We'll Miss Linda

One of the nice things about working at the College of Science is that so many people have been working here for years and there is a lot of loyalty to the College. Linda Hausauer has been a Library Associate for over 35 years, and this July 1 she will retire. It is hard to imagine how we will manage the services she has done over the years and we will miss her.

All the college community is invited to attend a Come and Go reception from 2-4, June 30, in the Mildred Johnson Library. We hope those of you who have worked with Linda over the years will be able to come and say good-bye as she moves on to new things in her life.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As part of the Library's Academic subscription to Britannica, we receive a monthly newsletter. This month, June 2008, the emphasis is on Native Americans. Visit this url

http://links.mkt797.com/servlet/MailView?ms=MTI2NzY1S0&r=ODk1Nzc4MzIS1&j=NTQxNzc2MQS2&mt=1

to see new and updated articles on the traditional cultures, histories, and current affairs of Native Americans.

Comments on MJ Library

In the good old days, we had suggestion boxes. Now we have e-mail for comments although we don't have comments directly to the blog. When you see this, I hope you will take a few minutes to e-mail us what new or changed services you would like to see at the library, or other improvements to our services. Within our budget, staff, and curriculum, we will do our best to see that we meet, change or correct based on what you say. So, what do you like best; what do you like least; where can we improve; what new things would you like us to have?

Summer School at the Library

This is a good summer, so far, to be in class: cold and rainy! Not much as yet to tempt students outdoors and away from school work. The Library is open for business, both for classes and beach reading. We have a great collection of Book Club recommendations as well as the audio books in the Commuter Collection. If you will be on vacation and need the books longer than the usual check-out period, be sure to mention this to the person who checks out to you. We will change the due date to allow for your trip.

Newspapers - paper or online

Newspapers have changed alot over the past few years. While the Library once had many subscriptions, nowadays we keep only a few for people to catch up on their local news. However, most newspapers are easily available via the Internet. You can check out our library resources page for several free subscriptions courtesy of the State of North Dakota:

http://www.ndscs.edu/library/resources.jsp

but one thing you won't find easily is The Fargo Forum online. The Forum makes current articles available; but for past issues you end up in their archives, and they ask you to pay for each article. The cost, it seems to me, is high. So, the Library depends on an older technology. We purchase microfilm copies of The Forum, which arrive monthly. We have done this since 1966, and until their online resource is cheaper, we will continue to do this. Check their archive for the article you want, then come make your copy from the microfilm. It's easy!

Faxing to Brazil

Who says nothing exciting ever happens in a library? Today we received a request for a copy of an article to be sent to the Ministry of Science and Technology in Brasilia. Piece of cake, right? After all, with phone lines and Internet, every place is just as close as any place else. Right....

By the time I was finished trying, I had talked to Viv in the President's Office, 3 guys in IT, and the fax machine vendor. Technology sometimes isn't as great as we expect it to be. But, like the post office, Document Delivery must go through and the article merrily beeped its way along the phone lines. I hope they don't call to say it didn't print well and can I please do it again!

Library Summer Hours

MJ Library has several different schedules over the summer, allowing for breaks between sessions, summer school, and the start of the new school year. Here's a quick summary, but call the library at 671-2618 to be sure.

May 12 - May 30: 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
June 2 - July 25: 7:45 am - 4:45 pm
July 28 - August 15: 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
August 18 - August 22: 7:45 am - 4:45 pm.

We also are closed for Memorial Day and Independence Day, and close at 3:00 pm on Fridays.