help you generate a PDF form that you can attach to a journal publisher's copyright agreement to ensure that you retain certain rights. Librarians may also be able to help you determine what the publisher already allows by consulting the SHERPA/RoMEO database, which provides a summary of permissions that are normally given as part of each publisher's copyright transfer agreement.

2. Consider publishing in an open access journal. Understandably, faculty want to publish in the highest quality high-prestige journals possible. However, many open access journals are of high quality (generating respectable impact factors) and are widely accepted. The ISI Web of Science database now includes over 450 open access journals. This week Springer announced that it is has partnered with BioMed Central to offer 12 new open access, peer-reviewed journals in science, technical, and medical fields. Because the library is a member of BioMed Central we receive a 15% discount off the article processing fees (BioMed Central's standard article-processing charge is $1,485). The library will help offset the cost of article-processing charges if faculty choose to publish in a BioMed Central or PLoS journal.

3. Support open access legislation. On April 15, 2010, the Federal Research Public Access Act (HR 5037), known by its acronym (FRPAA) was again introduced into the House and is pending in the Senate. The bipartisan Federal Research Public Access bill would require that US Government agencies with annual extramural research expenditures over $100 million make electronic manuscripts of peer-reviewed journal articles that stem from their research freely available on the Internet. Presidents at 118 colleges and universities (including President Bultman) have endorsed the bill. You can support the bill by writing to your legislators via the Alliance for Taxpayer Access.

-- Kelly Jacobsma, Director of Libraries

Work Cited:
Henderson, Kittie S. and Stephen Bosch. “Seeking the New Normal [ Periodicals Price Survey 2010]. Library Journal 15 April 2010. 36 - 40.

Special Thanks to all our Summer Student Library Workers!

2010-06-17T08:38:00.000-04:00

So, you might wonder what the library staff does during the summer months….

Of course the library is open and of course our staff is busy, especially our amazing student workers who are currently working hard during the summer months not only in their regular jobs but also:

• Assisting patrons at all service desks
• Taking down and re-arranging the current journals shelving ranges on 1st floor
• Taking Inventory
• Shifting books in Reference and also shifting books on the second floor to remove 56 shelves
• Covering the music library
• Mail Courier runs
• Running the Half A Cup & Chaucer
• Assisting with a journal list of electronic sources and short runs
• Cleaning out the storage room
AND
• Dusting every book and shelf in the entire library!!!

So….

With such a great library crew we thought they deserved a treat at the beach!

Thank you to all our summer student worker for all you do here at the library!

- Rachel Bishop, Librarian

Keeping up with Conferences

2010-06-02T12:00:00.001-04:00

To keep up with current practices, technologies, and trends in the seemingly ever-changing world of libraries and information, librarians regularly attend professional conferences. Recently, Hope College librarians have attended: Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), American Library Association (ALA), Michigan Library Association (MLA), the Innovative Users Group (IUG), and The Charleston Conference. These provide venues at which librarians can share ideas, present research, discuss topics of current interest to the profession, attend committee meetings, mingle, socialize, and meet new colleagues from other institutions.

Last month I was able able to attend and give a brief presentation at a 3-day Canadian conference/workshop (WILU) dedicated solely to academic library research instruction. It was the 39th annual of its kind and this year it was held at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. The participants and speakers represented a wide range of Canadian and American universities/colleges. Being a native of the area and familiar with the city and campus, I was especially happy to attend and participate in this conference. Some of the sessions I found most interesting and relevant to what my Reference and Instruction Librarian colleagues and I do here at Hope include: Designing Learner-Centered Research Guides, Concept Mapping: Fun for Librarians, and From Pre-Defined Topics to Research Questions: An Inquiry-Based Approach to Knowledge.

Todd Wiebe
Reference and Instruction Librarian
Van Wylen Library

Castles, Palaces, Manors and Estates

2010-05-26T15:57:00.002-04:00

The library has acquired a wonderful collection of guidebooks to a wide variety of castles, palaces, manor houses, estates and cathedrals in Britain and France.
Most of these will not be added to the library collection. If you would like to do some arm chair traveling or are traveling to Europe this summer, please help yourself to any of these guides that interest you. The collection is on a cart in the library lobby.

Book in Common

2010-05-24T14:22:00.002-04:00

The book Hunger & Happiness: Feeding the Hungry, Nourishing Our Souls has been chosen as the book-in-common for fall 2010 first year students. These new students will be asked to purchase the book over the summer and read it before coming to campus. Since Orientation and Critical Issues are two key programs that will engage with the messages and discussion points of this book, many upper-class students will have reason to read the book as well.

Hunger & Happiness consists of six thoughtful essays in a slim attractive volume. This collection beautifully intersects with the fall Critical Issues Symposium theme of Food. This book, written by a faculty member of St. Paul School of Theology (Kansas City), voices concerns, understandings, and hopes of a person of faith. Chapters explore hungers of the body, as well as of the spirit. It speaks of the food we put in our mouths, as well as the food (thoughts, feelings) we put in our minds and hearts. Written from a Christian perspective, the book’s invitation to dialogue is respectful and inclusive of all faith traditions.

The chapters are full, but not overwhelming. Sample topics include “How Could Cheap Food Be a Bad Thing?” “Appropriations and the Earth Community,” and “Losing and Refinding Our Spiritual Selves.” Jung begins the reader’s journey by offering clear definitions of key terms that he will use throughout the book. “Happiness,” in this context refers to profound spiritual well-being. “Affluence” refers to those of us who are living comfortably ($50,000 annual household income); relative to the majority of the world’s people, we have enough.

We at the library hope that the book-in-common will be embraced and read by many more than those “assigned” to read it. The library has a copy of Hunger & Happiness on reserve that can be checked out overnight, as well as a copy in the stacks. The bookstore has copies available for purchase. Over the course of the summer, please let us know if you have suggestions about anything relating to Hunger & Happiness and how we, as a community, can use it as an opportunity to engage, explore, and grow.

-- Priscilla Atkins, Head of Reference and Instruction

Discovery of Harry Truman Letter

2010-05-19T08:12:00.002-04:00

This week, Director Kelly Jacobsma and Lauren Ferin '12, who are working on a project with the Richard Wunder collection, discovered a letter signed by President Harry Truman from 1947. The letter is a brief thank-you note to NBC radio newsman Earl Godwin, for his Christmas gift of two dozen cans of pumpkin. It is accompanied by a receipt from the reputable Walter R. Benjamin Autographs company, verifying its authenticity. For more information about Earl Godwin's radio work, see this article from Time Magazine, also available in print at Van Wylen.

Lauren is sorting through materials from the Richard Wunder estate, donated to the library in in 2003. This summer we are focusing on the research materials that Wunder collected while writing a book about American sculptor Hiram Powers, as well as Wunder's personal correspondence. Richard was an art scholar, a fascinating individual and a consummate collector. As a part of her first impressions of working with the collection, Lauren commented, "This man kept everything, and it's all so organized!" We never know what we might find among his personal and research papers that will be valuable or of scholarly interest.

Many of Richards papers will be added to the college archives. For more information on Hope's special collections, see the web-pages of Van Wylen's Rare Book Room and the Joint Archives of Holland.

-- Jessica Hronchek, librarian, and Kelly Jacobsma, director of libraries

Library Says Goodbye to Graduating Seniors

2010-05-05T16:38:00.001-04:00

As we have highlighted in the past, the library relies heavily on our fantastic student workers. This year we have a total of thirty graduating student workers in Hope's Libraries. The library honored these students at a Wednesday luncheon at Butch's. We spent the time hearing about students' future plans and reminiscing about their time in the library. Our students are a talented and eclectic bunch and their post-grad plans are as diverse as they are: job searches around the world, Teach for America, medical school, kayaking and sailing, international travel, and much more.

When asked about some favorite memories from their work at the library, many of the students remembered fun times spent with library staff and fellow students. Vicki Vicencio remembered fondly when Colleen Conway would bring popsicles to the library and send the students away from their desks for a break to enjoy them. Along similar lines of food, Josh Headapohl enjoyed lunches out with staff at Thai Palace and Wild Chef, as well as shared frustrations over the atomic clock that just wouldn't sync. The students had their share of fun with each other as well. Kyle Woodworth particularly liked Beth Ann Tieche's enthusiastic patron count dances, proving that even the most mundane of library tasks can be a source of pleasure.

As a memento to our valued student employees, each senior has selected an item to be added to the library's permanent collection; you can seem them all pictured with their books, films, and music below. See here for a complete list of Senior Book Selections, 2010. Though we will miss them, we wish them the best in their future lives beyond Hope.

--- Jessica Hronchek, Librarian

ARTstor

2010-05-02T14:26:00.002-04:00

ARTstor is a unique database that features images rather than articles. The database began in the late 1990s with high resolution images of Buddhist art in cave grottoes from the Gobi desert and grew from there to include over one million images from a variety of topics, ranging from documentary photography to Islamic textiles.

Even though the database is made up of images, it can be useful for research in many different subject areas. One of the ways ARTstor allows you to browse images is by sample topic, which allows you to find images that might be relevant to your area of study, whether it's languages and literature or the history of medicine and natural science. If you already have an idea of what you're looking for, you can perform a search to find what you need. Once you find an image related to your research, you can then download the image to your computer or save them to online groups for later use (short registration required for this). ARTstor is always adding new collections images to their database. See here for the latest in their collection development.

Professor Anne Heath of the art department has found ARTstor to be very helpful in teaching and researching. She uses images from ARTstor to prepare lectures and presentations, as a study resource for students, and as a starting place for both student and her own research. Though Heath uses the database for art history, she knows that it is also useful for other subjects.

"They have a collection of documentary photographs that are good for political science," she said. "They're always getting new collections. It's not just for art history."

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Honored Alumni

2010-04-29T14:49:00.002-04:00

Alumni Weekend will take place from Friday, April 30 through Sunday, May 2. As a part of the celebrations, five alumni from Hope will be honored. Rev. Dr. Carol Bechtel ('81), Dr. Robert Donia ('67), and Dean Overman ('65) will all receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, and Jalaa' Abdelwahab ('97) and John Conlon ('97) will receive the Young Alumni Award.

Bechtel is a professor at Western Theological Seminary. She is currently the moderator of the General Synod Council of the Reformed Church of America and was the first woman ordained in the Classis of Illinois. She has authored several books that are available in the Beardslee Library at Western Theological Seminary. Many of her articles can also be found on ATLAReligion.

Donia has had an interest in the former Yugoslavia and current Bosnia and Herzegovina since his time at Hope. He has written multiple books and articles on the peoples of that area in addition to providing historical and cultural training for U.S. military peacekeeping troops prior to deployment in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. He also testified as an expert historical witness at the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague which included the trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodon Milosevic.

Overman served in the White House under the Ford administration as a White House Fellow for Vice President Nelson Rockefeller and as an associate director for policy review. He was also a partner in the law firm D'Anona, Pflaum, Wyatt & Riskind and a senior partner with Winston & Strawn. Van Wylen Library has three of his books: A Case Against Accident and Self-Organization, A Case for the Existence of God, and his most recent release, A Case for the Divinity of Jesus: Examining the Earliest Evidence. Reviews of these books and articles written by Overman can be found at OneFile PowerSearch.

Abdelwahab has done work globally towards the eradication of polio. Since 2000 he has worked with the Center of Disease Control and Prevention towards this goal and in 2009 was seconded to the United Nations Children's Fund headquarters in New York as a Health Specialist focusing on vaccination against polio in parts of the Middle East and Africa. He has had multiple articles on polio and other health issues published.

Conlon is the varsity boys' and girls' soccer coach at East Kentwood High School. He is currently the president of the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association. In 2007, Conlon was named Michigan High School Soccer Coach of the Year, National High School Soccer Coach of the Year, and led his boys' soccer team to the 2007 Division I state championship. In 2008 his team repeated as Division I state champs and he was again named Michigan High School Soccer Coach of the Year. NewsBank and mlive.com have many newspaper articles featuring Conlon's teams and achievements.

Don't hesitate to ask a librarian if you would like help finding additional resources by or about these distinguished alumni.

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Meet the Library: Circulation and Access Services

2010-04-26T09:52:00.001-04:00

The main function of a library is to provide its patrons with access to resources, and every department in the library, whether it be interlibrary loan, reference, the music library, technical services, media services, or the TechLab is designed to do just that. Circulation, another integral area of the library, also plays an important role in getting information to patrons.

"Anybody that comes to the library wants information," Carla Kaminski, supervisor of circulation and Cup & Chaucer, said. "(Circulation) is the hub that brings all that together."

Circulation plays a large role in accessing information beyond the library's walls. Materials from both Van Wylen's collection and other libraries' collections that have come to Hope through Interlibrary Loan or MeL are checked in and out at the circulation desk.

Circulation, along with interlibrary loan, the music library, media services, and the TechLab, all fall under the category of access services. These individual departments all have the same goal: providing materials to patrons, whether that be physical materials such as books or electronic materials such as software.

Dave O'Brien is the head of access services for Van Wylen and has served in that position for the past two years after spending 17 years as a reference librarian. He became interested in library work while he was a student worker at Penn State University. After completing his undergrad, he went on to the University of Georgia to pursue a master's degree. While there, he worked in the science library and for the USDA interlibrary loan office. After deciding that he would like to pursue a career as a librarian, he went to the University of Illinois, where he had an assistantship in the engineering library before coming to Hope College. Much has changed in the library world since O'Brien began his career as a librarian, but for him that is one of the best parts about the field.

"I really like how much things have changed in the last 10 years," O'Brien said. "This has just been a great time to be a librarian going from print indexes when I first came here to everything that's available now."

The ever-changing nature of library work is something Kaminski also enjoys about the job.

"Library science is ever dynamic," Kaminski said. "It's always growing. There are always new things to consider, new information, new formats information is available in. We have to stay on top of what's available in technology and find out how patrons want their information."

If you have comments for how the library could improve, O'Brien recommends making use of the suggestion box located on the reference desk or the electronic version available through HopeCat.

"I encourage students to make whatever suggestions they feel are appropriate," O'Brien said. "We really do read them."

-- Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger