Biweekly Update from the Library
5/9/08
Word on the Street
How has the library’s new electronic reserve system helped you?
Steve Coutinho
Assistant Professor of Philosophy
“Student access to texts was made easy, wherever and whenever they wanted it.”
The system became transparent, perfectly natural: “part of the furniture,” we were “not even aware” of it as something out of the ordinary.
“Everything went so smoothly, we never had to worry about what was going on behind the scenes.”
Read more:
When Coutinho was planning his seminar for spring 2008, Language, Culture and Philosophical Difference, he was concerned about the difficulty of access to appropriate readings. The relevant readings were scattered throughout various academic press books that together would make excellent reading material, but he wasn’t sure how best to make the readings available to his students. Not all books were currently in print, and the total cost of obtaining all books would have been prohibitively expensive.
In conversation with library staff, Coutinho learned that Chris Brady, Reserves Assistant, would do all the legwork in compiling the texts, requesting permission from copyright holders as needed, and digitizing and posting the articles. As Coutinho said afterward, “Everything went so smoothly, we never had to worry about what was going on behind the scenes.”
Coutinho’s case shows how the e-reserve system helps the college remain copyright compliant while efficiently and conveniently providing the necessary reading materials to students. After Brady contacted one academic press, they gave permission for Coutinho to use as much reading as he needed to for his course, without paying copyright fees. In another case, fees were paid, budgeted expressly for that purpose by the Provost’s Office.
Infomaniac Tip of the Week
Infomaniac sez…
Check out the 12th Annual Webby Award winners (http://webbyawards.com/webbys/). Webby Winners are chosen by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences and represent the best of the Web. A few of this year’s winners:
- Best Magazine: National Geographic Magazine Online (http://ngm.com)
- Best Music: BBC Radio 1 Meet the DJs (http://agencyrepublic.net/awards/webby_awards_2008/radio1meet.php)
- Best News: NYTimes.com (http://nytimes.com/)
- Best Politics: FactCheck.org (http://www.FactCheck.org)
- Best Science: nature.com (http://www.nature.com)
Calendar of Events
5/9: Meditation Group (Trexler Library Rare Books Room, 5:00PM-6:00PM)
Open to the public. Call x3602 to confirm.5/15: Google Docs Workshop, led by Kelly Cannon (Trexler Library Information Commons, 4:00PM-5:00PM).
Note: Seating is still available for this session. RSVP to jarson@muhlenberg.edu by Monday, May 12.5/16: Google Docs Workshop, led by Kelly Cannon (Trexler Library Information Commons, 9:00AM-10:00AM).
Note: This session is filled.5/19: “Notables” Book Discussion Group: “Devil in the White City” (Trexler Library Rare Books Room, 12:00PM-1:00PM).
Open to the public. RSVP to kcannon@muhlenberg.edu.6/6: Campus Copyright Policy Meeting (Trexler Library Curriculum Lab, 10:00AM-12:00PM)
6/23: “Notables” Book Discussion Group: “The Cleft” (Trexler Library Rare Books Room, 12:00PM-1:00PM).
Open to the public. RSVP to kcannon@muhlenberg.edu.INTERSESSION LIBRARY HOURS:
Saturday, May 10 – Sunday May 11: CLOSED
Monday, May 12 – Friday, May 16: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 17 – Sunday, May: 19 CLOSED
Monday, May 19 – Tuesday, May 20: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
