Library News - Updates and New

VCU Libraries 2012-2013 events in review

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:22:06 -0500

As the 2013 spring semester ends and the summer begins, we look back on an academicyear packed with public events. A glance through the list reveals an astonishing variety, from an exhibit of fossils to an exhibit focusing on medical outreach, from a panel about library technology to a presentation by a comic and fantasy artist. These events would not have been possible without the concerted efforts of the entire VCU Libraries staff, the VCU Friends of the Library, the James Branch Cabell Library Library Associates, and many other library supporters around VCU and the Richmond community. To everyone, a big thanks for your help.

And in case you missed any events, a number of them can be watched in video form on the VCU Libraries YouTube channel (see below for links).

Fall Events

"Books You Carry with You" exhibit | August 6-September 27
This exhibit, on loan from the Richmond Public Library, featured the reflections of more than 50 Richmond leaders about the children's books that had taught them invaluable lessons. For its appearance in Cabell Library, it was expanded to include a wall on which visitors could post their own thoughts on the children's books that they loved. The wall accumulated hundreds of Post-it Notes featuring everything from Aesop's fables to "Harry Potter."

"Australopithecine!" exhibit | August 20-December 18
The VCU School of World Studies anthropology program arranged this exhibit of facsimile fossilized skeletons of two specimens of Australopithecus sediba, a human-like primate thought by some researchers to be an ancestor of Homo sapiens. Students from the anthropology program conducted special instructional sessions for high-school classes that came to see the exhibit.
Photos

Robert Browning exhibit | October 18-December 7
In conjunction with the 2012 Victorian Institute Annual Conference held at VCU, this exhibit offered library visitors the opportunity to browse vintage papers, books, ephemera and other materials pertaining to English poet Robert Browning. All of the items came from the extensive collection of Mark Samuels Lasner and were on loan from the University of Delaware.

John J. Nance giving the CHEC 10th Anniversary Lecture

CHEC 10th Anniversary Lecture | October 18
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Community Health Education Center (CHEC), VCU Libraries and VCU Health Systems hosted this lecture by John J. Nance, popular novelist and authority on patient safety. Nance proposed a model of healthcare in which the various branches of medicine worked together to provide the highest possible degree of service to patients.
Photos

VCU Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale | October 24-28
Every year, people from miles around Richmond travel to Cabell Library for the book sale sponsored by the VCU Friends of the Library. The book sale this past year was one of the most successful ever, thanks in part to enormous collections of comic books, audio books and classic series for children and young adults, such as "Nancy Drew" and "The Hardy Boys."

VCU Cabell First Novelist Award celebration | November 8
Justin Torres, winner of the 2012 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award read from his novel, "We the Animals," and was joined by his agent and publisher for a discussion, led by Richmond-based writer Valley Haggard, on the evolution of the novel and its unique style and thematic content. The event drew attendees from around the region, including many students from the Appomattox Regional Governor's School for the Arts And Technology.
Photos

Spring Events

University Librarian John Ulmschneider with guest speakers
at the "Moving Up to the Cloud" panel

"Moving up to the Cloud" panels | January 9
Librarians from Virginia and beyond gathered for this pair of panels focusing on the future of library information systems and on VCU Libraries' historic move to Alma, cutting-edge cloud-based software for cataloging and managing library resources. The panels featured important voices in the field of information systems, including Marshall Breeding, Mark Ryland of Amazon Web Services, and Mark Triest, president of Ex Libris North America, as well as VCU University Librarian John Ulmschneider.
Panel 1 video | Panel 2 video

11th Annual Black History Month Lecture | February 5
An audience of 400 packed the house for this lecture featuring Innocence Project co-director Peter Neufeld and exoneree Marvin Anderson. The discussion between the two touched upon inequities in legal preceedings and the important role of objective evidence such as DNA in initiating reform within the justice system.
Video | Photos

"Gabriel's Conspiracy" panel | March 13
In this panel, held in partnership with the VCU Year of Freedom Committee, prominent scholars Dr. Michael Nicholls and Dr. Philip J. Schwarz considered the genesis of the suppressed Richmond slave rebellion of 1800 and its impact on attitudes and policy throughout Virginia. Janine Yvette Bell of the Elegba Folklore Society moderated a fascinating conversation between the two scholars and the audience.
Video | Photos

Dr. Jack D. Spiro giving the 28th Annual Brown-Lyons Lecture

"Digital Pragmata" series | March 26, April 25, May 2
Conceived as a forum for Richmond-based professionals in the digital humanities to share their work and to discuss issues in this rapidly evolving field, the "Digital Pragmata" series consisted of three panel events, all held in Cabell Library, featuring prominent speakers addressing faculty, staff and graduate students from VCU and the local community. Edward Ayers, president of the University of Richmond, gave the keynote presentation.
Session 1 videos | Session 2 videos | Session 2 photos

"Another Untold Story of Race and Richmond" presentation | March 28
Carmen Foster, a long-time support of VCU Libraries, discussed the history of Hartshorn Memorial College, a private school for African-American women founded in 1883 and now a part of Virginia Union University, and the challenges faced by its graduates because of the racial climate in the early-twentieth-century South. The event, held in Cabell Library Special Collections and Archives, overflowed with attendees.

28th Annual Brown-Lyons Lecture | April 4
Titled "What Gives Life Meaning? A Jewish Response," this lecture examined the age-old pursuit of meaning in life from a specifically Jewish perspective. Dr. Jack D. Spiro, one of the most popular speakers in the region, always draws a large crowd from across the VCU and wider-Richmond communities, and this event was no exception. With an audience of more than 500 people, it ranked among the best attended in VCU Libraries history.
Photos

Charles Vess signing books for delighted fans

"The Art of Magic Making" presentation | April 18
Aficiondos of comics and fantasy illustration gathered for this presentation and book signing. Charles Vess discussed his rise from a hopeful VCU undergraduate (and employee of Cabell Library!) to the renowned artist of hugely successful works such as "Sandman," "The Books of Magic" and "Stardust." Only a month after the event, the video recording on YouTube had already been watched more than 500 times, a record for VCU Libraries.
Video | Photos

"Rams Reaching Out" photo exhibit | April 18-September 30
For this exhibit, students in the health sciences submitted photos of their outreach activities. The photos, often touching and inspiring, illustrate the commitment of VCU students to serving the community and beyond. The exhibit is the fourth to appear on the rennovated gallery walls on the first floor of Tompkins-McCaw Library and will continue though the summer and into the fall semester of 2013.

Student lamp exhibit | April 26-May 10
Students from the VCU Departments of Interior Design and of Crafts and Material Studies teamed up to create the seven working, light fixtures that made up this exhibit. Each light fixture was inspired by objects from Cabell Library Special Collections and Archives. The exhibit, held in Cabell Library during spring exam season on the Monroe Park Campus, caught the eyes of countless visitors.
Photos

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.

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."

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

New research librarians focus on sciences and engineering

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 10:13:35 -0500

Julie Arendt and Martha Roseberry are VCU Libraries' new research librarians for the sciences and engineering. They join Ronke Lawal, engineering and science collections librarian.

Arendt and Roseberry will work closely with science departments in the College of Humanities and Sciences, the School of Engineering, VCU Life Sciences, and colleagues on the MCV Campus to meet teaching and research needs of faculty and students in the sciences and engineering. They will collaborate with teaching faculty and colleagues in the VCU Libraries to develop and deliver course-integrated instructional content, as well as extend research consultation services and provide customized, discipline-specific research assistance. They also will help develop the print and digital reference collections supporting the sciences and engineering, and will work closely with colleagues at Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences to meet the needs of faculty and students in sciences and engineering throughout the university community.

Arendt (right) brings a foundation of experience to her new role with the VCU Libraries. As science and engineering reference librarian at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, she was liaison to several departments including mechanical engineering and energy processes, chemistry, physics and psychology. She provided specialized reference services, discipline-specific information literacy instruction and online content. Arendt also taught a course on information literacy and use of the library. She holds a B.S. in chemistry and psychology from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Science in Information from the University of Michigan.

Roseberry (left) brings strong background in science to her new role with the VCU Libraries. Her experience includes co-authoring an article published in the International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos and work as a research assistant as part of the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates. While working at a practicum at Oberlin College's Science Library, she produced an extensive collection of subject guides as part of a transition to Subject Plus and assisted with library instruction for biology students. Roseberry holds a B.A. in physics from the College of Wooster and Master of Library and Information Science from Kent State University.

Roseberry and Arendt aim to offer flexible and responsive research assistance to the science and engineering communities of VCU. They are available to contribute to the instruction of science and engineering classes and can consult with faculty and students on all phases of the research process, including grant proposals and final reviews of paper submissions. Roseberry and Arendt will collaborate with individuals and groups to meet their unique needs.

Like all VCU Libraries' research librarians assigned to work closely with academic departments, Roseberry and Arendt create and update online research guides and present workshops and create new ones as needs are identified.

"I've created a General Science research guide to help non-scientists locate scientific information and I'm working on a guide to highlight resources in statistical sciences and operations research," said Roseberry. Arendt is preparing a workshop on keeping current by using databases alerts. "We'd love to hear from students and faculty about workshops, or other services, they need," she said.

Contact Information for librarians focused on science and engineering:

Julie Arendt, (804) 828-1539, jaarendt@vcu.edu

Ronke Lawal, (804) 828-8739, ilawal@vcu.edu

Martha Roseberry, (804) 828-2347, mroseberry@vcu.edu

All VCU Libraries Liaisons, subject matter experts who work with faculty and students

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: VCU Libraries reflects upon new software

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:57:23 -0500

During a Jan. 9 session that brought together librarians from throughout the region, faculty and staff from VCU Libraries and members of the Ex Libris company discussed the implentation of Alma, a pioneering piece of cloud-resident enterprise library software, at VCU Libraries. Alma has changed the way librarians at VCU Libraries work. John Duke, senior associate university librarian, said, "We wanted to reduce the complexity of what we were doing, of streamlining our workflows" and to migrate to "a system that was keyed towards digital collections, which is where all libraries are moving now, academic libraries in particular."

The panel discussion featured:

Maria Bunevski--a project manager in professional services at Ex Libris. She has helped institutions with implementing a wide range of products, including Primo, SFX, Metalib, Aleph and Voyager. Her first Alma-implementation project has been at VCU Libraries. Prior to joining Ex Libris, she worked with the implementation of document-management systems.
John Duke--senior associate university librarian at VCU Libraries. He is the head of the VCU Libraries committee for the implementation of Alma. He came to VCU Libraries in 1984 as head of the bibliographic-services department and previously held positions in the libraries of the University of California-Los Angeles and Iowa State University.
Susan Stearns--vice president of strategic partnerships for the Ex Libris Group. She joined Ex Libris in 2004 as director of operations and soon thereafter became vice president of professional services for Ex Libris North America. Prior to joining Ex Libris, Susan worked in a variety of marketing and product-management positions at InMagic, Northern Light Technologies, Gaylord Information Systems (now Polaris) and other companies serving libraries.

In the Media: Jack Gravely interviews University Librarian and more

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:25:41 -0500

FEBRUARY HIGHLIGHTS

For the annual Black History Month lecture Feb. 5, Peter Neufeld, co-director of the Innocence Project, took the stage with Marvin Anderson, who was exonerated of wrongful conviction after serving 15 years in prison. Anderson, an Innocence Project Board member, and Neufeld explored the relationship between race and wrongful conviction. The 11th annual VCU Libraries Black History Month Lecture was sponsored by the VCU Friends of the Library and the Francis M. Foster African-American History Endowment Fund.

Photos on Facebook
Video on YouTube
Mention in article
Article in Commonwealth Times
Video on YouTube

JANUARY HIGHLIGHTS

University Librarian John E. Ulmschneider appeared Jan. 10 on WLEE's "Jack Gravely Show." He discussed VCU's hardworking students and how VCU Libraries serves them. Interview with John Ulmschineder.mp3
VCU Libraries Moves to the Cloud, in University News http://newsletter.news.vcu.edu/newsletters/transfers-thrive-on-campus-vcu-libraries-joins-the-cloud-and-more-in-vcu-news-weekly/
VCU is among the first major research institutions to develop a cloud-based library platform. Today leaders in the library field, from across the country, will dive into a discussion on how the emerging cloud-based technologies are transforming research libraries. John Ogle interviews VCU Libraries Senior Associate Librarian John Duke, who led the technical team and talks about innovations with modern academic libraries with WCVE-FM's John Ogle. http://ideastations.org/radio/archive/2013-01-09-vcu-libraries-hosting-high-tech-conference
January 2013 Richmond Magazine article about St. Philip School of Nursing, which operated from 1920 to 1962, features photographs and reference to Special Collections and Archives at Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences.

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.

'Moving up to the cloud': Library technology leaders to gather at VCU Jan. 9 for panel session

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 14:33:36 -0500

As one of the first major research universities to launch a pioneering new cloud-resident enterprise library platform, Virginia Commonwealth University is hosting an educational session Jan. 9, 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. Alma is a unified resource-management system that replaced the system VCU had used for the past decade, which had also been developed by Ex Libris. VCU is the third library in North America to have launched Alma.

"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 will discuss how emerging cloud-based technologies are transforming research libraries.

Speakers are:

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.

An audience of Mid-Atlantic academic library leaders will participate in two sessions, which will be streamed live on the Web and posted for viewing by interested parties worldwide. The two-session discussion will consider the role of technology innovation in libraries and the implications in particular of implementing Alma.

The 1 to 2:45 p.m. panel will consider cloud computing, trends in the industry, the intersection of corporate and educational worlds, the state of library technologies and their continuing evolution.
The 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. panel will provide a general introduction to Alma and discuss how Virginia Commonwealth University went about implementing the software, with its impact on such operational areas as acquisitions, cataloging and fulfillment.

Both panels will allow ample time for questions and audience discussion.

Cabell hours for winter break and intersession

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 08:46:05 -0500

To serve members of the University community, James Branch Cabell Library will be open these hours during winter break and intersession:

December 18, 2012 (Tuesday)
Close at 8:00 PM
December 19-21, 2012 (Wednesday through Friday)
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
December 22-23, 2012 (Saturday and Sunday)
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
December 24-25, 2012 (Monday and Tuesday)
Closed - Christmas holiday observed
December 26, 2012 (Wednesday)
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM

Intersession begins on December 27

December 27-28, 2012 (Thursday and Friday)
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
December 29, 2012 (Saturday)
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
December 30, 2012 (Sunday)
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
December 31, 2012 (Monday)
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
January 1, 2013 (Tuesday)
Closed - New Year's Day holiday
January 2-4, 2013 (Wednesday through Friday)
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
January 5, 2013 (Saturday)
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
January 6, 2013 (Sunday)
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
January 7-11, 2013 (Monday through Friday)
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
January 12, 2013 (Saturday)
Closed

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.

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.

UPDATE: Building the new library for VCU's future--Preliminary designs in the works focus on student spaces

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:36:17 -0500

VCU is on a fast track to build a new library adjacent to James Branch Cabell Library on the Monroe Park campus. The project will create a striking new facility on Shafer Court that will connect with the existing Cabell Library, while also renovating parts of Cabell in order to integrate old and new.

VCU Libraries embarked on the process of designing a new library building in April with the University's issuance of a Request for Proposal for an architect/engineering firm. The RFP was awarded to the team of Shepley Bullfinch and Moseley Architects, and work began in earnest with the first meeting of the architects and the University personnel on August 16. Four all-day meetings have been held with the building team, composed of representatives from the VCU Libraries, VCU Facilities Planning, and Shepley Bullfinch/Moseley. These early meetings have made rapid progress towards final design, thanks in part to space planning study completed in 2011 that identified space and services most needed in a new building.

The Process and the Timetable

The process so far has been organized around two main objectives.

First, the meetings worked to create a "program" for the new building: how much space to create and how to use that space. The 2011 space study provided a foundation for this work, so the team needed only to refine and confirm the overall space projections in the original study.
The second objective consisted largely of deciding how and where to create the new space, a process known technically as "blocking and massing." The team has worked through different schemes for where space will be created and where space will be renovated, and how those spaces will be distributed within the new and existing building.

The result: Four different building concepts are under review. In addition, the firm is exploring how the new building will sit on the proposed site and how it will affect pedestrian traffic. The firm is now moving forward with design proposals and a final schematic layout of the space that capture the decisions that have been made. First possible designs and renderings for the new building will be unveiled in late October.

Inside the New Library

Most of the new building will be dedicated to space for students and faculty. Staff and collections space will be minimal.
There will be a significant increase in the quantity and variety of study seats to accommodate collaborative and individual work in active and quiet settings. This will include signature reading rooms and reconfigurable labs and group work areas.
Enhanced, dedicated research space will accommodate faculty and graduate students.
Media creation space will provide access to current and experimental audio and video content, visual and graphic design and production tools, and other advanced media resources to support academic projects, including high-end computers for video manipulation.
A significantly expanded Starbucks café will provide more space for study breaks.
A large, flexible, media-rich presentation and event space for gatherings of the VCU academic community may also include outdoor space.
Incorporation of artwork, exhibit and event space will showcase VCU's arts programs.
Teaching spaces that incorporate robust technology and flexible furnishings will support a variety of teaching and learning activities.
Special Collections and Archives department will have more capacity for collection growth.
The interior will blend memorable destinations within the library and flexible, efficient spaces that will meet needs for many years to come.
The balance of collections and readers will evolve over time. As the efficiency of library collection storage is increased through the installation of compact shelving, more space can be freed up for student seating.

From the Street

The new building will be in the location of the existing loading dock on Shafer Court.
Green space east of the library will be preserved.
Glass facades will reveal interior activity, creating a welcoming beacon that draws the VCU community into the library.
The street levels of the library will provide pedestrian-scaled facades that welcome the campus into the building and engage with adjacent outdoor space.
Pedestrian flow will be a primary consideration: The building design will minimize obstacles to foot traffic from the new classroom building north to the Compass area, and from the Compass area west and south. The east walking path from Monroe Park should not be affected.
Options are being explored for additional expansion space along the east side of Cabell, as well as improvements to all facades. The various approaches will be evaluated in context of the budget and all project priorities.
The building design is targeting LEED Silver certification at a minimum.
A screened service area for deliveries and trash/recycling pick up will be accessed from Linden Street.
The amount of space for parking will be significantly smaller than today, lessening impact on the adjacent campus environments.
The university will explore whether it's possible to close Linden Street, possibly before the new library building opens in 2015.

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.

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.)

In the News: New library mentioned at annual forum

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:31:09 -0500

At last week's Venture Richmond annual Downtown Development Forum, VCU Libraries' plans to build a new building on the Monroe Park campus was one of the projects discussed. The article

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.

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

Cabell Library stars in video

Wed, 02 May 2012 09:42:12 -0500

This video captures some of the energy of academic life on campus. James Branch Cabell Library is featured in this one-minute production for VCU admissions.

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

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.

Cabell open around-the-clock, 10 a.m. Sunday to 10 p.m. Friday

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:04:57 -0500

VCU Libraries will expand its around-the-clock service at James Branch Cabell Library on the Monroe Park campus March 18.

For some five years during semester-end, high-need periods, Cabell Library has expanded service hours from Sunday morning to Friday evening to better serve students.

Adding more hours of service has been the student body's No. 1 request for years.

The Office of the Provost is funding the pilot program, beginning this semester and continuing during the 2012-13 academic year to assess actual demand during these longer hours. Whether the program continues beyond the first year will depend on how it's used by students.

Cabell Library will launch the new service hours immediately after spring break: March 18. Cabell will operate without closing from 10 a.m. Sunday to 10 p.m. Friday. The library will be open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays. During the summer, the hours of operation may be reduced to match the lower student enrollment during the summer months.

Donna Coghill to receive 2012 Burnside Watstein Award

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:56:18 -0500

Librarian Donna E. Coghill, an advocate for diversity initiatives in the university and Richmond communities, is a 2012 recipient of the Burnside Watstein LGBT Award.

The award is given annually by the LGBT Subcommitee of VCU's Equity and Diversity Committee to one or more individuals who enrich the community at VCU and make a significant difference in the lives of LGBT faculty, staff and students. In addition to Coghill, graduate student Morgan Krug and Dorothy Fillmore, associate director of academic operations for the department of psychology, also will be honored at a public ceremony March 29 at 3:30 p.m. at the Scott House, 909 W. Franklin St.

"In recognizing Donna, the committee has chosen one of VCU's most energetic, dedicated, and creative supporters of the LGBT community," said University Librarian John E. Ulmschneider in his announcement of Coghill's honor to VCU Libraries staff and faculty.

He wrote: "Donna long has been an inspired voice for equality and diversity at VCU, and has been unstinting of her time and energy in her work on a broad range of activities in support of the LGBT community. She has been a long-term member of the Provost's Equity and Diversity Committee and its LGBT Subcommittee, serving as its first secretary and also as co-chair. Her focused and principled work ethic has been a driving engine for many of the subcommittee's initiatives and accomplishments, from the ice cream socials and the Safe Zone Training Program to Pridefest and more. Her exceptional interpersonal skills have brought together scores of students, faculty, and staff to support the LGBT community in myriad ways, all the while with a freshness of spirit and engagement that has inspired even more members of the VCU and broader community to lend their support."

As VCU Libraries' First Year Student Programs Librarian, Coghill has broad responsibilities for helping new students learn research practices and making them feel welcome and confident in library and class settings. She teaches library classes and works closely with projects that orient and support new students.

As a double alumna, she has close ties to VCU. She holds a B.F.A. in theater and a M.F.A. in directing. She has served in varied positions at VCU Libraries. Previously, she worked in arts education. She is active in Richmond theater.

This honor for Coghill has special cachet for VCU Libraries. The award was named in part for Sarah Barbara Watstein, who is the University Librarian at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Previously, she was Associate University Librarian at VCU. The award is also named for Chris Burnside, choreographer, performer and a former dance professor. Burnside worked with Special Collections and Archives at Cabell Library to deposit an exceptional collection of videos, papers and other materials documenting his influential work in dance.

Said Ulmschneider: "Together, Chris and Sarah earned the lasting esteem and respect of their colleagues throughout the university in their steadfast pursuit of fairness and equity for all members of the VCU community. The distinguished heritage of the Burnside Watstein Award makes this recognition of our library colleague especially meaningful for all of us in the VCU Libraries."

Coghill's cv
Event Facebook page

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.

Engineer-librarian named to lead post for sciences and engineering

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:46:27 -0500

Jennifer Roach is VCU Libraries' new Research Librarian for the Sciences and Engineering.

Roach will work closely with faculty colleagues in VCU Life Sciences, the School of Engineering and appropriate departments in the College of Humanities and Sciences to meet teaching and research needs of faculty and students in areas related to engineering and the sciences. She will teach research and information skills tailored to those disciplines, create online teaching and learning tools for developing information competency. In addition, she will develop and extend research consultation services, including appointment-based, discipline-specific research guidance. Roach also will help develop the print and digital reference collections supporting the sciences and engineering and will work closely with colleagues at Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences to meet the needs of faculty and students in VCU Life Sciences and related areas.

To her new role, she brings a strong background in teaching, research and discipline-appropriate education and practice. As an undergraduate services specialist and learning technologies specialist at VCU since 2007, she has well-grounded experience in consulting with and teaching faculty and students in sciences and engineering.

Before arriving in Richmond, she oversaw the Learning Resource Center at Tennessee Technological University with its five satellite libraries and she worked as an aerospace engineer at the Goddard Space Flight Center, providing engineering support for scientific satellite design and development.

Roach holds the B.S. in aerospace engineering from Virginia Tech, the M.A. in curriculum and instruction from Tennessee Technological University, and the M.S. in library and information studies from Florida State University.

Roach's CV

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

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.