Nominate Your Favorite Faculty

Please submit your nomination before September 29, 2006 for the Annual Faculty Library Award. The award honors a BSU faculty member who:

1. Motivates students to use the Library and its services
2. Creates assignments that encourage the use of Library resources
3. Regularly utilizes the Library and/or its resources
4. Cosults with Library faculty when appropriate to achieve educational goals
5. Shows appreciation of the Library and acts as its advocate.

Simply fill out an online nomination form or click on the link located on the Albertsons Library home page and tell us why you think this person meets one or more of the five points listed above. A list of previous award winners can be found here.

You may use the link more than once if you wish to nominate more than one candidate. More than one person can nominate the same candidate. Written nominations addressing the points above may also be mailed to Janice Burkholder or Albertsons Library, MS-1430.

Banned Books @thelibrary

Banned Books Week (September 23-30) "emphasizes the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them" (from the American Library Association website).

Some of the most challenged books include “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck, "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley, the Harry Potter series, and many more. Come check out our selection of Banned Books on the first floor of the library and take one home.

Meet Rick Stoddart

If you have that ‘deer in the headlights’ look regarding the wealth of resources and services available to you in the Albertsons Library…. well, so do I! My name is Rick Stoddart and I am a new librarian in the reference department.

Previously, I was a librarian at Georgia Southwestern State University, a small school in rural southwest Georgia. I possess an MLIS and MA in Communication Studies both from the University of Alabama. Surprisingly, I don’t have a Southern accent, but that is because I was born in California and have lived in Montana for many years.

Just let me say I can sympathize with you regarding the library seeming overwhelming at first, but myself and the other friendly staff of the Albertsons Library are here to help. I know I will be asking tons of questions until I figure out where everything is. Don’t worry; we can both get through this together.

Color me ‘happy to be at Boise State’.

Rick

Library Survey Results

Last Spring the Boise State University Libraries asked students, faculty, and staff to participate in a survey known as LibQUAL+. Thanks to all of you who took the time to take the survey. We will be using the results extensively as we review and improve our library services and collections.

The LibQUAL+ survey is an international standardized survey that to date has been used by over 700 libraries. The survey looks at how library users perceive whether a library is meeting expectations in three broad areas:

• Affect of Service
• Information Control
• Library as Place
  

Results are available for faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students, staff, and library staff. While the library received many positive comments and generally met user expectations, some areas did not meet the expectations of our users.

In particular, faculty satisfaction with the libraries’ collections and access to information resources did not meet expectations. As Boise State expands into new programs and faculty research areas, the need for strong collections and access to electronic journals and databases will continue to be one of great importance for the campus.

The full results of the Boise State University Libraries survey, including general comments, are available at: http://library.boisestate.edu/libqual/

For more information about the LibQUAL+ survey see:

http://www.libqual.org/

Questions or comments on the Boise State University Libraries LibQUAL+ survey? Please contact Marilyn K. Moody, Dean of University Libraries, or at 426-1234.

Question of the Week Winner

Anjuli is the newest winner of the Question of the Week contest sponsored by Albertsons Library and the Boise State University Bookstore.

A new question will be posted every Monday morning here, with the final question posted on November 6, 2006. Weekly winners will be randomly selected from appropriate responses the following Monday.

On November 13, 2006, a grand prize winner will be selected from all appropriate responses sent in over the 12 week period. You could be next!

Broncos @thelibrary

The exhibit windows of the Special Collections reading room in Albertsons Library are full of nothing but Broncos from now until Homecoming on October 7. Smiling broncos, snorting broncos, pensive broncos, laid-back broncos, cuddly broncos, fierce broncos, and blue and orange broncos. Broncos from the 1930s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s.

Special Collections has also put up a small web exhibit to share a few of the Broncos with the rest of the world. You can see the exhibit whenever the Library is open.

Alan Virta,
Head of Special Collections

Librarian on call at the Writing Center

Need research help but can't get to the Library? Head on up to the Writing Center and a librarian will help you!

Located in room 200 of the Liberal Arts building, the Writing Center helps BSU students, faculty and staff polish their writing skills, and now Memo Cordova, a Reference librarian at Albertsons Library, will be available to help you navigate your research needs each Monday, starting September 18, from 11 am to noon.

Stop by the Writing Center and say hello!