Ames Library Blog

The Ames Library sponsors an annual Archives Exploration and Research Award designed to increase faculty awareness of archives and special collections material available on campus; the award is also a means for encouraging integration of this material into faculty members’ coursework and research.

Applications are accepted on the deadline dates for any of the three review periods for ASD and CD grants. Upcoming dates in this academic year are December 7, 2009 and March 22, 2010.

The Faculty Development Committee approved a program description and submission guidelines document and will act as the review authority.

Tate Archives & Special Collections has launched a blog describing collection highlights and offering links to known portions of the collection. Many unexplored corners in the vaults on the 4th floor await! You can subscribe to keep up-to-date with new additions to the Archives & Special Collections blog or you can stop by the 4th floor and ask in person!

Tags: course develpoment, funding, primary sources, research

The latest edition of the APA Style Manual has a large number of errors.  The library is working on getting replacement copies from the second printing.  Until then, a list of corrections can be found online at on the APA Style website.  The APA Style Blog is also a helpful source of information about the new rules, including use of DOIs, citing Twitter, Facebook, and Kindles, and new reference list style for works with more than seven authors.

If you missed Mike Weis’s September 29 presentation on John Adams and the Origins of American Diplomacy in The Ames Library, now is your chance to catch it online! ISU’s Milner Library recorded it and provided this link to their streaming server.

The September 29 event was IWU’s contribution to a panel exhibit currently on display at Milner Library. If you haven’t seen the exhibit yet, Sunday is your last chance!

Tags: History, podcasts, politics

That is a health-awareness slogan spotted by one of our librarians in a local school and a helpful thing to remember as we approach the time of year when we’re all cooped up inside. Then there’s the added joy that thoughts of the upcoming flu season bring!

Lots of flu news has been in the headlines this year, so we thought a collection of advice and links on the topic would be useful. We made a resource guide with lots of things to think about, but our take away message to all staff and visitors at The Ames Library is to consider your own health as well as the well-being of those around you by remembering these tips:
1. Sneeze into your elbow (kleenex can’t stand the pressure!)
2. Wash your hands frequently (there’s also a supply of alcohol wipes at the 1st floor information desk in the library if you want to wipe down a keyboard)
3. Go to IWU’s Arnold Health Service if you have a fever or need medical advice.

A visual representation of this message was designed by one of our talented Ames Library Student Assistants. Click on the image below to get a halfsheet-sized poster you can put in your room or office for others to see!

So take care of yourself and make sure you ask for help if you feel under the weather this winter!

Tags: flu, health service

Illinois Wesleyan University Professor of History W. Michael Weis will present “John Adams and the Origins of American Diplomacy” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 29, in Beckman Auditorium in The Ames Library. The event is free and open to the public.

Weis will speak on the significance of Adams as a founder of the U.S. diplomatic efforts across the Atlantic, including his work developing treaties and keeping the country out of war in the aftermath of the French Revolution. A specialist in U.S. foreign relations, Weis has been a member of the Illinois Wesleyan faculty since 1988.

More information on this event is available in the full news release by University Communications.

Tags: exhibits, History, John Adams

Let us help you learn how to go beyond Google™ and
earn better grades!

Librarians offer personal research assistance to all students.
We provide tips on how to:

Find the best scholarly resources
Develop a search strategy to save you time
Refine a topic
Cite your sources
And much more!

Have a question? AskAmes!

Get help the following ways:

• In person: Visit the Information Desk (Entry Level) to work with a librarian during the following hours:

Monday - Thursday: 9:00 – noon, 1:00 – 5:00, & 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 – noon & 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 7:00– 9:00 pm

• Chat with a librarian: IM your questions to IWU librarians.

• Personal appointment: Each major has a librarian specifically assigned to work with students. Click on the AskAmes link on the library’s website to find contact information for your subject’s librarian. Feel free to stop by during office hours or schedule an appointment to work one-on-one with your Library Liaison.

• By phone: Call the Information Desk (309-556-3350). If you are in the library, help-phones at the Scholarly Workstations (located on each floor) connect directly to the Information Desk.

• Via email: Ask questions by email (AskAmes {at} iwu(.)edu).

www.iwu.edu/library

The Ames Library is pleased to announce that author Louise Erdrich has been selected for the 8th Annual Ames/Milner Visiting Author Program.

Ms. Erdrich will be on campus the evening of Thursday, October 22nd 2009.

3:00 – 4:00 Presentation and Q and A, Milner Library, Illinois State University

7:30 – 8:30 Presentation, Presser Hall, Illinois Wesleyan University

8:30 Book signing, The Ames Library Illinois Wesleyan University

If you have questions or would like to reserve seats for your class, please contact lduke {at} iwu(.)edu.

Louise Erdrich is the author of twelve novels as well as volumes of poetry, children’s books, and a memoir of early motherhood. Her debut novel, Love Medicine, won the National Book Critics Circle Award. The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse was a finalist for the National Book Award. Her most recent novel, The Plague of Doves, a New York Times bestseller, received the highest praise from Philip Roth, who wrote, “Louise Erdrich’s imaginative freedom has reached its zenith—The Plague of Doves is her dazzling masterpiece.” Louise Erdrich lives in Minnesota with her daughters and is the owner of Birchbark Books, a small independent bookstore.
http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/2905/Louise_Erdrich/index.aspx

Does your group have something to share?  A milestone to celebrate?  A topic you’d like to raise awareness about?

The Ames Library Exhibit Team would like to invite any group on campus to contact us about utilizing display space in the library.  Throughout the library, there are several exhibit spaces available to promote student work, class projects, guest speakers, organizations, events, achievements or any topic of interest you’d like to share with the campus community. If your group is interested in scheduling a display, please contact Meg Miner at x1538.

Tags: displays, exhibits

This year’s Summer Reading Program selection, Three Cups of Tea, tells the story of Greg Mortenson and his amazing work bringing schools to remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Check out the library’s resource guide to learn more about Mortenson, the Central Asia Institute, and how you can help.

The Ames Library is happy to announce enhanced online access to Science and Nature is now available directly from the publishers’ web sites!

Science is now available online from 1997 to the most recently published issue.  Older issues (1880-1996) are available through JSTOR (an online journal archive).

Nature is now available online from 2005 to the most recently published issue.  Older issues (1997 to 2008) are available through the database Academic Search Premier.

Both publications offer IWU faculty, staff and students the option to create a personal profile and establish weekly web site updates via e-mail or RSS feeds.  Please note that for off-campus access, you must use the URL’s listed above to connect to the magazine through the campus proxy server.  Using this URL will allow you to sign into the University’s proxy server and access resources as if you were on campus.  You will be asked to log in with your MyIWU NetID and password once per session.