Now that the rest of the staff have had an opportunity to be heard on the blog (don't worry, you'll be hearing from them again), it's back to me for the last word of the year. Years from now, when I look back at 2009, I'll remember it as a year of excitement and hope...
[Cue hilarious/sentimental slide show, sappy music, and Wonder Years style voice over]
But seriously, a lot happened this year. In case you missed anything along the way, I just wanted to go through some of the things that 2009 brought with it for the Allen Library. These aren't really in any particular order, I just enjoy counting down (I also enjoy exclamation points, as you'll soon find out).
10. All of our public computers were updated to include Office 2007/2008. No more worrying about what to do with .docx files!
9. The University Libraries introduced a new format for our online subject guides, which are easier to read and offer more functionality. There are a lot of great Allen-related guides, so I hope everyone is taking advantage of them!
8. We held two very successful book/music sales, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. We're already starting to collect materials for next year!
7. The large seminar room was made more functional with the addition of a computer podium and a document camera. We're hoping to see some improvements to the small seminar room over winter break, so make sure to take a look when you're back in the Spring.
6. We received a very generous donation of books and score from Martha Hinrichsen that included (among many other things) a lot of 20th century works we didn't already have and a bunch of facsimiles of original manuscripts (Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Mozart's Don Giovanni, etc.). It will take awhile for all of this to be added to our collection, but we're very excited to have these new materials.
5. After years of only allowing books and scores out for three weeks at a time, we extended our general loan policy to four weeks. With the one renewal that is allowed, you can now keep books and scores out for eight weeks!
4. We started experimenting with more ways to keep in touch with you, our patrons, this year. The new Facebook page started in March and this blog started in February. We also introduced live reference chat (via Meebo) this year.
3. Koha. Our new library catalog. Love it or hate it, it has changed how we do a lot of things in the library. There are a lot of improvements on the horizon for this catalog, so stay tuned for more!
2. We brought on three new full-time staff members this year. Jenny started as Public Services Coordinator in January, Tracey started as Head in August, and Andrew received a promotion to full-time Cataloging Coordinator in November.
1. We got a new stapler!!! Okay, maybe this shouldn't be in the number one position, but have you tried it out yet? After years of rotating between staplers that each worked about 10% of the time, we finally have one that works every time, and with very little effort! Everyone who has used it has been very excited.
So that's a little bit of what happened in 2009 at the Allen Library. We have a lot of plans for 2010, so make sure you keep following the blog to stay up-to-date on everything that's going on. Enjoy the rest of the year, and we'll see you in 2010!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Help, I'm Lost!!!!
How many times has this happened to you? You're diligently searching the library's catalogue trying to find that score you need for your lesson tomorrow, and you see the words, 'Item Lost.' What does this mean? Well, most simply: The item you want is not here. This does not necessarily mean that it is gone for good, or actually, physically lost (it probably isn't hiding under a chair or behind a shelf in the library). More likely than not, what you are looking for is just really, really overdue. That being said, if it's something your scholastic and musical future depends upon, come talk to us, and we can place a hold and recall on the item in question. Now, this isn't guaranteed to get the item back, but it has been known to work in the past.
Now, you might ask, what, exactly causes an item to become lost, and what do I do if I have something that has come to be considered lost?
First part first: Our system (the notorious Koha from blogs past) automatically marks items as 'Lost' when they are 45 days overdue. The patron in question may have actually lost or destroyed an item, or they may have forgotten to renew it. Whatever the reason, the item has now entered the wonderful world of 'Lost' which is full of all kinds of exciting and fun things (fines) for the patron to whom it is checked out.
As for the second question, if you find that you (gasp!) have an item that has ventured into 'Lost' territory, fear not, my dear! You will be fed to Sparkles The Troll and his pet unicorn, Fred, who are chained with dental floss outside the back doors of the library. Oh, and don't grovel, you will only make things worse for yourself. Sorry, nice knowing you.
Okay, perhaps not. The reality is far less interesting or grisly. Basically, you get.......Brand......New.......FEES!!! A Lost Item Replacement Fee and a Lost Item Processing Fee, to be exact. The replacement fee varies depending upon what the item in question is. Two of our more popular item types for example are books, which will cost you $38 (default, if we have the purchase price, you will be charged accordingly), and scores, which will run you $25 (also default). The processing fee is a fixed $15. And yes, if you would like to continue to check things out of the library, and/or receive your diploma, you will have to pay these fines.
Before you begin to wonder how many meals you will need to skip in order to pay off the library and prevent us from sending Sparkles and Fred after you, there is hope. Your best course of action would be to return the item that is now oh so overdue. At this point *BOTH* the replacement and processing fees will be forgiven, and you will be assessed a long overdue fee, which is much nicer on the wallet than its two older brothers.
Now, if, perchance, you HAVE actually lost something, you can either pay both the replacement and processing fees, or you can come talk to us about purchasing a replacement copy yourself (which gets the item back on the shelf in a more expeditious manner, and can often be less expensive).
Another instance an item can be marked as 'Lost' is when it is not overdue, but it has been damaged beyond repair by something other than normal wear......say your dog gives it a good chewing, drops it in a mud puddle, then buries it in the back yard (No! Bad Fluffy! No Biscuit!). You would then be responsible for the item's replacement (see previous paragraph).
I hope this helps you better understand the ins and outs of lost, and we will keep Sparkles and Fred securely tethered out back. For now. :)
Now, you might ask, what, exactly causes an item to become lost, and what do I do if I have something that has come to be considered lost?
First part first: Our system (the notorious Koha from blogs past) automatically marks items as 'Lost' when they are 45 days overdue. The patron in question may have actually lost or destroyed an item, or they may have forgotten to renew it. Whatever the reason, the item has now entered the wonderful world of 'Lost' which is full of all kinds of exciting and fun things (fines) for the patron to whom it is checked out.
As for the second question, if you find that you (gasp!) have an item that has ventured into 'Lost' territory, fear not, my dear! You will be fed to Sparkles The Troll and his pet unicorn, Fred, who are chained with dental floss outside the back doors of the library. Oh, and don't grovel, you will only make things worse for yourself. Sorry, nice knowing you.
Okay, perhaps not. The reality is far less interesting or grisly. Basically, you get.......Brand......New.......FEES!!! A Lost Item Replacement Fee and a Lost Item Processing Fee, to be exact. The replacement fee varies depending upon what the item in question is. Two of our more popular item types for example are books, which will cost you $38 (default, if we have the purchase price, you will be charged accordingly), and scores, which will run you $25 (also default). The processing fee is a fixed $15. And yes, if you would like to continue to check things out of the library, and/or receive your diploma, you will have to pay these fines.
Before you begin to wonder how many meals you will need to skip in order to pay off the library and prevent us from sending Sparkles and Fred after you, there is hope. Your best course of action would be to return the item that is now oh so overdue. At this point *BOTH* the replacement and processing fees will be forgiven, and you will be assessed a long overdue fee, which is much nicer on the wallet than its two older brothers.
Now, if, perchance, you HAVE actually lost something, you can either pay both the replacement and processing fees, or you can come talk to us about purchasing a replacement copy yourself (which gets the item back on the shelf in a more expeditious manner, and can often be less expensive).
Another instance an item can be marked as 'Lost' is when it is not overdue, but it has been damaged beyond repair by something other than normal wear......say your dog gives it a good chewing, drops it in a mud puddle, then buries it in the back yard (No! Bad Fluffy! No Biscuit!). You would then be responsible for the item's replacement (see previous paragraph).
I hope this helps you better understand the ins and outs of lost, and we will keep Sparkles and Fred securely tethered out back. For now. :)
Friday, December 4, 2009
Things to check out: premiere edition.
One of the fun parts of my job is that I get to see every new item that comes into the library, whether it's a new acquisition, or a gift from someone's personal collection. I've also been here a while and have seen some neat things that people may not know are available to them. My blogs, therefore, will primarily highlight some of these interesting items. Sometimes there will be a theme, sometimes it will be a little of everything, but I hope it will inspire you to come use the resources here, because that's why they're here, after all.
Most of what I'm highlighting today is fairly new to the collection. Disclaimer: I have not read or viewed all of these-- these are not reviews, just pointing out some new things and why they may be interesting to you, the patrons of the Allen Memorial Library. Call numbers are in red, and clicking on them will take you to the item in the catalog.
This book we've had for a while, but we recently got a second copy because it has been very popular. Alex Ross, music critic for The New Yorker, writes about music and the 20th century.
2. Chapman Nyaho, William, perf. Asa. 2008. CD. MD21 C436 A8
Chapman Nyaho, William, perf. Senku. CD. (Coming Soon.)
Nyaho, William H. Chapman. Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora. New York: Oxford UP Inc, USA, 2008. Print. Volume 4: M21 A378 V4 Volume 5: M21 A373 V5
These all go together. William Chapman Nyaho has been compiling a series of scores by composers of African heritage, and has also recorded many of these works. We have two volumes in the series Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora, and the two compact discs contain much of the material in those two volumes. I've given the discs a listen and there's some interesting music here. If you want something different to play on a recital, check these out.
Most of what I'm highlighting today is fairly new to the collection. Disclaimer: I have not read or viewed all of these-- these are not reviews, just pointing out some new things and why they may be interesting to you, the patrons of the Allen Memorial Library. Call numbers are in red, and clicking on them will take you to the item in the catalog.
1. Alex, Ross. The rest is noise. New York: Picador, 2007. Print. ML197 R82 R47 2007
This book we've had for a while, but we recently got a second copy because it has been very popular. Alex Ross, music critic for The New Yorker, writes about music and the 20th century.
2. Chapman Nyaho, William, perf. Asa. 2008. CD. MD21 C436 A8
Chapman Nyaho, William, perf. Senku. CD. (Coming Soon.)
Nyaho, William H. Chapman. Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora. New York: Oxford UP Inc, USA, 2008. Print. Volume 4: M21 A378 V4 Volume 5: M21 A373 V5
These all go together. William Chapman Nyaho has been compiling a series of scores by composers of African heritage, and has also recorded many of these works. We have two volumes in the series Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora, and the two compact discs contain much of the material in those two volumes. I've given the discs a listen and there's some interesting music here. If you want something different to play on a recital, check these out.
3. Cursive II . Perf. Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan. Opus Arte: Kultur. DVD. MO GV1783 L55 C2
Modern dance set to the music of John Cage.
Modern dance set to the music of John Cage.
4. Edgard Varese Composer, Sound Sculptor, Visionary. New York: Boydell, 2006. Print. [REF] ML410 V29
This is an astoundingly beautiful book. It has excellent scans of Varese's manuscripts, photographs, well-thought out layout, and interesting scholarly content. It's reference, so you can't take it out of the library, but the articles are relatively short.
This is an astoundingly beautiful book. It has excellent scans of Varese's manuscripts, photographs, well-thought out layout, and interesting scholarly content. It's reference, so you can't take it out of the library, but the articles are relatively short.
5. Henderson, Clayton W. The Charles Ives Tunebook. New York: Indiana University Press, 2008. Print. [REF] ML134 I95 H64 2008
This is a new edition of an old favorite. It traces the tunes Ives used in various works and their sources. Great if you're researching Ives or just curious about what you're hearing when you're listening to a particular work.
6. Valerio, John. Post-Bop Jazz Piano - The Complete Guide with CD! Hal Leonard Keyboard Style Series (Hal Leonard Keyboard Style). New York: Hal Leonard Corporation, 2005. Print. MT239 V35 P6
Recommended by Prof. Peter Woodard, Chair of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz and jazz pianist. Technique book with accompanying CD.
Recommended by Prof. Peter Woodard, Chair of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz and jazz pianist. Technique book with accompanying CD.
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