Library System

Deborah Charbonneau: (Librarian III, Shiffman Medical Library)

Charbonneau, Deborah H. (Ed.). (2008). Global information inequalities: Bridging the information gap. Oxford: Chandos Publishing (Oxford) Limited. (forthcoming, September 2008)

Description:

The disparity in access to information is a worldwide phenomenon. Global Information Inequalities offers a captivating look into problems of information access across the world today. One of the unique strengths of the book is the use of examples of library initiatives from around the world to illustrate the range of possibilities for equitable access and library service delivery in a global context. It contains numerous examples of a wide variety of information problems and solutions ranging from developing literacy programs in rural communities in Tanzania, building school libraries in China, making government-related information more transparent in Chile, to exploring how digital technologies have the potential to revolutionize the lives of people with sensory-disabilities. The contributions in Global Information Inequalities address a number of core professional issues, including access to information, library services, collection development, global collaboration, intellectual property, and digital information. The contributors are from Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Iceland, Malaysia, Peru, South Africa, Tanzania, United States, and Zambia, thereby providing a wide range of perspectives on librarianship. Written in a simple, thorough, and multidisciplinary approach, the book presents and discusses key issues in various library settings and from different perspectives. Overall, this work contributes to a global examination and exploration of libraries in various parts of the world. This book has a wide appeal and is applicable to various library environments (including academic, public, and special libraries).

Additional information is available from the publisher’s web site: http://www.chandospublishing.com

Annette Healy: (Librarian I, liaison librarian for Chemistry, Nutrition, Food Science and Physics)

MedlinePlus Go Local: The Librarian’s Tool for Promoting Hospital Services to the Community

Journal of Hospital Librarianship
Volume: 8 Issue: 3
ISSN: 1532-3269 Pub Date: 8/11/2008
Page Range: 344 – 351
DOI: 10.1080/15323260802209518
Copyright Year: 2008
Contributors: Annette M. Healy

Abstract: Healthcare systems are complex organizations that patients and families may find difficult to navigate. MedlinePlus Go Local projects are assisting consumers in this navigation by developing directories of health services that are indexed by geographic area, types of services provided, and associated health issues. Librarians affiliated with healthcare systems can play a critical role in promoting their organization and assisting healthcare consumers in locating needed services by assisting Go Local projects in accurately indexing their organization and assisting with keeping the information up-to-date.

Nancy Beals: (Librarian I, Electronic Resources Librarian)
Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship (ISSN: 1941-126X)
Volume: 20 Issue: 1
Cover Date: 2008
Publication Date: 2008
Copyright Date: 2008

Selecting and Implementing an ERMS at Wayne State University: A Case Study
Page Range: 62 – 69
DOI: 10.1080/08963570802157420

The successful development and implementation of an electronic resources management (ERM) system depends on an undertaking that includes many key factors. Some of these key factors include determining user groups and their needs, evaluating implementation and technical issues, testing the system, exploring how the system will be used, setting future goals for the system’s use, and acknowledging other outside considerations that need to be addressed regarding the deployment of an ERM system. Within each of these factors lies critical decision making and goal evaluation. Learn about how Wayne State University applied these factors, underwent the steps toward this endeavor, and developed the ongoing evaluation of the selected ERM system.

Nancy Wilmes: (Librarian III, liaison librarian to the College of Nursing and the Department of Biological Sciences)

Oermann, M.H., Nordstrom, C.K., Wilmes, N.A., Denison, D., Webb, S.A., Featherston, D.E., Bednarz, H. and Striz, P. (2008) Information sources for developing the nursing literature.
International Journal of Nursing Studies. 45(4), 580-587. Online only in Science Direct.

MeLCat will be performing a system update on Thursday August 14th. It is only expected to last for a few hours, and should be available again the same day.

Download ( 1.8MB PDF)

Effective in the 2008/09 academic school year Wayne State University’s David Adamany Undergraduate Library (UGL) and Science and Engineering Library (SEL) will limit the purchases of textbooks to undergraduate introductory (100-300 level) courses only. Textbooks are rising at nearly twice the rate of inflation at 6% a year, thus making this service impossible to continue.
Our new policy will not withdraw or limit any textbooks previously purchased in the Textbook and Reserve collection that are currently for the 2008/2009 fall and winters semesters.

UGL and SEL will provide as part of its Textbook and Reserve Collection the following;
One circulating Undergraduate introductory textbook copy.
Faculty is allowed to request one copy of a textbook, coursepack and additional material that are not owned by the Library System to be made available on course reserve for any of their respective classes.

FAQ

What classes will the Library System support?
We will purchase one (1) copy of a textbook for undergraduate introductory (100-300 level) courses only.

What defines an introductory course?
We are using the criteria as specified in Wayne State University’s class description online bulletin. http://www.classschedule.wayne.edu/course_web/schedule/drilldown_new.cfm

What if I am in a large class of 100 or more students?
A student should notify and discuss his or her needs with the instructor of the course. A faculty member who finds that the Textbook and Reserve Collection does not satisfactorily support a course can bring extra (department or personal) copies of the textbook to the library and we will place those items on course reserve.

What is course reserve?
The library’s course reserve collection services Wayne State faculty. If a faculty member makes a request for an textbook that the Library System does not own, we will purchase one copy and place it on reserve under the instructor’s name and course.(In addition, faculty can bring any number of extra department or personal copies of a textbook that they wish to place on reserve.) If we already own the material in another collection, we will pull that book and place it on course reserve under the instructor’s name and course. If the item is already in the combined Textbook and Reserve Collection, we will attach the instructor’s name and course to the textbook.

What happens if a library textbook is stolen or damaged?
The Library System will incur the replacement cost of another copy.

Are there any other alternatives available to me instead of buying a textbook?
Yes, there is a popular services you can use to try to find your textbooks called MeLcat. http://elibrary.mel.org There are no guarantees that the item(s) will be available through this service, however, if they are available you will have a 21 day loan period and a possible renewal.