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John Q artist collective making national mark telling untold stories

Tue, 28 May 2013 12:23:49 -0500

From the west coast to the east coast, the innovative artist collective John Q is getting attention nationally for a cluster of activities designed to showcase memory, history, archives and issues through a gay lens.

This spring, the trio--which includes VCU Libraries' Wesley Chenault, Ph.D.--presented their latest work, The Campaign for Atlanta, at Atlanta's historic Cyclorama. Their so-called "visual essay" was a culmination of public discussions at the GLBT History Museum in San Francisco, during the National Queer Arts Festival, intensive reseach visits in Georgia and California, and two sessions at the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center.

According to the organizers' press materials, The Campaign for Atlanta tells intertwining stories of migration, memory and the visual representation of history. The Cyclorama's large-scale, panoramic painting of the Battle of Atlanta is itself an artifact that traveled from city to city before landing permanently in Atlanta. A century after the Civil War, a young photographer and gay man Crawford Barton left his hometown of Resaca, Ga. - a key Civil War battle site - to migrate to Atlanta and then San Francisco. In the heady days between Gay Liberation and the AIDS epidemic, he created photographs of San Francisco gay culture that are now considered iconic.

The Campaign for Atlanta features Barton's super-8mm movies of 1970s San Francisco, Resaca, and Atlanta, and uncovers connections between 19^th-century landscapes and 20^th-century counterculture; between military history and museum display; and between movements across painting and the cinema screen, and from city to country.

This is just the kind of untold story John Q tells.

Formed in 2009, John Q is an artist collective consisting of Wesley Chenault, Andy Ditzler, and Joey Orr. Chenault is head, Special Collections and Archives at James Branch Cabell Library.

More about John Q

Interview with John Q at History@Work blog
John Q website

Upcoming events

June, 5-19: John Q has a residency (2013 Southern Constellation Fellows) at Elsewhere, a Greensboro, N.C. based arts organization and museum.

October-December, Migrating Archives traveling exhibition, will be on view at VCU Libraries. E.G. Crichton, who teaches art at the University of California at Santa Cruz and created the traveling exhibit, will be in Richmond to speak and take part in programs tied to the exhibition.

Fall of 2014, John Q is part of a group show at the Zuckerman Museum of Art, Kennesaw State University, Ga. As part of an ongoing conversation about collaboration and memory, the museum is producing a catalogue about John Q's work that will put its work in an expanded scholarly context.

Talk looks back on cartoon character Snuffy Smith and his creator

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:24:46 -0500

Many know comic-strip character Snuffy Smith, but attendees of a talk in James Branch Cabell Library on May 23 were treated to a behind-the-scenes look into his origins. Snuffy Smith first appeared in 1934 in artist Billy DeBeck's extremely popular "Barney Google" strip. While working on panels featuring Snuffy Smith, Billy DeBeck amassed a library of some 100 books on Appalachia, the Ozarks and the American South, from which he borrowed or adapted colorful turns of phrase and other elements of mountain dialect, in addition to details that would become a part of Snuffy Smith's backwoods home of Hootin' Holler. In the May 23 talk, speaker Paul Robertson, a research assistant in Cabell Library Special Collections and Archives and a doctoral student in VCU's Media Art & Text (MATX) program, surveyed DeBeck's library (all of which is now a part of the Comics Arts Collection housed in Cabell Library) and carefully considered DeBeck's own marginalia and annotations. Robertson argued that DeBeck's loving attention to detail made Snuffy Smith one of the more accurate depictions of "hillbilly" life in the early twentieth century and was a welcome departure from the highly romanticized or decadent imagery found in many novels and movies of the era.

Cabell Award three finalists announced

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:33:06 -0500

Having consulted and discussed reviews written by volunteer readers, the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award committee in the Department of English has narrowed down the list of 14 semifinalist books for the 2013 contest to three finalists:

All three books have been gathering acclaim. Ramona Ausubel's book, about a remote Jewish village in which the residents reimagine their history when confronted with the outbreak of WWII, was chosen as a finalist for the New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award and has been named one of the best books of the year by The Huffington Post and the San Francisco Chronicle. The New York Times Book Review describes it as "fantastical and ambitious" and "infused with faith in the power of storytelling." Nick Dybeck's book takes readers to an island off the coast of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, where a boy's life is changed by his father's involvement in the fate of a local fishery. Malcolm Forbes, for The Daily Beast, calls the book "a complex and riveting tale about deception and betrayal." Tupelo Hassman's book has won the 2012 Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize and the 2013 Alex Award and has also appeared on a number of lists of the best books of the year. Popular author Aimee Bender says of the book, which follows a young girl trying to escape life in a trailer park by reading literature, "This amazing debut spills over with love but is still absolutely unflinching and real."

The three finalist books have been given to a panel of three judges including last year's winner, Justin Torres, for the selection of this year's winner. Stay tuned for an announcement in the coming weeks and an update on the celebratory event to be scheduled for late in the fall semester.

Congratulations to VCU's new graduates

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:34:14 -0500

On Friday, May 3, hundreds of students preparing to graduate from VCU gathered at the Science Museum of Virginia for the event Your Passport to the World. Held annually, the event celebrates the achievements of the students with a soirée featuring international food from local vendors, music and dancing. Students also have the opportunity of visiting with representatives from many VCU departments to learn more about how to stay connected with the university after graduation and what resources it has to offer for helping graduates to advance their careers. VCU Libraries was, of course, there this past May 3 to talk about the VCU Friends of the Library and our extensive community programs. More importantly, though, we wanted to congratulate the students, every one of whom had visited Cabell Library or Tompkins-McCaw Library, whether in person or online, countless times during their studies. Best wishes for the future, and please keep in touch!

Lactation room now open at Cabell Library

Wed, 08 May 2013 07:57:53 -0500

A new lactation room, Room B11 on the ground floor of the James Branch Cabell Library, is open to all VCU students, faculty and staff who want to breastfeed or pump during library hours. To unlock the door, check out an access control card from the service desk. The room is freshly painted and carpeted and includes a Medela Symphony pump, a comfortable chair and a sink. Family restrooms with changing stations are nearby on the same floor. For more information, contact Jeanne Hammer at jmhammer@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1116. Access cards are for a six-month period and may be renewed.

News pubs collection represents 30 years of VCU history

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:28:11 -0500

Nearly 30 years of VCU history are represented in VCU Libraries newest digital collection, "VCU News Publications." The Office of University Relations produced these publications, which carried different titles over the years.

These periodicals tell VCU's official story in news articles, features, calendars and images of students, staff, faculty and leaders. Departments and schools submitted articles and news items. Letters to the editor, editorials and formal messages from deans and the president are also found in the 542 issues in this online collection.

The first of these official news organs was published in May of 1972 as the weekly VCU Today. (It was preceded on the MCV campus by the Medicovan, published from 1948 until 1973.) VCU Today was published on an irregular basis, often monthly, until the 1980s when it became a bi-weekly.

The staff included professional writers, photographers and editors, who represented the views of the university administration and highlighted news that the school wanted publicized. By the 1980s, the newspaper was circulated to full-time staff on both campuses and was also made available in a number of VCU buildings. It was probably the institution's best vehicle for communicating to the large university community.

In 1988, the newspaper became the VCU Voice. In 1998, it became the UniverCity News. In 2001, it became VCU News. It was published online in 2002 and is today's News Center.

The print issues are housed in the Special Collections and Archives departments in the Tompkins-McCaw Library on the MCV campus and in the James Branch Cabell Library on the Monroe Park Campus.

Dates for the publications:

VCU Today: 1972-1988
VCU Voice: 1988-1998
UniverCity News: 1998-2001
VCU News: 2001-2002

Copyright for the materials in this collection is managed by the VCU Libraries. The use of these materials is subject to the stipulations specified in the VCU Libraries copyright page.

Cabell First Novelist Award semifinalists announced

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:53:34 -0500

The VCU Department of English has just announced the 14 semifinalist books for this year's VCU Cabell First Novelist Award:

"Fobbit" by David Abrams (pub. Black Cat)
"Hope: A Tragedy" by Shalom Auslander (pub. Riverhead Books)
"No One Is Here Except All of Us" by Ramona Ausubel (pub. Riverhead Books)
"The People of Forever Are Not Afraid" by Shani Boianjiu (pub. Hogarth)
"A Land More Kind Than Home" by Wiley Cash (pub. William Morrow)
"Forgotten Country" by Catherine Chung (pub. Riverhead Books)
"The Book of Jonas" by Stephen Dau (pub. Blue Rider Press)
"When Captain Flint Was Still a Good Man" by Nick Dybek (pub. Constable & Robinson)
"Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk" by Ben Fountain (pub. Riverhead Books)
"Girlchild" by Tupelo Hassman (pub. Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
"The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller (pub. Ecco)
"The Yellow Birds" by Kevin Powers (pub. Little, Brown and Co.)
"Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" by Robin Sloan (pub. Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
"The Girl Below" by Bianca Zander (pub. William Morrow)

This group was chosen from almost 140 submissions based on reviews by readers from the Department of English, the VCU Friends of the Library, and others in the VCU community. Thank you to everyone who served as a reader and helped to make such an exciting selection of novels. Shortly, the three finalists will be decided from among the 14 semifinalists, and those three will then be read by the judges, who will choose the winner.

Commonwealth Times: Libraries, career center collaborate

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:56:17 -0500

The Commonwealth Times reports on a new career resource for students that collects VCU Libraries resources in a handy guide. The article.

New to the collection: Business and industry databases

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:45:44 -0500

Just in time for end-of-semester research projects, VCU Libraries introduces new databases useful to students of business, advertising, mass comm and researchers interested in business trends, entrepreneurship and corporate work and in getting the facts about private and public firms.

Some highlights:

IBISWorld Reports for all 723 U.S. industries categorized by NAICS include market size, competitors, forecasting, business valuations, benchmarking, business environment and global industry reports. A new module includes specialized industries such as: Forensic Accounting Services, Popcorn Production, Psychic Services, Ice Cream Making Machinery Manufacturing, Fantasy Sports Services and Medical Marijuana Growing.
Plunkett Research Online Analysis and market research for industry sectors include trend analysis, statistics, organizations, company profiles and information for job-seekers. VCU Libraries has long offered some of the Plunkett print and online materials but in this new format they are easier to use and more accessible. Plunkett covers some 30 industries plus Asian companies, Canadian industries, international companies and middle market companies. Both IBISWorld and Plunkett are great additions to the Industry Research Guide.
PrivCo Business and financial data on major, non-publicly traded corporations, including family-owned, private equity owned, venture backed, and international unlisted companies pulls back the curtain on private businesses such as Subway, pinkberry, IKEA, J. Crew, Levis, Arby's, Brooks Brothers, Twitter, Chanel and 80,000 more businesses that make up most of our major corporations. See Company Research Guide.
WARC Global advertising and marketing trends, including market intelligence, case studies, conference reports, articles, expenditure data, profiles of major brand owners and consumer insight. This publisher's portfolio includes Admap, Market Leader, International Journal of Advertising, Journal of Advertising Research and International Journal of Market Research (full text). This database includes marketing case studies, advertising spending date, some content from sources like Gale American Industry and Emerging Industry Overviews, Nielsen, and more, as well as exclusive content such as a collection of advertising campaign videos.
Best's Library Center Offers full-text insurance reports, credit reports, and other in-depth insurance industry information and statistics. It's great for any research on the insurance industry, whether you need basic information or in depth research.

For further information:
Bettina Peacemaker
bjpeacemaker@vcu.edu (804) 828-8960

Jodi Koste to serve as University Archivist

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:14:47 -0500

Just as VCU embarks on a year-long celebration of its 175th anniversary as an institution of higher learning, it has a new university archivist: Jodi Koste of VCU Libraries.

"VCU has entered a time of transformation throughout the institution," said University Librarian John E. Ulmschneider in announcing Koste's appointment. "The pace and scope of change underscore more than ever the importance of a strong university archives program that captures and describes the rich history of our institution while informing and grounding its move ahead."

As University Archivist, Koste will work closely with VCU Libraries' leadership and colleagues and staff throughout VCU to create a policy and procedure framework for a comprehensive archives program appropriate for a major research university in the 21st century. Koste will also identify staffing and other resource needs and educate the university community about the role of university archives in contemporary research universities.

As a first step in the process of developing her new role, Koste is working with the Office of the President on setting up systems for managing the presidential papers as well as the official record of the Board of Visitors. "There will be many uses for these materials from the perspectives of the administration and to those interested in VCU's story and its history," Koste said.

"These records are the institution's legacy in many ways and we want to ensure that this legacy is here 50 years from now."

In her association with VCU Libraries, Koste has long been involved in outreach and in helping people on both campuses find and use materials about VCU. As Head of Special Collections and Archives at Tompkins-McCaw Library she retains responsibility for special collections initiatives related to the MCV Campus and its academic programs, which already have a large archival component.

Few people are as uniquely and strongly qualified as Koste to create and lead a university archives program at a major research university. With some 35 years experience as an archivist and historian, she has published widely on matters related to regional and university history and delivered many presentations to local, regional and national conventions on archival practice and collections. She was recognized in 2009 with the Distinguished Service Award by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (the organization's highest honor). She is the only archivist to have been elected an officer of the American Association for the History of Medicine and is former president of the Archivist and Librarians in the History of the Health Sciences (ALHHS).

"Her distinguished career has earned her the esteem of historians, archivists and librarians across the country and the deep respect of VCU faculty and leadership throughout the institution," Ulmschneider said. "I am grateful that Ms. Koste has agreed to take on the important new responsibilities of University Archivist at a time of such profound change at VCU. Her combination of skills, experience, and expertise will ensure that VCU's new university archives starts with the best possible foundation."

RefWorks is 'forever': Use it and don't lose it after graduating

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:00:17 -0500

Like the forever stamp, one of your library services stays with you, at the same price (free) forever.

One of the many tools VCU Libraries provides students is RefWorks. This web-based citation management tool stores citation and reference information in personal databases. The individual can manage references in folders for individual topics, courses, grants or collaborative projects. It automatically generates bibliographies in various formats (MLA, APA, Chicago).

All VCU-affiliated users who have VCU and/or MCVH-VCU email accounts may set up free accounts.

If you have a RefWorks account, your references are yours forever. Whether you go onto graduate school at another institution or go into the workplace, you can still have access to your references via the RefWorks Alumni Program. You can continue to use RefWorks to manage research materials of all kinds--whether you are in school or on the job.

Members of the class of 2013: Remember to set up a RefWorks Alumni account before graduation to continue to have this benefit of your VCU Libraries relationship.

Details about the RefWorks Alumni Program

Students, faculty and staff with RefWorks accounts who leave VCU may continue to have access to RefWorks through the RefWorks Alumni Program. As a participant in the program, you receive:

One free RefWorks account
New updates and feature releases
200 MB of file attachment storage
Use of RefShare to share your folder(s) or account
Free Web-based training
Technical support from RefWorks staff

To request participation in the RefWorks Alumni Program, submit an Ask Us email or contact your RefWorks administrator:

Marilyn Scott, James Branch Cabell Library, mjscott@vcu.edu, (804) 828-9049
Jennifer McDEaniel, Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences, jamcdaniel@vcu.edu, (804) 827-1150

New free online careers guide aids job-seekers

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:35:37 -0500

Charting your after-graduation or summer path? Finishing your academic program and planning the next steps? Looking for a job or internship? Thinking about launching your own business or starting a nonprofit?

VCU Libraries, in partnership with University Career Services, now offers a handy, one-stop, online guide about how to use library resources to research companies and industries.

Bettina Peacemaker, the libraries liaison to the School of Business and an expert in business databases, developed the guide.

"These resources take you beyond the classroom and into your career," she says. "Company and industry research is an important piece of a job search and interview process, and we've collected the major resources and strategies in one place."

A little research does goes a long way in impressing employers, according to Kim Hanneman, assistant director, University Career Center. "Employers tell us that they notice the candidates who have done their research on the organization and the industry." she said. "This resource will also benefit students' career exploration."

These online resources are deep and broad and, literally, at your fingertips. You can find:

annual reports
up-to-date business news (Dow Jones Factiva)
company profiles (Hoover's, Mergent Online, Company Research Guide)
industry trends (IBISWorld, Plunkett Research Online, Mintel, Sandard & Poor's Net Advantage)
profiles of private and public companies
job seeker resources and tools
information about nonprofits and government jobs (A-Z Index of U.S. Government and more)
an inside look at jobs and companies (Glassdoor)
Securities and Exchange Commission filings (EDGAR)

For one-on-one coaching on how to use the new careers guide, contact Peacemaker at bjpeacemaker@vcu.edu or (804) 828-8960.

The research guide augments the career center's existing programming, which includes a wide range of services to support students and alumni in career development. These include assisting at every stage of the job-search process--from choosing a major, to assessing strengths, from referring and managing recruiting events to helping candidates prepare for interviews. About the University Career Center

Members of the Friends of the Libraries and others with VCU electronic ID have access to materials.

A step up: Stairs get an update

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:46:02 -0500

For many years, visitors to Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences literally watched their step entering the building due to rough and uneven stairs.

No longer.

This spring, the stairs from the 1974 entrance addition were replaced. Over the years, the native limestone around the door and the plinths had eroded. The front steps had been patched with concrete that routinely peeled off.

With the 2013 renovation, the lower limestone panels of the building were removed and replaced with granite. The plinths bookending the steps had the exterior limestone removed before the stone masons added brick to the base and capped them with granite. The exterior steps and landing are now granite. In the vestibule, the treads were replaced with granite. New stair railings were cast and installed.

The work on the entrance is shown through photographs on Facebook.

New to the collection: Film and Television Index

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:09:14 -0500

Film and Television Literature Index with Full Text is an exciting resource for film, television and new media research. Maintaining international coverage with a North American focus, this database provides comprehensive indexing and abstracts for more than 680 academic journals, magazines and trade publications, with full text entries for some 120 journals. Also included are book chapters, industry reports, Variety movie reviews (1914-present), and more than 36,000 images and movie stills. Through Film and Television Literature Index, researchers can explore the spectrum of media scholarship from theoretical aspects and technical elements to critical reception and popular culture impact.

The database

'Rams Reaching Out' photo exhibit runs April 18-September

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:30:03 -0500

Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences opens "Rams Reaching Out," a photography exhibition featuring contest entries about the outreach activities of VCU health sciences students from urban Richmond to rural Southwest Virginia to the faraway shores of West Africa.

All are invited to the reception at the library, 509 N. 12th St. RSVP Thelma Mack, mackta@vcu.edu or 804-828-0017

Commonwealth Times: Students consider new library

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:11:49 -0500

Thanks to our Cabell Library Undergraduate Advisory Committee for hosting the annual Cabell Life Forum April 3. We had a room full of students who posed many ideas and raised many interesting questions about today's library services and the proposed new building. Coverage from The Commonwealth Times

VCU Libraries hosts TEDMED 2013 simulcast April 16-19

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:25:29 -0500

Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences will host a live simulcast of TEDMED 2013, April 16-19, during regular library hours. The University community is invited to join colleagues to listen to this provocative series of short, inspiring talks, curated by the well-known TED (technology, entertainment, design) conference series, which began in the mid-1980s.

TEDMED focuses on health and medicine. The conference meets at the Kennedy Center in Washington, for a 31/2 day program.

According to organizers, "TEDMED believes that the future of health and medicine will be shaped by vital input from leading medical colleges, teaching hospitals, government agencies and non-profit institutions around the world." In this spirit of collaboration and information sharing, the TEDMED event is broadcast free to these institutions.

This is the first time VCU has participated in TEDMED Live.

Selected highlights and topics include:

Tuesday, April 16

John Maeda, Rhode Island School of Design President: "How can design principles lead to more discovery and better treatment?"
America Bracho, CEO and President, Latino Health Acesss: "What happens when patients become leaders on the health team?"
Harvey Fineberg, President, Institute of Medicine: "What is the U.S. health disadvantage?"

Wednesday, April 17

Amy Abernathy, Director, Duke Center for Learning Health Care: "Can patient data have a second life?"
Sally Okun, VP Advocacy, Policy and Patient Safety, PatientsLikeMe: "Does anyone in healthcare want to be understood?"
Francis S. Collins, NIH Director: "Can science take the next leap?"

Thursday, April 18

Susan Desmond-Hellmann, Chancellor, University of California, San Francisco: "Attention stressed-out docs: Can the consumer be the 'cavalry'that rescues you?"
Elizabeth Marincola, President, Society for Science and the Public: "With open access, who translates medical research?"
Elazer Edlman, Senior Physician, Harvard-MIT Biomedical Engineering Center: "The Big Bang in Medicine and Engineering - will the knowledge explosion actually hurt innovation across disciplines?"

Friday, April 19

Laura Deming, Partner, The Longevity Fund: "How do we make prevention a $1 trillion business?"
Isaac Kohane, Professor of Pediatrics and Health Sciences Technology, Harvard Medical School: "How can every clinical visit be used to advance medical science?"

Preservation Week, April 22-26

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:09:33 -0500

Preservation Week returns to Cabell Library April 22-26. This year, Patricia Selinger, Head of the Preservation Department, will demonstrate the art of book repair in the lobby from noon to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. These demonstrations will provide a fascinating look at the structure and durability of books. The Preservation Department works to keep library resources available to those who need them now and to future generations. Visitors to the demonstrations will also be able to learn more about how best to take care of their own collections and what to do in case of accidents and disasters. Ms. Selinger will answer questions and have handouts available. The VCUL Preservation Department is at http://www.library.vcu.edu/preservation/.

Throughout the week, the American Library Association (ALA) will offer webinars and webcasts on various topics in preservation. For a complete listing and for access, see the ALA Preservation Week calendar. To get started with preserving your family treasures, see this helpful VCU Libraries guide. See also the ALA's in-depth Preservation Toolkit.

Preservation Week was begun in 2010 to promote the role of libraries and other institutions in preserving public and personal collections and treasures. Some 630 million items in collecting institutions in the United States require immediate attention and care. 80 percent of these institutions have no paid staff assigned responsibility for collections care, and 22 percent have no collections-are personnel at all. Some 2.6 billion items are not protected by an emergency plan. As natural disasters of recent years have taught us, these resources are in jeopardy should a disaster strike. Personal, family, and community collections are equally at risk. Preservation Week is sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA), the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS), the Library of Congress, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Society of American Archivists (SAA), the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) and Heritage Preservation: The National Institute for Conservation.

Video: 'Gabriel's Conspiracy"

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:51:43 -0500

In 1800, a literate slave known as Gabriel planned a rebellion that was to involve a march into Richmond. Although the action was suppressed, it confirmed the growing outcry for justice and the volatility of the slave economy. VCU Libraries hosted "Gabriel's Conspiracy: Exploring the Richmond Slave Rebellion of 1800" on March 13, in partnership with the Year of Freedom Committee, the VCU Department of History, the VCU Department of African American Studies and the Library of Virginia.

The event featured two prominent experts on the subject of Gabriel's Rebellion, discussing this landmark in Virginia history: Dr. Michael Nicholls, professor emeritus of history at Utah State University and author of "Whispers of Rebellion: Narrating Gabriel's Conspiracy," and Dr. Philip J. Schwarz, professor emeritus of history at VCU and author of "Gabriel's Conspiracy: A Document History." Schwarz is also emeritus of the VCU Friends of the Library Board. These two books, "Whispers of Rebellion" and "Gabriel's Conspiracy," both recently published by the University of Virginia Press, aim to present a complete account of the rebellion.

Your opinion matters to VCU Libraries: Take part in quality survey March 26-April 16

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:27:18 -0500

Every two years, VCU Libraries asks the university community "how are we doing?"

The ways students and faculty respond to that query--teased out in 27 questions in a 10-minute long online survey called LibQUAL+-- shape a myriad of decisions about spending, services and space in library buildings.

It's that time, again.

Some 3,700 faculty members on both MCV and Monroe Park campuses will receive an email with an invitation to take the survey. And, 30 percent of VCU students, about 10,000 undergraduates, graduates, and medical residents, will also receive emails seeking participation. Students are randomly selected. The survey link goes live on Tuesday, March 26 and continues to be active through April 16.

Look for an email with the subject line: "Help us make your libraries better."

"Every voice really matters. If you receive the invitation to take the survey, please do," said University Librarian John E. Ulmschneider (pictured, right). "This data directs strategic decisions. Results of the 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011 surveys have guided the university and VCU Libraries on how best to invest time, effort and money to improve our libraries for the VCU community. The results of previous surveys have led to much stronger digital content and to new services, including round-the-clock service in Cabell Library. Your input will have an particularly high impact over the next two years as we build a new library and further develop collections of digital books and journals.

VCU Libraries uses the LibQUAL+® national benchmarking tool, designed specifically for libraries to survey library users. LibQUAL+® measures library users' perceptions of their libraries' service quality and identifies gaps between minimum, desired and perceived levels of service. Every year, hundreds of libraries conduct LibQUAL+ surveys, creating a standardized data set that defines and measures library service quality across institutions, and allows each library to compare itself with similar institutions nationwide."

"As the VCU Libraries seeks to create a top-tier library system for an evolving VCU, this data provides powerful guidance to ensure that we anticipate and meet the changing needs of our community," said Ulmschneider.

After 2006 survey

Replaced 1970s era furnishing
Stacks improvement project
Increased size of electronic resources collection
Cabell 4th floor renovation adds student space, including graduate reading room.

After 2008 survey

Cabell Learning Commons opened in 2010 utilizing space freed by creation of offsite storage facility.
Redesigned website to enhance usability
Increased library instruction on both campuses
Additional journal collection funding provided

After 2011 Survey

Renovations at both libraries created additional user space with improved furnishings and study conditions.
Primo, a one-button search function, was introduced to expedite online discovery of library materials.
Alma, new technical infrastructure, was adopted to add efficiencies.
Collections in all formats were expanded.

If you need further incentive: VCU LIbraries will donate $1 to the Central Virginia Food Bank for every completed survey. While taking the survey is anonymous, participants will also have an opportunity to enter a drawing for $25 Barnes & Nobel gift certificates, an iPad or an iPad-mini.

More information

VCU Libraries connections to April 5 First Fridays abound

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:09:11 -0500

First Friday in April is full of VCU Libraries' connections and contributions.

The RPI Alumni Steering Committee is sponsoring "1928-68: Forty Years of Creative Excellence," an invitational show by students and faculty of Richmond Professional Institute at the Richmond Public Library, 101 East Franklin St. The intention of the show is to showcase the far reach of Theresa Pollak (1899-2002) and her faculty, whose students went on to make many contributions to the arts. See a complete list of the participating artists here. An opening reception is set for 6:30-9 p.m. Friday, April 5, as a part of the First Friday's Art Walk. The show remains up through June 5.

VCU Libraries has curated an exhibition of RPI history, which will be on display in coordination with the art show. This exhibition was organized by Ray Bonis, archives coordinator for James Branch Cabell Library. The exhibits focus on three individuals and the Bang Arts Festival of the 1960s that brought modern and pop art to Richmond. The individuals featured are Theresa Pollak, who founded the School. of Arts in the 1920s; Chick Larsen, graphic artist and editorial cartoonist who graduated from RPI in the 1950s; and Richmond writer Tom Robbins, class of 1959, who was part of the Richmond Art Scene of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Assistant Head, Special Collections and Archives Yuki Hibben will also be on the walk. Students from the photography class she team-teaches with professional bookbinder, Helen Cassidy, will be running a sale of limited edition photobooks created for the class. The sale will take place in front of Candela Gallery, 214 West Broad St. Proceeds will be contributed to the 2013 Photography BFA show.
And, farther east at UR Downtown, 626 E. Broad St., "Mapping RVA: Where You Live Makes All the Difference" opens. The exhibition, organized by Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia (HOME) in conjunction with Affordable Housing Awareness Week, illustrates poverty in metro Richmond. Dr. John V. Moeser, a former VCU professor and senior fellow of the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement, will give a presentation at 6 p.m. Also on view are images of editorial cartoons by longtime Richmond Times-Dispatch cartoonist Larsen. The images are from Special Collections and Archives, Cabell Library.

Have your voices heard at Cabell Life Forum April 3

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:23:49 -0500

By Yusef Ariyibi
Member, Cabell Library Undergraduate Advisory Committee

As you may have heard, James Branch Cabell Library is preparing to undergo major changes. The plans for a new building have begun and many of us students are curious about what to expect. At 5 p.m., April 3 in the Multipurpose Room, 250, the Cabell Library Undergraduate Advisory Committee (CLUAC) and the VCU Student Government Association (SGA) will be co-sponsoring the 2013-2014 Cabell Life Forum.

Each year the Cabell Life Forum has been an amazing way for students and library administration to connect and discuss issues, share ideas and make suggestions. The Cabell Life Forum has covered various issues such as building hours and resources. The 24/5 library hours that we have been enjoying so much this past year came about, in part, due to discussions from prior Forums.

On April 3, Dennis Clark, the associate university librarian for public services, will be discussing the new library. This is an opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions on what you would like the new building to encompass. Cabell Library faculty want the new building to be the perfect place for VCU students to study, research and get the best learning experience possible. Your opinion is going to be taken into great consideration.

The Cabell Life Forums have always been a great experience in my past three years at VCU. If Cabell Library is like a second home to you, I would greatly recommend you come out and join this incredible discussion.

Registration Open: Digital Pragmata series for faculty and grad students

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 15:05:43 -0500

How scholars and artists share their work is changing. More and more, arts and humanities scholarship, creative activity and teaching occurs in the digital environment. VCU Libraries' new forum, "Digital Pragmata" (Digital Things) will explore these trends and techniques in modern scholarship, teaching and creative work.

"Digital pragmata flourish at the nexus of research, teaching and creativity," said John Glover, assistant professor and reference librarian for the humanities. Glover is organizing the sessions along with Kristina Keogh, assistant professor and reference librarian for the arts. Digital pragmata can be textual databases, creative visualizations of information, multimedia explorations, collaboratively annotated maps, course-related blogs and a thousand other projects. Digital objects can be wildly creative, deeply complex or simple communication tools.

"In working with faculty in various departments, we see a need to broaden the conversation about digital material," said Keogh, who is also a doctoral candidate in art history. Instructors requiring the creation of digital objects are scattered across all disciplines. "We want to bring together faculty and graduate students from a range of disciplines to learn and share ideas."

These sessions are free and open to all. Space is limited. Please register.

The March 26 and April 25 panels will be recorded and shared online.

For more information contact Glover at jglover2@vcu.edu or Keogh at keoghkm@vcu.edu.

March 26

1 to 3 p.m., followed by reception

Visualizing the Digital

Design, ideas and platforms

Edward L. Ayers, president, University of Richmond, pioneer in the digital humanities
Amanda French, THATCamp (The Humanities and Technology Camp) coordinator, Center for History and New Media, George Mason University
Emily Smith, executive director, 1708 Gallery, Richmond, curator and creator of InLight Richmond
Moderator: Roy D. McKelvey, associate professor, Department of Graphic Design, VCU, co-founder of Loop: AIGA Journal of Interactive Design Education

April 25

1 to 3 p.m., followed by a reception

Crafting Content

Creation, scholarship and organization

Ben Fino-Radin, digital conservator for Rhizome at the New Museum and manager of the Museum of Modern Art Digital Repository
Francesca Fiorani, associate professor, History of Art and Architecture, UVA, director of Leonardo da Vinci and His Treatise on Painting
Michael Poston, database applications associate, Folger Shakespeare Library
Moderator: Joshua Eckhardt, associate professor, Department of English, VCU, and founding, general co-editor of British Virginia

May 2

Noon to 2 p.m.

Funding Innovation

Avenues, resources and project support

Jessica Venable, grant analyst, Office of Research, VCU
David Holland, research and entrepreneurship specialist, School of the Arts, VCU

Text services go 24-hours

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 09:24:47 -0500

Texting is the newest way to connect with VCU Libraries' research expertise. After spring break, text messages will be responded to around the clock, 24 hours a day when James Branch Cabell Library is open (Sunday 10 a.m. to Friday 10 p.m.) and on weekends.

Librarians also respond to users' questions by chat, email, voicemail and, of course, face to face.

Texting is a constant for cell phone users. Among 18 to 29-year-olds, 97 percent send texts, according to data from the Pew Research Center's internet project.

"Answering research questions by text is now an essential part of our package of services," says Research Librarian Kristina Keogh, who is in charge of setting up the new service. "At VCU, we meet our users where they are. They may be across town in a Panera working on a paper or they may be in a quiet corner on the fourth floor quiet-study area and don't want to leave their materials to come downstairs to speak with a research librarian."

Librarians are prepared for a range of questions. Keogh expects to receive both basic and advanced queries--everything from "where do I find this book?" to how to cite a source properly, from how to get started on a project to how late Starbucks is open.

Text a librarian at 804-435-5420.

Ask Us contact information

Video: Library technology leaders discuss innovations, trends and the future

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 12:38:16 -0500

As one of the first major research universities to launch a pioneering new cloud-resident enterprise library platform, Virginia Commonwealth University hosted a Jan. 9 session designed to help other libraries around the world prepare for the next generation of library technologies. VCU Libraries went live in the fall semester with Alma, cloud-resident enterprise library software from Ex Libris Inc

"Libraries have always been on the cutting edge of technology," said University Librarian John E. Ulmschneider. "Emerging cloud technologies are building blocks for the research libraries of the future--more accessible, scalable, secure and content-rich than ever to advance scholarly endeavor."

At the Jan. 9 event, industry leaders discussed how emerging cloud-based technologies are transforming research libraries.

Speakers were:

Marshall Breeding, the national authority on enterprise library systems, is editor of Library Technology Guides and author of a monthly column in Computers in Libraries.
Mark Ryland, chief solutions architect for Amazon Web Service's Worldwide Public Sector team, began working with Microsoft Federal Systems as a senior architectural engineer in the early 1990s and has witnessed the industry mature.
Mark Triest, president of Ex Libris North America since 2010, previously was president of Inigral, a social-media start-up delivering applications for the education market. He also served as senior vice president of global sales at Sunguard Higher Education
John Ulmschneider, university librarian at VCU, is a past president and board member of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, and leads VCU's growing and innovative research library system.
Gene Damon, panel moderator, is director of library automation for the Virginia Community College System, one of the nation's largest community college systems. He is chair of the steering committee for the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA), and brings a distinguished background of leadership in enterprise library systems in both corporate and academic environments.

New library programs serve international students

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:12:05 -0500

International students can receive special library tours and research workshops designed for them this spring. Language challenges and cultural differences can present barriers to academic success for some international students. Libraries in their home nations may be vastly different from academic libraries in the United States.

Tours of James Branch Cabell Library: Jan. 16, 4 p.m. and Jan. 22, 5 p.m.
Introduction to Research: Feb. 6, 7 p.m.
Finding Information in the Library I: Feb. 25, 5 p.m.
Finding Information in the Library II: March 19, 6 p.m.

These workshops are a partnership between VCU Libraries and the Global Education Office. No registration is necessary. Workshops and tours are free and open to all.

For a detailed description of the workshops and additional helpful information, including foreign language dictionaries, see VCU Libraries' International Students Guide.

Library services survey set for 2013, report on 2011 data and related improvements posted

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 11:59:56 -0500

Building on its history of improving services through assessment of users' expressed needs and preferences, VCU Libraries will conduct such a survey in 2013. A full report on the 2011 survey is now available online. Many improvements have been made based on that data.

"It is a best practice for libraries to seek opinions of their users by tools including surveys and focus groups," said Michael Rawls, budget and assessment director for VCU Libraries. The trademarked LibQUAL survey, developed by the Association of Research Libraries and Texas A & M University, is used by many top research libraries. "It's the gold standard," said Rawls.

VCU Libraries uses LibQUAL-gathered information to assess and improve operations and collections. In the 2011 survey, students and faculty from all disciplines rated the customer service and professional knowledge of librarians highly. Perceptions of facilities and spaces improved significantly from the previous survey period. Heightened satisfaction can be largely attributed to improvements to the second floor of James Branch Cabell Library.

In the 2011 report:

Patrons continued to think the facilities are crowded and sometimes noisy and insufficient to meet their study or research needs.
Graduate students and faculty, groups who care most about the depth and breadth of collections, reported that adequacy of the collections have improved since 2008. But, faculty still see much room for improvement.
Accessibility of information remained an issue for users in varied disciplines.
The Web site was perceived by some users as difficult to navigate for finding information on their own.

VCU Libraries staff worked intensively to improve services, collections and spaces based on 2011 data. Highlights include:

Design work is well underway to construct a new library building on the Monroe Park campus.
Hours the libraries are open have been expanded on both campuses.
Substantive renovations at libraries on both MCV and Monroe Park campuses created additional user space with improved furnishings and study conditions.
A new one-button search function was introduced in 2012 to expedite online discovery of library materials.
Alma, new technical infrastructure, was adopted in 2012 to add speed and efficiencies.
Collections in all formats were expanded.
A task force is working on a redesign of an improved Web site to launch in 2013.

The 2013 LibQUAL survey will be conducted online during the spring semester.

Exhibit marks 95 years of VCU's pioneering School of Social Work

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 15:00:48 -0500

In January 1917, the institution that became Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Social Work was founded by a small group of Richmond citizens interested in improving the social conditions of Virginia's urban and rural poor. Their efforts led to a training school for social workers, the first of its kind in the South.

VCU's School of Social Work is celebrating its 95 years of service during the 2012-2013 school year. An exhibit on the history of the school is on display at James Branch Cabell Library. The fourth floor exhibit shows rare materials from Special Collections and Archives.

To learn more about the founding of the school, see "History of the Richmond Professional Institute: From Its Beginning in 1917 to Its Consolidation With the Medical College of Virginia in 1968 to Form Virginia Commonwealth University" by Henry H. Hibbs Jr. (1887-1977), long-time leader of Richmond Professional Institute (RPI).

(The photograph: First class of the School of Social Work and Public Health pose with Dr. Henry H. Hibbs Jr. in front of the monument to Dr. Hunter H. McGuire, former professor of surgery at the Medical College of Virginia.)

Collaborative course showcases innovative student work in 'Portrait as Community' through Dec. 9 at Anderson Gallery

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:40:11 -0500

A collection of student multimedia projects documenting communities in and around Richmond runs Nov. 30-Dec. 9 at Anderson Gallery.

"Portrait as Community" is the culmination of a special course inspired by Growing Up in Civil Rights Richmond: A Community Remembers, a project organized by the Anderson Gallery with South African photographer Zwelethu Mthethwa and American Studies scholar Laura Browder. Students from the VCU Departments of Photography and Film and Art Education examined historical examples, research methodologies, ethical concerns and artistic strategies related to the representation of communities. They selected and worked with Richmond communities over the semester to create their projects.

This collaborative course was offered by the Department of Photography and Film, VCU Libraries and the Anderson Gallery. Teachers were Yuki Hibben, assistant head, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, and Michael Lease, head of exhibitions and design, Anderson Gallery.

The show is on view during regular gallery hours: Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

More The opening reception, Friday, Nov. 30, 5-8 p.m., is free and open to all.

Student projects on display are by:

Jaclyn Brown
Casey Collier
Kate Fowler
Lauren Lyon
Jessica Overcash
Mark Strandquist
Breonca Trofort
Michael Weinheimer

VCU Libraries' collections tied to annual symposium on architecture and decorative arts

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:05:01 -0500

Nov. 16 marks the 20th year for an annual conference organized by Charles E. Brownell, Ph.D., the head of VCU's Architectural History Program. Traditions IV: 20th Symposium on Architecture and Decorative Arts was scheduled to take place at the Virginia Historical Society. (Above: a detail from a book cover by the Richmond publisher Engelhardt.)

In the words of Brownell, the conference was created "to air valuable work by current and recent VCU graduate students, as well as important research by other members of the VCU family circle." Ray Bonis, archives coordinator at Cabell, was scheduled to present on "Griffin and Randall, American Masters" and University Librarian John E. Ulmschneider chaired a session on "Twenty Years of Research at VCU."

For 20 years, Dr. Brownell, professor in VCU's Art History Department, has deposited copies of his graduate students' research papers on architectural history topics to Special Collections and Archives at James Branch Cabell Library. More than 300 of these papers exist and they offer a deep scholarly imprint on Richmond's architectural history. Many of these papers develop into topics for master thesis and others are turned into papers presented at the VCU Annual Architectural History and the Decorative Arts Symposium. About the papers

Some of the most architecturally significant buildings of 19th and 20th century Richmond are located on, or adjacent to, the campuses of Virginia Commonwealth University. A focus has been on documenting the architecture of what is known today as Richmond's Fan District and especially the buildings of VCU's Monroe Park Campus. More about the collection

New "chat" service fields research questions in real time

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:40:17 -0500

Having trouble locating articles for your research project? Not sure how to focus your search? Wondering about library hours and services?

Now, you can get help in real time no matter where you are--at home or at lunch, in the campus connector bus or on the quiet floor at Cabell with your backpack, laptop and notes scattered around you.

To access chat: Go to the "Ask Us" web page and click on the chat bubble. A chat "box" will open for you to type in your question. A research librarian will help you.

Chat Hours

Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday 6 - 10 p.m.

VCU Libraries has been testing the new chat service for months and it now makes its official debut. Chat, or instant messaging, is a fast track for answers. VCU Librarians also take questions by email, phone and, of course, face-to-face. Questions asked by email or left on voicemail are answered within 24 hours, except on weekends. Chat is anonymous: If you end the chat session before you're ready or get cut off, come back online.

Users are invited to give their feedback about the chat service by using chat.

Service Awards 2012 for libraries' employees

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 09:49:47 -0500

Many VCU Libraries employees were recognized in October when Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System recognized employees for their dedicated years of commitment at the 41th annual Service Awards receptions. More

VCU Libraries staff honored were:

40 years of service:
Mary Jane Green, service desk coordinator, Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences

30 years of service:
Barbara Anderson, head of the cataloging department, James Branch Cabell Library
Denise Branch, assistant head of the acquisitions department, Cabell Library
Valencia Jackson, library specialist, Cabell Library
Anita Williams, film specialist I, Cabell Library

25 years of service:
Nell Chenault, research librarian for film and music, Cabell Library
Anita Mallory, library specialist II, Cabell Library
Pam Patrom, administrative office specialist II, Cabell Library

20 years of service:
Donna Coghill, first year student programs librarian, Cabell Library
Jimmy Ghaphery, head of library information systems department, VCU Libraries

15 years of service:
Ken Hopson, manager of media and reserve services, Cabell Library
Marilyn Scott, electronic services librarian, Cabell Library
Angela Worris, library specialist I, Cabell Library
Barbara Wright, reference services librarian, Tompkins-McCaw Library

10 years of service:
Mary Ellen Spencer, social and behavioral sciences collections librarian, Cabell Library,
Antonia Vassar, assistant director for annual giving and donor stewardship, VCU Libraries

5 years of service:
Will Bailey, equipment applications specialist II, Cabell Library
John Glover, reference librarian for the humanities and sciences reference collection coordinator, Cabell Library
Tim Hurley, stacks supervisor, Tompkins-McCaw Library
Kristina Keogh, reference librarian for the arts, Cabell Library
Nia Rodgers, evenings and weekends services coordinator, Cabell Library

The Next Generation: Library catalog evolves, moves to the cloud

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:28:18 -0500

Since summer, a notice has greeted users of the library catalog that it will soon be replaced by an advanced discovery engine adopted by the VCU Libraries last year (http://search.library.vcu.edu/).

Beginning Oct. 24, the VCU Libraries' systems professionals began the transition to retire the old catalog, parts of which will persist until all the components can be migrated later this year. The new software searches VCU Libraries' collections as well as millions of journals and other resources. It uses unique features such as global data mining to recommend scholarly resources based upon search results.

Changing scholarship, shifts in the publishing industry and new technologies are driving this improvement. VCU Libraries is at the forefront of a group of libraries around the world that is adopting a new technology, named Alma that has been developed by Ex Libris, a leading developer of library technologies. VCU is the first large research institution to launch this new system. The software replaces the system used here for about a decade. That software is nearing the end of its viable life. The new system is hosted in the cloud with a strong emphasis on managing digital resources in cooperation with other research libraries. The system is built on a design that features rapid software development, so the VCU community can look forward to major enhancements over the coming months.

"It is a system that positions VCU Libraries for the future of managing materials in all media and will provide many efficiencies," said John Duke, senior associate university librarian, who has led the technical team.

On the Vanguard: VCU Libraries live with new system

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 14:20:25 -0500

VCU Libraries is now live with a unified resource management system and stands at the forefront of libraries worldwide in adopting the next generation of library technologies.

In a small group of early-adopter libraries, VCU Libraries has been working with Ex Libris to replace the library management system VCU has used for a decade. Ex Libris began rolling out the new Alma system earlier in 2012. VCU is the third library in North America and the largest major research institution to date to launch Alma. It follows Boston College and Fort Hays State University, which went live in the summer.

Alma is a single, consolidated library system that manages print, electronic and digital collections. It replaces several systems that separately manage different aspects of library operations. The use of business analytics and real-time resource analysis tools within Alma will allow the library to become much more efficient and provide an opportunity for cost-containment. This uniform resource management system allows staff to monitor and manage collections, databases and other resources. Library staff also can track usage and analyze collections on a real-time basis.

Alma, and its kin software, Primo, represent the next generation in information management. Primo is a single search discovery tool that effectively is retiring the old "catalog."

Alma is cloud-based software often referred to as software as a service (SaaS). For years, the library has operated its integrated library systems on computer servers on campus and managed these systems using personnel of VCU Libraries and Technology Services. The new model moves the library system off campus to the Internet, where it runs on robust servers managed by a third-party vendor. Service is seamless to the library patron and available around the clock. The benefits for the university: Less expense, less server maintenance, better access, enhanced reliability.

Changing scholarship, shifts in the publishing industry and new technologies are driving this improvement. "It is a system that positions VCU Libraries for the future of managing materials in all media on an increasingly large scale," said John Duke, senior associate university librarian, who has led the technical team. "A huge benefit of being an early adopter is that VCU Libraries has had considerable voice in refining the software to answer the unique needs of a research library with a large academic health sciences campus. We also received some cost savings in opting in early," noted Duke.

Alma has been created using modern, rapid software development tools. This makes for very quick software production, with managed feedback from users to guide development as it is constantly tested. Alma was designed with partner libraries to help manage the variety of materials a modern library holds, taking advantage of technology and learning from other libraries to reduce costs and speed processing. Over time, it is expected that many internal workflows will change and library leadership envisions new efficiencies and savings that can be invested in enhanced services or improved collections.

A team of information management experts, led by University Librarian John E. Ulmschneider and Senior Associate University Librarian John Duke, have been working through the myriad of details, tests, feedback and iterations since March, 2012. The new system went live October 24.

VCU Libraries live with new-generation technological platform

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 14:08:37 -0500

VCU Libraries is now live with a unified resource management system and stands at the forefront of libraries worldwide in adopting the next generation of library technologies.

In a small group of early-adopter libraries, VCU Libraries has been working with Ex Libris to replace the library management system VCU has used for a decade. Ex Libris began rolling out the new Alma system earlier this year. VCU was the third library in North American and the largest major research institution to date to launch Alma. It follows Boston College and Fort Hays State University.

Alma is a single, consolidated library system that manages print, electronic and digital collections. It replaces several systems that separately managed different aspects of library operations. The use of business analytics and real-time resource-analysis tools within Alma will allow the library to become much more efficient and provide an opportunity for cost containment. The community zone and the collaboration network leverage the power of libraries to work together to reduce costs and deliver enhanced services.

Alma, used with a discovery layer such as Primo, represents the next generation in information management. Primo is a single search discovery tool that effectively is retiring the old library catalog in favor of a much broader and deeper definition of academic research.

Alma is cloud-based software often referred to as "software as a service" (SaaS). For years, the library has managed its integrated library systems locally on computer servers on campus. The new model moves management of the library system off campus, where it runs on robust servers managed by a third-party vendor. Service is seamless to the library community and available around the clock. The benefits for the university: less expense, less server maintenance, better access, enhanced reliability.

Changing scholarship, shifts in the publishing industry and new technologies are driving these improvements. "It is a system that positions VCU Libraries for the future of managing materials in all media on an increasingly large scale," said John Duke, senior associate university librarian, who has led the technical team. "A huge benefit of being an early adopter is that VCU Libraries has had considerable voice in refining the software to answer the unique needs of a research library with a large academic health-sciences campus," noted Duke.

Alma has been created using modern, rapid application-development tools. This makes for very quick software prototyping and production, with managed feedback from users to guide development as it is constantly tested. Alma was designed with partner libraries to help manage the variety of materials a modern library holds, taking advantage of technology and learning from other libraries to reduce costs and speed processing. Over time, it is expected that many internal workflows will change. Library leadership envisions new efficiencies and savings that can be invested in enhanced services and improved collections.

A team of information management experts, led by University Librarian John E. Ulmschneider, have been working through the myriad of details, tests, feedback and iterations since March, 2012. The new system went live October 24.

Robert Browning artifacts on display Oct. 18-Dec. 7

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:27:20 -0500

W. H. Grove, Robert Browning, photograph, albumen cabinet card, [1889]. Mark Samuels Lasner Collection, on loan to the University of Delaware Library.

Related to the 2012 Victorians Institute Annual Conference, to be held at Virginia Commonwealth University Oct. 19-20, VCU Libraries presents "Robert Browning, 1812-1889: A Bicentenary Exhibition from the Mark Samuels Lasner Collection." This exhibition will run from Oct. 18 through Dec. 7 in Special Collections and Archives on the fourth floor of James Branch Cabell Library.

Featured in the exhibition are vintage papers, ephemera, and other materials pertaining to Robert Browning, widely regarded one of the greatest poets of the Victorian period and a forefather of modern poetry. The exhibition is curated by Ashley Rye, graduate assistant in the Mark Samuels Lasner Collection and a doctoral candidate in art history at the University of Delaware.

On Thursday, Oct. 18, an opening reception will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the exhibition space and Mark Samuels Lasner will give an introductory talk at 7:30 p.m. Lasner is senior research fellow at the University of Delaware Library, as well as an author, collector, bibliographer, typographer and authority on the Victorian period. Lasner's extensive collection is on loan to the University of Delaware Library.

Special Collections and Archives is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will also be open on Saturday, October 20, from noon to 2 p.m. for a special showing of the exhibition for the Victorians Institute Conference. Running simultaneously with the exhibition will be a fourth floor gallery show of steampunk comic books and comic art from the VCU's Comic Arts Collection. Steampunk, a sub-genre of science fiction, is heavily influenced by the industrialization movement of the 19th century, a setting where steam power is the dominate energy source. Stories are often set in alternative histories of the British Victorian or the American wild west eras.

VCU Libraries Presents ... public programs for 2012-13

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 14:16:34 -0500

VCU Libraries announces its 2012-13 VCU Libraries Presents series of programming. The diverse programs, all of which are free and open to the public are:

John J. Nance, a medical and aviation safety consultant, will speak on Thursday, Oct. 18, at 6 p.m. at the Hermes A. Kontos Medical Sciences Building, 1217 E. Marshall St. He will discuss his ideas on leadership, responsibility, transparency and accountability as outlined in his book, "Why Hospitals Should Fly: The Ultimate Flight Plan to Patient Safety and Quality Care."
Richmond author Kitty Snow will discuss her book "From a Richmond Streetcar," which features rare historic photos of Richmond, on Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Cabell Library Special Collections and Archives, 901 Park Ave.
Justin Torres, the 2012 recipient of the Cabell First Novelist Award, will speak on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. in the Grace Street Theater, 934 W. Grace St. Torres will read from his prize-winning novel "We Are the Animals" and discuss the publishing process.
Peter Neufeld, co-founder of the Innocence Project, and Marvin Anderson, who was exonerated after 15 years in prison through the use of DNA evidence, will speak on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. in the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave. Their lecture is titled "Justice for All: Race, Wrongful Conviction and the Innocence Project."
Jack Spiro, D.H.L., Ed.D., director of the VCU Center for Judaic Studies, will speak on Thursday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave. His lecture "Is Life Meaningful? A Jewish Response" will address the Jewish perspective on the search for the meaning of life.
A panel of Virginia history experts will discuss the impact of a failed Virginia slave rebellion. Details to be announced.
Carmen Foster, a doctoral candidate at the University of Virginia, will speak in March 2013. Her lecture "Another Untold Story of Race and Richmond" will reveal the history of Hartshorn Memorial College, a private school for African American women that became a part of Virginia Union University in 1932. Details to be announced.

Additional programs are being planned.

All events are free and open to the public. Parking is available for a fee in the West Broad Street and West Main Street parking decks. Doors generally open 30 minutes before the program begins.

For additional information, visit www.library.vcu.edu/events/2012-13 or contact Gregory G. Kimbrell at (804) 828-0593.

In the News: STYLE cover piece explores Stilson collection of rare photos and films

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 11:56:50 -0500

"The Roving Eye," an Oct. 2, 2012 article by Edwin Slipek Jr. in STYLE Weekly, publishes many rare photos of everyday life in Richmond early in the century and tells in detail the story of a turn-of-the-century Richmonder, Harris H. Stilson. Stilson was a streetcar conductor and motorman and an amateur photographer and filmmaker who captured images of Richmond in the 1910s, '20s and '30s.

Kitty Snow, Stilson's great-granddaughter, is the driving force behind the work to save the photographs and films. She told STYLE: "His pictures show how people made a living, where they shopped, where they worked and what Richmond was like in the early 20th century." Some 125 of these rare photos will be published in the forthcoming book, "From a Richmond Streetcar." VCU Libraries will be hosting a book launch event Oct. 30.

Cabell award winner gets nod from National Book Foundation

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 09:02:52 -0500

Author of "We the Animals" and recipient of the 2012 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award Justin Torres has been named to the career-kick starting 5 Under 35 list by the National Book Foundation. The foundation awards the National Book Awards.
More

Torres will be on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus Nov. 8 for a reading, book signing, Q&A and sessions with students.

The following week, on Monday, Nov. 12 at powerHouse Arena in DUMBO, Brooklyn, the National Book Foundation will kick off National Book Awards Week with a party for this year's 5 Under 35 authors. Host for the evening will be musician Neko Case, with poet and photographer Thomas Sayers Ellis as DJ. Author Anya Ulinich, a 2007 5 Under 35 Honoree, will moderate a conversation between the young writers. Musician and author Alina Simone will interview all of the authors at the event, to be shared in clips on the foundation's website.The 5 Under 35 program, now in its seventh year, honors five young fiction writers selected by past National Book Award Winners and Finalists.

Los Angeles Review of Books features Cabell First Novelist recipient

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 15:23:35 -0500

Los Angeles-based writer Daniel Olivas interviews Justin Torres, recipient of the 2012 Cabell First Novelist Award, in a lengthy article in the Los Angeles Review of Books. The interview mentions VCU and the high quality of entries for the award. Torres also tells the interviewer that he won't prepare much for his Nov. 8 book talk and Q&A in Richmond. "I'm pretty terrible at prepared remarks. I much prefer spontaneity and interacting with audience questions. Also, I'm more frank, and crass, and honest, if I'm not given time to prepare." The article

Health sciences service photos needed for gallery show and contest

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:06:55 -0500

Hundreds of MCV campus students take part in health-related community service projects each year. They work in free clinics, do rotations in community settings or go on group service trips such as the annual health care project in impoverished Southwest Virginia.

To showcase the breadth of those experiences, Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences invites members of the university community to submit photographs to the Rams Reaching Out Photography Contest. Details

Submit an entry form and submit it to libtmlsca@vcu.edu via VCU File Drop.

Images of people who are clearly identifiable may require signed photo release forms before they can be displayed in the exhibition at the Tompkins-McCaw Gallery. And, some cell phone photos may not meet quality guidelines.

Exhibit in Cabell Library marks significant discovery in anthropology

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 09:14:25 -0500

From left to right: Jim Coleman, Dean of the VCU College of Humanities and
Sciences; the Honorable Ibrahim Rasool; John Ulmschneider, University Librarian;
and Jim Moore, President of the VCU Friends of the Library

"Australopithecine!" (aw-stral-o-PITH-eh-seen), an exhibit on the first floor of James Branch Cabell Library, features facsimiles of fossils of a recently discovered species that anthropologists say could be a missing link between the genus Homo and the more ancient genus Australopithecus.

The facsimile fossils on display make up the partial skeletons of two specimens of Australopithecus sediba (aw-stral-o-PITH-eh-cus seh-DI-ba), unearthed in 2008 at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site in South Africa, and offer library visitors the rare opportunity of observing the differences between life two-million years ago and life in the present day. The exhibit will be open through December 18 before moving to the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville.

The exhibit is made possible through the generous loan of the facsimile fossils from the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa. In a visit to VCU on August 28, the Honorable Ibrahim Rasool, South African ambassador to the United States, spoke about the importance of the discovery to his nation and to the world as a whole, suggesting that the successful advancement of civilization would not be possible without a deep understanding of the past. Dr. Noel Boaz of the VCU Anthropology Program said that the "Australopithecine!" exhibit was intended to showcase the ongoing developments in the study of hominid ancestry. More

The exhibit is supported by partnerships with the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa, the Virginia Museum of Natural History, Integrative Centers for Science and Medicine and the International Institute for Human Evolutionary Research. It is cosponsored by the VCU Anthropology Program in the School of World Studies, the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences and VCU Libraries.

Board of Visitors OKs $3.2 million for design of new Monroe Park library

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 12:09:13 -0500

The VCU Board of Visitors has approved the $3.2 million contract for design work on the $47.3 million Library and Academic Commons project.

Moseley Architects with Shepley Bulfinch was selected as the architect/engineer for the project, a combination of new construction and improvements to the James Branch Cabell Library. Background and timeline

Deadlines for Cabell Award: Sept. 15 and Jan. 12, 2013

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 16:57:39 -0500

Each year, VCU honors a first-time published fiction writer with The VCU Cabell First Novelist Award.

The recipient receives a $5,000 prize. Travel expenses and lodging also are provided for the author and his or her agent and editor to attend the VCU Cabell First Novelist Festival, a series of events that focus on the creation, publication and promotion of a debut novel.Co-sponsors of the award and the festival are the VCU Department of English, the VCU MFA Program in Creative Writing, the James Branch Cabell Library Associates, the VCU Friends of the Library, VCU Libraries, the VCU Honors College, Barnes & Noble @ VCU and the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences.

The deadline for the 2013 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award is September 15 for books published January through June 2012. For books published July through December 2012, the deadline is January 12, 2013.

For more information, visit www.firstnovelist.vcu.edu.

Interactive exhibit asks: What books do you carry with you from childhood or youth?

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:59:22 -0500

Universities promote the reading of research papers, in-depth articles and sophisticated books of all varieties. But often books that a person reads early in life make significant impacts, too. That's the idea behind Books You Carry with You, an exhibition at James Branch Cabell Library through September.

On loan from and organized by the Richmond Public Library System and its Friends of the Library, the exhibition features some 50 Richmond leaders and their childhood book inspirations. People such as VCU President Rao, Rams Basketball Head Coach Shaka Smart, Richmond Schools Superintendent Yvonne Brandon, musician Jason Mraz and other interesting voices share the children's books that still inspire them.

Participants recall works including Shel Silverstein's "Where the Sidewalk Ends," Don Freeman's "Corduroy" and several titles by Dr. Seuss. Each poster offers a short essay about the book and how it has influenced its reader.

The VCU Libraries show seeks participation and invites everyone to share their reflections on books from childhood and youth that made lasting impressions.

How to participate in the exhibition and conversation

A dry board will be available for visitors to post titles of their favorites and note why they inspire them today.
Use the Cabell Twitter address, @VCUcabell, and the hashtag #VCUreads to tweet their thoughts.
Submit (anonymously or not) thoughts via this survey form. Library staff will post it to the board in the building.
Comment on the Cabell Facebook page.

Books You Carry with You will be on display during Library Fest on August 20, when some 1,000 new students will attend the annual VCU Libraries open house, and throughout September at James Branch Cabell Library on the Monroe Park campus, 901 Park Ave. The traveling exhibition previously was on view at Main Library and at the Children's Museum of Richmond. VCU Libraries thanks the staff and Friends of the Richmond Public Library for organizing, creating, and sharing this exhibit with the VCU community.

History of the VCU Seal

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 13:03:42 -0500

In his July update to the University community, President Michael Rao unveiled a new University seal and explained the importance of such symbols. He wrote:

"As we move into the ranks of nationally competitive universities, it is more important than ever that we communicate with one voice in a strong, compelling and consistent way that conveys our unique character and academic quality. ... Toward that end, a new university seal and brand mark have been developed and approved by the Board of Visitors. The new seal and brand mark are the result of quantitative and qualitative surveys and significant input from members of the university community, including students, faculty, staff and alumni. ... The new university seal ... reflects the unity of VCU while maintaining its grand historical significance."

A new Web page in Tompkins-McCaw Library's Special Collections and Archives section details the history of the MCV and VCU seals and institutional symbols. Research was provided by VCU Libraries' Jodi Koste and Ray Bonis. History of the Seal (Below is an early MCV symbol of science and medicine.)

VCU Libraries receives funds to save rare films of Richmond urban life and street scenes in 1920-30s

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 14:53:54 -0500

Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries has been awarded a grant from the National Film Preservation Foundation to preserve select films from the Harris H. Stilson film collection. Grants were awarded to 35 projects--including preservation of a newly discovered film by composer John Cage--in 22 states. VCU is the first university in the commonwealth to receive a grant from the National Film Preservation Foundation. For more information

Stilson (1868-1934) was a Richmond streetcar conductor, later a motorman, and amateur photographer and film documentarian. His films offer a rarely-seen visual record of Richmond 1929-31. Highlights of the collection are street scenes of black and white citizens, streetcars and buildings and leisure life at Byrd Park and Shields Lake.

"The Stilson work is a unique treasure," said Wesley J. Chenault, head of Special Collections and Archives at James Branch Cabell Library. "Film footage of the city is rare and our research suggests that these films are among the oldest, if not the oldest, held by any local or regional cultural institution in the commonwealth."

Adding to the historic value are provenance and documentation. The donor is the filmmaker's great-granddaughter, Kitty Snow. Recognizing the importance of this record, she has actively worked to locate and preserve Stilson's collection, which includes some 3,000 photographs and negatives that document the ordinary lives of Richmonders, including African American and Jewish communities and individuals from his streetcar routes. It also contains meticulous records - ledgers, receipts, notes - that identify who and what Stilson captured through his lenses.

Snow says her great-grandfather (at left) "was the poor man's photographer, selling pictures for 20 cents to pay for his cameras, film, and developing materials. He was also an innovative photographer, hand-coloring and even inserting a missing relative's face into a family portrait, sort of an early 'Photoshopped' picture." A selection of his images is the subject of Snow's forthcoming book "From a Richmond Streetcar." The film collection at VCU Libraries represents his only known surviving film work. VCU Libraries is working with Snow to acquire the photographs, negatives and personal papers, which will add immense historical depth and context.

The Kodacolor films in the collection will be the first to be preserved. Introduced for 16 mm film in 1928, this Kodak brand was associated with an early color process known as lenticular. After being cleaned and preserved, the films will be made available for public research and use in Special Collections and Archives at James Branch Cabell Library and online through VCU Libraries Digital Collections.

The film collection is expected to have broad research interest to scholars, students, documentarians and others interested in early 20th century urban life, Virginia and Richmond history, race relations, urban studies, architectural history and more.

Created by the U.S. Congress in 1996 to save the nation's film heritage, the National Film Preservation Foundation is affiliated with the Library of Congress's National Film Preservation Board. It awards basic preservation grants to nonprofit and public institutions for laboratory work to preserve culturally and historically significant films.

In the News: Richmond Times-Dispatch features cartoon on key anniversary

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 11:04:37 -0500

The Sunday, June 24, 2012 Richmond Times-Dispatch editorial page featured this historic cartoon. First published in June 1948 as commentary about a tense moment in the early days of the Cold War, it chronicles the start of the Berlin Blockade. Western powers squared off against the Soviets, who blocked access to rails, roads and waterways to control supply lines into Berlin. In response, Western Allies organized the Berlin Airlift to provide needed supplies to the people of West Berlin. The blockade, which started on June 24, 1948 and ended the following May, resulted in the creation of two German states and a divided Berlin.

The cartoonist Fred O. Seibel was the newspaper's editorial cartoonist for more than 40 years.

The Fred O. Seibel Papers are housed in the James Branch Cabell Library's Special Collections and Archives. The collection is part of the library's Comic Arts Collection which includes the papers of several cartoonists, a collection of comic books and a significant collection of reference materials that focus on the comic arts and its history.

The Seibel collection includes correspondence to Seibel, a complete set of his published cartoons, 34 thirty-four original Seibel cartoons and other items. More

Richmond cartoonist Chick Larsen featured in Cabell exhibit

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:55:39 -0500

Longtime Richmond Times-Dispatch cartoonist Chick Larsen is the subject of a small exhibition in the Fourth Floor Gallery of James Branch Cabell Library.

From 1950 to 1954, Carl E. "Chick" Larsen (1923-1991) studied commercial art at Richmond Professional Institute (RPI), the forerunner to VCU. He worked for the Richmond Times-Dispatch for more than 35 years.

He worked in the pre-digital age when X-ACTO knives and India ink were among the trade's tools. Some of those art supplies are on display along with samples of his work for various clients and his student work.

Also on view are clippings of the color comic strip he created around a newspaper delivery carrier. "Carrier-Toons" ran in newspapers nationwide from 1979-84.

The materials on view are from the Carl "Chick" Larsen Papers housed in VCU Libraries Special Collections and Archives in James Branch Cabell Library. The materials in the exhibit were donated by Larsen's family to VCU Libraries. The collection documents Larsen's career as a professional artist and contains materials ranging from Larsen's original art work to the art supplies he used during the 1950s through the 1980s. The photograph of Larsen, left, was taken in 1978.

* * *

VCU Libraries' Comic Arts Collection, housed in Special Collections and Archives at James Branch Cabell Library, consists of some 100,000 items, including more than 40,000 comic books, graphic novels, editorial cartoons, comic strips, memorabilia, comic journals, fanzines and an array of reference materials. In addition to the growing, comprehensive collections for the study of comic arts, VCU Libraries is the repository for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Archives.

New hours and summer term closings at Cabell

Sat, 12 May 2012 14:44:59 -0500

After commencement and beyond into summer sessions, operating hours at James Branch Cabell Library will be reduced compared to the busy spring semester. Please refer to this chart for summer hours. Also, note that Cabell Starbucks will be closed May 21-28 for remodeling.

In addition, the building will be closed on these days:

Sunday, May 13 (day after commencement)
Saturday, May 19
Monday, May 28 (Memorial Day holiday)
Wednesday, July 4 (Independence Day holiday)
Saturday and Sunday, August 11-12
Saturday and Sunday, August 18-19

VCU Libraries upgrades Chronicle of Higher Ed access

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:50:56 -0500

Just in time for summer, when faculty and staff are on the go, VCU Libraries has upgraded its subscription to The Chronicle of Higher Education. Readers can now access The Chronicle using an iPad, smart phone, tablet or any computer located anywhere in the world.

Simply create a free account using your "@vcu.edu" e-mail address at http://www.chronicle.com/.

Account holders may download The Chronicle's iPad editions at no cost, view the new mobile interface using a web browser on a smart phone or tablet and access the publication via computer from any location.

New to the Collection: Index of Christian Art

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:50:27 -0500

The Index of Christian Art catalogs art found within a broadly defined Christian context. In its digital form, the index contains some 80,000 full-text records and more than 100,000 images dating from 30 CE to 1550 CE. Founded in 1917 and continuously updated, this resource is maintained by Princeton University.

Student photobooks on exhibit at Cabell

Mon, 07 May 2012 17:23:07 -0500

Student work from a spring semester topics course, "The Photobook," is on view in the Fourth Floor Gallery at James Branch Cabell Library.

The Department of Photography and Film and VCU Libraries collaborated to develop and teach the 400-level course. The exhibit includes work by Christine Addison, Stephanie Fry, Anna Hendrick, Emily Jones, Melissa Rabin, Stephen Turner and Diego Valdez.

"The Photobook" course coupled studio instruction in bookmaking with a critical examination of artists' books and photobooks in the Cabell Library collection. Throughout the semester, students learned bookmaking techniques and structures ranging in difficulty from concertinas to case bindings. Students also met in Special Collections and Archives each week to explore the history and ideas represented by rare and important examples of artists' books and photobooks. Combining technical skills with their knowledge of the genre, students designed and produced their own photobooks.

A photobook is an autonomous art form in which images are sequenced to tell a story or convey specific concepts. Unlike other photography books, the images in a photobook are less significant as stand-alone photographs but are meaningful as parts of a comprehensive whole.

The course was taught by Helen Cassidy, a professional bookbinder, and Yuki Hibben, assistant professor and assistant head of Special Collections and Archives.

Free 'Working Dead' posters at service desk Sunday-Thursday

Thu, 03 May 2012 15:07:23 -0500

A limited number of Working Dead posters will be given to library patrons Sunday-Thursday, May 6-10--the last week of long hours in the spring semester. The posters were developed by artist Dave Morrison and VCU Libraries to mark expanded hours.

Want a poster?

Share or comment on the Cabell Facebook page or tweet about #libraryzombies or retweet something from #VCUCabell and come to the main circulation desk to pick up a poster...until supplies are gone.

New to the collection: The cutting edge of style and design

Thu, 03 May 2012 14:03:40 -0500

The web-based Worth Global Style Network (WGSN) and its archive are now available through VCU Libraries.

This news and culture site tracks trends worldwide with a focus on retail, fashion and design industries--all the style-related industries. It publishes in real time and posts updates daily.

WGSN brings a global view to trends in fashion and design, with a specific focus on areas where style and commerce intersect. The network and its 12-year archive contain more than 5 million images from runways, trade shows, retail outlets, exhibitions and streets around the world. Visual searching allows the user to find similar items according to shape, color, and pattern. WGSN also gives patrons access to 16,000 downloadable copyright-free graphics from a unique library of sector-specific conceptual collections. (At right, a lighting display by Tom Dixon at Milan Design Week in 2012.)

According to its website, WGSN is "the leading online trend-analysis and research service providing creative and business intelligence for the apparel, style, design and retail industries." It was founded in 1998 and has regional offices and freelancers throughout Europe, Asia, South America and in the United States, where it has offices in New York and Los Angeles.

To access the database: http://library,vcu.edu/search/1168

New to the collection: 19th Century American Art Periodicals

Thu, 03 May 2012 13:42:48 -0500

The Index to 19th-Century American Art Periodicals is now available through VCU Libraries.

This resource is the sole online index to 42 periodicals published in the United States during the 19th century.

Each issue is indexed for its entire contents--articles, art notes, illustrations, stories, poems and advertisements. This is a valuable resource on American art, artists, and collecting, as well as popular culture and industry.

To access the database: http://library.vcu.edu/search/1167

In the News: Cabell's overnight crew featured in 'The Working Dead'

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:44:36 -0500

The Commonwealth Times' article Cabell's new 24-hour schedule relies on "The Working Dead features members of James Branch Cabell Library's overnight crew. Those employees are featured as zombified workers in a campy poster by artist Dave Morrison. Since Cabell began operating around-the-clock after spring break, the team has covered the late-night and early-morning shifts.

A limited number of posters will be given to library patrons Sunday-Thursday, May 6-10. Become a fan of the Cabell Facebook page or retweet or tweet about #libraryzombies and come to the main circulation desk to pick up a poster, until supplies are gone.

New to the collection: Isolationist era and early WWII cartoons online

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:00:15 -0500

Editorial cartoonist Charles Henry 'Bill' Sykes (1882-1942) drew barbed political cartoons often loaded with complex political commentary on Hitler, Churchill, Roosevelt, Germany and Japan and other major actors on the international stage in the years before the United States entered World War II.

James Branch Cabell Library acquired this collection of original circa 1940 drawings in 1980. They are available for view in Special Collections and Archives. This month, they were released in a digital format, further augmenting access to Cabell's outstanding collection of comic arts. The online collection

Born in Alabama and graduated from Philadelphia's Drexel Institute in 1904, Sykes drew as a freelancer and then worked for newspapers. In 1914, he became the first and only editorial cartoonist for the Evening Public Ledger. It ceased publication in 1942, the same year Sykes died. Sykes also had working relationships with Life, Colliers and The New York Evening Post.

His most famous cartoon, "Madonna and Child A.D.1940," depicts the ugliness of war. The image is of a mother and child wearing gas masks. It was published on August 13, 1940--the first day of the Battle of Britain.

The Sykes Editorial Cartoon Collection consists of 297 original editorial cartoons, three unfinished sketches, a U.S. War Bond poster and a U.S. Victory poster. The cartoons focus on American reaction to the Axis powers in the 1930s and 1940s. Sykes created his early cartoons using the unusual patterns of coquille board for the shading effect. His later works were created with a crayon-and-wash technique.

The online collection

In the News: Yes, VCU, you can borrow a bike at the library

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:23:58 -0500

University News Service posted an article featuring Ram Bikes, VCU Goes Green and VCU Libraries. The April 10 article

New to the collection: A century of style and society in The Vogue Archive

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:20:15 -0500

More than a century of cultural history is easily accessible in image and text through The Vogue Archive, new to VCU Libraries. The Vogue Archive gives users digital access to the entire run of the U.S. edition of Vogue (1892-present) with its photographs, articles and advertisements. Comprehensive indexing allows for searches of keywords, materials, products, garments, designers, individuals and companies.

Students from a wide range of disciplines will find this resource useful, according to Emily Davis, arts collection librarian.

"Students who would be most interested would be in the areas of fashion, interior design, art history, advertising, mass communications and gender, sexuality and women's studies. Those in history, film studies and business might also find its content useful. The page formats are left intact so that may be of interest to graphic design."

"While many people think of Vogue as just a fashion magazine, in reality it presents a broad portrait of its era," Davis says. "Searching through the archives one can not only track the change in silhouettes, but they can also view pictures of Paris after the liberation, read an interview with Fellini, or an essay by Simone de Beauvoir. Fashion does not exist in a vacuum. Vogue documents both style and society."

According to The Vogue Archive Web site:

"Vogue was founded in New York in 1892 as a weekly society paper catering for Manhattan's social elite. When it was bought by Condé Nast in 1909, the publication changed dramatically: The quality of the paper, printing and illustrations improved, the frequency changed from weekly to fortnightly, the page count, advertising space and cover price all increased, and there was a new focus on fashion. The re-launched Vogue became one of the icons of the modern age: arriving at a time when the corseted gowns of the 1900s were giving way to simpler, more practical clothing for women, Condé Nast's use of eye-catching cover art by the great illustrators of the day created a similar revolution in magazine publishing. ... Cover illustration artists such as "Georges Lepape and George Wolfe Plank ... Helen Dryden, Eduardo Benito and others, were strongly influenced by the latest developments in modern art, from Klimt and the impressionists to Bakst and Modigliani, and the covers of Vogue provided a very public platform for the radical aesthetics of Art Deco, cubism and futurism in the 1920s.
These illustrated covers gave way to color photographs in the 1930s and 1940s, including extraordinarily innovative work by Horst P. Horst and Erwin Blumenfield. ...
"The contents of Vogue reflect the changing styles and culture of the postwar world, from the stylized and extravagant ultra-femininity of Dior's New Look in 1947, and the Parisian chic of Balenciaga and Balmain, to the youth-focused designers of the 1950s and 60s (Mary Quant, Jean Muir, Ossie Clark). Vogue was one of the main outlets for the new photographic style of the 1960s: the bold and dynamic handheld approach of David Bailey, Terence Donovan and others.
"The contents of Vogue are obviously of central importance to the history of fashion, from the liberating modernism of Coco Chanel to the cross-gendered experimentation of Jean-Paul Gaultier and beyond. However, it is also a rich source for other areas of modern culture, providing a record of changing social tastes, mores and aspirations in the modern world, and encompassing literary works by Kate Chopin, Evelyn Waugh, Vladimir Nabokov and Carson McCullers, articles by Winston Churchill and Bertrand Russell, wartime photojournalism by Lee Miller, features on popular cultural figures of the day from Marlene Dietrich and the Beatles to Nicole Kidman and Beyoncé, and on prominent American women from Jackie Kennedy to Michelle Obama."

How to access VCU Libraries databases:
VCU students, faculty and staff can access the database through either the A to Z Guide to Databases or using this link, http://library.vcu.edu/search/1163 from any computer with a VCU IP address.
Off-campus, VCU users must first log into myVCU, then go to the VCU Libraries home page, click on Databases and drill down the database you want. Or go directly to http://library.vcu.edu/search/1163
If you are not a member of the VCU academic community, you can gain access to databases on campus by joining the Friends of the Library.

New to the collection: Slavery and abolition online archive

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:55:17 -0500

Just as the nation is poised to mark Emancipation Day in mid-April, a significant database of digital resources about slavery and abolition is now available to researchers through VCU LIbraries.

"Slavery and Anti-Slavery: A Transnational Archive" (SAS) traces the history and ongoing cultural impact of slavery. It provides access to thousands of full-text primary source documents and archival records, including those from:

The American Missionary Association Archives from 1839-1882;
The Office of the Secretary of the Interior Relating to the Suppression of the African Slave Trade from 1854-1872;
Amistad Research Center in New Orleans covering the array of documents related to one of the most important slave rebellions and trials in American and world history.

Ultimately millions of pages of information will be available in SAS, letting VCU researchers search across all documents in each part in one seamless interface, according to Kevin D. Farley, Ph.D., assistant professor and collection librarian for the humanities. "The result will be unexpected and important contributions to the scholarly dialogue about American slavery and its local and global ramifications."

Farley notes that the addition of this collection is timely. During the sesquicentennial period marking the American Civil War, and given the centrality of the slave trade to Richmond history, he expects this database at VCU will deepen the study and teaching of these events in unprecedented ways. "In placing slavery practices against the longstanding U.S. and European efforts to abolish slavery, SAS allows researchers to see all aspects of this crucial and far-reaching history."

The database now consists of Part I, "Debates over Slavery and Abolition," and Part II, "Slave Trade in the Atlantic World." Two additional sections are being developed: Part III, "Institution of Slavery," and Part IV, "Age of Emancipation."

The online collection includes a small group of images, including the woodcut shown above of Underground Railroad leader and abolitionist Harriet Tubman. And, this rare photograph of two young American slave boys, mid-19th century.

How to access VCU Libraries databases:

VCU students, faculty and staff can access the database through either the A to Z Guide to Databases or using this link, http://library.vcu.edu/search/1158 from any computer with a VCU IP address.
Off-campus, VCU users must first log into myVCU, then go to the VCU Libraries home page, click on Databases and drill down the database you want. Or go directly to http://library.vcu.edu/search/1158
If you are not a member of the VCU academic community, you can gain access to databases on campus by joining the Friends of the Library.

Drive-up book drive April 14

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:53:35 -0500

The VCU Friends of the Library Spring Book Drive will be held Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Avenue.

Get an early start on your spring cleaning by cleaning off your book shelves! Drive up to the loading dock of James Branch Cabell Library with your books and book-related items, and members of the VCU Friends of the Library will be there to unload your donations for you. All we ask is that the books be in boxes or bags so that we can carry them safely and efficiently.

Anyone can make a donation. Acceptable items for donation include all types of books--such as novels, collections of poems, books of essays, children's books, and recent textbooks--as well as audiobooks, music CDs and LPs, movie DVDs, and more. For details on acceptable items

All donations go toward the VCU Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale in the fall, the proceeds of which help to fund the programs and collections of VCU Libraries.

For more information, contact Gregory Kimbrell, Membership and Events Coordinator for VCU Libraries, at (804) 828-0593 or kimbrellgg@vcu.edu. Donations are also accepted year-round at both James Branch Cabell Library and Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences. To make an appointment to drop off your donation, contact Gregory Kimbrell.

Directions: To reach the loading dock of James Branch Cabell Library, follow Park Avenue east until you reach North Linden Street. Take a right onto North Linden. As soon as you turn right, you will see a driveway to your left and a VCU Friend of the Library ready to greet you.

Scifinder Scholar now with unlimited simultaneous users

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:29:56 -0500

Scifinder Scholar, the world's most renowned search and discovery tool for chemistry and related disciplines, is now being offered to the VCU community with unlimited access points. VCU Libraries has been subscribing to Scifinder Scholar since 1999, but for only a maximum of five simultaneous users.

As of April 1, 2012, Scifinder Scholar can be accessed by unlimited simultaneous users.

The operating hours remain the same and are:

Sunday 1 p.m. until Saturday 10 p.m.
On the first Saturday of each month, Scifinder Scholar will be available until 5 p.m. and will not be accessible again until 1p.m. the following Sunday.

Libraries now loan RamBikes

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:46:01 -0500

VCU Libraries now offers bicycles for patrons to borrow for 24 hours. The bike loan program is a joint project of VCU RamBikes and VCU Goes Green.

The project is designed to make getting across campus easier and faster for students who have occasional need of two-wheel transportation.

The bicycles are Sun Atlas coasters with foot breaks and without gears.

There are four bikes available at James Branch Cabell Library and another four bikes available at Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences.

Bikes must be returned to the location where they were borrowed.
Bikes are loaned for 24 hours; patrons can renew them for an additional 24 hours using My Library Record or by calling the service desk at either library (Cabell Library 828-1111; Tompkins-McCaw Library 828-0636).
Overdue fines of $25 per day or portion of a day are assessed on bikes not returned by the date and time due.
Helmets are loaned with the bikes, and are available in small/medium and large/extra large; both are adjustable.
The seat height is also adjustable, and an Allen wrench (also known as a hex key) is available for patrons to use.
Bikes are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Patrons are required to sign a waiver of liability statement before they can check out the key to the lock securing a particular bike to the rack in front of the library building.

Numbers up for late-night use during Week No. 1

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:22:35 -0500

James Branch Cabell Library on March 18 began extended operations, opening earlier on Sundays (10 a.m. compared to 11 a.m.) and closing later on Fridays and Saturdays, at 10 p.m. rather than 6 p.m.

Students apparently welcome the change. Data from the first week of extended services shows library use that compares favorably to library use during the beginning and end of previous extended hours during exams.

          • 2010 people were in the building during the 2 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. period during the first week.
          • During a census taken Monday, March 26 at 3:45 a.m., 105 people were studying in the building, about half in the second floor Cabell Learning Commons.
          • The census on Monday showed that 10 out of 14 study rooms on the second floor were in use at 3:45 a.m.

Weekend use is also up by more than 1,000 patrons.

          • 472 patrons used the library during the new 6 to 10 p.m. Friday night hours. Previously, Cabell closed at 6 p.m.
          • 588 patrons used the library during the new 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday night hours. Previously, Cabell closed at 6 p.m.

Some 300 attend reading; poetry thrives at VCU

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:09:14 -0500

Yusef Komunyakaa, a renowed poet and teacher, presented March 22 at the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts. Some 300 attendees listened as he read and took questions. Event Web site To put his visit in context, University News reporter Leila Ugincius wrote an article "Poetry Thrives at VCU" that details the university's role as a mecca for poets. The article is reprinted here with permission of University News Center:

* * *

Writers and poets may not be able to pinpoint exactly what makes Richmond a hotbed for poetry, but most would agree the city is undoubtedly a mecca for poets, with Virginia Commonwealth University at its very heart.

"Richmond is a city with a wealth not just of history, but of living, breathing talent, perhaps literary talent especially," said Gregory G. Kimbrell, membership and events coordinator with VCU Libraries and himself a poet.
"Not every historical city thrives in this way, and I would say that we have VCU to thank for much of Richmond's vivacity. The nationally ranked MFA in Creative Writing Program continually brings to the literary community fresh faces to remind us all what it means to discover oneself as a writer, that good writing is not just about beautiful or important things, but about dedication and passion."

David Wojahn called the university a rich community for poetry. "There are a lot of complementary ventures on the campus that really are focusing on trying to give requisite attention to poetry in general and poetry in Virginia, specifically," said Wojahn, a professor in the creative writing program in the Department of English.

The university's latest celebration of poetry takes place this week with a reading by Pulitzer Prize-winner Yusef Komunyakaa (pictured) on Thursday, March 22.

Komunyakaa's often-autobiographical poems draw from diverse experiences and interests: the civil rights movement, classical literature, the Vietnam War, class struggle and jazz.

"He's really one of America's premier poets," Wojahn said. "He began in the 1980s and '90s to write a lot about his experience - and the American experience in general - about Vietnam. So he's known above all for the poems he's written about that conflict."

Events that bring writers such as Komunyakaa to campus serve two purposes: both encouraging students and offering something to the community.

"Creative-writing students need contact with the great poets in order to have examples to aspire to and to improve their work, and this means not just reading the classics, but also reading and hearing the great poets who are living and writing right now," Kimbrell said. "The community provides VCU so much moral and financial support, and we are always looking for ways of both saying thank you and inviting them to come back to visit us.

"These readings bring people from all across the city. I suppose that the stereotype of poetry readings is the coffee house in which only five people are actually paying attention to the poet sitting on the wooden stool in the spotlight, but these readings at VCU attract hundreds. In a world that often seems to think that poetry stopped being written after the beat generation, this is tremendously heartening."

The event, part of the English Department's Visiting Writers Series and sponsored by the VCU Friends of the Library, continues both entities' interest and commitment to promoting poetry in the community.

The English Department has "a nationally ranked creative writing program in poetry and in fiction. And so, we also bring a lot of visiting poets to campus," Wojahn said. "The Cabell Library has really been in recent years very interested in promoting poetry in Virginia and in trying to beef up its special collections to include a lot of poetry."

Among Cabell's more notable acquisitions are the papers of the late Larry Levis, (pictured, left) a major American poet who taught at VCU at the end of his life.

The English Department's celebrated poets include Kathleen Graber, a National Book Award finalist whose many awards include the Library of Virginia's Literary Award for Poetry, and Wojahn, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, three-time winner of the Pushcart Prize and recipient of the Carole Weinstein Prize in Poetry.
Student and alumni poets also have earned accolades for their works.

In 2006, the online literature and arts journal Blackbird -- already a national presence among literary and poetry magazines -- scored a coup when it featured a previously unpublished poem by the late Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Sylvia Plath. That same year, VCU MFA alumni Elizabeth Seydel "Buffy" Morgan and Ron Smith were named co-winners of the first Carole Weinstein poetry prize, which rewards $10,000 to a Central Virginia poet annually for his or her contribution to the art of poetry. Smith and Morgan then became curators for the prize.

Other recent alumni honorees include Catherine MacDonald, (pictured, right), who won the 2012 Miller Williams Arkansas Poetry Prize, and Anna Journey and Allison Titus, who each won NEA Literature Fellowships.

Why the university has devoted so much attention to poetry is simple, Wojahn said: "I think it's a force that may not help people to live their lives in a better way, but it certainly helps them to endure their lives a little bit better. When you read a poem that you're moved by, impressed by, compelled by, you feel like the author of the poem is speaking only to you and no one else.

"As a poet myself, I feel very lucky to be in a place where I practice a discipline that's appreciated. And I think not every academician -- even in a school that has a thriving creative writing program -- would be able to say that, but I feel no reluctance in saying that about VCU."

March 30: Open access scholarly publishing workshop

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:08:37 -0500

Is your scholarly research only for those wealthy enough to afford the journal you publish in? How many in your local community can access your research published in expensive online journals? How many in your professional community without well-funded library access can read your work? How about your school's alumni? Would you rather have your work freely accessible to all without charge, while still published in a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal?

On Friday, March 30, from 3 to 4 p.m. VCU Libraries presents a workshop for faculty (but open to all) entitled "Open Access Scholarly Publishing for Faculty."

The workshop will be conducted by Dan Ream, VCU librarian and past president of the VCU Faculty Senate.

As journal subscription costs have increased dramatically, fewer and fewer libraries can afford every journal that is needed, including some that are considered prestigious and essential. Faculty worldwide, especially in the sciences, but also increasingly in the social sciences and humanities, have responded by creating and publishing their research in open access, peer-reviewed journals that charge no fee to their readers.

Faculty senates from Harvard to Berkeley to the University of Virginia have endorsed open access publishing for their faculty.

This one-hour session will introduce faculty to this revolution in publishing of open access, peer-reviewed journals and demonstrate how to locate them in almost any discipline, as well as discuss the potential benefits of worldwide free access to faculty research. Options for faculty retention of copyright will also be discussed.

This workshop will be held in library classroom/lab 319 on the third floor of James Branch Cabell Library. No advance registration is necessary. Address questions to Dan Ream, or call 828-6545 for more information.

VCU Libraries named "Center of Excellence" for homeland security collection

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:45:12 -0500

VCU Libraries has been named a Center of Excellence for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as designated by The Association of Southeastern Research Libraries.

ASERL, which has some 40 members, represents the region's top research institutions. These members of the largest regional research library consortium in the United States work together to provide and maintain top quality resources and services for the students, faculty and citizens of their communities.

The new Center of Excellence program focuses on government materials. Wise stewardship of resources and greater access to government documents in the Southeast are the program's goals. Center of Excellence status carries with it the role of becoming a "regional expert" for that agency or subject matter. Expertise includes gathering a collection that is as complete as possible, creating access to that collection and providing service to the collection by professional staff. Expertise is also maintained through the sharing of information among partner institutions and astute professional management of the collection.

Overseeing the Homeland Security Collection at VCU is Mary Ellen Spencer, head librarian for research and instructional services at VCU Libraries' James Branch Cabell Library. An assistant professor, she has deep experience in managing government and public documents and collections in the social sciences.

"The Bush administration formed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2002 in the wake of the 9/11 attacks," Spencer said. "VCU Libraries receives all government publications associated with the agency, most of them born digital. At present, the collection includes over 3,400 titles, including The 9/11 Commission Report:."

VCU Libraries was selected to focus on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security materials because of its strong academic programs in homeland security, emergency preparedness and public health.

The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs offers a bachelor's of arts degree in homeland security and emergency preparedness. After introducing the B.A. in 2005, the school added a graduate certificate program and a master's program in 2007.
The Department of Epidemiology and Community Health offers two tracks in its master of public health program, one focusing on public health practice and one focusing on epidemiology. Graduates are prepared to work on multi-disciplinary teams in government agencies at the state, federal and international levels or in service arms of private sectors.
The Wilder School also houses the National Homeland Security Project, which researches policy and management related to security and preparedness, including assessing Virginia programs.
VCU is also uniquely situated geographically--in the military and intelligence crescent from the CIA in Langley to Arlington's Pentagon to Newport News' shipbuilding operations to Virginia Beach's massive naval installations. Located in the state capital, in a city that houses the Fifth District Federal Reserve and located just 100 miles south of Washington, VCU's central location offers students and faculty easy access to homeland security institutions and professionals.

ASERL's Centers of Excellence program is funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. For more information, please contact Mary Ellen Spencer at mespencer@vcu.edu.

New assistant head to focus on student learning

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:19:46 -0500

Laura W. Gariepy is the new Assistant Head of Instructional Services at James Branch Cabell Library.

In her new position, she will lead efforts to create an integrated program that teaches research skills to undergraduates and graduate students, promotes information literacy and enhances the student experience at VCU. Gariepy will supervise a team of five to lead the design, delivery and assessment of teaching activities. Within the library, the research and instructional services division creates educational experiences, coaches individuals working on specific projects, advises students on research methods and best practices and answers thousands of questions each year.

During the last fiscal year, librarians working in this division on the Monroe Park campus managed thousands of one-on-one, face-to-face sessions with patrons. These included some 530 individual consultations for in-depth research coaching, 300 attendees at walk-in research and writing clinics and nearly 4,000 phone or email inquiries. Librarians conducted 607 classroom sessions attended by more than 23,000 students.

Gariepy brings a foundation of experience and academic preparation to her new role. As undergraduate student programs librarian since 2009, she has been in the forefront of efforts by the VCU Libraries to strengthen its engagement with undergraduate teaching and improve the student experience at VCU.

Prior to her arrival at VCU, she was a graduate assistant at House Undergraduate Library at The University of North Carolina-Chapel HIll and a reference assistant in Davis Library at UNC-Chapel Hill. She worked as an intern for two years at the Environmental Protection Agency Library in the Research Triangle Park, N.C.

She holds a B.A. in sociology from Appalachian State University and the M.S. in library science from UNC-Chapel Hill.

'Jerusalem: A Tale of Three Cities' Dr. Spiro's topic for March 29 annual lecture

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:02:53 -0500

Dr. Jack D. Spiro will present "Jerusalem: A Tale of Three Cities," the 27th Annual Brown-Lyons Lecture on March 29 at 7:30 at the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts. Spiro will explore the city's diverse meanings in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam through memories, practices, literary sources, values and beliefs. He will discuss the conflicting visions of the city as "sacred space"--in addition to the controversial issue of Jerusalem as the unified capital of Israel?

The lecture is free and open to the public, but because seating is limited, registration is required. If special accommodations are needed or to register offline, please call (804) 827-1165 or (804) 828-0593 prior to March 27. Parking is available for a fee in the West Main Street and West Cary Street parking decks. A reception will be held immediately following the lecture. Doors open at 7 p.m.To register

The 27th Annual Brown-Lyons Lecture is sponsored by the VCU Friends of the Library, the VCU Center for Judaic Studies, the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, the Richmond Jewish Foundation and the Weinstein JCC.

Dr. Jack D. Spiro holds the Harry Lyons Distinguished Chair in Judaic Culture at Virginia Commonwealth University. He is also director of the VCU Center for Judaic Studies and editor of its online publication, Menorah Review. He has earned two doctorates from the Hebrew Union College and the University of Virginia. He has authored, co-authored or edited over 30 books and written numerous articles.

www.library.vcu.edu
www.vcu.edu/judaicstudies
www.menorahreview.org

In the News: VCUInSight features library news

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:28:47 -0500

The February student-run TV news program features items about an exhibition and expanded hours at James Branch Cabell Library. (These clips appear 22 minutes into the broadcast.)

Walk-in research and writing clinics start Feb. 28

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:00:00 -0500

Walk-In Research and Writing Clinics are designed to help anyone optimize their research and writing performance-- undergraduates, graduates, faculty and staff. Anytime the clinic is open, a librarian and writing consultant are available for one-on-one assistance on finding library resources and working through the writing process. Drop in for quick questions or in-depth discussions. The clinics are co-sponsored by VCU Libraries and The Writing Center.

Clinic Schedule Spring Semester
Multipurpose Room, room 250, James Branch Cabell Library

Tuesday, Feb. 28, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 29, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesday, March 6, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Wednesday, March 7, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday, March 20, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, March 21, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesday, March 27, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Wednesday, March 28, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday, April 3, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, April 4, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesday, April 10, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Wednesday, April 11, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday, April 17, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, April 18, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesday, April 24, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Wednesday, April 25, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

For more information

Writing Center workshops

iPads, Sony bloggies, Nooks and Kindles available

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:49:21 -0500

Laptops are the No. 1 item that patrons borrow from VCU Libraries. Now, a new wave of electronic tools is available for check-out.

Apple iPads: three-day loan; Available at the Circulation and Information Services desk in Cabell Library and the Service desk at Tompkins-McCaw Library
Nook Color e-readers: seven-day loan. Available at Cabell Library
Kindle e-readers: seven-day loan. Available at Cabell Library
Sony bloggie 3D digital cameras: seven-day loan. Available at Cabell and Tompkins-McCaw Library

The overdue fine rate is $25 per day. For instructions and details

Article in The Commonwealth Times gives more detail

"Powerful tools can attack black inferiority myth" runs in Times-Dispatch

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:56:00 -0500

A commentary piece by VCU Libraries' 10th Annual Black History Month lecturer, advertising pioneer Tom Burrell, was featured Feb. 12, 2012 in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The article

By the numbers: Late-night use up 25%

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:42:28 -0500

James Branch Cabell Library patrons again are setting records.

Statistics for fall 2011 show steady and busy usage. Some 900,845 people are counted as library-goers from the start of the semester through the end of exams.

Typically, on Mondays through Thursday peak days, 10,000 to 13,000 people were in the library at some point. Some of them, 8,050 over the span of 24-hour service, used the library from 2 to 7:30 a.m. That late-night use is up 25 percent compared to 2010.

Feb. 22: Advertising leader to deliver 10th annual Black History Month Lecture

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:01:59 -0500

VCU Libraries, the Friends of the Library and the Francis M. Foster Francis M. Foster African-American History Endowment Fund present the 10th Annual Black History Month Lecture Feb. 22.

The event is free and open but registration is required
Parking is available for a fee in the West Main Street and West Cary Street parking decks.
If special accommodations are needed, call (804) 828-0593.
A reception will follow the lecture.
Event Web site
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Legendary advertising executive Tom Burrell created some memorable moments in advertising and media history in campaigns for McDonald's and Coca-Cola. By showing the world that "black people are not dark-skinned white people," Burrell's firm tapped into the purchasing power of the African-American community in new and positive ways and he became part of the ongoing conversation on race in America.

Burrell will deliver the 10th Annual Black History Month Lecture, Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m., University Student Commons, Richmond Salons, 907 Floyd Ave. The VCU Libraries event is free and open to all but seating is limited and registration is required.

The Chicago-based former CEO's 2010 book, "Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority," sparked a lively, global conversation on race and brought attention to the media's role in the perpetuation of racism and race-based self-esteem issues. "Brainwashed" was named one of Ebony magazine's "65 Greatest Books" and was a Jet magazine editorial pick.

His Resolution Project, established in 2007, works to challenge and reverse ongoing mass media stereotypes and negative race-based conditioning. The Resolution Project is dedicated to creating and promoting positive "new media" campaigns, curricula, books, products and strategies that foster intra-racial dialogue and equip individuals, organizations and institutions with the tools necessary to counter centuries of negative societal and media messaging and conditioning.

The winner of many awards, including Advertising Person of the Year and the Albert Lasker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Advertising, Burrell is a member of the American Advertising Federation's Advertising Hall of Fame. He also received the Revolutionary Award from ImageNation for his work with his non-profit and his efforts to combat negative images of African Americans in the media. About the firm he founded.

Feb. 4: Klezmer ensemble performs as part of Jewish songwriters exhibit

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:28:57 -0500

Richmond klezmer ensemble Klezm'Or'Ami'm will explore the relationship between klezmer and jazz in a program of hit tunes by Gershwin and klezmer classics on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 2 p.m. at the Richmond Public Library.

This event is one of several tied to the exhibit "A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs, 1910-1965" at VCU's James Branch Cabell Library Jan. 19 through Feb. 24.

SPSS now on VCU Libraries public computers, loaner laptops

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:15:29 -0500

One of the gold standards in statistical programs, SPSS, is now available on all of the library public computers and loaner laptops.

SPSS, as well as SAS, JMP, and Mathematica, is running as a virtual application from a central server at the VCU Computer Center. These virtual applications are possible through a partnership between VCU Technology Services and VCU Libraries.

SPSS is is one of the world's most widely used statistical programs. Used heavily across many academic disciplines, SPSS (the software originally known as "Statistical Package for the Social Sciences") was developed by a young graduate student who later went onto the teach at Stanford University and at the University of Chicago. IBM acquired the software in 2009 and claims that SPSS delivers "comprehensive predictive analytics capabilities including data collection for market research and feedback management, text and data mining, advanced statistical analysis and predictive solutions, enabling customers to gain insights into complex questions, predict potential future outcomes and take action."

In academic settings, it is among the most widely used programs for statistical analysis in the social sciences. It is used by market researchers, health researchers, survey companies, government, education researchers and marketing organizations.

Technology Services offers free consulting on both campuses to faculty, staff and students. Assistance, coaching and services provided include help with:

Choice of statistical software;
Data collection and data management strategies;
Power analysis/sample size determination;
Choice of appropriate statistical method;
Understanding statistical analysis;
Interpreting results;
Statistical software installation/upgrade support

It's a best practice to contact the consultant early in the research project.

Need help with any technology?

On-the-go search faster and easier this semester

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:42:23 -0500

Mobile access to VCU Libraries collections is easier and faster this semester thanks to a simplified search button.

By entering search terms into one box, users find books, journal and newspaper articles, audio and video resources, reviews, items from digital collections, conference proceedings, dissertations, images and more.

VCU Libraries Mobile, compatible with smart phones and other Internet-enabled handheld devices, also offers an easy way to quickly reserve group study rooms, find out what hours the libraries are open, find available computers, search more than 40 mobile-enabled article databases and use mobile research tools.

New special collections assistant head brings arts focus to archivist role

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:08:33 -0500

A library professional who holds undergraduate and master's degrees in fine arts, Yuki Hibben, is the new assistant head of special collections and archives at James Branch Cabell Library at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The focus for this new position will be on building James Branch Cabell's top-tier collections in the fine arts.

Hibben will shape and expand VCU Libraries' collections in comic arts, book art, manuscripts, archival collections and related areas. She will focus on unique and rare library-appropriate materials that support Virginia Commonwealth University's top-ranked School of the Arts. Hibben also will coordinate research assistance and collection development efforts for published materials. She will help develop and implement policy statements and procedural guidelines for collection management, preservation and use of unique materials housed in the library.

Bringing an exceptional foundation of experience and education to her new role, she has a background that is well-suited to the focus and goals of VCU Libraries. Her service at James Branch Cabell Library includes a year as the interim head of special collections and archives, five years as the collection librarian for the arts and five years as an archival assistant. Hibben also worked as an archival assistant for Special Collections at the College of William and Mary, and as an adjunct art instructor at VCU, Drexel and Temple universities.

She holds a master's of science in library science from the Catholic University of America, a master's degree in fine arts in sculpture from Tyler School of Art, Temple University, and a bachelor's degree in fine arts from the College of William and Mary

Feb. 9: Music historian speaks on the man behind George Gershwin's music

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:40:26 -0500

VCU music historian Patrick Smith will speak Feb. 9 at noon in Room 250 of James Branch Cabell Library as part of the ongoing exhibition, "Jewish Songwriters, American Songs, 1910-1965," on view through Feb. 24 in Cabell Library.

His talk will explore the personal side of George Gershwin's career in music. From his early days as a pianist at home, to his "big break" working in a piano roll factory, to his successful collaborations with his brother, Ira, among other notables, this presentation will summarize the lifelong achievements of George Gershwin along and cast a humanistic tint on this pillar of American popular music.

Patrick Smith, Ph.D., is assistant professor of horn and music history in the VCU Department of Music. He is an accomplished performer who has played with numerous musical ensembles, including the American Chamber Winds and the Emerson String Quartet, and is also president elect of the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors and the Virginia representative of the International Horn Society. His biography of Julius Watkins, the great American jazz French horn musician, is forthcoming.

Auction of art to benefit pharmacy scholarships

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:33:52 -0500

The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy will host an auction of selected paintings from Dean Victor A. Yanchick's "Watercolors" exhibit at Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences. The exhibition's run has been extended through January.

Proceeds from the auction will go toward pharmacy student scholarships.

The auction will take place 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 3 at the library, 509 N. 12th St. Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails will be served.

For event details, contact Ellen Leverich at (804) 828-3016.

More about the exhibit

VCU Basketball History: Siegel skybox display shows The Green Devil era

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:33:09 -0500

VCU's basketball history is showcased at the Stuart C. Siegel Center in an exhibition panel created by Special Collections and Archives at James Branch Cabell Library.

Before VCU donned black and gold, it wore green and gold. The panel focuses on the Richmond Professional Institute (RPI) intercollegiate men's team The Green Devils, formed in 1946. At that time, this forerunner of VCU, was affiliated with the College of William and Mary and shared the Williamsburg college's green and gold school colors. The Green Devils and they competed against other small Virginia colleges that formed an informal league the "Little Eight."

The green-and-gold Devils retired when RPI separated from William and Mary in the 1962-63 academic year. The 1963-1964 team took the court in blue and gray and RPI chose the ram as its new mascot. Following the merger of RPI and the Medical College of Virginia to form VCU in 1968, the new university selected black and gold for its colors and kept the horned sheep for its mascot.

"With the NCAA championship season last year, interest in basketball is especially high," said Archives Coordinator Ray Bonis, who researched and organized the display. "We'll be doing more of these basketball history displays for the Siegel Center."

The display exhibition notes some university firsts:

•   During the team's first season, local sportswriters dubbed the team "Big Green."
•   In 1950, RPI hired its first full-time athletic director and basketball and baseball coach, Ed Allen (1922-2005). The Rhode Island native came to Richmond after his first wife, Edythe Johnson Allen, became an instructor in social work. Allen was director of athletics from 1950-67, head basketball coach from 1950-68 and coach of the baseball team from 1950-75. He retired in 1985 and was one of the first inductees into the VCU Athletic Hall of Fame.
•   The first winning squad was in the 1956-57 season. The team finished with 13 wins and nine loses. One of the keys to this team's success may have been maturity. As team member Ed Peeples remembered: "We had some players who were Korean [War] veterans and they were more confident in themselves."
•   The first basketball team associated with what is now VCU was a women's team. RPI was founded in 1917 and by 1919, the department of recreation was fielding a team. It was not until the surge of post World War II GIs attending RPI that there were enough men on campus to organize a team.

The exhibition is part of the display in the second floor VIP skybox section of the Siegel Center. A new one will be mounted in the spring semester and the Green Devil panel will move to the Fourth Floor of James Branch Cabell Library.

* * *

Want to know more about the 1956-57 Green Devils season? Turn to VCU Libraries Special Collections. The Cobblestone, the RPI yearbook, highlights the Green Devils winning 1956-1957 basketball season. Yearbooks from RPI, MCV and VCU also are housed in the libraries and also available online.

Library hours during Winter break and Intersession

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:57:00 -0500

VCU is observing winter break and while campuses are more quiet than when classes are in full swing, libraries are open and other facilities offer services. Hours are changing Dec. 20. Some highlights at James Branch Cabell Library

Dec. 20 (Tuesday): closes at 10 p.m.
Dec. 21-22 (Wednesday-Thursday): open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Dec. 23-25 (Friday-Sunday): closed
Dec. 26 (Monday): open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Intersession classes meet for 11 days between the fall and spring semesters (Dec. 27 to Jan. 7 regardless of published or added university or state holidays) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a one-hour break for lunch. Intersession hours at James Branch Cabell Library.

Special Notes

James Branch Cabell Library is closed Jan. 1 for New Year's Day.
Special Collections and Archives at James Branch Cabell Library closes Dec. 23-Jan. 2. Special arrangements for access may be requested on a limited basis by contacting Special Collections at libjbcsca@vcu.edu or 828-1108.
Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences on the MCV Campus keeps different hours to serve its health sciences students' schedules. It will be closed Dec. 23-Jan. 2 and reopens Jan. 3, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It closes Jan. 7-8, reopens Jan. 9-13, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and closes Jan. 14-16. Hours at Tompkins-McCaw
Starbucks at Cabell Library will be closed beginning Dec. 21 and will reopen Monday, Dec. 26. Dec. 26-Dec. 30, Starbucks will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will close for New Years Dec. 31-Jan. 2 and will reopen Jan. 3. Between Jan. 3-7, the store will be open 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

'Jewish Songwriters, American Songs' exhibition opens Jan. 19

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:41:31 -0500

"A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs" is a traveling exhibit about the contributions of iconic Jewish songwriters such as Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein to the great "American Songbook" during the period 1910-1965.

It opens at the James Branch Cabell Library Jan. 19 and is free and open to the public.

The best songwriters of this time combined a genius for melody, a talent for pairing it with the perfect words, and an ability to connect with a wide audience. A high percentage of them were Jewish, from families that had immigrated to America in the 1800s or fled pogroms and persecution in Europe at the turn of the century. Their sophisticated and romantic songs--"Body and Soul," "Over the Rainbow," "That Old Black Magic," "It Had to Be You"--became beloved classics of American popular culture.

VCU Libraries and various co-sponsors are offering these companion programs in connection with the exhibit.

Exhibition Web site

FREE SPECIAL EVENTS

"One Singular Sensation: The American Jew and the Musical Theater," a lecture by Dr . Jack Spiro, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, 7:30 p.m., University Student Commons, Commonwealth Ballrooms, 907 Floyd Ave., Richmond.
"America's Music: Funny, You Don't Sound Jewish," Klezm'Or'Ami'm, Feb. 4, 2012, 2 p.m., Richmond Public Library, 101 East Franklin St. , Richmond. This is part of the Gellman Concert Series.
"Grasping Gershwin: The Man Behind the Music," a lecture by Dr. Patrick Smith, Feb. 9, noon, Room 250, Cabell Library
"From Broadway, With Love," performance by Gianna Barone and Denver Walker, noon, first floor, Cabell Library
"Jewish Women in the Arts" exhibition at Beth Ahabah Museum and Archives, 1109 W. Franklin St., Richmond, features Richmond songwriter Edith Lindeman Calisch. She penned "Red-Headed Stranger" and "Little Things Mean a Lot." The museum hours are Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

* * *
The exhibit and events are sponsored by the VCU Libraries, the Friends of the Library, the VCU Center for Judaic Studies, Richmond Public Library, and Beth Ahabah Museum and Archives.

"A Fine Romance" was developed by Nextbook, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Jewish literature, culture, and ideas, and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The national tour of the exhibit has been made possible by the Charles H. Revson Foundation, the Righteous Persons Foundation, the David Berg Foundation, an anonymous donor, and Tablet: A New Read on Jewish Life.

John Ulmschneider selected a distinguished alumni by UNC-Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:34:01 -0500

John Ulmschneider, university librarian and professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries, has been selected as a UNC School of Information and Library Science, distinguished alumnus for 2011.

The University of North Carolina school is ranked No. 1 in the nation in information and library sciences by U.S. News & World Reports. He earned his master's degree in library science there in 1977 and will speak at the SILS Fall commencement ceremony on Dec. 18.

According to a news release posted on the UNC-CH webite:

Established in 1981, the Distinguished Alumni Award is presented by the SILS Alumni Association. The award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated outstanding professional library or information science achievements at national, state or local levels or who have provided outstanding service to the school or its Alumni Association. He was nominated by fellow alumni.

"One thing I value most about John's leadership is the fact that he cares authentically for the people under his employ - and not just as librarians, but as human beings," said Laura Gariepy, undergraduate student programs librarian at VCU Libraries and UNC alumna. "That's a trait that is not frequently enough acknowledged, but I and many other staff members at VCU Libraries can speak firsthand to the fact that John cares for the people around him and will do everything in his power to ensure that we're in a position to succeed personally and professionally.

"In addition to all of this, John has an outstanding record of professional service throughout his career, having invested a tremendous amount of time in his work with Solinet and ASERL, just to offer a couple of examples. I think his legacy, though, will be shepherding VCU Libraries from an historically underfunded system that has struggled to meet the needs of its users to a leading research library in the Southeast region."

As director of VCU's research library system, the largest of commonwealth's three major research universities, he oversees annual expenditures exceeding $15 million, a staff of more than 135 and holdings exceeding two million volumes with more than 25,000 journal subscriptions. He has a long history of service to the profession, particularly with local and regional library organizations.

He is past-president and Board member of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, comprising the 39 largest academic research libraries in the Southeast; a member of the Virtual Library of Virginia Steering Committee, chair of its Outreach Committee and a key leader in advocacy efforts supporting its funding; current co-chair of the Legislative Committee of the Virginia Library Association; past member of the OCLC Member's Council and User's Council; past Board member for SOLINET and chair of its finance committee; and current president of the Richmond Academic Library Consortium. He is also a former member of the SILS Board of Visitors. In addition, Ulmschneider also concluded in November an eight-year term as a Trustee of the Richmond Public Library Board and was Chair of the Board from 2006-2008. He previously held positions at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C., where he worked in concert with other library leaders to establish the NC LIVE initiative; the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA; and the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, MD. He holds the B.A. from the University of Virginia and the Master of Science in Library Science from UNC at Chapel Hill.

"John forms meaningful partnerships with groups including the James River Writers and Jewish groups that sponsor an annual lecture," said another VCU colleague. "And, in a city full of wonderful museums and collections and archives, one focus of VCU Libraries collections is on "new" social history and collections from often overlooked communities-- African American, Latino, LGBT, and social movements. Something of a Renaissance man, he is an avid cyclist who is plugged into the literary and poetry scenes."

In the News: University Librarian on 'The It List'

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:31:00 -0500

University Librarian on 'The It List': The December-January Boomer Magazine honors 10 citizens who are inspirational, influential and interesting. Among them is John Ulmschneider, university librarian, featured in the article "10 Who Made a Difference in 2011."

Ulmschneider will also appear on "Virginia This Morning," (WTVR-CBS6) at 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 15.

Free books and call for donations to Friends book sale

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:56:04 -0500

The VCU Friends of the Library are clearing out remainders from the October book sale and, throughout the coming weeks, will be offering an assortment of free books and other items outside the book sale room in the basement of James Branch Cabell Library.

This week's focuses are fiction and VHS cassettes. Stay tuned for updates about more great times to appear. These items are available through the generous donations of VCU Friends of the Library members as well as VCU faculty, staff and students and others throughout the Richmond community. Anyone can donate books, DVDs, CDs and other media to VCU Libraries.

While you clear off your shelves this holiday season to make room for the new, consider making donations to VCU Libraries. For more information, please see our book donations page: http://www.library.vcu.edu/giving/bookdonations.html

Four new health sciences resources now online

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:33:10 -0500

VCU Libraries recently added four new health sciences resources from publisher McGraw-Hill. The additions are:

Each of these online tools offers a compendium of leading texts, image banks and videos, an integrated drug database, self-assessment questions and many other resources. Faculty can create learning modules and track student progress with the optional "Custom Curriculum" feature. Mobile versions are available to users who set up a personal profile.

The sources can be easily located through the Databases A-Z list and links to individual e-book titles appear in the catalog.

Because only a limited number of users can view the content at one time, some users may have to wait a few minutes for access.

Training sessions for all Access products will be offered in January at Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences.

In the News: Cabell First Novelist Award 2011

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:08:24 -0500

In the days prior to the Nov. 15-16, 2011 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award presentation the event received extensive publicity.

In a Nov. 8, 2011 feature story by Dale Brumfield about the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, University Librarian John Ulmschneider discusses the history and future of the literary honor, which marked its 10th anniversary in 2011. The article

"A Decade of Firsts" published online by Virginia Living Magazine offers an in-depth portrait of the 10th annual literary prize, its background and its meaning.

RVA published an in-depth interview with the 2011 honoree, David Gordon.

Other articles:

The Big 10 in Richmond Magazine
Q&A with David Gordon in Boomer magazine
Cabell First Novelist Award Celebrates 19th Anniversary
Cabell First Novelist Award Winner Discusses the Creative Process

Service Awards 2011

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:59:34 -0500

Some 30 VCU Libraries employees were recognized in November when Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System recognized employees for their dedicated years of commitment at the 40th annual Service Awards receptions.

Nearly 2,000 employees, who have been with the university from five to 20 years, were honored at receptions held on both campuses. A separate reception, followed by a special Theatre VCU performance of "Grease," was held for faculty and staff with 25 or more years of service. The list of 2011 honorees

"These awards honor out greatest asset --you," President Michael Rao, Ph.D., said at the MCV Campus reception. "I can't thank you enough for the work you do every day."

VCU Libraries staff honored were:

30 Years

Linette Fields, library specialist, Cabell

25 Years

Alice Chambliss, network analyst, Cabell

Larry Ohree, network analyst, Cabell

Daniel Ream, director of outreach and distance education, Cabell

Lynne Turman, head, TML collections, Tompkins-McCaw

20 Years

Edward Blease, library specialist, Cabell

Nita Bryant, library specialist, Cabell

Karen Cary, head, collection management, Cabell

Reginald Davenport, library specialist, Cabell

Mary Dyer, catalog librarian for digital asset management, Cabell

Patricia Selinger, head, preservation, Cabell

Shirley Thomas, head, resource delivery services, Cabell

15 Years

Helen Jackson, archival assistant for comic & digital collections, Cabell

10 Years

John Birch, AV equipment specialist, Cabell

Charles Morrison, evening/weekend supervisor, Cabell

5 Years

Gay Acompanado, archival assistant for the arts, Cabell

Andrew Bain, special collections assistant, Tompkins-McCaw

Samuel Byrd, digital collections systems librarian, Cabell

Elijah Christman, fiscal technician senior, Cabell

Margaret Henderson, library specialist, Tompkins-McCaw

Patrick Hurley, special projects assistant, Tompkins-McCaw

Jasmine Kenney, document delivery specialist, Cabell

Dana Ladd, Community Health Education Center librarian, Tompkins-McCaw

Thelma Mack, research & education coordinator, Tompkins-McCaw

Danielle Maitland, library specialist, Tompkins-McCaw

Elizabeth McDaniel, catalog librarian for special collections, Cabell

Denise McGee, holds/registration specialist, Cabell

Trinette Moseley, administrative office specialist, Cabell

Cristina Ramirez, social and behavioral sciences collection librarian, Cabell

Michael Rawls, budget and assessment director, Cabell

Sheraffaz Reed, library assistant, Cabell

New Search: Try it, test it and tell what you think

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:04:10 -0500

Not sure where to begin a research project? Try Quick Search a powerful new search box that discovers a range of VCU Libraries' resources through one search box.

With just a simple search, users find books, journal and newspaper articles, audio and video resources, reviews, items from digital collections, conference proceedings, dissertations, images and more. Researchers can narrow results by date, location, format, subject, author and language.

Feedback is invited. Visit search.library.vcu.edu to offer ideas.

Holiday Hours: Closings and then .... open 24 hours

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:38:45 -0500

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, James Branch Cabell Library closes at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23, and will reopen Saturday, Nov. 26, for regular 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. hours. On Sunday, the library begins its end-of-semester 24-hour operating schedule during peak-use days.

November 24-25, 2011(Thursday and Friday):- Thanksgiving holiday
November 26, 2011 (Saturday): 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
November 27, 2011 (Sunday): 11 a.m. - open 24 hours
November 28-December 1, 2011 (Monday -Thursday): open 24 hours
December 2, 2011 (Friday): close at 6 p.m.
December 3, 2011 (Saturday): 10 a.m .- 6 p.m.
December 4, 2011 (Sunday): 11 a.m. - open 24 hours
December 5-8, 2011 (Monday -Thursday): open 24 hours
December 9, 2011 (Friday): close at 6 p.m.
December 10, 2011 (Saturday): 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
December 11, 2011 (Sunday): 11 a.m. -- open 24 hours
December 12-15, 2011 (Monday -Thursday): open 24 hours
December 16, 2011 (Friday): close at 6 p.m.
December 17, 2011 (Saturday): 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
December 18, 2011 (Sunday): 11 a.m. - open 24 hours
December 19, 2011 (Monday): open 24 hours
December 20, 2011 (Tuesday): close at 10 p.m.
December 21-22, 2011 (Wednesday-Thursday): 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
December 23-25, 2011 (Friday-Sunday): closed - Christmas holiday observed
December 26, 2011 (Monday): 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Researchers will see enhanced capacity in accessing digital collections

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:41:14 -0500

Users have high expectations for access to library collections. VCU Libraries' upgraded version of digital collections helps fulfill those needs. Frequent users of the collections will find numerous improvements, including:

revamped image viewer
improved ability to zoom in and pan across images and display them
full-screen capability
faster page load performance
easier navigation between searches and results
easier, expanded print and download functions
new social features allowing patrons to comment, rate, share and tag content.
RSS feeds for individual collections that allow researchers immediate notice by email of additions to the collections

The changeover to an enhanced content management system was a culmination of months of planning and behind-the-scenes work. "We're excited to offer this wonderfully enriched new interface for our unique digital collections. We're proud of the work of the many staff responsible for this project, who have brought this service online after months of careful planning, deep technical changes, and many upgrades and patches, all executed without any downtime for our users. Scholars and students throughout the world will benefit from the powerful new capabilities of the system," said University Librarian John Ulmschneider.

Users of the new system are invited to send feedback.
Landing page for digital collections
Feature story about VCU Libraries digital collections

In the News: Virginia Living features VCU First Novelist Fest

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:57:20 -0500

"A Decade of Firsts" published online by Virginia Living Magazine offers an in-depth portrait of the 10th annual literary prize, its background and its meaning. The VCU Cabell First Novelist Festival is a free and open-to-all event held on campus Nov. 15 and 16. Details.

In the News: University Librarian talks about investing in the literary community

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:44:46 -0500

In a Nov. 8, 2011 feature story by Dale Brumfield about the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, University Librarian John Ulmschneider discusses the history and future of the literary honor, which marks its 10th anniversary at a Nov. 15-16 festival. The article

Community histories and fine arts among focuses of new archives head

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:51:51 -0500

Wesley J. Chenault is the new Head, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library. He is charged with building VCU Libraries collections with pointed interests in under-represented communities.

According to University Librarian John Ulmschneider, "Chenault will use both traditional and state-of-the-art practices to develop, preserve and provide access to special collections, and help the VCU Libraries create a compelling vision for growing and celebrating these collections in the future. He will bring particular focus to the VCU Libraries' efforts to build world-class collections in fine arts (including comic arts) and community histories (including oral histories) by cultivating appropriate relationships both with the VCU community and with the larger community of donors and committed supporters in Virginia and the Southeast region."

Chenault brings a firm foundation of education and experience to his new position, with a background that is especially well-suited to the focus and goals of the VCU Libraries.

Previously, he served as a research associate for the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History in the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System and collaborated with librarians, archivists, community historians, citizen supporters, and others to build and expand access to collections that focus on the history of the African-American community in Georgia. As archivist at the Kenan Research Center in the Atlanta History Center, Chenault's work on collections that document the LGBT community in the Atlanta region was notable. Earlier professional experiences with the National Endowment for the Humanities and Georgia State University focused on collections related to women's studies, oral histories, and materials documenting business and civic leaders in Georgia.

Chenault holds the B.A. in psychology from Auburn University, the M.A. in Women's Studies from Georgia State University, and the Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of New Mexico.

Cabell First Novelist Festival marks 10 years of national award

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:51:00 -0500

Writers will converge on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus for informal meetings with creative writing graduate students and free-and-open to all public events Nov. 15 and 16. The line-up of events:

Tuesday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m., Commonwealth Ballrooms, VCU Student Commons
Publishing and Building a Career

"First and Last Novels: Rumblings About Writing and Publishing in the 21st Century:" NPR book critic Alan Cheuse speaks

"Building a Career After Winning an Award:" Tom De Haven, award co-founder, leads a panel with Cheuse and previous recipients Michael Byers, Maribeth Fischer and Victor Lodato

Reception and book signing

Wednesday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m., Commons Theater, VCU Student Commons

Celebration of the 2011 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award Winner

David Gordon reads from "The Serialist."

"Inside the Business: Bringing a Book to the Public:" Susann Cokal, award administrator, moderates a discussion among Gordon, his agent and editor--Douglas Stewart of Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. and Karen Thompson of Simon & Schuster--and Victor Lodato

Reception and book signing

Details

All events are free.
Parking: West Main Street and West Cary Street decks
Festival Web site
To register or to request special accommodations, please use our online registration system or contact VCU Libraries membership and events coordinator Gregory Kimbrell at (804)-828-0593 or kimbrellgg@vcu.edu.
About current and past winners
About the speakers:

Alan Cheuse is widely known as the voice of literary criticism and publishing for NPR's "All Things Considered." He is the author of five novels, including "Song of Slaves in the Desert," (Sourcebooks, 2011), three collections of short stories, and a book of travel essays. His stories have appeared in many magazines and journals. He teaches creative writing at George Mason University.

David Gordon is the recipient of the 10th VCU Cabell First Novelist Award for "The Serialist" (Simon & Schuster). He attended Sarah Lawrence College and went on to earn a master's degree in English and comparative literature and a master of fine arts in fiction writing, both from Columbia University. He has worked in film and publishing, as well as in several genres of fiction. "The Serialist" is a rollicking story, part thriller and part paean to writing itself, about a writer stuck grinding out pulpy serial novels about vampires and space adventurers. His life begins strangely to imitate his stories when he agrees to ghostwrite a killer's memoir.

Michael Byers received the 2004 award for "Long for This World" (Houghton Mifflin). In 2010, Henry Holt published his second novel, "Percival's Planet." He teaches creative writing at the University of Michigan.
Susann Cokal directs the nationally ranked creative writing program at VCU and is the author of two novels.
Tom De Haven teaches fiction and screenwriting in the creative writing program at VCU and is the author of 18 books.
Maribeth Fischer received the inaugural award for her 2001 novel, "The Language of Good-bye" (Plume). In 2007, Simon & Schuster published her second novel, "The Life You Longed For." She founded a writers' guild in Delaware and also directs an annual writers' conference.

Victor Lodato is the 2010 award winner for "Mathilda Savitch" (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) and is one of the judges who selected the 2011 recipient. Known also as a poet and playwright, he is a Guggenheim Fellow, as well as the recipient of the Weissberger Award for his play "Motherhouse."

VCU acquires landmark in humanities scholarship, Early English Books

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:22:11 -0500

VCU Libraries has acquired a landmark in humanities scholarship -- the comprehensive collection of microfilm titles in the ongoing Early English Books project.

The books contained in this durable microfilm format represent the early centuries of printing in Great Britain, starting with late-Medieval publications and continuing into the 18th Century. The project to preserve these thousands of books, and make them available through copies of the microfilm, was hastened by the Second World War, when bombing of key cultural institutions in England threatened the original books with permanent loss.

The University of Michigan organized American and British efforts to ensure the survival of books both famous and obscure, tracing the history of thought, literature, religious concerns, medical treatises and scientific explorations. Users of this extensive library on microfilm will be able to see the development of print culture, the nature of how books appeared in their own time and were involved in vigorous debate with each other, and hunt rare contributions to the complex world of the early modern era.

The acquisition of Early English Books on microfilm would not have been possible without the generosity of Virginia Tech, who made this donation to VCU Libraries due to duplication of resources. Early English Books has been at the forefront of groundbreaking humanities scholarship, and we hope that the microfilm of this rich resource of rare and important volumes will prove a significant wealth of material for researchers throughout the VCU community.

For additional assistance and instruction for Early English Books on microfilm, please consult John Glover, reference librarian for the Humanities, or Kevin Farley , collection librarian for the Humanities.

Walk-in research & writing clinics start Oct. 11

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:00:00 -0500

Walk-In Research and Writing Clinics are designed to help anyone improve their research and writing skills. Undergraduate or graduate students, faculty and staff are welcome. During clinics, a librarian and Writing Center consultant will provide one-on-one assistance to find library resources or to work through the writing process. Drop in for quick questions or for more in-depth discussions. The clinics are co-sponsored by VCU Libraries and The Writing Center.

Clinic Schedule
Multipurpose Room, room 250, James Branch Cabell Library

Tuesday, Oct. 11, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 25, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 1, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 2, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 8, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 15, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 29, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 30, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 6, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

For more information: Clinic Website. For a list of library instruction classes and events on both campuses: VCU Libraries Events page. For more writing workshops: Writing Center Workshops page.