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Thanksgiving Closure

The Bartley Business Info Center will be closed Wednesday, November 26th.  Please contact Falvey Memorial Library for assistance 610-519-4270.  Happy Thanksgiving!


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e-Codes from International Code Council (Civil Engineering)

Civil Engineering students and faculty will be pleased to have electronic access to a collection of the International Code Council’s reference works.  E-Codes Premium include the full text of the most recent versions of the International Building Code, International Energy Conservation Code, International Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code as well as pertinent titles from the Code of Federal Regulations.  With this new resource you can do simple keyword searches, browse the table of contents, print and make notes in the text.  You can link to this resource from the Engineering subject page, E-Reference Resources and the library catalog.


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EIU Worldwide Cost of Living

If you need to do an international cost of living comparison our very limited trial to EIU’s Worldwide Cost of Living database may be just the tool you’re looking for. Contact Linda Hauck (484-685-6759) or stop by the Bartley Business Info Center for access info.


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MarketLine

We’re experiencing problems with access to MarketLine our source for Datamonitor country, company and industry reports.  When on campus after autheniticating you can get to the usual search interface by selecting Library and Education Users login.  Off campus access is currently not available.   We’re working to correct this problem. 


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Nursing Historical Book Collection

Driscoll Hall, the new home of the College of Nursing, is also home to the Nursing Historical Book Collection. Attractively displayed behind sliding glass doors, these books and pamphlets collectively tell the story of the nursing profession. Over 200 of the approximately 600 items were donated by Dr. M. Louise Fitzpatrick, Dean of the College, and nearly 400 were transferred from Falvey Memorial Library’s main and special collections.

 

Taras Ortynsky, Descriptive Services Librarian, supervised the cataloging and processing of the collection, ensuring its availability by October 6, the day of Driscoll Hall’s dedication. Users searching Falvey’s online catalog will be able to identify the books and pamphlets by their location indicator: College of Nursing SPEC-Rm 205-Driscoll Hall. The items are limited to room use only.

One of Falvey’s goals is to catalog collections located throughout the University that have value and could be more effectively discovered through library search tools. Previously cataloged collections that also appear in the Falvey online catalog are the Augustinian Historical Institute, the Nursing Learning Resource Center, the Health Promotion Resource Center and the School of Business information center materials.

In addition to Taras, project coordinator, other Falvey Memorial Library staff members participated: Kathleen O’Connor, co-leader, Technology team and Systems Librarian, as well as Anne Ford and Frances DiLenge, both Academic Integration technical specialists. Barbara Quintiliano, liaison to the College of Nursing, also provided assistance at various stages of the project.

Dr. Fitzpatrick expressed her gratitude for the Library’s continuing support of the College of Nursing and especially for its assistance in making the Nursing Historical Book Collection a reality.

Also contributing to this article: Taras Ortynsky, Natalie Tomasco and Chris Barr


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Places and Faces: People in the News

David LacyDavid Lacy joined Falvey Memorial Library in September as Library Software Development Specialist. He will work on a variety of projects including the enhancement and extension of our Digital Library software, the library catalog, web applications, open source library management software, instructional resources and aspects of  technological development as well. David has a master’s degree in instructional design and a “serious commitment to the values of academia.” Falvey welcomed David at a reception on September 29. Joe Lucia, Library Director, said, “He will be a real asset to us as we forge ahead with library technology innovation.”

Photograph by Alice Bampton

(more…)


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Some Thoughts on Library Storage in the Digital Age

Joe LuciaLibraries have always been expensive to operate. Acquiring, managing and storing large collections of print books and bound journals, done on any significant scale, have substantial associated costs. But one of the fuzzier aspects of cost analysis for a library has involved determining the ongoing, annual expense of keeping items in the “warehouse.”

Physical storage is not free. Shelf space has a measurable value, as do the associated support functions of climate control, lighting and inventory tracking. But those indirect costs have always been “below the line” for library operating and acquisitions budgets. Furthermore, physical collections have significant inertia in that they persist in place unless concerted action is taken to remove materials on a regular basis. The upper bound on any given physical collection is determined by square footage and linear feet of shelving in a library building and its associated auxiliary storage facilities.

In the digital world, libraries face an entirely different situation. Each year we license enormous amounts of digital information for academic purposes, much of it at great expense. (more…)


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Counting on a Greener Campus: Falvey Adopts Recyclable Bag Policy

One web site featuring recyclable bags displays a counter totaling up the number of plastic bags used this year in the United States. The counter currently shows 85 billion bags and counting. According to Christine Simmons, student aide at the circulation / information desk at Falvey, “The world uses 100,000 plastic bags each minute.”

Reusable BagsChristine, a junior chemistry and environmental studies major and also a member of the University President’s Climate Commitment team, submitted the idea to have Falvey switch to recyclable bags last spring. Christine’s job in the library raised her awareness of how many plastic bags were distributed to library patrons on a daily basis, and she knew that this change would comprise a significant contribution toward making Villanova a greener campus.

Her suggestion was forwarded to Donna Chadderton, a member of the Access and User Assistance team and also a member of the Climate Commitment team, who helped implement the improvement.

Several important facts support choosing recyclable bags. Fossil fuels, specifically natural gas, are used to make plastic bags. At the consumption rate of 100,000 bags a minute, it takes 12 million barrels of oil annually to meet production. Also, plastic bags are not as durable as recyclable bags and do not biodegrade easily or quickly in landfills.

Falvey’s new recyclable bags are made of non-woven polypropylene. This material feels like cloth but is less expensive. Bags made from this recyclable material are reusable, tear resistant, water repellent and hand-washable. Recyclable bags also degrade faster in landfills than plastic bags.

The company that supplies the new Falvey Bags, Virgo III, also creates other green products such as shirts and blankets made out of bamboo, corn pens that are biodegradable and travel mugs that biodegrade within five years in a landfill. Falvey is pleased to support Virgo III’s efforts to offer environmentally friendly products.

Response to the new bags from students, faculty and staff has been enthusiastic. The voluntary monetary donations for each bag have been brisk, and the money raised this semester will be used to purchase Thanksgiving dinners and to support other charities.

The next time you need help carrying your library books, ask for a recyclable bag. Your efforts toward creating a greener campus count!

Photograph by Laura Hutelmyer


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Election Series Continues: Dr. Barrett Relates the Importance of National Security Issues

Speaking to an audience of approximately 45 people, David Barrett, Ph.D., discussed the significance of national security issues in the current presidential elections.

David Barrett

“National security issues are important in the presidential election and campaign and should be considered by voters, but the current economic crisis has overshadowed this concern,” said Barrett.

His talk “National Security and the Election,” that took place on Oct. 23, was the third in the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election series.

Dr. Barrett, professor of political science, has been teaching at Villanova University for the past nineteen years. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of national security policy, U.S. intelligence and the U.S. presidency. In recent years, his research interests have focused on the U.S. Presidents, Congress and the CIA.

Drawing from his book, The CIA and Congress: The Untold Story From Truman to Kennedy, Dr. Barrett explained how candidates can present some issues as more important than others to voters. It is easier to talk about illegal immigrants than it is about restructuring the way intelligence agencies work or don’t work.

Dr. Barrett talked about how national security challenges and issues such as Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea and Iran are very hard to solve, which is why candidates tend to either oversimplify or over promise solutions. As a result, “national security issues are not a top concern for voters in this election,” he said.

Photograph by Jen Cywinski, ’10


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Thanks to Senior Class Gift, Falvey Improves Printing Services

Printer

Until this academic year, Falvey Memorial Library was experiencing difficulties with its printing services. The main printer broke down constantly, resulting in down time and frustration for students and library personnel. Students were frequently unable to print their documents since the printer had been temporarily shut down. Despite the problems, Falvey’s printing operations continued to be popular with students and remained one of the busiest printing sites on campus.

However, all of that changed this year when the graduating class of 2008 decided to give its senior class gift to the Library for improved printing and computing facilities.

The 2008 senior class gift committee consisted of twelve seniors. Although the committee narrowed the options down to a few recipients, the graduating class overwhelmingly decided, through an online vote, to give its gift to Falvey. With 84% of the graduating class participating in the vote, students raised over $27,000 for the gift.

Library Director Joe Lucia explained that one third of the gift money was used to upgrade Falvey’s first floor public printer to a faster, more reliable machine. The remaining funds were spent to install new computers throughout the library building. Lucia said that, with the help of the gift, Falvey was able to install 90 new public computers.

Second-year communication graduate student Amy Lupisella, a regular user of Falvey printing, says “I’m really glad they have this new facility. I find myself spending less time standing in line in front of the printer waiting my turn. Plus, I haven’t once seen the printer out of order. I’m happy because, overall, it’s a time saver both for students and the library staff members who always had to be called on to fix it!”

When asked about the new computers, Lupisella said, “They look great, and I like the addition of Macs this year.”

Lucia is pleased that the students wanted their gift invested in the Library. “It’s reassuring to see that library services remain highly valuable to the students,” he noted.

Photograph by Natalie Tomasco


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Last Modified: November 3, 2008

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