Winter Break Library Hours

Exams are over, you may be walking in graduation on Saturday (congratulations!), and holiday planning has hit frenzy mode, but we're still here!

Yes, you can get your library fix Monday-Friday from 8 a.m-4:30 p.m. on the following days.

Dec 18
Dec 21-24
Jan 4-8
Jan 11-13

Normal hours resume Jan 14, the first day of Spring semester.

Confused? Check the library hours page.

Final Exam Schedule

The Fall 2009 final exam schedule is available on the Records and Scheduling website.

This is a public service announcement from your ever-helpful librarians.

Quiet Study Zones

originally uploaded by frankfarm on flickr

Do you need absolute quiet to study for exams? Would you like to get away from the cell phones and iPods and study groups? We have a place for you.

The 3rd and 4th floors beyond the elevators (from the computers back) are now designated quiet zones. Look for the Quiet Zone signs in these areas.

If someone is being loud or disruptive in these areas, feel free to remind them that it is a quiet zone, or if you're uncomfortable doing that, let a library staffer shush them for you.

You can visit the Service Desk on the 1st floor or call the library at 615-898-2817 and choose the Service Desk option to get help.

Or you can pick up a house phone near the elevators. These are routed to the Service Desk.

Or if you don't want to leave your computer, send us a message through our chat box at

http://library.mtsu.edu/help/needhelp.php

When reporting noise, please be as specific as possible about your location, and if you can, provide a description of the noisy people. This will help us track down the source of the distraction.

The 1st and 2nd floors and the front areas of the 3rd and 4th floors are available for collaborative study, which means that you should expect some noise. This library is large enough for all types of studiers to find the environment that they crave. Also check out our reservable group study rooms. If you have questions or suggestions, please let us know here or drop a line in our suggestion box.

Extended Hours for Exams

Starting this Sunday the Walker Library will be open extended hours during exams. We will be open til 1a.m. Sunday - Thursday. Please see our hours page for more info.

It's book buy-back time

About this time of year, you're probably wishing you never have to see that 10lb textbook again. Make that wish come true by using Amazon's new Textbook Trade-In program.
You'll get a credit to your Amazon account that you can use toward next semester's 15lb textbook.
This program is in beta phase. If you use it, comment here about how well it worked.

Need books over the holidays?

If you are an MTSU student this semester your library account becomes inactive on Dec. 19 and anything that you have checked out is due on that date. If you are attending in the spring you will be automatically re-activated in the University and Library systems just before classes begin on Jan. 14.

However, if you want to check out books over the break the library can extend your borrowing privileges. This will allow you to renew books that you have out now or check out additional books. To set up borrowing privileges over the holiday break simply present your student ID at the Circulation Desk between Dec. 7 and Dec. 24 (yes, we're open Christmas eve). Tell the staff member at the desk that you want to renew and/or check out books beyond Dec. 19. They will check University records to confirm that you are registered for the spring. Note: you do not need to have paid your fees, only to have selected classes.

Have a great break and read something fun!

Coming Soon...

Students, we heard you!!!!!

Coming Soon to the Walker Library...

· Express Print Station—Need to print something really quick? No computer available? Print documents directly from your flash drive. The new Express Print Station will be located on the 1st floor next to the Circulation Desk.

· Quiet Zones—Looking for a quiet place to study? Go to the 3rd or 4th floor and grab a table near the book stacks. These areas are designated Quiet Zones. SHHHH!!!!!

· Group Study Rooms—Going to meet with your group to work on a project? Need a group study room to gather in? 9 of the Library's 43 group study rooms can now be reserved in advance, see the Service Desk for details. These reservable rooms are on the 2nd floor near the front of the building.

Who is James E. Walker (Library)

The James E. Walker Library, named for the University’s eighth president, opened in 1999.

James E. Walker graduated from Alabama State University with a bachelor's degree in biology, earned a master’s in special education from Atlanta University, and graduated from Pennsylvania State University's doctoral program in education. He was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Alabama in Higher Education Administration and was also a graduate of the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management.

Dr. Walker was provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Northern Colorado until he became President of MTSU in 1991. He left MTSU in 2000 to become President of Southern Illinois University, the place his teaching career started decades before. He died at his home on February 6, 2006 after a decade long battle with cancer.

Dr. Walker’s strong support for the Library is continued today by President McPhee.

Help us celebrate 10 years in the building by telling us "My favorite thing about the James E. Walker Library is...." Email us at favorites@ulibnet.mtsu.edu or you can fill out a card at one of the desks located throughout the Library and we will automatically enter you in a drawing to win an IPOD and other prizes.

Enter by Nov. 30. Email entries/Cards will be drawn for doorprizes on December 1st, 2009, so tell us your favorite Library thing today!

Thanksgiving Hours

Library Hours Nov 25-29

Wed 11/25 - 7:30am to 10:00pm
Thur 11/26 - closed
Fri 11/27 - closed
Sat 11/28 - closed
Sun 11/29 - 1:00pm to midnight


*see complete library hours on our website
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photo credit: Lawrence OP on Flickr

MTSU's four Libraries

In 1912, the first library at Middle Tennessee State Normal School was established by newly hired librarian Betty Avent Murfree, boasting a collection of 75 donated volumes. It was housed on the third floor of Kirksey Old Main; its collection eventually grew to 2,000 volumes.

Murfree Hall, the original campus library, located near present day Peck Hall. Murfree Hall was built in 1927 and designed by C.K. Colley. After the building's use as the school's library, it housed the English Department for ten years until it was demolished in 1967. The building was named for Mrs. Betty Murfree, who was the librarian from 1911 to 1945.

In 1958, Andrew L. Todd Library was constructed between the Science Building and Jones Hall to hold 150,000 volumes. In 1970, an addition was built in order to meet the needs of a growing university. Eventually, Todd Library, originally designed to hold 225,000 volumes, held more than 600,000 volumes.

Named for Dr. James E. Walker, the 250,000 sq. ft. building combines space and services in an environment that inspires learning and interaction, and brings together intellectual and social aspects. The library provides 350 computer s and laptops and over 900,000 volumes. It offers 1,500 general reader seats, 1,000 individual study carrel seats. Also provided are 43 group study rooms and 60 faculty research studies. The library has an active program of instruction, teaching use of databases and other resources through two lab rooms.

Help us celebrate 10 years in the building by telling us "My favorite thing about the James E. Walker Library is...." Email us at favorites@ulibnet.mtsu.edu or you can fill out a card at one of the desks located throughout the Library and we will automatically enter you in a drawing to win an IPOD and other prizes.

Enter by Nov. 30. Email entries/Cards will be drawn for doorprizes on December 1st, 2009, so tell us your favorite Library thing today!

Underrepresented Minority Dissertation Fellowship

Underrepresented Minority Dissertation Fellowship (Walker Library)

MTSU announces the availability of a dissertation fellowship to enhance campus diversity. The Library Fellow will provide service in the award winning James E. Walker Library within an area related to his or her academic preparation and the needs of the Library. The Fellow will be expected to devote significant time to the completion of the dissertation. The Library Fellow will also work with a library faculty mentor and will be involved with co-curricular activities including the University’s cultural diversity initiatives.

The Fellow will receive a one-year paid faculty appointment and will be eligible for benefits including health insurance along with support for research, professional travel, and other related expenses.

Applicants for the Library Fellowship must possess the ALA accredited masters and be a dissertation stage doctoral degree candidate studying in a field taught at MTSU.

For more information on the Library Fellowship see http://library.mtsu.edu/administration/jobs_fellow.php

EO/AA employer

Pull the Bar Night

Please join us for...

Visiting Artist Lecture & Community “Pull the Bar” Night

November 12, 6:30— 8:00 p.m.

Walker Library, 462

Fall 2009 Printing Press Visiting Artist and local artist Shona Cowart will hold a lecture from 6:30— 7:00 p.m. That will immediately be followed by your chance to “Pull the Bar” and print something on the replica 18th century press from 7:00— 8:00 p.m.

For more info about the Press Project at MTSU visit http://pressproject.mtsu.edu/

Library then & now

The James E. Walker Library opened in 1999. In just 10 short years in the building, the Walker Library (and MTSU) have changed a great deal.

Then—1999
# Students—18,993
# faculty on campus—745
# Computers—24
# books—644,748
Library classes taught—131
# Journals—3447
Library Budget—$269 per student

Now—2009
# Students—25,188
# faculty on campus—936
# Computers/Laptops—350
# books/e-books—936,000
Library classes taught—334
# Databases/Journals—19,691
Library Budget—$332 per student

Help us celebrate 10 years in the building by telling us "My favorite thing about the James E. Walker Library is...." Email us at favorites@ulibnet.mtsu.edu or you can fill out a card at one of the desks located throughout the Library and we will automatically enter you in a drawing to win an IPOD and other prizes.

Enter by Nov. 30. Email entries/Cards will be drawn for doorprizes on December 1st, 2009, so tell us your favorite Library thing today!

Interlibrary loan temporarily unavailable

UPDATE 10/27/09: ILL is back up; thank you for your patience!
---------------------------------------------
Our interlibrary loan system, ILLiad, is currently inaccessible. Users trying to log in receive an error message that the "username is not in the database." The problem appears to be an authentication issue on MTSU's end, and it will be fixed as soon as possible.

We apologize for the inconvenience and ask that users hold their ILL requests until ILLiad is working again. As much as we would like to, we don't have the human resources necessary to enter the requests manually. If you have a question about an ILL book that you already have, call the ILL office at 904-8549.

Win an IPOD!!!!

The James E. Walker Library opened in 1999. In just 10 short years in the building, the Walker Library has changed a great deal. We’ve added hundreds of computers and databases and purchased thousands of books. Librarians have taught hundreds of classes how to use the Library and do better research and assisted thousands of students and faculty at the reference desk. Students have studied here, met their friends here and even slept here!


Help us celebrate 10 years in the building by telling us "My favorite thing about the James E. Walker Library is...." Email us at favorites@ulibnet.mtsu.edu or you can fill out a card at one of the desks located throughout the Library and we will automatically enter you in a drawing to win an IPOD and other prizes.

Enter by Nov. 30. Email entries/Cards will be drawn for doorprizes on December 1st, 2009, so tell us your favorite Library thing today!

Pop Up Books on exhibit in Special Collections

Places Pop Up !

Come see the new exhibit in Special Collections, fourth floor, James E. Walker Library. Both the Reading Room and the Exhibition Room are open to the public from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Thursday and from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm on Friday.

ALL SORTS of books and all sorts of subject matter are published with pop-up features, but books about places are especially well-suited to the pop-up form. Famous buildings and cities, fascinating natural phenomena, distant realms real and imagined all lend themselves to books with pop-up elements and other
movable features.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS seeks to collect historically important as well as outstanding examples of contemporary pop-up and movable books. Some of our most interesting "new rare" editions describe places and employ moving parts to convey their particular character. Our current exhibit presents a selection of these. They should give viewers a good idea of the variety of books dedicated to places that pop up.

Time change for Football on Saturday

The Blue Raiders play host to the Mississippi State Bulldogs Saturday, Oct. 17, Floyd Stadium here on campus. Gametime has been adjusted to accomodate a national television broadcast by ESPNU.

Kickoff is now scheduled for 11:30 AM.

Homecoming 2009

Dust off the air guitar and get ready for “A Rockin’ Raider Homecoming” to bring out the rock star in us all on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2:30 pm.

There are Homecoming activities all week from Oct 19-24, including t-shirt swap at the Alumni House, fight song competition, chili cook-off, parade and more.

Visit the SGA page, http://www.mtsu.edu/sga/homecoming.shtml or http://mtalumni.com/ for a list of Homecoming Activities.

Alumni, join the Library and all colleges in Walnut Grove (between Cope and Peck Hall) from 11:30 - 1:30 pm, Sat. Oct. 24th for tailgating before the big homecoming game and to catch up on what's happening around campus.

Lunch, including BBQ chicken, pulled pork, hotdogs, chips, potato salad, cole slaw, cookies, and drinks will be served in a food tent right next to the Alumni tent for $6 per person and $4 per child.

Fall Break Hours

MTSU Walker Library
Fall Break Hours*

Sat, Oct 17 - closed
Sun, Oct 18 - closed
Mon, Oct 19 - 8am to 4:30pm
Tues, Oct 20 - 8am to midnight

Enjoy your Fall Break!


*see complete library hours on our website
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photo credit: sgs_1019 on Flickr

The MTSU-Nobel connection

The 2009 Nobel Prizes are being announced this week, and it's a pretty good year for Americans. Seven of the 11 winners announced so far (the prize in Economics has yet to be awarded) hold U.S. citizenship.

But did you know that MTSU has a few claims to Nobel fame?

James M. Buchanan, the 1986 winner of the Nobel prize in Economics, is a 1940 graduate of MTSU, or as it was called then, the State Teacher's College. A study room on the 4th floor of the library is named for his family and houses displays of his work.

Muhammad Yunus, co-winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, held his first teaching job in the economics department of MTSU from 1969-1972. Yunus developed the concept of microcredit, or very small loans to spur entrepreneurialism among impoverished people in the developing world.

And perhaps it's a stretch, but we could also claim former Vice President Al Gore, who was co-winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, as one our own. After all, he taught a course here on community building for several semesters beginning in 2001. The Gore Research Center on campus houses the papers of his father, Albert Gore, Sr., an MTSU alumnus and former Congressman.

So who will be our next Nobel laureate? Could it be you?

Finding Full Text Articles

Confused about how to obtain the full text of an article when you see a promising citation or abstract in a database? Never fear, your helpful librarian has heard your cry of frustration and wants to help.

Sometimes, the full text of an article is available in the database--just look for a "full text" or "PDF" link. Otherwise, use the Article Linker or Find Fulltext link to see if the article is available in print or online in another database.

Have you used Article Linker before and that's what prompted the cry of frustration? It can be a bit complicated. This illustrated guide to Finding Articles shows how Article Linker works. Or, auditory and visual learners may prefer watching this 3.5 minute narrated, captioned video.

Still need help, or too frustrated to watch or read a tutorial right now? Visit our Need Help? page and ask a librarian.

Please turn down your music

Many people listen to music on MP3 players while in the library. This is cool. But when listening to music in a confined space, ask yourself this:

1) Have several people given me the stink eye?
2) Are people moving away from me, giving me enough room to perform an impromptu flamenco dance?
3) Are my ears bleeding?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, your personal music may be leaking loudly into a very public space. Most offenders seem surprised that their music is loud enough to be heard by others, so if in doubt, try this: while at your preferred volume, remove your earbuds and with your fingers, cover the part that should be in your ears. Can you still hear any sound? If so, your music is loud enough to disturb others.

Please be considerate of this shared study and work space.

Lexis Nexis Webinars

Lexis Nexis conducts webinars that will help you use this important resource more effectively. These upcoming webinars will provide tips for getting the most out of LexisNexis® Academic and more. Upcoming webisodes include:

- Using LexisNexis Academic for Business Research
- Finding Sources in LexisNexis Academic
- Using LexisNexis Academic for Legal Research
- News in LexisNexis Academic

All available from the convenience of your desk… choose the day and time
that is right for you. Register for a webinar today!

Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week

Celebrating the Freedom to Read

September 26–October 3, 2009

------------------------------------------------

The most frequently challenged books of 2008

1. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, and unsuited to age group
2. His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman Reasons: political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, and violence
3. TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren Myracle Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
4. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz Reasons: occult/satanism, religious viewpoint, and violence
5. Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya Reasons: occult/satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, and violence
6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: drugs, homosexuality, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, suicide, and unsuited to age group
7. Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
8. Uncle Bobby's Wedding, by Sarah S. Brannen Reasons: homosexuality and unsuited to age group
9. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
10. Flashcards of My Life, by Charise Mericle Harper Reasons: sexually explicit and unsuited to age group

---------------------------------------

Observed since 1982, this annual ALA event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted.

BBW celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them.

BBW is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, American Library Association, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Association of American Publishers, National Association of College Stores, and is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

Although they were the targets of attempted bannings, most of the books featured during BBW were not banned, thanks to the efforts of librarians to maintain them in their collections. Imagine how many more books might be challenged—and possibly banned or restricted—if librarians, teachers, and booksellers across the country did not use Banned Books Week each year to teach the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, and to draw attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society.

Often challenges are motivated by a desire to protect children from “inappropriate” sexual content or “offensive” language. Although this is a commendable motivation, Free Access to Libraries for Minors, an interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights (ALA's basic policy concerning access to information) states that, “Librarians and governing bodies should maintain that parents—and only parents—have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children—and only their children—to library resources.” Censorship by librarians of constitutionally protected speech, whether for protection or for any other reason, violates the First Amendment.

Why are books challenged?

Books usually are challenged with the best intentions—to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information.

Who challenges books?


Throughout history, more and different kinds of people and groups of all persuasions than you might first suppose, who, for all sorts of reasons, have attempted—and continue to attempt—to suppress anything that conflicts with or anyone who disagrees with their own beliefs.

What's the difference between a challenge and a banning?

A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others.

Frequently Challenged Books

What was the most challenged book in the past year? What are the most challenged books of the 21st century? Who are the most frequently challenged authors? Where can I go to find more information on why a book was challenged or banned?


http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/index.cfm

Career Development Week

The Career Development Center is a comprehensive Center serving all departments and colleges of MTSU. The Center services include the following programs:

Career Exploration On-Campus Recruiting Job Searching

The Center posts the following types of positions within Lightning JobSource:

• Student Employment - Off-campus
• Student Employment - On-campus
• Career Employment - Degreed Entry-level
• Career Employment - Experienced hire
• Internships
• Co-op

Career Development Week 2009

Start planning for your future career today!

September 28 - October 2

See a list of all the events this week:

http://career.web.mtsu.edu/Marketing/CDW09.pdf

Campus wireless access

Having problems connnecting your laptop on Campus? Here are a few items that may be helpful in correcting your problems:

1. If you are running a 64 bit operating system, you need to go to ITD for assistance.

2. You must uninstall any peer-to-peer (P2P) software, such as Limewire, FrostWire, Kazaa etc. If you do not uninstall the P2P software, you will not be allowed to access the MTSU Wireless network. If you have any questions in regards to this, contact ITD at 898-5345.

3. Next you need to "register" your laptop with Campus. How do you do this? Simple, open a browser page to MTSU's home page (http://www.mtsu.edu/). From this point you will be redirected to the registration page. ITD has provided a short tutorial to step you through this process. You can find a link to it at: http://library.mtsu.edu/information/computing/laptop.php

4. During this process your computer will be checked to insure it meets the minimum requirements to access the MTSU wireless network. If you do not have an anti-virus program, you will be redirected to a free version of Trend-Micro anti-virus. If you do not wish to use this program, you may purchase another brand or download one of the free versions. Word of caution, there are several "fake" anti-virus programs on the web, so be careful what you download. One safe site is http://free.avg.com/

5. You should also ensure that your MS criticals are up to date. You can do that by doing a Windows Update (click on Start, go to All programs, select "Windows Update" then follow the on screen instructions.) If you are uncertain or need assistance, check in the EIC (computer area on the 1st floor) for a Student Technology Assistant to assist you.

6. Once you fill in all the required information it will step you through the process of loading the EnTeraSys client. No error messages, then your done.

7. If you recieve an error: "max number of remediation attempts has been exceeded", you will need to go to ITD (BAS after 16:30 / 4:30pm) to unlock your account.

On Display in the Lobby of Walker Library

The University is celebrating Constitution Day on September 17. Activities include discussions, lectures, and displays of posters. The Walker Library is participating in the celebration by exhibiting books about the Constitution (available for you to check out, just grab one and take it over to the Circulation Desk). We are also housing some of the posters that highlight four freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from fear, and freedom from want. Some of the posters reinterpret Norman Rockwell's original paintings which responded to President Roosevelt's "Four Freedoms" speech in 1941. This project came out of the donation of Rockwell's original works to The Wolfsonian Museum at Florida International University. See http://www.wolfsonian.org/visitus/press/05.29.08_.html for more information about the original exhibit.

The American Democracy Project (ADP) at MTSU coordinates the celebration of the Constitution each year. The goal of the ADP is to produce graduates who understand and are committed to engaging in meaningful actions as citizens in a democracy. Currently more than 220 campuses participate in the American Democracy Project. Visit www.mtsu.edu/~amerdem for more information.

Last week to see exhibit

The legacy of Middle Tennessee State University’s working replica of an 18th century printing press is explained through photos and prints as part of an exhibit at the main branch of the Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St., through Sept. 27.

A closing reception will be held from 2:30 - 4:30, Sunday, September 27th.

The exhibit is titled “Telling the Story: Letterpress Printing and Community.” The university’s segment will include the story of letterpress printing at MTSU. The works of current MTSU art students, alumni, visiting artists, faculty, elementary, middle- and high-school teachers and students who printed on the James E. Walker Library’s unique device will be highlighted.
A reproduction of the English common press used by Benjamin Franklin in the early 1700s, the printing press was handcrafted by cabinetmaker Keith Jenkins and blacksmith Jeff Henderson. The wood came from a 100-year-old house in Virginia, and all the brass, iron and steel parts were forged by hand. Faculty and students donate their time working on the press which is solely dependent on private support from individuals.

The press project offers students and the community a dramatic and unforgettable experience through activities that integrate history, writing and letterpress printing. Activities include lectures to university and school students about historical printing, a visiting artist each semester, community print nights, and printing demonstrations for community groups. The construction of the press was made possible with grant money awarded to Walker Library faculty members Dr. Alan Boehm, Director of Special Collections, and William Black, Administrative Services Librarian, and Janet Higgins, Department of Art.

Items that were printed by MTSU art students on the Vandercook Press, a precision-built, flat bed cylinder proof device, and the Tulip Poplar Press will be featured, as well. The Vandercook Press is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its creation this year. Austin Peay State University will also be part of the exhibit with works printed on its Goldsmith Press.

The exhibit will be located in the Nashville Public Library’s second floor Courtyard Gallery. For more information and for photos of the MTSU press, contact Kristen Keene at 615-898-5376 or kkeene@mtsu.edu.

Save your work

Avoid heartbreak, save early and often.

Blue Raider Blackout

Saturday, September 12

6 pm (the Library closes at 5 on Saturday, so you have time to get over and watch some football!)

Blue Raiders vs. Memphis Tigers

Students get in FREE with their id.

The highly-anticipated 2009 home opener for the MTSU football team. The Blue Raiders will be taking on the University of Memphis Tigers. This game is Blackout Night, so everyone where your blackout t-shirts!

Attention Freshman, Class of 2013

Join President Sidney McPhee for MTSU’s Long Standing Tradition of “Freshman Walk.”

There will be an announcement with about 5 minutes left in the second quarter for all class of 2013 Freshman to meet at the tunnel below section 2E. President McPhee will lead the Class of 2013 on to the field at halftime. this is your chance to get on the field and show your Blue Raider pride.

Constitution Day

What is Constitution Day?

The signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, by the Founding Fathers is one of the most important and influential events in American history, establishing the many rights and freedoms “We the People” enjoy today.

September 17, Constitution Day is celebrated each year all over the country.

MTSU is celebrating Constitution Week, September 14 - 18, 2009 with many activities sponsored by the MTSU American Democracy Project and the John Seigenthaler Chair in First Amendment Studies, and the Distinguished Lecture Committee.

Throughout the week:
Poster Display (Thoughts on Democracy: Reinterpreting Norman Rockwell's Four Freedoms Posters, Walker Library and KUC )

Constitutional Readings Display (Walker Library)

Wednesday, Sept 16:
10:20 am - Free Speech on University Campuses: The State of Play (lecture by Bruce Barry, Vanderbilt Professor, KUC Theater)

11:30 am - State of the First Amendment (Gene Poloconksi, VP of the First Amendment Center, KUC Theater)

2:20 pm - Freedom Sings (Multimedia experience, Tucker Theater)

Thursday, Sept 17:
10am - 2pm - Midday Campus Celebration (Signing of the Constitution, reading of the Constitution, Free copies of the Constitution, KUC Knoll)

9:40 am - The Internet and the First Amendment (John Seigenthaler moderates a panel, KUC Theater)

11:20 am - First Amendment Freedoms (Panel explores the state of the First Amendment's Five Freedoms - religion, speech, press, assembly and petition, KUC Theater)

1 pm - Torture, Democracy, and the American Press (lecture by Mark Danner, author/journalist, LRC 221)

2:40 pm – Civil Liberties: Surveillance and Terrorism (lecture and discussion led by Professor Roger Newman, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, KUC Theater)

7:00 pm – Living Democracy (Lecture by Susan Griffin, award winning author, BAS State Farm Lecture Hall)

Friday, Sept. 18:
1 – 4 pm – Workshop on Teaching Democracy: Integrating Themes of Social Responsibility in the Curriculum (Workshop led by author Susan Griffin, JUB Faculty Senate Room)

Visit www.mtsu.edu/~amerdem for more information.

Looking for Room 387?

Ah, yes... the elusive room 387, more difficult to find than Harry Potter's Room of Requirement. Room 387 is a classroom in the library that is utilized by many departments on campus. It's location is on the third floor inside the Curriculum area, which is just to the right of the stairs. Once inside the Curriculum area, proceed to the back left corner (you will pass the information desk and the book shelves), turn down a narrow corridor, and wish really hard for a classroom with desks and a whiteboard.

You may also find the library floorplans useful. Room 387 is labeled on the 3rd floor image.

How do I print in the library?

Students, faculty and staff may print in the library by logging on to a computer with their Pipeline username and password.

When you print from a computer in the library, you must release it from the print system before you can retrieve it.

1. Select print on your computer.

2. Look at the name taped to the computer monitor and proceed to the closest print station.

3. Find your computer name on the screen at the print station and lightly tap it. If your computer name is toward the end of the alphabet (e.g., Twain or Wilde) you may need to select the Next button at the bottom of the screen to find it.

4. Tap the print jobs that you wish to print. A check mark should appear next to them.

5. Press Print at the bottom right side of the screen. Press Confirm Printing at the bottom right side of the screen.

Please note that the printers automatically delete jobs of 50 pages or more. If you must print a document this large, you will need to break it up into two or more jobs of 49 pages or less.

At this time, printing is "free" in the library. Free printing is supported primarily by the Technology Access Fees students pay.

Please print wisely.

For more on this story, please read the post Is printing really FREE?

Fall Semester Hours

Ready or not, the semester is almost upon us!

MTSU Library will begin operating on fall semester hours Saturday, August 29. For details on special closures and extended event hours throughout the semester, visit the Library Hours page on our Web site.

Library Hours, Fall Semester
Mon-Thurs 7:30 am - 12:00 midnight
Fri 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Sat 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sun 1:00 pm - 12:00 midnight

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photo credit: laffy4k on Flickr

Easier linking to library stuff in D2L

Students:

Have you ever needed to link to articles you found in library databases for your online classes? Maybe in discussion posts?

Instructors:

Do you link to articles for your students to read?
Do you link to article databases such as JSTOR or General OneFile?

If so, access just got easier. Users in D2L will not need to log in to library resources if the following procedure is used. If you're linking to databases, you don't need to change a thing. Just grab the URL from the library site. If you're linking to articles, add this prefix to the URL,

https://ezproxy.mtsu.edu:3443/login?url=

and those who click will not need to log in if they are working within D2L. Outside of D2L, users will still need to log in. Make sure to include the entire URL after the prefix, including the "http."

Wondering how to link to articles from databases? Watch this video (note that the url above is different in the guide. It will still work, but it won't bypass login.)

Any questions? Contact Amy York at ayork@mtsu.edu.

Man walked on the Moon 40 years ago

July 20, 2009 will mark the 40th anniversary of man walking on the Moon.

Apollo 11 was the first manned mission to land on the Moon. A Saturn V rocket launched Apollo 11 from the Kennedy Space Center on July 16, 1969 carrying Mission Commander Neil Armstrong, Pilot Michael Collins, and Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin. On July 19 Apollo 11 passed behind the Moon. In the many orbits that followed, the crew saw their landing site, called the Sea of Tranquility.

On July 20, 1969 the lunar module Eagle separated from the command module Columbia and descended toward the moon. After they landed on the surface Armstrong said the famous words, "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.”

Armstrong made his descent to the Moon's surface and spoke his famous line "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" exactly six and a half hours after landing. Aldrin joined him, describing the view as "Magnificent desolation."

After more than 2½ hours on the lunar surface, they left behind scientific instruments, an American flag, an Apollo 1 mission patch, a plaque bearing two drawings of Earth, an inscription, and signatures of the astronauts and Richard Nixon. The inscription read Here Men From The Planet Earth First Set Foot Upon the Moon, July 1969 A.D. We Came in Peace For All Mankind. They also left behind a memorial bag containing a gold replica of an olive branch as a traditional symbol of peace, the Apollo 1 patch, and a silicon message disk. The disk carries the goodwill statements by Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon and messages from leaders of 73 countries around the world.

Armstrong and Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the Moon, while Collins orbited above. The mission fulfilled President John F. Kennedy's goal of reaching the moon by the end of the 1960s, which he expressed during a speech given before a joint session of Congress on May 25, 1961:

"I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal,
before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning
him safely to the Earth."

In addition to throngs of people crowding highways and beaches near the launch site, millions watched the event on television.

NASA just released newly restored video from the July 20, 1969, live television broadcast of the Apollo 11 moonwalk. The release commemorates the 40th anniversary of the first mission to land astronauts on the moon. See the video here:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/hd/apollo11.html

Efficiently browsing the library stacks

Ever wanted to see what kind of books we have on philosophy, or photography, or the history of Africa? Curious about where the American literature is? If you've ever wanted to browse a topic without a specific book in mind, you might have been stumped about where to start looking. You can always stop by the reference desk on the 1st floor for help, but this guide to the Dewey Decimal System will also get you started. Here is a sample of the guide from the 100s (Philosophy and Psychology) on the 2nd floor.

100 Philosophy
110 Metaphysics
120 Epistemology
130 Parapsychology & occultism
140 Philosophical schools of thought
150 Psychology
160 Logic
170 Ethics
180 Ancient, medieval & eastern philosophy
190 Modern western philosophy

As always, let us know if you need any help.

TRACFed analyzes Sotomayor's record

The Sotomayor confirmation hearings start today. TRACFed has provided a "case-by-case examination of the sentences imposed by Judge Sonia Sotomayor during her six years as a trial judge in the Southern District of New York."


TRACFed is a library subscribed web-based service for understandable, authoritative and complete information about the federal government - how it enforces the law, where it assigns its employees, and how it spends our money. Keep up with other TRACFed reports with TRAC RSS feeds.

View the Sotomayor report.

Summer Reading

Many new bestsellers have been recently added to the New Book shelves. Look for your favorite fiction writers like Elmore Leonard, Clive Cussler, Danielle Steel, Michael Connelly, and others. New non-fiction includes books by and about sports figures such as A-Rod and Bill Russell, cookbooks, diet books, and many other topics.

The New Books shelf is in the first floor Periodicals area, near the magazine rack.

Genealogy Workshop Tuesday

Rutherford County Genealogist Susan Daniel will lead a genealogy research workshop featuring historical and genealogical documents and indexes compiled by Works Progress Administration staff during the Great Depression.

The workshop will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7 in the Linebaugh Library Historical Research Room. Ms. Daniel will guide participants through the vast collection of books and microfilm available in the Library's collection and help with genealogical research questions. Participants are asked to bring pencil and paper. This workshop is free and open to the public (adults only, please).

This program is presented in conjunction with Soul of a People: Writing America's Story. Soul of a People programs in libraries are sponsored by the American Library Association Public Programs Office, with the support of a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Great ideas brought to life.

Linebaugh Public Library
105 W. Vine St., Murfreesboro TN 37130, 615-893-4131
hours: Mon-Thurs 9 am - 9 pm; Fri-Sat 9 am - 5 pm; Sun 1 pm - 6 pm

ScienceDirect expanded with new content

Walker Library recently upgraded its subscription to ScienceDirect to obtain online access to additional titles. Our e-journal "Freedom Collection" now includes well over 2000 journal titles from Elsevier, Academic Press, Cell Press, American Psychological Association, Pergamon and others.

Don't let the title of this database fool you. The journals are relevant to the sciences, medicine, social sciences and humanities. To find titles that may be of interest to you, go to our ScienceDirect home and browse journals in your discipline from the left hand panel. To determine if we have online access to the complete articles for titles of interest, either check the "Full text available" box or watch for the little green key that indicates online content.

While ScienceDirect has a functional interface for searching you don't have to go there to find articles of interest. The high quality journals in ScienceDirect are indexed and abstracted in most general and discipline-specific databases, such as Academic Search Premier, Biosis Previews or Social Services Abstracts. When working in other databases the button will usually send you directly to the relevant article in ScienceDirect. ScienceDirect articles are downloadable as pdf files, with complete content provided.

If all this sounds good but you need a little help getting started you may want to view a short presentation on the basics. Of course you're always welcome to come by the Reference desk to get some pointers as well. Note to instructors: our librarians will be glad to conduct training classes for your students.

New MLA Handbook

The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th edition, was released this spring. The most significant change is that MLA calls for listing the medium of publication (print, Web, television, etc.) for every citation.

Other changes include:

• simplified format for citing Web publications
• new citation format for graphic narratives
• new citation format for digital files
• no requirement to include a URL for a Web publication, unless the citation information does not easily lead readers to the site
  
• inclusion of volume and issue number for every journal article cited
• new instructions for preparing figure, tables, and captions
  

Visit the 1st floor reference desk to borrow a copy of the MLA Handbook to use in the library.

Or, if you buy your own copy, MLA provides an activation code for the Handbook Web site, where you can browse the complete contents of the print volume and see additional citation examples.

Here are a few online citation guides that incorporate the seventh edition changes:

• Dixie State College of Utah MLA Citation Guide
• Duke University Libraries: Assembling a List of Works Cited in Your Paper
• Scottsdale Community College MLA Citation Guide

p.s. APA users, don't rest easy thinking you're off the hook. The sixth edition of the APA Publication Manual is on its way!

Holiday Weekend Hours

Walker Library will be closed Friday and Saturday, July 3-4, in observance of Independence Day.

The library will reopen at 2:00 pm on Sunday, July 5.
Happy Fourth of July!

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photo credit: ayblazerman on Flickr

CAMIO Art Image Database

MTSU Walker Library now subscribes to CAMIO--Catalog of Art Museum Images Online. CAMIO contains about 95,000 images of fine and decorative art that you can present in the classroom, download for research and study, and use to illustrate papers and other assignments. It includes works ranging from 3000 BCE to the present day, including difficult-to-find contemporary art.

If you are not already familiar with this easy-to-use resource, try it by following this link or visit the Research Gateway Databases A-Z page. For a preview, you can look at sample records here.

Anyone in the library can use CAMIO by following the link above. Off-campus use is restricted to current MTSU students and employees, and requires use of a Pipeline username and password.

If you have questions about CAMIO or our other electronic resources, please ask a librarian.

African American Genealogy Workshop

Award-winning author John F. Baker, Jr., will present a workshop on doing African American genealogy as told through his own genealogical research which produced his recently published book, The Washingtons of Wessyngton Plantation: Stories of My Family’s Journey to Freedom. The workshop will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2009, from 9:00am until 10:30am at the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA), located at 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville.

The workshop is free and open to the public.

Baker discovered the story of his ancestors quite by accident when he saw a photograph of four former slaves, entitled “Black Tennesseans,” in a seventh grade social studies book. Later he learned that two of them were his grandmother’s grandparents. Baker has lived his entire life just a few miles from Wessyngton Plantation in a town populated by hundreds of descendants of its former slaves. For more than thirty years, he has been researching, conducting interviews, and collecting photographs and information about them and the hundreds of others enslaved on the plantation.

Baker has written extensively on Wessyngton and the lives of African Americans there. The National Historical Home submission, Families and Cabins: Archaeological and Historical Investigations at Wessyngton Plantation included his paper, which earned him a national history award from the American Association for State and Local History.

Those wishing to attend the workshop must contact TSLA to reserve a seat as the number of attendees is limited. Reservations can be made via e-mail to workshop.tsla@tn.gov. Patrons can also register by telephone by calling 615-741-2764. Parking is available in front, on the side, and in back of the Library and Archives building.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
TSLA Public Services
403 Seventh Ave North
Nashville, TN 37243
Fax: 615-741-6471

Moo! It's June Dairy Month

You may have missed the activities at Rutherford County’s June Dairy Day, but there are still a few days left in Dairy Month. Your dairy-loving librarian has a few titles to recommend in honor of Tennessee's official state beverage:

Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages (2008, Knopf). Anne Mendelson relates a history of milk and dairy production that spans the globe and dates back to 6000 BC. The second half of the book is devoted to fresh dairy recipes from around the world, each with a short history of the dish.

Nature’s Perfect Food: How Milk Became America’s Drink (2002, New York University Press). E. Melanie DuPois, sociology professor at University of California Santa Cruz, tells the social history of milk in America by focusing on consumption and production. From the rise of cow’s milk as a popular infant food through arguments about bovine growth hormone, DuPois tells a fascinating story.

Chocolate, Strawberry, and Vanilla: A History of American Ice Cream (1995, Bowling Green U Press). Both comfort food and celebratory treat, ice cream hold a firm place in American cuisine. Anne Cooper Funderburg relates how a once expensive indulgence became a fixture in modern society.

For young (and young at heart) readers:

The Amazing Milk Book (1991, Addison-Wesley). Catherine Ross and Susan Wallace provide both instruction and fun facts in this activity book. Generously placed illustrations supplement recipes like leche frita (fried milk) and dairy experiments such as exploding milk.

Ice Cream (2002, Greenwillow). Elisha Cooper tells how ice cream gets “from MOO to you.” Cooper’s watercolors and mix of humor and information make this book a winner for all ages.

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photo credit: striatic on Flickr

Library Privileges for MTSU Alumni

Walker Library serves all of the MTSU community, including alumni. MTSU alumni can check out up to four items at a time, for a period of four weeks. Items may be renewed for an additional four-week period. More information is available on the circulation policies page.

Alumni are also free to use the library's article databases and other electronic resources while in the library. For off-campus access to electronic resources, all Tennessee residents can use TEL, the Tennessee Electronic Library. Just visit http://www.tntel.info.

TEL resources include:

• HeritageQuest Online - Family history, genealogy and census records
• LearningExpress Library - Test preparation, job search and workplace skills
• Tennessee Newspapers - Memphis, Chattanooga and Knoxville papers
• EBSCO Points of View - Essays, articles, and multimedia on controversial topics
• GALE databases - Article databases with access to newspapers, magazines and academic journals. Specialized resources like What Do I Read Next? and Literature Resource Center

The TEL Web site should not request login credentials if you are using an Internet connection originating in Tennessee. Feel free to talk to the library reference desk if you have questions.

Vampires and Manifestos: Featured New Books

Another vampire book by J.R. Ward, Lover Avenged, a scary romance thriller about vampire warriors in......a novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

For those of us of the human species, there are several new books on getting the most out of our mortal lives. The Think Big Manifesto says, Think you can't change your life and the world, Think again. Stand for something before someone stands on you. For a little inspiration, read Showing Up for Life by Bill Gates Sr.

And The Girls from Ames is a wonderful story of eleven childhood friends from Ames, Iowa and their forty-year friendship.

Resources for Visiting Art Students

Students at the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts are MTSU's special guests this month. And Governor's School visual arts students are even more special. How could that be, you ask?

Well, Mr. Sturgill brought his class of visual art students to visit the library, so we created this research guide to provide links to the resources we discussed during the visit. Happy researching!

ps - The guide is available to any art researcher, not just Governor's School students. If art isn't your thing, try one of our other subject guides or ask a librarian.

Text a Librarian

Heading to campus and want to make sure we're open? Lost in the book stacks and need a call number? Wondering if we have your textbook on reserve? You can now text us your library question. Here are the instructions:

1. Send a text to 265010
2. The message should start with our AIM buddy name (libmtsu) and a colon., followed by your question
3. Example - libmtsu: What is the call number for the book Blink?

You will receive replies as separate text messages. Standard charges apply, based on your cell phone plan.

If we don't answer right away, we may be assisting other users at the reference desk. The quickest way to contact us in that case would be to call us at 615-898-2817.

All of our contact options, including chat and IM, are on our Need Help page.

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photo credit: Pieter Ouwerkerk on Flickr

What is Wolfram|Alpha?

Wolfram|Alpha is a web resource that specializes in providing data and computations on a whole range of topics. “Enter your question or calculation, and Wolfram|Alpha uses its built-in algorithms and a growing collection of data to compute the answer.”
Check out this demo, and we think you’ll agree that it’s very cool: Wolfram|Alpha demo.
Give it a try and let us know how you used it!

New Room! - Heritage Quest Training session

Due to a high level of interest in this session, the room has been changed to BAS 137 -E, which is in the BAS lab.
The library will be hosting a training session on the Tennessee Electronic Library's ancestry database, Heritage Quest.
The training session will be Tuesday, 6/16/09 from 3:15-4:30 in BAS 137-E. It will be conducted by Linda Cubias of Proquest. If you are interested in ancestry or historical research, we hope to see you there.

Textbook Rentals

Many textbooks are very expensive, and we at the library feel your pain. The library works hard to support MTSU classes with supplemental materials, but we cannot purchase all courses’ textbooks for placement on Walker Library course reserve. It is always disheartening to send away a desperate student “empty-handed” when we know you have a tight budget and possibly an exam the next day requiring access to a textbook.

Recognizing the dilemma that many students face with textbook purchases, new businesses have found a niche in textbook rentals. MyBookHead.com was started by a former MTSU student and offers students an alternative to purchasing expensive textbooks that may only be utilized by faculty one or two times during the course of a semester. MyBookHead.com has partnered with numerous college/campus bookstores throughout the country. Locally, it is partnered with the Blue Raider Bookstore and Beat the Bookstore. Rental fees are usually 10-15% per day of the book’s selling price. For a book that sells for $100.00, a typical rental fee would be $15.00 for three days.

Other textbook rental options include Chegg.com, which mails books directly to a student rather than working through a bookstore and offers discounted semester-long rentals, as does Bookrenter.com.

Angry about high textbook prices? Worried that it's only going to get worse? Feel like it's time for a change? So do governmental groups, university systems, and public interest research groups. Tell someone what you think. Try university administration and your state and federal legislators.

Enjoy! Summer Reading

Enjoy! Summer Reading

Settle down with a nice cup of bush tea and enjoy the latest adventures of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency in Tea Time for the Traditionally Built. In this novel, a local football team needs Precious Ramotswe to explain why they are having a dreadful losing streak and Mma. Makutsi discovers an old rival has her sights set on her fiancé.

Or, would you rather visit Bon Temps, Louisiana and look in on the latest adventures of Sookie Stackhouse with her vamp friends and the local Were pack in Dead and Gone.

Read The Language of Bees by Laurie King about Mary Russell and her husband Sherlock Holmes solving a case that will push their relationship to the breaking point.

Stone Barrington is back in a tropical thriller, set in Key West, where appearances can be deceiving…and dangerous in this latest from Stuart Woods, Loitering with Intent

As San Francisco’s most glamorous millionaires mingle at the party of the year, someone is watching—waiting…Finally, the killer pinpoints the ideal moment and it’s the perfect murder. Not a trace of evidence is left behind in their glamorous home. The new episode of the Women’s Murder Club by James Patterson, The 8th Confession.

Another book by Lisa Jackson, Malice. The scent is unmistakable…Opening his eyes in the hospital room where he’s recovering, New Orleans detective Rick Bentz sees her standing in the doorway. Then Jennifer blows him a kiss and disappears. But it couldn’t have been Jennifer. She died twelve years ago……and so the mystery thriller begins……

And now for a change of pace in Debbie Macomber’s Summer on Blossom Street where life is a lot like knitting, dropped stitches and all at the new class, called Knit to Quit for people who want to quit something ….or someone…and start a new phase of their lives.