Monday, August 31, 2009

Finding CD-ROMS

Currently, the Library houses circulating and non-circulating cd-roms in two different places. The Circulation Desk keeps general material that can be loaned for 2 hours in-house and CD-ROMS that can circulate for one week. The Instructional Resource Center houses non-circulating or restricted curriculum resources on CD-ROM.

To help you figure out where to go to get a CD-ROM title you have found, please make sure you are looking at the full view of an item record. The first line -- titled "holdings" -- will show you where the actual item is located. Further information about whether the item can be circulated or not will be in the local notes line.

You can get all sorts of information about any title if you are looking at the full view of the record instead of a list of items.

Ann

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Welcome New Students!

Welcome to Morton Library - your library. Our Circulation staff would like to meet you and give you your new library access card (please bring your driver's license for identification). Also, we'll be glad to give you a brief overview of the library (borrowing privileges, etc...) before your more detailed library orientation in early September.

Let us know if you have any questions about your library. We're here to help, so please ask. We're glad you're here!

Rachel

Friday, August 14, 2009

The Free Table Overflows...

We're finishing up some work with an inventory project in the IRC and our loss is your gain. There is some good, older curricula that is out on the free table for your taking. There's even enough right now that the box underneath the table holds even more goodies you can have!

We didn't remove the security strips, so if you get stopped by the ringing bells at circulation, just show the staff the "remove from collection" stamp on every piece.

Help yourself!

Friday, August 7, 2009

Audio Library Tour is coming.......

For years, part of the orientation schedule for new students and faculty members has been a walking tour of the Library. Scheduling the tour for everyone at BTSR and Union-PSCE during an already packed week has always been a challenge, but since the library is one of the most important resources available to the community, it's well worth the time to offer the tour. But we know that in all the rush of that week, sometimes you just want to sit for awhile and not go to one more scheduled event! So this year, we're offering a new way to be introduced to the Library that YOU schedule at a time convenient for you.

We have been working on a podcast that you can sync to an mp3 player and that leads you on your own personal tour of the Library. You don't get to hear from the library staff as you do in a scheduled orientation tour (although we will wave at you if we see you walk through our areas with earphones on), but you will see what is offered on each floor and hear about services you will use as a student or faculty member.

If you don't have your own mp3 player, don't worry. The library plans to have a few that patrons can use. We hope this will be one more way to introduce you to a wonderful library.

The podcast isn't quite ready for prime time yet, but watch the news area of the library web page (and this blog) for more information about when you can begin using it.

Ann

Monday, August 3, 2009

More about summer reading

Most people know that our collection specializes in theological studies. But we also own quite a bit of quality fiction. Dr. Trotti teaches a class, INT 108 "Theology and Literature," that explores themes of faith and meaning in works of fiction.

Our collection includes classic texts with a Christian orientation, such as the works of C.S. Lewis, as well as current works that touch upon belief and religious life in community -- for example, books by Jan Karon, William Young or Sue Monk Kidd. There are also studies of the work of novelists that shed light on their thought, such as The Gospel According to Harry Potter by C.W. Neal.

Use our catalog to find these books, or just browse the shelves in the BZ section.

Paula

Friday, July 31, 2009

More Online Resources

Several months ago, I posted about a few online resources that I thought might be helpful for those who are responsible for planned educational experiences. As this whole area continues to be one that publishers are embracing and in which church members are interested, I thought I'd give you a few more. We're also in conversation with an ecumenical group of resource directors around the country to post reviews on the IRC website related to online resources. We hope that will be something you can use.

Whole People of God Online - Coming out of the United Church of Canada, this was a very popular lectionary based curriculum that merged with The Inviting Word to become Seasons of the Spirit in 2005. Some of the best of the original material is still available for download online and seeks to integrate worship and education through the coordinated use of the lectionary.

Infusion Bible Studies - Available at Cokesbury for a year long subscription or purchase by individual unit, these can be found by book of the Bible or theme. Each one week study is $8.00.

Ann

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Summer Reading

Weekly we add new books to our "For Sale" bookshelves, located next to the Circulation desk. These gently used books have been donated by local ministers and laypersons. Stop by and check out our current selection of commentaries, sermons, and Bible dictionaries. Paperbacks are fifty cents and hardbacks are one dollar.

Rachel