Blueprints: Falvey Library

Contents: November 2004

• Using your library’s resources in a whole new way
• New Interlibrary Loan system promises benefits for patrons and staff
• Election issues 2004 debate held
• Falvey provides new 24-hour study lounge
• Falvey Open House commemorates renovation of first floor
• Also contributing to this issue

By Jutta Seibert, catalog/reference librarian

   Have you noticed? There is a whole new way to search across Falvey’s catalog and article databases. Visit our Databases by Subject pages and check out the new Quick Search and Advanced Search features that we added recently.

  You may want to know exactly what happens when you type your keywords into the search box and click on the Search button. You will be logged in to the new My Research interface, where you will see the results of your keyword search from the pre-selected resources listed on the subject page. You don’t have to go into each of the databases separately and do the same search again and again. Instead you execute your search once and the search results will be conveniently displayed on one page. The databases that are simultaneously searched through the Quick Search box have been pre-selected by our subject librarians.

   Want to search other databases than the ones pre-selected for Quick Search? The Advanced Search link right beneath Quick Search will take you to a list of all the databases that are listed on a given subject page. There you can select yourself the resources that you would like to search simultaneously. There is, however, one caveat: So far, not all of our databases can be cross-searched due to technical incompatibilities. We hope that this situation will improve in the near future. Until then you can recognize the cross-search compatible resources by the check-box that allows you to select them. All the other resources have links that will take you to their native search interface.

   Throughout the My Research interface you will encounter the familiar Find It button (formerly known as VU e-link). This button will take you to the full-text of an article, whenever it is available, or to the library’s catalog to verify our print holdings.

   Besides using My Research as a quick way to search across several databases, think about making My Research your new research portal. My Research has a number of convenient personalization features. Select any number of library catalogs, Web sites and article databases that you use on a regular basis and save them to the My Resource List. Create a list of your favorite e-journals using the My e-Journals List. My Research allows you to save your search history and to add records of articles and books to My e-Shelf. The alert feature makes it possible to rerun searches on a regular basis and get the results of these searches via e-mail.

   Falvey Memorial Library is still working on customizing the software behind the My Research application and will soon upgrade to a new and more user-friendly interface. Please forward your comments, suggestions and complaints to us at (610)519-7876. We will make every effort to incorporate them in future upgrades.

By Merrill Stein, Interlibrary Loan and Assessment team leader

   Interlibrary Loan, the service that provides books and articles from other universities, introduces improved workflow and communication through a new request management software known as ILLiad. Using a single sign-on screen and any standard Internet browser, Falvey patrons are now empowered to track their requests from initiation to completion, and beyond.

   New features include viewing outstanding requests, viewing request history and the resubmitting of canceled requests. Patrons new to the system need only use their existing Villanova e-mail username and password to logon and complete a brief, one-time only form before sending a request to ILL. 

   Nearly all databases have a link to the improved request form system using a new robust Find It button or Request From Another Library link. The system replaces the tiresome procedure of retrieving a standard blank Web form and copying and pasting the required information. The new forms will almost always paste the citations in the form for you and remember your name between multiple database searches during a single search session. This technology takes advantage of the latest OpenURL linking and helps us speed your request along and communicate with you faster via automated e-mail notification. 

   Falvey's ILL service endeavors to remain a partner in your research efforts. This “win-win” service provides ease of sending, processing and tracking requests and provides enhanced automated statistics, while reducing excess paper for all involved. Interlibrary Loan staff will continue to e-mail articles to you whenever possible and are experimenting with delivering articles to a password accessible Web site for your retrieval.

   Further information about ILL is available from the “How Do I” menu of the library home page, by contacting a staff member at the new Information Desk, or by contacting ILL personnel at (610)519-4274 or ill@villanova.edu.  Faculty members may also investigate “Services for Faculty” under the “Services” section of the library homepage. 

by Dennis Lambert, Head, Collection Development and Management

   On October 21, in the first floor lounge, Professors Matthew Kerbel, David Barrett and Robert Maranto from the political science department shared their observations on what is happening in the current election. An enthusiastic audience, largely comprised of students, then had an opportunity to ask questions and share their own thoughts.

   Kerbel said that this year voters are largely in two camps. He showed the audience the face/candlestick illusion to prove his point that some see Bush as stupid or in over his head while others see him as a resolute leader. Kerbel noted that few voters are uncommitted.

   As we get closer to November 2, Kerbel said to watch Bush’s job approval ratings. The president should get about that percentage of the final vote. Unfortunately for Mr. Bush, his approval ratings have been less than 50%, which places him in jeopardy.

   Voter turnout is the key to the outcome. Democrats are registering more new voters than Republicans. If turnout is high, that would tend to give Senator Kerry a boost. Kerbel believes turnout will be high due to an increase in interest this year. A second disputed election would be dangerous.

   Maranto suggested we have two half candidates who together make a whole, but both are insecure. Mr. Bush can’t admit to mistakes; Mr. Kerry can’t admit that he has accomplished little in a long Senate career.  In Maranto’s opinion, the candidates are not that different. Neither candidate is extreme.  The election is not as significant as many believe. Mr. Bush will likely continue to pursue the same policies. Mr. Kerry, if elected, will end up with about the same results. Depending on whom you support and the outcome, the winner will do only slightly better or slightly worse than you expect. 

   Barrett stated that who is president matters and presidential elections matter. In 2000, the election mattered a lot. For example, he believes Mr. Gore would not have attacked Iraq. The September 11 attacks would still have happened, and there would have been a response.

   Voting by young people under 30 will be higher, in his opinion. Kerbel suggested voters 18-25 are 60% for Kerry, 40% for Bush.

   Barrett feels that Mr. Bush will stay the course in Iraq. Mr. Kerry may get the U.S. troops out faster.  In general, he is not optimistic about Iraq.

   In the question and answer period, there were additional observations. The Catholic vote is closely divided. It is uncertain whether the shortage of flu vaccine will have any major impact on the election. The electoral system may be challenged if there is a second contested election in a row.  Mr. Bush finds the Abu Ghraib scandal an embarrassment; Mr. Kerry sees few votes, if any, to be gained by making it an issue. Mr. Kerry may be able to unite us if he gets a big margin, but he may have trouble reaching out to conservatives and certainly will have trouble with Iraq. There is a gender gap in this election: more women favor Kerry, but married women favor Bush, single women like Kerry. Young people are afraid of a possible military draft. Generation Y are more politically active; this is their first big election.

   The moderator, Professor Craig Wheeland, thanked the participants and the audience for taking part in the lively, two hour discussion.
 

   Beginning Oct. 24, the library now offers students a comfortable and safe place to study through the night. The new study lounge has cozy chairs, as well as more “disciplined” seating, group study tables, a handicapped accessible restroom, and both wireless and traditional laptop connections. There are also two computer workstations available for access to electronic library resources and personal computing. The glass doors separating the study lounge from the Library will be outfitted with lower resistance hinges that present less of a challenge to our disabled patrons. To further nourish the scholarly souls using the study lounge, Holy Grounds Coffee Shop will provide hours of coffee service Sunday through Wednesday nights.

   Once the Library has closed, staff will scan the room for leftover library materials and stray students and then lock the doors that lead to the main library. Students may then re-enter using their Wildcards. The outside Wildcard access door will be locked again when the Library reopens the following morning.

   Security measures include 24-hour camera surveillance and regular visits by public safety officers. As an added link to public safety, an emergency phone will also be available. Custodial services will clean the room late at night.

   During breaks, holidays, and during the summer months, access to the study lounge will not be available. Also, beginning January 2005, Monday night library hours will return to the original closing time of 12 a.m.

   We hope this new space will be treated with respect by all users as continued 24-hour access to the lounge will depend on the responsible behavior of those who use it for late night study. Any questions about the 24-hour study lounge can be directed to Luisa Cywinski at (610)519-5215.
 

University Librarian Joe Lucia acknowledges the contributions many people made to the library renovation effort.		Members of the University community at Falvey's Open House Oct. 7 celebrating the renovation of the first floor.

Also contributing to this issue: Luisa Cywinski, Laura Hutelmyer, Jacqueline Mirabile, Judy Olsen, Sue Ottignon, Linda Saboe and Jacqueline Smith. Photography by Jutta Seibert and Donna Blaszkowski.