LIBRARY NEWSLETTER
Vance Memorial Library, Dallas Baptist U., Fall 2015, V. 1
1. Meet Our New Librarian - Traci West
"You have to be nice to us or we have the power to erase your history."
So jokes Traci West, Special Collections Librarian and DBU Archivist, who has the important task of preserving DBU's and Decatur Baptist College's history. What West does is bring a story to ordinary locations, buildings, and names. A building name or an old picture may have a personal history behind it that has been lost to time. An archivist brings those stories to the surface.
A native of Garden City, Kansas, West lives in Midlothian with her husband, Jay, a retired Navy officer. She holds a master’s degree in Archives/Preservation and Records Management from the University of Pittsburgh. West started at DBU last summer and has already made a significant impact in the collection and preservation of DBU's growing archives.
"There is so much tangible, even personal, history found in our archives, it is important to me to make it accessible and available to our campus community."
2. Free Access To The New York Times
All students, faculty, and staff have free access to the New York Times online. Here is how you gain access:
· Be on campus - Gaining initial setup requires that you are within the DBU IP locations.
· Go here - nytimes.com/grouppass
· Create an account - Once you have your account, you can login from anywhere.
3. Ready for Instructions
Faculty, did you know that a research specialist can come to your classroom to talk to your students about research and library resources? If you would like, you are welcome to bring your students to the library; whatever works for you. Librarians can even come to DBU North or DBU Hurst-Colleyville.
Highlights of these instruction sessions include:
- Steps to excellent research
- Best resources for your students' assignments
- How to find the information you need
- Tools for collecting and citing sources
Contact the Academic Research Center today to schedule your session, 214-333-5221, or fill out the request form here.
4. The Benefits of Using The Library
5. Ever available research assistance through LibGuides
LibGuides, small web pages, provide tutorials and information on using library resources. These pages are created by DBU librarians and are developed with DBU classes and students in mind. Easy, effective, and efficient, LibGuides are like class handouts that can be constantly updated, improved, and accessed. Find our LibGuide collection here.
6. Discover The Latest Articles On Your Topic Through Database Alerts
Within the databases, such as EBSCO, you can create a topic alert. Whenever new articles on that topic are added to the database you are notified and provided links. In EBSCO (see below), simply perform a search and then click on Share - Email Alert. Other databases provide similar features.
7. New Blog For The Great Conversation – Dog Eared Discoveries
Dog Eared Discoveries, a new blog from Academic Reference Librarian, Scott Jeffries, is designed to take the ideas and highlights from a modest academic library and present them to students, faculty, and whoever wants to observe. Jeffries describes his strategy: "I plan to take well known or not so well known books, as well as the new and old alike and show, in clear terms, what that piece brings to the great conversation and why anyone should care."
Read an excerpt below.
8. Sample Dog Eared Discoveries
Unbroken: A Survival Story Of A Man Who Even Survived Himself
(excerpt from a post on the blog, Dog Eared Discoveries)
The mental aspect of survival is a fascinating concept. After Louie (Zamperini) and two others are left to survive for weeks on a deteriorating life raft, (Laura) Hillenbrand contrasts the survival techniques of Louie and the pilot, Phil, with that of Mac, the third member of the raft. According to Hillenbrand’s description, Mac’s loss of purpose led to his physical downfall. He was often disengaged from the daily rituals and tasks at hand carried on by Phil and Louie.
"Though all three men faced the same hardship, their differing perceptions of it appeared to be shaping their fates. Louie and Phil’s hope displaced their fear and inspired them to work toward their survival, and each success renewed their physical and emotional vigor. Mac’s resignation seemed to paralyze him, and the less he participated in their efforts to survive, the more he slipped…Louie and Phil’s optimism, and Mac’s hopelessness, were becoming self-fulfilling."
Read the rest here
9. Followers, Friends, and Pins
ABOUT US
Debra Collins, Director
Email: lib_ref@dbu.edu
Website: dbu.edu/library
Location: 3000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX, United States
Phone: 214-333-5320
Facebook: facebook.com/vancememoriallibrary
Twitter: @dbulibrarian