Muntz Library New Website Goes Live!

The UT Tyler Robert R. Muntz Library has launched its new website today. The new design is more consistent with the university’s more streamlined and dynamic look. In addition, our new website allows us to incorporate some new features that our patrons have requested or that they may find useful. For instance:

• We are currently running a trial on a new search engine. The library is running a trial of EBSCO’s Discovery Service, search tool that searches a broad range of the library’s resources. Now,  you can use one single search box, and you can get access to a variety of resources.
• Streamlined menus. On the left hand side, you have links to the library’s services and units.
• Under the slide show, right next to the image of Swoop, our campus mascot, you will find additional research links.

Our Systems Department continues to work hard to improve our online presence and thus provide our campus community with excellent service and access to our resources. We encourage our campus community to visit our new website, to try out the features, and to send us your comments. You can comment here on the library blog or you can e-mail us at library@uttyler.edu.

Wikipedia and other sites to go dark for 24 hrs on Wed. 1/18/12

On Wednesday, January 18, 2012, (US time) the English language Wikipedia will shut down for 24 hours in protest against the proposed SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act; the Senate version is called PIPA, the Protect IP Act)) in the US. Other language versions should stay available. The action is in protest against SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) that is working its way through the House. Other sites are planning protests as well, including going dark.

In brief, SOPA advocates stopping piracy by making it possible to “blacklist” or shut down any website that may host pirated content. Critics of the act, which include some major website operators, argue that this will cripple Internet sites as well as censor access to information given the broad nature of the act.

To learn more about SOPA and RWA, another act that could affect scholars and library researchers, here are some helpful links:

• This is the Wikimedia Foundation’s Press Release. Wikimedia runs Wikipedia: http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Press_releases/English_Wikipedia_to_go_dark.
• Here is a helpful article by Bob Sullivan from MSNBC on the topic, http://redtape.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/13/10151672-sopa-opponents-gaining-momentum-wikipedia-to-join-blackout.
• Here is a more scholarly article from the Stanford Law Review: http://www.stanfordlawreview.org/online/dont-break-internet.
• An interesting angle here, Eric Hellman on how even foreign sites could become infringing sites http://go-to-hellman.blogspot.com/2012/01/foreign-libraries-will-be-infringing.html.
• And if you wish to take action, such as contacting your legislators, the Electronic Frontier Foundation has a resource page: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/12/fight-blacklist-toolkit-anti-sopa-activists.

On a related note, the RWA (Research Works Act) is another act making its way through Congress as well. This one should be of interest to our faculty as well as students and other scholars. Deborah Fitchett, writing for the University of Canterbury Library, explains that the act “would make open access mandates like the NIH mandate illegal – meaning more research would be locked behind publisher paywalls instead of being in institutional or subject discipline repositories.” She offers links to “a thorough roundup of blogposts on this, including discussions of which publishers are behind it and supporting it, and what researchers can do about it.”

As of this writing, here is a small summary of where the legislation stands, via Mashable.

As always, if you have other questions or would like to learn more, you can also visit your library where one of the librarians will be happy to help answer all your questions. Or, you can visit our website for other ways to contact us.

A big tip of the hat to Laura Crossett for post idea and language use.

Muntz Library Special Hours for Winter Break 2011

The UT Tyler Robert R. Muntz Library announces the following special hours for the 2011 Winter Break:

Saturday December 17: CLOSED

Sunday December 18: CLOSED

 

Monday December 19-Friday December 23: 8:00am-5:00pm

Saturday December 24 (Christmas Eve): CLOSED

Sunday December 25 (Christmas Day): CLOSED

 

Monday December 26-Friday December 30: CLOSED

Saturday December 31 (New Year’s Eve): CLOSED

Sunday January 1, 2012 (New Year’s Day): CLOSED

 

Monday January 2-Friday January 6: 8:00am-5:00pm

Saturday January 7: CLOSED

Sunday January 8: CLOSED

Monday January 11-Wednesday January 11: 8:00am-5:00pm

 

We will resume regular semester hours on Thursday January 12, 2012.

Please note that hours may be subject to change. To verify hours, you can call the Reference Desk at 903-566-7343 or visit our website at http://library.uttyler.edu.

 

Winter Reading Display at Muntz Library

A while back, we put up a small display on the books that inspired a President, a display of books that inspired President Obama as a young man. This was based on a list provided by McNally Jackson books. There is always some interest in reading circles when it comes to what our political leaders may be reading. So when we saw a small feature on President Obama’s family winter reading, via the Fine Books Magazine blog, we decided to put a small display to bring this small piece of book news to life. The piece is about how the President took his daughters shopping for books on the Saturday after Black Friday. We wanted to show our patrons some of these books, which include some good children’s classics. In addition, we are hoping our readers might find an idea or two for their own winter reading.

The display is located now on the second floor of the library near the Reference Area. The books featured include selections for adults and children. The books in the case are available to be checked out, so if anyone wishes to take one of the books, feel free to ask at the Circulation Desk. We will be happy to open the display case and let you take the book.

The following books are featured in our display case. You can view the complete list at the link from Fine Books Magazine blog. We are including the call numbers and links to the library catalog for the books featured in the display so you can find them later as well:

• The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz. This novel won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize. Call number: General Collection PS3554 .I259 B75 2007.
• The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. This is the classic children’s novel that many parents have read and often share with their own children. Call number: General Collection PS3560.U8 P5 1961.
• Zen Shorts by John J. Muth. This is a cute children’s book that features a Taoist panda that teaches children about ways to look at the world. Call number: CML Easy Fiction M9925ZE.
• Descent into Chaos by Ahmed Rashid. This is a book about the United States and nation building in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia. If you wish to have a better understanding of this region and how the U.S. is engaging in the area, this may be a good book to read. Call number: General Collection DS371.4 .R37 2008.
• The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. This is the book that inspired this years holiday movie Hugo directed by Martin Scorcese. It is the story of George Melies and a collection of automata. Call number: CML Juvenile S4698IN .

What about you? What are you planning on reading during the winter break? Feel free to comment and share.

 

Library Offers Extended Hours for Finals Week Fall 2011

"Christmas...time." Photo from Flickr user Myrrien. Used by terms of Creative Commons license

The UT Tyler Robert R. Muntz Library continues the tradition. We will open extended hours during Finals Week to help our students study and prepare for their final exams and projects. We will offer free hot coffee and cocoa during the extended hours in the evening starting on Sunday December 11 and go until Thursday December 15.

In addition, Library Room 401 has been book for students to use as a QUIET study area. For the specific times 401 is open for study hours, click on this link: http://libguides.uttyler.edu/401studyhours.

We want to remind students that they will need to have their P2 cards (student ID) on hand. After midnight, only students with a valid P2 card will be allowed in the library during Finals Week.

Library Special Hours for Finals Week Fall 2011:

Thursday December 8: 7:30am- 12midnight (Regular hours)

Friday December 9: 7:30am-8:00pm (note extended time)

Saturday December 10: 10:00am-7:00pm (note special Saturday time)

Sunday December 11: 1:00pm-2:00am (start of Finals extended hours)

Monday December 12: 7:30am-2:00am

Tuesday December 13: 7:30am-2:00am

Wednesday December 14: 7:30am-2:00am

Thursday December 15: 7:30am-2:00am

Friday December 16: 7:30am-5:00pm (regular hours)

For more information, you may call the Reference Desk at 903-566-7343 or send an e-mail to library AT uttyler DOT edu (just replace the appropriate symbols as needed).

 

Muntz Library Hours for Thanksgiving Break 2011

The UT Tyler Robert R. Muntz Library announces the following special hours for the Thanksgiving holiday:

Wednesday November 23, 2011: 7:30am-5:00pm

Thursday November 24, 2011: CLOSED

Friday November 25, 2011: CLOSED

We will resume regular hours on Saturday November 26, 2011. Please note hours are subject to change, especially for Wednesday 11/23. We suggest calling ahead to verify hours. You can call us at 903-566-7343.

Have a safe and happy holiday.

Library features display for Veterans Day 2011

The UT Tyler Robert R. Muntz Library featuring a book and photo display in observance of Veterans Day in the second floor. Starting out as Armistice Day to honor the armistice that ended World War I on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, this holiday has evolved to become a day to honor veterans, whether they served during war or during peacetime, living or having made the ultimate sacrifice, for their service to the nation.

The following books are currently on display with call numbers. These books are just a very small sampling of the many books we have available on this topic:

• Anderson, Donald, When War Becomes Personal: Soldiers’ Accounts from the Civil War to Iraq. General Collection E181 .W565 2008.
• Benedict, Helen, The Lonely Soldier: The Private War of Women Serving in Iraq. General Collection DS 79.76 .B445 2009.
• Buckley, Gail Lumet, American Patriots: the Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert Storm. General Collection E185.63 .B93 2002.
• Bunting, Eve, The Wall. CML Easy Fiction B9425WA.
• Estes, Steve, Ask & Tell: Gay and Lesbian Veterans Speak Out. General Collection UB418 .G38 E77 2007.
• Ybarra, Lea, Vietnam Veteranos: Chicanos Recall the War. General Collection DS 559.8 M39 Y23 2004.

 

This display will run until the end of November. As always, the books inside the display case are available for checkout. If you are affiliated to the university (or you have a courtesy card), you can request to check out any book in the display case. Just stop by the reference or circulation desks, and we will be happy to open the case.

November is Native American Heritage Month: Book Display and Some Resources

November is Native American Heritage Mont (link to official federal site from the Library of Congress and other agencies). The UT Tyler Robert R. Muntz Library is featuring a small book and materials display in the library’s second floor. This year we focused on Native American literature, and we have books for children and adults. As always,books in the display case are available for checkout. Simply let us know at the Circulation Desk, and we will be happy to open the case for you. Don’t worry. We can always put another book in; we do want people to read our books.

 

The following books, with call numbers, are featured in the second floor display case this year:

• Alexie, Sherman, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. General Collection PS 3551 .L35774 L66 1994.
• Erdrich, Louise, The Game of Silence. CML Young Adult Fiction E 665GA.
• Erdrich, Louise, Love Medicine. General Collection PS 3555 .R42 L6 1993A.
• Goble, Paul, The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses. CML Juvenile G 5755G.
• Hillerman, Tony, Dance Hall of the Dead. CML Young Adult Fiction H852DA.
• Martin Bill, and John Archambault, Knots on a Counting Rope. CML Easy Fiction M 3792KN.
• Welch, James, Fools Crow. General Collection PS 3573 .E44 F66 1978B.

These books are just a small sampling of the various selections we offer in Native American literature.

We are also featuring here on the blog a list of links to resources about Native Americans for our readers to explore and learn more:

• Find at this link a copy of Mr. Obama’s Presidential Proclamation for Native American Heritage Month.
• President Obama’s White House has compiled a list of resources within U.S. federal agencies related to Native Americans.
• The U.S. Census Bureau has put together a Facts for Features piece with facts and figures for American Indians and Alaska Natives. For example, did you know there are 15 states with more than 100,000 American Indian and Alaska Native residents as of the 2010 Census? Texas is one of those 15 states. Can you name the others? In addition, the Census Bureau also makes available various data sets related to American Indian and Alaska Natives that may be of interest to researchers and students.
• The Law Library of Congress has a research help feature on Native American Heritage Month with emphasis on legislative issues.
• The Office of Minority Health, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has a set of profiles and demographic data on American Indians and Alaska Natives.
• This one may be useful to teachers. The EDSITEment website, a project of the National Endowment for the Humanities, offers various lesson plans related to Native American Heritage Month.
• The American Indian College Fund has a small list of ways to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. One of the suggestions is to read a book about Native American history. This list we created has a few suggestions to get you started. As always, we are happy to offer other reading suggestions as well. Just stop by the reference desk or visit our library website for other ways to contact us.
• The National History Education Clearinghouse has a small quiz on Native American photography. Can you identify members of a specific Native American tribe or group by their clothing and appearance on a photograph? Keep in mind that often photos were staged by photographers for various reasons. The quiz is meant to help people learn to ask questions about photos.
• You can listen to oral histories, information on Native American cultural values, and other educational issues at Wisdom of the Elders, a project that includes a radio series, publications, storytelling, and other preservation projects.
• Want to see what other libraries are doing? The Programming Librarian blog has a round-up post with links to what other libraries around the nation are doing for the month plus other resources.

Still need some ideas of what to read? In addition to the link we offered above, here are some other reading lists. We can help you locate any of the books listed in our library. If we do not have a particular library book, and you are affiliated to our university, we will be happy to place a request from another library via our ILLiad Interlibrary Loan System. Never used ILLiad before? It’s very easy to use. Feel free to ask us how. This is just a small sampling of reading lists available online.

• The National Education Association (NEA) has a Native American Booklist broken down by grade level. You can find a book here for your children or for yourself.
• This is the reading list from the County of Los Angeles Public Library.
• And here is the reading list from Galway Public Library (note: PDF file).

Upcoming online workshops in October 2011: Learn from your desk

The UT Tyler Robert R. Muntz Library announces the following online workshops this month:

Online Web of Knowledge Workshop with Reference Librarians Jessica Graves and Anthony Micchelli

Wednesday October 19, 2011 @ 2:30pm

Participants will be guided through Web of Science’s search features and functionalities in this hour-long workshop.

• Participants will be guided through Web of Science’s search features and functionalities in this hour-long workshop.
• Participants will become familiar with EndNote Web
• Participants can join the session 30 minutes before the event.
• Use the link to attend the online workshop: http://bit.ly/webofsciencefall2011

Online RefWorks Workshop with Reference Librarians Jessica Graves and Anthony Micchelli

Wednesday October 26 @ 3:00pm

Participants will be guided through RefWork’s features, tools and functionalities in this hour-long workshop

• How to import references from  EBSCOHost, Wiley Online Library (Cochrane), JSTOR, and OvidSP Nursing Collections 1 & Premier Collections Databases
• Participants can join the session 30 minutes before the event.
• Use the link to attend the online workshop: http://bit.ly/refworksfall2011

For more information, you may call the library reference desk at 903-566-7343 or send us an e-mail to library AT uttyler DOT edu.

Help Us Serve You Better. Take a moment and complete our survey

A Note from Our Library Director:

On Monday October 10, 2011, the UT Tyler Robert R. Muntz Library will again participate in the national library quality survey called “LibQual”.  We have participated twice before and do so only every three years.

This survey gives us lots of valuable feedback.  Based on comments from the first time we did the survey, we added more computers and expanded library hours.  The second time we did the survey we tried to address the noise issues that many patrons brought up.  As a result, we established the red and green “zones” and also added soundproofing to the group study rooms.

Starting on Monday, you’ll see posters around campus and other marketing material.  You’ll also see a link on the Library’s website and within Blackboard.

This year we are participating in the LITE version of the online survey, so takers will receive a random selection of the questions.  For patrons who may prefer to fill out a paper copy of the survey, we will make some print copies available at the Reference desk for distribution if anyone asks for it.  Please note that all surveys are anonymous.  Any email addresses submitted for prize eligibility are totally separated from the submissions.

We strongly encourage the University community to take the survey. As a small participation incentive, we’ll be giving away campus dining gift cards (12 campus dining gift cards worth $25 each) and gift cards to the Campus Bookstore (1 each of $200, $150, $75, $50, $25).

The Library Quality Survey will run for three weeks, October 10-October 28^th.

For questions or further information, patrons may contact Jeanne Standley, Library Director at jstandley AT uttyler DOT edu or at 903-566-7351 or any of our other librarians.